Discussion: Coaching/Tutorials

[1Life0Continues]

Hey there,

I had an idea that might have been floated somewhere else, so forgive me and refer me to that place if so.

A forum post about Ineptitude in Games gave me this idea: Would we be able to set up a volunteer Tutor/Buddy system for the Experts in game types, and the "noobs/inept" to pair up and the expert tutors the 'noob' player?

I dunno how effective this would be, but I figure it's worth a try. Escapists label themselves as Expert in something, or Noobs in something, and if two people match up, they see if they have the right stuff to have a coaching game. eg. "Hi. I'm Liam and I suck at Starcraft 2. Anyone able to give me some coaching?" OR "Hi, I'm Liam, and I kick ass at Borderlands. Anyone struggling?" (NB: although let's be fair, that's probably not exactly a difficult game to master...and is also a lie).

For instance. I love the idea of tactical turn based games like X-Com. But I'm shit at them (I really am). The only games I've excelled at were the Front Mission games, but those aren't really the same thing as X-Com. So in this tutorial idea, I would pair up with an escapist that knows the game inside out (As in, has beaten the game on Ironman Impossible level for example) and they take me through a few levels of the game with hints, tips and strategies for how they would play a situation and why. Then I play a level without their help, and they give me a rating at the end, along with what I could improve on, what I did well etc etc.

Possibly via a private Twitch stream room or something. Or whatever the two work out.

There are issues like timezones and such, but I'm sure those can be worked out. Flexibility is the best part of the Internet, after all.

This is just an idea, but what would it take to make it work? Or does such a thing exist already? I figure escapists helping each other makes sense in terms of it gives a singular place to make arrangements and such. Plus, it's better (IMO) for a lot of people than reading guides online. That can be pretty overwhelming IMO.

Anyway. That's it.

Discuss!

 

[madwarper]

A forum post about Ineptitude in Games gave me this idea: Would we be able to set up a volunteer Tutor/Buddy system for the Experts in game types, and the "noobs/inept" to pair up and the expert tutors the 'noob' player?

I hope you mean "newb", instead of "noob", because they don't mean the same thing.

A "newb", or new beginner, is someone relatively new to an activity. They may either be purely inexperienced, or they may have picked up some bad habits along the way. Regardless, they have the potential to grow and get better.

A "noob", on the other hand, is not new to an activity. And, they show tendencies to obstinately refuse any advise offered to them for improvement.

So, I welcome a system for pairing a tutor with a newb, as long as the tutor knows what they're getting themselves into. Sometimes, when I play an MMO, I'll want to run a dungeon I've done hundreds of times and am over-leveled for, but will take anyone along with me and give instruction as needed. Then, there are other times, that I have a very limited play window and want to get on, complete a few dungeons with a group of people that already knows what they're doing.

Though, as for the "noobs", I'd rather see then quarantined off in their own section, so they don't infect the rest of the community with their noobish ways.

 

[Duster]

@op
this exist as a paid service, you can find it on places like solomid or on sponsor sites, like fnatic and sk (idk if they offer coaching on their sites directly, but the players would definitely take the offer)


Some communities set up groups to help new users, such as these guys:
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/l2lpug

Starcraft 2 also has a buddy system, I don't have links though


@madwarper
even if that is a practical and rational useage of the terms, they aren't truelly adapted into usage in that way