Shattered Kingdoms

I don't believe everyone should have to go through this. Some people like learning the game and some people don't. As it has been, you have been required to make one or more characters that have been terrible or designed just to learn about where things are to learn the OOC mechanics. Then you are free to create the character you actually wanted to play.

Alternatively, you were shown SK by a friend who has been playing and he or she showed you how to survive the first few levels and how to place your stat points.

I believe that SK has lost many many players who logged in, tried to play, realized they can't even kill the starting area NPCs and then quit, or got a little farther and died and then quit.

Make it easier for players to get the OOC knowledge that every player who has been playing for a while has, and you will have more established players.

Some people buy a new video game, install it and start playing right away, without even knowing what buttons do what. Other people open up the manual and read everything that they can about the game. I don't see anything wrong with making SK more appealing to this type of player.

I didnt read much past the first few posts. Bad idea. There is more than one way to play classes. Everyone has their own style. Do not try to say "here is the right way to play this class" because a right was does not exist.

That's not the point. The point is to give newbies a guideline to follow so that they die and quit.

I'm a strong advocate of plan: "Dont-read-the-manual" It took me three days to get through the deku tree in Ocarina of Time because I didn't know that R was the shield button.

As for the question of helping newbies, it seems more effective to respond to questions by the player as they come up. That is what this section, Newbie Help, is for, after all. To try an anticipate every possible question, even the common ones, is nigh impossible to do. As the old addage goes: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

The game is not broke if you are the type of player who "doesn't read the manual." However, it seems generally agreed that more players would make the game better. Providing a manual on how to play will expand SK's intended audience beyond those who want to figure everything out on their own (and the friends of those people who have everything explained to them).

Why is it good to play a game not knowing there is a shield button? Shouldn't there be some benefit before you start being a "strong advocate" of it?

I've got three shiny new reasons:

Reason Number I
That's more time you've got playing the game. Few people are talented enough to both read the instructions and play the game at the same time. We've all heard the "hot stove" scenario. A child can be told that a stove is hot, but he won't really know until he experiences the sting of a hot burner. (Thanks dad, for that one.) Additionally, it's such a neat feeling when you accidentally do something and get the "Oh, snap, that's really awesome!" mentality.


Reason Number II
You are forced to practice being a godly killing machine. A strong offense is a strong defense, and if you have no shield to defend yourself with, it's all got to come from your sword. After all, your enemies can't kill you if you're slicing them to pieces with the Master Sword. But all pales in comparison to my final reason...


Reason Number III
This philosphy allows me to make comparisons to the topic at hand. The story of my conquests in the Deku Tree was an excellent tie-in to the discussion.

Next time, I'll be entertaining questions as to why I specifically choose low-tier characters in Super Smash Bros.

'cause you're not good enough to whip [REDACTED] with marth and roy.

That appears to be a challenge, I see. Prepare to be PK-Thundered, Pichued, and Baconed where the sun-don't-shine.

Like I won't counter yo [REDACTED].

Thanks for a bit of guidance; this helped.