A few days ago, Stephanie (from Studio Cosplay) sent me an e-mail asking me to post a “Welcoming Newbies” message she posted in Facebook. A Call to Arms.
Why are we as gamers so desensitive toward new players? Those we dub noobs. Of course, one wouldn’t want one of those in a raid, but out there in the open world — what makes us call them noob and not wish to extend our hand to guide them?
You see, it is our nature to help people in real life. There is a person behind the screen when you see a player asking for help in trade chat. Why insult them, instead of assist? What has plagued us to mistreat people? is it a superiority complex? Is it complete disregard of someone else’s feelings? Is that intolerance attitude transfering into your real life habitats (Home, neighborhood, workplace)?
Sometimes I’m focused on my dailies, or questing — more recently since World of Warcraft: Legion Alpha started. Suddenly, someone new to the Alpha or the Beta would ask where to find something. I would send a private message to guide him or her. Sometimes there’s someone near death with a bunch of mobs beating him/her as I ride through. What makes me stop and care? I immediately start healing the player to full health, and help finish off the mobs. Sometimes someone who just joined the game can’t find someone to queue into a lowbie dungeon — ahh, I remember those pre-LFG finder days. What makes you go out of the way from your duties to assist a newbie, or low-level character player?
It’s in our nature as members of society, as a neighbor, it’s engraved in our core family values to care for others. However, there are people out there (those we dub trolls) who don’t care about other people, nor to help new players. Some might say it’s because they had a rough childhood. I say, that’s no excuse. I had a rough childhood. I had no father figure throughout it. I was bullied and punched to a pulp. Yes, that affected me in some ways (I’m very shy, and don’t talk much), but I care about people. I can relate to people, and assist when in need.
Why insult people merely because they started playing World of Warcraft, and don’t have the same knowledge you have? It’s a video game, not serious business. Do you behave like a troll that way in real life too? Is it too late to change our ways toward newbies?
The Warcraft Movie hits theaters on June 7-10 in the United States, and already played in Europe. A rush of new Warcraft players will hit our servers like a tidal wave. How will you welcome these newbies?
Stephanie’s words should be heard. No matter how simple it sounds. No matter if you already acknowledge the words as something you already know or act on. Heed the call!
Stephanie: Calling all veteran WoW players! Listen up, cuz this is kinda important.
In about 5ish weeks, the long-anticipated “Warcraft” movie will premiere. A LOT of people who have never played Warcraft I/II/III or World of Warcraft may decide they want to try out WoW. They will have NO idea how this game works, how to get anywhere, how etiquette works, anything about lore, and some of them may not have even ever played an MMORPG before. They may stand in the fire. They may roll Need on something they don’t need. They may pull an entire room of monsters in a dungeon. They may ask a lot of questions that seem to a veteran like dumb questions.
So this is my little call to action to all of us: let’s be the best gaming community ever, and welcome these newbs to this crazy world that became such a fun part of our lives. Let’s be patient, gracious, generous, and helpful to them. If they’re squeeing from the standpoint of the movie and not 12 years (or 22 years) of these stories, so what, it’s all awesome stuff, let’s squee together. By extension, how newcomers experience the WoW community could make or break the future of these film adaptations, or even (arguably) the longevity of the game.
There’s great potential for either sour tastes or new friendships. Let’s go for the friendships.
🙂
FOR AZEROTH!!!!!
Share your thoughts in her Facebook message. If you are a Cosplayer near Washington D.C. or wish to learn how to StudioCosplay has 3 upcoming workshops at the 2016 AwesomeCom (read details)
