Comments on: Why do so many games have starter isles?

By: tabascun

tabascun — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:22:46 +0000

I can’t even remember the instancing in EVE, and I played it for a couple of months myself. Also, while I skipped the intro in LotRO, I think that only skips the very first quest? As in, you’d still end up in Archet doing the defense, which is separated from the rest of the world?

I’m just wondering whether there is a good reason to have instanced or otherwise separated areas for newbies in MMOs these days. There is little bonding going on with strangers, and if your friends happen to not start out with you, but are higher level, you can’t even meet up with them until you’re done with your first couple of levels. I’m not sure why this would be good design.

By: Wilhelm Arcturus

Wilhelm Arcturus — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:15:18 +0000

At one point the first few steps in the EVE tutorial were in an instance of your own. It was a big step up from the tutorial before that where you were assigned tasks in open space that others could (and would) prevent you from completing.

And in LOTRO you get the option to skip the intro and just get the goodies and exp if you don’t need the learning aspect of the whole thing.

Back in day one EverQuest you were pretty much dropped down out in front of your home town and left to figure things out. That worked for some. I was fine with it, but I came from MUDs where they would drop you in your class guild hall and not even point you to the door.

I’m sorry, what was the question again?