NEOPIA CENTRAL - Remember the first day you stumbled across Neopets? Were you overwhelmed by
the vast complexity that lay before you, or perhaps anxious to dive right in
and get playing? The world of Neopia offers many challenges, activities, and
often, a vast amount of confusion to a new player. How do I feed my pet? Why
is everyone talking about this Hidden Tower (and if everyone's talking about
it, how hidden can it be?) What's a guild? Newbies can have a lot of questions
and often, don't know where to turn for the answer. You can be that answer!
Here's why you should always help the new:
The 'Old' Days vs. Now
Over two years ago, when I was a new player, the game options were relatively
few. Food was pretty easy to get for the most part, and there were no worlds
to explore. Newbies had a pretty easy time getting aquatinted. As time went
by, more and more features were added, and today's new Neopia can be a very
confusing place to the first time visitor.
Helping the New
Each player was a Newbie at one time or another. If every player makes an effort
to help a newbie when they can, and those that were helped turn around and help
more new people, we can make a positive change in Neopia. Competitive spirit
is one thing, but too many people try and take advantage of the new instead
of guiding them. Some ways in which each person can help a newbie:
• Take a moment or two out of your day, every day you play Neopets, and
visit the Newbie chat board. Find a newbie with a question, and either answer
it yourself, or direct them to where they can find the answer (the Neopets Help
section, for example).
• Make a new Neofriend! Become the Neofriend of a new player and become
their mentor. Let them know that they can Neomail you for advice and guidance,
and give them some helpful hints for making NP and exploring the Neopian world.
• Report people you see posting scams and bogus shop sales or contests
on the Newbie chat board. Do your part to make it a safe place that the new
folks can ask for help in!
• Keep your shop prices fair!
• Put a little note in your user lookup that you are willing to give
friendly advice to those who are in need of a bit of guidance. Make sure that
you give advice only - don't give them the solution to a game, for example.
Everyone wants the challenge of figuring things out on their own.
Group Efforts
If you have a guild, suggest a mentor program that pairs up experienced members
with a member in need. My guild, ARC
Angels, has had a successful mentor program in place for over a year
now, and we're amazed with the results! Those who ask for a mentor often turn
around and volunteer to be mentors to a new person once they've got the hang
of the site. This makes it a perpetual program that's always training new help
just by the very nature of its existence. You can't beat that.
Guilds might also set up an advice page on their Web site, or on a guild member's
pet page that gives some guidance and helpful hints to new members, and Neopia
at large.
If you have a great Web site with help for Newbies on it, why not try sending
it in as a site spotlight? Then newbies all over Neopia can see it, and learn
something great!
Remember…
Newbies are people too! Some people tend to talk down to new people, mistaking
inexperience for stupidity. Remember that you were new once too, and be patient
with the new folks you see around Neopia. You have the opportunity to help -
use it wisely, and be a hero to the next generation of players!
If anyone wishes to contact me about the content of this article, I'm more
than happy to receive your Neomail.
I also am more than happy to give my advice and guidance to new players, so
newbies, feel free to ask me your questions. | 
