Hi Devs!
I've mentioned this on other random threads, but thought I'd re-post the idea here.
When I started in beta in Nov. 2004, there wasn't a working tutorial. I learned by trial and error (mostly error).
Then that great Tutorial with Link came up, and it was (and still is) excellent. It really, really helps new players to get comfortable with game mechanics. (The addition of the ID card and the Uriah collectors was a nice touch, BTW).
What I'm seriously wishing for is a new tutorial where we can practice, practice, practice until we have enough of a comfort level to ease into the new system. We can all practice on Bob to our heart's content. (Note this must entail existing characters tio be able to enter the tutorial again...call it a tutorial construct if you will. There already exists a header for "Constructs" under the hardline list that is currently being unused).
I really feel uncomfortable on the QA server. I try every possible buff combination and every possible tree available to me and I still get pwned in a couple of headshots. Plus I'm unclear as to what's going on while I'm fighting, and I'm unclear as to what Special Moves I'm doing, or if they are even working at all.
Trial and error is okay to a certain point, but I just don't feel comfortable constantly getting pwned not knowing what I'm doing. Some players have taken the time to figure out all the mathematical probabilities of what works and what doesn't. Frankly I don't have all that time it takes to figure this time out (despite me being a quick learner with a long attention span), and I get embarrassed constantly getting pwned by my peers at Mara C., or by con-grey mobs that take me down in a hail of bullets.
That's why I feel he perfect solution is to have a tutorial construct where we are actually taught this stuff...taught by those of you who are designing CR2. We can learn at our own pace, our comfort level. And lol, we don't need Harrold Perrineau or whatever his name is to do the voice over.....I'll ADR it, for heaven's sake....as long as we get debriefed on what to do..
Bottom line: I really want to learn the new system you have in mind for us. I think a lot of us feel this way. Give us the tools to teach us besides trial and error. Yes, maybe it will take a little more time, and I know you guys have deadlines and target dates. But I say it's better to do things right the first time than whack-a-moling things till they eventually work themselves out, which could take eons. So I sincerely hope you take my idea into consideration.
Oh and, as an added bonus, a tutorial construct fits in beautifully with the whole Matrix franchise!
Cheers,
Villemar