Posted - 2011.07.03 08:07:00 - [1]

 

I understand the need to redo and update Aura's original 'Basic Training' tutorial known as 'Crash Course'. I think the Aura NPE (New Player Experience) is much better and a step in the right direction compared to the old 'Basic Training'.

However, the mission series 'The Endless Battle' was completely different even though the Agents offering it were known as 'Tutorial Agents'. There was no need to 'retire' those agents.


The way it used to be for a new player entering the game.

'Crash Course'
(Basic Training)

Players could repeat this at any time in 1 of 12 (3 per Faction) specific Solar systems. Aura would train players in ship and station controls in 2 different locations within that Solar system. In space, players were sent to a specific training site to destroy a single NPC in simulated combat (no damage to player). After that while still in the training site, players were instructed to do some mining where a couple more training NPC's would attack. After destroying them and mining some Ore, players would then return to station for instruction about the various station services.

No Corporation or Faction standing incurred for completing that. Aura would then refer players to 1 of 60 (15 per Faction) Event Agents known as 'Tutorial Agents' who offered the 2-part mission series 'The Endless Battle'.


'The Endless Battle'
(2-part mission)

This was the new players very first 'real' mission which could only be completed once per agent in the life of the character. Part 1 was a simple Encounter mission against a single NPC which when destroyed, would drop a small specific item to be returned to Agent. Part 2 was a simple Courier mission to transport a small specific item to a nearby Solar system.

A small amount of Corporation and Faction standing incurred for completing that. The Agent would then refer players to 1 of 60 (15 per Faction) Career Agents for more advanced training on the various careers available.



Basically, the incorrectly named 'Tutorial Agents' didn't give any instruction or information to new players other than refer them to the Career (Advanced Tutorial) Agents. The old 'Tutorial Agents' were actually Political Liaisons for their specific Faction. Those 60 Agents were a good source for gaining a 1 time Faction standing increase.

I propose 2 different options for the 60 Tutorial Agents (15 per Faction) and their mission 'The Endless Battle', 1 simple and 1 complex.


Option 1 (simple):
Bring the old 'Tutorial Agents' back out of retirement and change their Title to 'Political Agents'. Have them continue offering 'The Endless Battle' mission with a slight change to their ending dialog so they don't refer players to the Career Agents (Currently done by Aura NPE).

Option 2 (complex):
Have the new 'Political Agents' (15 per Faction) split up into 5 different Agent levels, 3 Agents per level from level 1 to level 5. Have them all offer 'The Endless Battle' mission series but have the mission difficultly and reward increased to match the higher Agent levels.


These new 'Political Agents' and their mission offers can only be completed once per Agent in the life of the player's character, just like the old 'Tutorial Agents'.

The code is already written and with some slight programming, Option 1 could be implemented very easily. Option 2 would of course take more time and work to implement but is still doable.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this proposal.

DMC