Answering newbies (and not-so-newbies)' questions

Dalvyn · Post by **Dalvyn** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:10 pm

You might have noticed that a few weeks ago, the "question" system was replaced with an ask/answer system that basically works like this:

1 - The newbie (I am going to use the word "newbie" to designate the character who asks the question, even though the question can come from more experienced players as well, obviously) uses the ask command to send his question.

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ask Is there any way for me to determine how much a merchant will pay for an object without selling it?

2 - The newbie helpers get the question in bright red on their screen.

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Dalvyn asks 'Is there any way for me to determine how much a merchant will pay for an object without selling it?'

At any time, a newbie helper can type answer to get a list of all the questions that have been asked but not answered.

3 - The question is repeated again and again, till one of the newbie helper "takes" it, with the answer command.

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answer Dalvyn

The newbie gets a message like:

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Gwain will answer your question about 'Is there any way for me to determine how much a merchant will pay for an object without selling it?'

4 - From there on, the newbie and the newbie helper can communicate with the ask (for the newbie) and answer (for the newbie helper).

5 - When the question is answered, the newbie helper closes it.

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answer done

The newbie gets:

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Gwain has finished answering your question. Hope the answer was helpful!

6 - Note that, if the question is actually just a comment, or if it does not require any answer, the newbie helper can immediately close it (without answering).

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answer Dalvyn close

The newbie will then get:

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Thank you for your comment, Dalvyn. It has been judged that a response to this is unnecessary at this time.

Note that the newbie can also type ask (with nothing else) to close the question he has opened (in case he ended up finding the answer by himself for example).[/b]

Dalvyn · Post by **Dalvyn** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:29 pm

Now, in the near future (when it is coded), we plan on opening the role of "newbie helper" described above to all players.

All players?

Well, no, not exactly... there will be a some requirements.

First requirement is to be strike-less.

Second requirement is to know enough about the game (that is, have enough accumulated kismet - perhaps something like at least 1000, but the figure is not yet set).

There's a third requirement, which is not to have answered wrongly or abused the ask/answer channel before. If we notice that someone answers a newbie in a very unhelpful way, or is impolite in the answer, or gives out IC information in the answer, then their access to the ask/answer channels will be cut.

Practically, how is it going to work? It will most likely be a config option. You will be able to turn it on (config +helper for example) when you feel like helping newbies, and off (config -helper) when you are busy in a roleplay and do not want the spam).

Opening the role of newbie helper to all makes it necessary to have a set of precise guidelines about how to answer questions, and what questions can be answered, and so on. This is what this thread is about, to discuss those guidelines.

To start the ball rolling, I'd suggest the following guidelines:

- Do not get a question if you do not know the answer. Let it echo two or three times, then, if you nobody else knows the answer and takes the question, you can choose to answer it and tells the newbie that nobody online right now knows the answer, and that they should ask again later.

- Do not answer IC questions like "Where can I find this or that?" or "That mob gave me a riddle. What is the answer?" and so on.

- Do not use the information gained from the question. For example, if you are hunting an enemy and sees that enemy ask a question about a particular area, do not use the information that he is (might be) in that area.

- ...

Feel free to comment, suggest guidelines, or improvements, and so on...

Zach · Post by **Zach** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:59 pm

I think it is great having it open to most. Many simple questions can be answered by people who have not been playing all that long and not only just 5 years. I really look forward to it and as regarding to the whole new system... I like it a lot.

I don't like the fact that your question gets echoed again to you.. or all of your question. If you ask a big question. It will echo the whole thing... is there a way you could have it echo the first 80 or so characters?
But have it echo the whole thing again on the channel?

Oh... Don't get upset if someone else answers the question you wanted to answer. As long as the question was answered correctly it does not matter who answered it.

Mariela · Post by **Mariela** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:50 pm

I have found the new system INCREADIBLY helpful. It's lovely to put a name to who answered your question. I have had people ask me in the past who answered my question originally, and have been unable to provide that information cause to tell the truth, I do not memorize people's adjectives.

I just adore it! Thank you! That is my comment. Thank you!

Lathander · Post by **Lathander** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:46 pm

I don't like the fact that your question gets echoed again to you.. or all of your question.

Part of the reason for the frequent, repeated echo of the question (and it DOES get spammy) is that people are likely to answer and not ignore the question; if for no other reason than to stop the spam.

Zach · Post by **Zach** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:06 am

Hmmm... so it works both way!

Theillik · Post by **Theillik** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:37 am

I am not sure I like the idea of having anyone (most anyone) answer questions.

I like knowing that who I am asking has been given permission, has experience, and has the authority to shut me up.

That's my thoughts.

Japcil · Post by **Japcil** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:43 am

Hence the kismet cost. Say the limit was 1000 points. That mean almost 1000 hours played. Thats experience. Hopefully like Dalvyn said, someone wont attempt to answer your questionif they dont know the answer unless no one available online knows.

Zach · Post by **Zach** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:51 am

it is also logged and closly watched... so rest asured if you do get falce info you go on... they will be punished

Raona · Post by **Raona** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:25 pm

There are often times when few players are on, and this will be a big help! But, what of the Newbie Council? If this is still in the coding phase, and the Newbie Council is to remain, perhaps a question could be echoed first to council members, then to the experienced general online audience? (Or better still, directly to the general online audience if no NC members are online, otherwise as described above.)

Thanks for the ongoing improvements in all aspects of the game - and thanks to everyone who's answered my questions, past and present!