I've wanted to suggest this for awhile now and just didn't know what to do with it. This seems to be the perfect spot (yes, I'm too shy to post it inside the game).

I'll admit, I've been checking out other MUD's *collective gasp*

I'll tell you what draws me in.

What I look for on their websites are what types of classes and races they have so that I can decide *before* I join a game if it's enough variety to keep me interested.

So, suggestion #1: If you could post a page of each - class and race. It could be incorporated as links off the "About DL" page or it's own link off the menu and simply a matter of copying the in-game help topics of each. Knowing and selecting what you can be before joining the game makes the character creation that much simpler.

Also I look for dedication to the help of newbies. Yes, I see there's a Newbie Hints forum which is great, but I'm talking much deeper. Perhaps we all forget how extremely intimidating being a newbie can be. And to be dropped in a room (class guild) without knowing why or what to do or how to get out could be a possible deterant.

These people are the new players we want, so let's cater to them!

Suggestion #2: NEWBIE SCHOOL. It's probably been suggested before, but really I believe this should be the number one priority for the builders. I'm talking the very first place EVERY newbie should enter the game. A safe place, with very detailed instructions spread around rooms to learn navigation, mobs to kill so they can learn without threat of being killed i.e; mobs that don't hit back, gathering good equipment (yeah, I'd like better equipment then a pair of leather pants, please). I'd even go so far as to say let them level up to level 5 safely before they 'graduate' and join the 'real world'. I have seen a lot of newbies give up because they die to a rat in the crypt too often. A very easy, very simple environment in which to learn will keep players coming back.
(I have lots of ideas and if I knew how to code I'd offer to help build but sorry. If anyone is interested you know how to find me.)

That's it for now. Stay tuned, I may throw out more suggestions. I want DL to succeed as much as you do!

I’d like to echo those comments, if I didn’t have like 8 people from my work mudding on DL years ago that I could just call (and yes I did that often) I wouldn’t have kept playing. Most of us are seasoned adventurers here but I remember panicking when I ran out of food and had no clue how to buy any; it’s the little things that will turn people away before they can find out what an awesome game we have created.

Landor

We do have the "Newbie Channel" and we all can watch out for the very new and small players as best we can. When I see someone who is genuinely new I usually ask a more experienced player to help show them around and be a buddy for a bit. Our help files are also extensive and available both in the game and on this web site. If you see any help files missing that you feel should be in there, write them up and mail them to Nezmar. If he agrees he'll have them in the game in no time at all.

The idea of a "newbie" school of sorts has been batted around from time to time but it seems so "canned" all the time that it's been passed over. Most of those sort of areas come "stock" with the basic code of MUDs. What Nezmar does is all new, all original. Builders can not copy areas from other games/muds. That way we stay fresh and original. I know Nezmar has plans for making the game more "Newbie friendly" but it all takes time. He has quite a list of coding projects and is constantly revising and prioritizing them as best he can.

But you are more then welcome to try to become a builder and create an area for smaller players if you wish. You don't have to know how to code, only type and spell and read, all of which I know you can do, and quite well! In the game it's HELP BUILDER to see what the rules are. I highly encourage you and anyone else to build. It's actually a lot of fun and just as addictive as the game is.

Keep the ideas coming! Great job!

Most of the information you request is indeed right under your nose. If you want to know more information about the game before you look at it, I HIGHLY recommend reading through some of the help files (Just click on Online Help on the menu on the left side of every page on this site. Every player help file in the game can be accessed through this web page.

Regarding a newbie (or novice) area as an introduction, in general, I tend to agree with Myrrima. These are typically simply too "canned". To do one right would definitely take significant time and coding. That said, it is entirely possible that this type of thing will be added someday, but I think it will be after I've added terrains (probably a couple of years, at this rate). I think that using terrains to build a starter area would be perfect because we'd be able to give each player their own "copy" of the area (that way the NPCs will always be available and you won't have jerk players trying to annoy new players). Without this type of setup you'd have to have very fast repops and if you got a lot of new players at once, there would still be significant contention for the area. The other thing I was thinking of as a possibility that relates to this concept is having some type of simulator that players could go into that would teach them basic information about the game.

At any rate, the ideas are appreciated and keep them coming because we have virtually no limit to the number of posts that can be made here (nice to not have that stupid 99 post limit!) and they will be read and used (if good) when the time is right.

Best regards to all,

--Nezmar

As when i was the newbie in DL, i think the mud is really clear and nice envioremented. But as all know we have really big area and new place to be explored also could have fun with different mobs, but during the early stage when i playing as newbie, i was really headache about the directions for different place. I thought if there is the map and we could follow the map to run as what it describe will be a nice idea, just like if the map marked the way to priestess garden and we just type some command and could run to the place directly. I think it will really help for new players since we keep getting new players around.

Best Regards, Kyo