In my years of playing this game I have seen some reoccurring themes within the newer players of the game. I saw this especially when I helped my friend from real make a character and level up. Since I talked to him a lot I realized that the same themes seemed to occur in him as well. So this is the report I have written on The Stages of Newbdom-
The report is based off of 2 years experience, watching my friend as he became a good player, and the following studies that were done:
I went to Kelan T1 and asked for any players under level 100 that would like to earn some gold for answering game-related questions to please come to my tent. Each "noob" was questioned individually and they each received 1k gold for each answer. The results of my research are as follows:
Subject 1: Level 39
Q- What is your favorite thing about WLO?
A- Fighting
Q- If you had the choice between getting to level 100 or having the EQ I am wearing now, what would you choose? (EQ- RDG, bloody war boots, and samurai katana)
A- Lvl up
Q- Would you rather do a fun quest or be in a fun pk?
A- Fun pk
Subject 2: Level 37
Q- What is your favorite thing about WLO?
A- fighting
Q- If you had the choice between getting to level 100 or having the EQ I am wearing now, what would you choose? (EQ- RDG, bloody war boots, and samurai katana)
A- lvl 100
Q- Would you rather do a fun quest or be in a fun pk?
A- fun pk
Subject 3: Level 26
Q- What is your favorite thing about WLO?
A- friends
Q- If you had the choice between getting to level 100 or having the EQ I am wearing now, what would you choose? (EQ- RDG, bloody war boots, and samurai katana)
A-lvl
Q- Would you rather do a fun quest or be in a fun pk?
A- fun pk
Now that you have my research you can see my full report.
My research leads me to believe that there are indeed six stages of newbdom. The stages are as follows:
Stage One: "Total Darkness"
-This stage is classified by total blindness to most factors of the game
-This is the stage where players first create their character and arrive on SB. They may get the monkey and fight a few jelly monsters while they explore.
-This stage most likely ends with the developing of friendships in-game and the mastering of the basic controls such as combat, movement, and socializing.
Stage Two: "Candlelit Path"
-This stage is characterized by the beginning of quests either alone or with friends. First quests usually involve the quest for the remote and getting roca, xaolan, etc.
-This is the stage that lets the player expand their horizons and learn how quests work.
-This stage probably lasts until level 25 or so when the "noob" has begun to pick up things from players that they talk to.
Stage Three: "Socializing"
-This stage is characterized by the use of Kelan village as a "social playground" where the "noobs" begin to meet even more new people and may join a guild.
-This stage is where subject three lands. At this stage pk is the favorite activity besides just chatting. As you saw above, subject three answered "friends" to my first question.
-An ego begins to appear around this stage. I was told by the "noob" that I questioned "Naaa naaa naaa nah, you can't hack me" -- I have no clue what was meant by this but it was obviously meant to be an insult or bragginf of some sort as if he/she had bested me by answering the non-threatening questions in a way that wouldn't let me "Hack" him/her.
Stage Four: "Real Beginning"
-This stage is characterized by exploration of North and South Island and by asking questions to any player who is a higher level than them.
-This is the stage where "noobs" become more outgoing and usually know how to burst and find a burst team on their own.
-All the question asking comes in handy because at this stage is where the "noob" masters the basic understanding of the game, expecially the fighting system as you saw subjects one and two answer in my questioner. They can do quests on their own and have realized the need to train as you can see in all three test subjects. At this stage they would rather get to level 100 than to take the semi-fancy clothes that were offered.
Stage Five: "Reverting Back"
-In this stage many "noobs" revert back to stage three except this time at a more advanced level.
-Most "noobs" become obsessed with EQ because they want their character to look socially appealing to others. Good EQ also symbolizes strength to them and they think by now that they should convey that strength.
-Sadly, I didn't get to interview anyone around this level but, if I did, my hypothesis would be that they would have answered the EQ for question two.
-This stage usually ends around level 90
Stage Six: "Into the Light"
-This stage is where the "noob" finally realizes that character looks and socializing aren't everything. They realize that level 100 isn't all that it is said to be and they have the drive to reborn.
-In this stage, my hypothesis is that they would have answered "a fun quest" to question three. The "noob" isn't really a noob anymore and I believe the term "young player" fits much better in this stage.
-Usually the "young player" leaves this final stage of newbdom at around level 130 where they begin to understand the higher significance of things. They are then thrown into the world of players and advanced players where they will learn and thrive and soon become one themself.
Stage Seven: "Ignorance"
-this stage is after players decide to reborn. most "noobs" think that there the"strongest" out there after they reborn and start pking other lower lvs and lower reborns to prove their stronger and start calling much higher reborns noobs cause the fact that they quote beat them doing something. This stage can either get worse or they get to stage eight which i call enlightenment as they lv up. (In my server I know a young girl named neko(heart symbol)mimi and shes one of the strongest, kindest and most experienced players i know and i can vouch for her myself. all lower lv reborns make fun of her for being strong[and she is not cause of all the IM stuff she has but because of her experience and to boot shes lv 150 fire killer.]and its aggravating for her and her true friends.]most noobs in this stage would rather get higher lv and do fun pks even thought they would kill instead of fun pking. This stage will end depending on the maturity of the person or when they get themselves beat hard by someone lower lv than them.
Stage Eight: "Enlightenment"
-at this stage the "noob" experiences like the stage says enlightenment and become a true member of wlo gameplay by actually relying on others and realizing where they need to work on themselves and help out others without expecting anything in return just so they can test out their own strategies.
Thanks for your time in reading this and DEFINITELY LEAVE COMMENTS. I want to know what you guys think.
Last edited Wed, 16 Mar 2011, 12:33am by Balthier22
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