A thread for discussion of the Refer-a-Friend contest [Gotta recruit 'em all!!!]

[lordcooper]

* A staff-guided, personal tour through a now-unlinked area of game history (areas to be chosen by staff)

Welp, that's definitely the one I'd choose.

Anyway, I know Medivh has three bright eyed sacrifices newbies lined up already and I figured I may as well try to beat him.  RP has always been a bit of a secret passion of mine and most people don't know I'm into it.  Any of you fine people want to share a few tips for bringing the topic up in conversation?

[Cind]

ask them if they enjoy acting for a hobby?

that's my biggest reason for playing anyways.

ask them if they've read or watched the book or movie Dune.

ask them if they've ever played Thy Dungeonman on the homestarrunner website, and then ask them if they'd like to try a deeper rpg version.

[Yam]

"Hey, do you like writing?"

"Hey, do you like action writing?"

[Ktavialt]

"Excuse me, sir, but would you like to see a marked reduction in your social skills?  Would you like to waste hours upon hours on a text internet desert fantasy world instead of being productive?  If you answered yes to either of these questions, then please follow me to Zalanthas."

Could work for any MMORPG as well, of course.

[AreteX]

I've found its hard to explain MUDs to anyone who didn't grow up playing them.  Now, I have many friends who are in the "Xbox" gaming crowd and not PC gamers, thus they aren't very versed in a computer.  They look at me playing any MUD in general, not even Arm and it just boggles their mind I can "read that fast".  I even try to explain its a filter you build up over time when you know certain text from reading it and memorizing the rooms, ect.

Then, with computer gaming friends and people who are really into PC's in general its hard to convince them or make them think that anything text-based only is cool, especially when they're on the side of maxxing out their graphics on games and thats one of the important sides of any new game coming out.

So, as far as recruitment I think I am pretty screwed.  The people who might be into playing a MUD for the roleplay aspect of it all(aka tabletop gamers) don't have the time to even put into our tabletop game, let alone Armageddon.

If I was to broach the subject and attempt to recruit someone though I would definitely explain the game without mentioning its text-based at first.  I would just talk about it and how its very roleplay intense.  Perhaps even share some events/stories I have experienced.

The way I was recruited to Armageddon was at a gaming event gathering and someone who played Arm was talking about one of their past characters.  He told a very intriguing story about that character and it really drew me into the idea of playing.  Thats when I first visited Armageddon.  I played for a while, but it fell off eventually... but I returned later and now I probably won't ever leave, even if I don't play as much as I want too.

So, I think the best advice is to pull people in with the suspense and intrigue of a wonderful story you've experienced.  Don't get too technical, formal, or really explain the details of the game itself... just the backdrop of the environment/world and some truly amazing stories you may have encountered in your past.

Think of it like the back of a book cover.  Just enough to get them into it, but not enough to ruin the suspense.

[lordcooper]

Definitely some good suggestions in there AreteX

I've been playing with a (mostly) pretty great tabletop group lately and it's my turn to DM next.  Maybe setting a tabletop game in Zalanthas would be a good way to get people intrigued.

[Feco]

Definitely some good suggestions in there AreteX

I've been playing with a (mostly) pretty great tabletop group lately and it's my turn to DM next.  Maybe setting a tabletop game in Zalanthas would be a good way to get people intrigued.

My group is starting it's first campaign in Pathfinder, with a pretty basic setting.

My turn to DM is next.  I plan on them rolling Forgotten Realms characters, and then throwing them into Zalanthas by some powerful wizard after only a single level gain.

Should be fun.

Anyway.  I'm off topic.

[Cind]

"Do you like mmorpgs?"

"Would you like to play one where almost no one is a whining wimp and gruesome, horrible, bloody death is everywhere you go?"

[Erythil]

Definitely some good suggestions in there AreteX

I've been playing with a (mostly) pretty great tabletop group lately and it's my turn to DM next.  Maybe setting a tabletop game in Zalanthas would be a good way to get people intrigued.

My group is starting it's first campaign in Pathfinder, with a pretty basic setting.

My turn to DM is next.  I plan on them rolling Forgotten Realms characters, and then throwing them into Zalanthas by some powerful wizard after only a single level gain.

Should be fun.

Anyway.  I'm off topic.

They'd be huge badasses in Athas or Zalanthas with their level-1 FR gear.

[Feco]

Definitely some good suggestions in there AreteX

I've been playing with a (mostly) pretty great tabletop group lately and it's my turn to DM next.  Maybe setting a tabletop game in Zalanthas would be a good way to get people intrigued.

My group is starting it's first campaign in Pathfinder, with a pretty basic setting.

My turn to DM is next.  I plan on them rolling Forgotten Realms characters, and then throwing them into Zalanthas by some powerful wizard after only a single level gain.

Should be fun.

Anyway.  I'm off topic.

They'd be huge badasses in Athas or Zalanthas with their level-1 FR gear.

They'll be able to keep anything they can fit in a chest.

They'll find out real quick an metals they have are gonna make them a target.



On topic, too bad I already got all of my friends to play Arm... guh.

[Talia]

This is still happening! It's a great time to get your friends to play--have them hop into a new PC in Allanak and they'll get to see some sweet gladiator action over the next few weeks.

At the moment, we do have a couple of front-runner players...who are set to win...with 1 referral each It's not too late for anyone to win this thing!

Also, if you have brought friends in and haven't told us about who those new players are, yet, don't forget to drop us a line through the request tool, in a Publicity request, so we can give you credit. I see some new accounts that say "friends" brought them in--but don't state who. Get your credit!

[Yam]

Yesssss I got one.

[Kalai]

Yay, one of my friends agreed to try this (that I hadn't already convinced to play)! And he's an awesome DM too.   Look forward to him showing up and hope he gets ... slightly hooked. Don't steal him entirely.  

*Technique: Mentioned your waving history lore under our noses like a tasty juicy steak prize. As my DM he understands. May not work in normal conversation.

[ShaLeah]

Maybe we should do this on a monthly basis?
(I say that because none of the people I am trying to get on here are biting the bait as quickly as I want them to)

[Talia]

We're going to try it this month and see what kind of results we get, then evaluate whether to do it again, more often, etc.

You might tell your friends about the gladiator games coming up. It's a great event for newbies to participate in.

[Talia]

Also, remember, to get credit for bringing your friend they have to make a character AND play it for 2 hours.

[FantasyWriter]

I wish I had gaming friends.

[Cind]

I wish I had gaming friends.

Me, too. The only one who's remotely interested isn't functionally literate and kept going on about making a constantly twitching elf, who twitched even in his sleep or when dead.

[John]

My turn to DM is next.  I plan on them rolling Forgotten Realms characters, and then throwing them into Zalanthas by some powerful wizard after only a single level gain.

Should be fun.

Anyway.  I'm off topic.

I've done that in 4th ed with characters who were in fact from Forgotten Realms. One of the PCs was a halfling. They teleported to Allanak. Everyone ran around screaming about the halfling and how they were all going to die until the militia came along.

They'd be huge badasses in Athas or Zalanthas with their level-1 FR gear.

Until the friendly neighbourhood templar comes along and relieves them of their ill-gotten gains and brings them in for questioning as to where they got stole these metal weapons from. (My PCs were fortunately level 10 and so were actually bad-asses without their weapons. They were secured in the Templar's Quarter, sectioned off from the rest of Allanak society where they amazed the templars by conjuring forth kank honey years after the last kank had died. They were given as many pleasure slaves as they could want for a couple of weeks until a highly ranked Red Robe at the behest of a Black Robe came along and told them to go explore some recently discovered ruins to Steinal, leaving in the middle of the night without anyone else spotting them).

I've tried recruiting my friends.. thus far to no avail. I'll give one of them another crack.

[ShaLeah]

I keep sharing Arm stuff on my facebook page. Someone's gotta bite, right?

[Kronibas]

If this was retroactive and based on play time, I would totally win by having introduced Sephiroto and Fantasy Writer.

[Potaje]

My turn to DM is next.  I plan on them rolling Forgotten Realms characters, and then throwing them into Zalanthas by some powerful wizard after only a single level gain.

Should be fun.

Anyway.  I'm off topic.

I've done that in 4th ed with characters who were in fact from Forgotten Realms. One of the PCs was a halfling. They teleported to Allanak. Everyone ran around screaming about the halfling and how they were all going to die until the militia came along.

They'd be huge badasses in Athas or Zalanthas with their level-1 FR gear.

Until the friendly neighbourhood templar comes along and relieves them of their ill-gotten gains and brings them in for questioning as to where they got stole these metal weapons from. (My PCs were fortunately level 10 and so were actually bad-asses without their weapons. They were secured in the Templar's Quarter, sectioned off from the rest of Allanak society where they amazed the templars by conjuring forth kank honey years after the last kank had died. They were given as many pleasure slaves as they could want for a couple of weeks until a highly ranked Red Robe at the behest of a Black Robe came along and told them to go explore some recently discovered ruins to Steinal, leaving in the middle of the night without anyone else spotting them).

I've tried recruiting my friends.. thus far to no avail. I'll give one of them another crack.

Doesn't sound much like the allanak I know, did they get gem slaved at least?

[John]

Doesn't sound much like the allanak I know, did they get gem slaved at least?

They were sufficiently high level to defeat blue robes and managed to talk their way through the fight. So no.

[jstorrie]

You are too merciful!

[Down Under]

Yeah the players in my Dark Sun campaign nearly die every encounter, and break weapons usually every other.

[Akaramu]

I wish I had gaming friends.

I wish I had gaming friends whose english is good enough for Armageddon. And who have time.

[Taven]

I haven't attempted this. Despite having lots of friends who like creative writing, none are especially fiction writers, and even my dorkiest of friends doesn't have the will power to play Armageddon. One of my friends did make an account with the intent to play (I was shocked!) but I don't know if she did, and that was before the contest anyway. I have another friend I might be able to get to play, but she is worried about getting addicted, and is also slightly intimidated by it. I find it interesting that the two people I may have a chance to get playing are both female.

[Talia]

I'm makin' a list, I'm checkin' it twice...gonna find out who wins somethin' nice...

Yes, there WILL be a winner (or two or three). Get your friends in here, help them make an account and a character, help them play! You too could have a chance, still.

[bcw81]

I've noticed a recent bout of newbies getting into the game recently. >.> Time to get out my bone swords and get me some new boots.

[Marauder Moe]

Yeah, seems our latest TMS/TMC voting campaign has been going pretty well.

I'd recruit friends, but I've already tried with all the ones that are even remotely open to this sort of game.  One made an account/character a while back, but didn't play more than a day.   

[Talia]

We've had a bunch of new accounts this month where the newbie says their friend referred them, but then didn't put their friend's account name; and also the referring player has not sent in a request letting us know they referred their friend. (About 23 new accounts like that.) I would love it if you guys would let me know of friends you've brought in, if you haven't already done so. (Yam is actually the only one who's let us know so far.) When the contest closes I'll judge based on the information I have at the time, so if you haven't told us...well, you can't win.

[Wasteland Raider]

All 23 of those are mine.

[Talia]

All 23 of those are mine.

Also I can unilaterally and arbitrarily disqualify you for SMARTASSITUDE. Without warning!

[Wasteland Raider]

If I can get that as my GDB title, SOLD!
(okayreallyI'llstopderailingnow)

[Desertman]

I'd recruit friends, but I've already tried with all the ones that are even remotely open to this sort of game. 

Same here, I got onto vent with all of my friends playing League of Legends and tried to slowly convince all four of them that they needed to make Arm characters.

I was not successful. But I tried. Instead they convinced me to play League of Legends until late into the night for about three days straight....kind of went the opposite direction there.

[lordcooper]

Maybe we all need to start accosting random strangers in the streets?

[Bacon]

I got a couple to try. One just couldn't get into it being text based. The other played off and on for a couple years but got pissed off about something that happened and quit.

[Hot_Dancer]

...I told a few of the guys at work about a difficult scenario one of my characters was dealing with in the game.

.. I told them there was no pictures and it was text based, that you typed out what your persona did.

...

Then they laughed at me.

[maxid]

I've brought a few people here, but it was before the contest.  Mostly recruiting from other nerd forums, and the like.  It's a pretty niche market.

[AreteX]

I think the main problem with all of the friends able to perhaps play Arm is they lack the time/willpower to learn a new, somewhat complicated and foreign system.

We're asking people who are busy(some of us) to go backwards in technology(so it isn't shiny and new!) and learn a new system that requires alot of typing(also not new) and reading(omg!) to play a game that requires invested time and often does not bear fruit until quite a bit of time has been invested.

Also, its very hard to describe how things work.  Showing people by example is always best but there is no way... for instance, like League of Legends, to invite friends to a game versus the AI and show them the ropes.  The person starting is thrust into a world where they might be self-conscious about being a newbie, roleplay in general, and completely confused and overwhelmed with text(if they're not used to MUDs) and the environment itself/documentation and all of it.

Its a really big commitment and looks very overwhelming to alot of people upon first glance.

I have a suggestion and it requires work but I think it MIGHT be worth it in the long run?  Its a separate server:  It allows players who have played for a certain amount of time to log into Armageddon RECRUIT Port and have basic admin abilities.  This would be creating generic, already created NPC's in a limited fashion and taking control of them.  It would allow a new player that has been recruited with an approved character to log into this Recruit port.  It would let the veteran friend escort them through a series of events that are somewhat scripted, but get their own flare added by that specific friend(who in turn KNOWS what the new player would enjoy) and can cater it in that direction.

For Example:  A 25 room area.  Its 4 rooms where someone starts(after waking up) and walks, then falls into a sewer.  Its 15 rooms of a maze-like sewer.  Then it's 6 rooms to escape.  The veteran player would have access to create rats, speak with the player on an OOC level, perhaps IRL even, across from them.  They would also have access to a sewer horror, or making room echo noises to make it creepy.  The new player would only be able to move so fast/so far with a delay to movement larger than normal so they don't rush through rooms.  They could read descriptions, have a bit of an "experience" before joining the real game.

This would allow people to give a fun, walkthrough to their friends that has flare as opposed to, "Hey, yeah, make a character but I can only show you the ropes so much because you'll be on your own..."  "Oh, you ran around Allanak for thirty minutes, lost and confused and now you're that idle-PC inside the Gaj tavern who went linkdead cause you couldn't figure out where to quit?"

I think a walkthrough area like this would go an incredibly long way in producing a lasting impression that convinces the person to play, with assistance, through a few of these areas and once they get the basics, move on to the REAL Armageddon.  Also, this area would in no way be related to real Armageddon, or have ANY of the real rooms so players would not learn anything OOCly(the ones with NPC/basic admin).

Just a few thoughts.

[Nyr]

I think going for easy fixes, changes, or gains should be attempted before shelling out money, time, and other resources to set up a new server (then more resources to monitor it and make sure it is not being abused).

[Yam]

Yeah. That sounds like overkill and I doubt it'd be utilized.

I peeked over my friend's shoulder while he was in the newbie area and it seemed like a good introduction.

The introductory information on the main site is kind of impenetrable for some people I've talked to though. Especially those that have never played a mud. The quickstart guide could probably use more prominent link, facelift, and some more general information about muds, clients, and connecting.

[AreteX]

Its all good, I guess it might be overkill.

But then again:  We had one person claim to recruit someone.  There were three prizes and only one claimed.

When you recruit someone to any other game it's a bit easier.  You log on, create a new character because shit, you've wanted too anyway and now you have an excuse.  You play along the newbie quest-line with them, you say, "Hey, isn't that PRETTY!  Look at those spell effects!  Yeah!  We got that stupid beetle!"

You talk on ventrilo.  You laugh.  You joke, you look at the pretty effects.

Armageddon is a bit different.  You have to engage the imagination enough without causing too much frustration upon first entering to balance it out enough to peek the person's interest so they keep coming back and get past that "WTF" new player phase.


You have to realize I suggested that only because I want to see Arm thrive and have a consistent, good playerbase.  I really dont know how much time/money would have to be invested into something like that, but if it worked in consistently recruiting people then I would be happy to donate some of my own time to create areas, something I've enjoyed doing in the past for other Muds.

MUDs were my first voyage into online gaming aside from Tradewars and other BBS doors.  I just want the BEST mud I've played to continue onwards, with new meat for the grebbers.  Thats all   I will keep on trying to get my friends to play, regardless.

[Morrolan]

I have tried to recruit my gaming friends for years. One bit, but he simply did not have the attention span necessary for Arm. He does love to hear the stories, though.

I would love to have a survey-monkey for new players based around literacy, with questions like:

How many books do you read a month?

• None
• Less than one
• One to four
• More than four

Are you published writer?

• No
• Writing is a hobby
• I am working on it
• Part time
• Full time

What are your favorite genres?

• Science fiction
• Fantasy
• Historical romance
• Non-fiction
• Mystery
• Other

What is your current level of education?

• High school
• Undergraduate
• Master's degree
• Doctorate
• Professional degree

What is your planned level of education?

• High school
• Undergraduate
• Master's degree
• Doctorate
• Professional degree

Then we could track outcomes over the course of playing. Who stays? Who gets bored? Who rises to leadership positions or staff?

Yes, this would be very cool. Very cool, indeed.  

[Karieith]

Dragging someone kicking and screaming onto this game has been both the best and worst decision I have ever made. Still, the benefits have paid out in spades. I no longer want to murder gently caress my dorm mate and we now get along incredibly well.

I would like to turn this game in to the nearest Templar for being a witch, can you point me the way, Nyr?

[Yam]

murder gently caress my dorm mate and we now get along incredibly well.

goony goon goon

[Fathi]

Wait, isn't gently caress word filter-speak for...

... What exactly did you want to do to this dorm-mate, Karieith? 

[Maso]

I kind of think revamping the website and making the navigation system and information a bit easier to follow and find would help retain folks that at least get to the point of looking at the site. The 'new to online games' should probably be more prominent for starters, and link out to all the basic info. And should possibly be called 'New to Muds?', someone who plays Halo isn't going to consider themselves new to online games...but will be baffled by Muds...