newbie events

This is related to, but different from another suggestion to allow scaling/choice in events.

What about running periodic event specifically for newer players. To qualify you would either have to be below a certain level (say 50 -- just to pick a number, though 60 might be more appropriate) OR not have participated in an event previously*.

However, rather than just having an automatic entry, my thought was to have a registration period. You would give people up to a certain day/time to register. (a week, say), then start the event with those who want to participate. There would be a specific thread for those wanting to participate, get drops, etc. You could have similar events run every month, with slight variations on theme, etc. Or, you could do a "junior"/ stepped down version of a regular event.

This might be easier (at least in regards to server space) than a tutorial which would have to run all the time. Also, it would better mimic some aspects of events -- pooling together to get drops, etc.

problems -- the biggest would be language. folks here all go to a forum of the same language, but in an event geared toward newbies only, there might not be enough to generate much discussion in each forum. A separate "forum" might be warranted. (that would require some doing, but also might be a good way to encourage reluctant users to visit their regular forum -- if they were told they NEEDED to go to this forum to participate -- maybe make registration automatic to those who are in event?) I would suggest putting in the sticky at top, and perhaps even in the announcement a suggestion that people use translation programs (note -- you could make this easier by using well known words for items like drops, crops, etc.) Although you would not want to endorse any specific one, you could simply mention those that are out there -- including if there are some more specific to particular languages (if there are any such?). Links would be nice, but perhaps problematic. Just listing names would be decent, though. This would not just get people into the idea that forums are useful (important here), but perhaps also orient them to using translation programs.

Another issue is how to duplicate older players helping newbies, which is another important aspect. For that, you might include all mentors, giving mentors drops and such (as long as they were in addition to any other drops!!). Further, you could offer mentors a reward for donating those drops, to encourage them to take the time to do so. (my favorite would be to give a certificate they could redeem for 5 regular drops from a future event, but something like an hour harvest helper coupon or even extra mentor points might be decent as well).

Alternatively, you could allow helpers to sign up just like the newbies do. In that case, you would have to offer a more general reward -- maybe PF or SS, SSG. It would not have to be much of those. Most people help just because they want to do so, but a reward does encourage folks.

A final issue is with many international users, cultural differences, extra moderation migth (???) be needed. A clear set of guidelines will help (reiterating the NO bad language, but with some lee way for the term manure which is often translated as a bad word, and perhaps other cultural differences -- by leeway, I mean let people know these might be issues ) The current moderators are way too busy to spend extra time on this, but that might be a good opportunity to allow some older players to temporarily help. Also, in some cases, it might offer you a way to see if prospective moderators would be decent (though I have to be clear the needs of these moderators might differ from regular ones)


* those who have not completed an event might be fair, but much harder to program. Perhaps you could say those who have not previously won an event cloud row, but that would be tricky -- might be too easily confused with those who have bought cloud rows, unless you programmed in specific names of cloud rows or such and that would take more programming time. Doing that for every event would be time-consuming.

 

I have to disagree with you on this one. Having events just for "newbies" would not be fair to others. You have specified that moderators and "helpers" could get some type of reward but what about the rest of the Farmerama players who cannot participate?

When I started playing in 2010 other than the daily gift there were no items given to help "newbies". Players had to harvest there items and sell that at the market or complete quests/events in order to level up. Its true that the market prices were lower but that affected not only what you sold but what you had to buy. Just how much help do "newbies" need?

There wasn't even a G&T back then so there were no free gifts received from neighbors. I know that I have given away upgraded trees, pens, workshops and EPs that I had to play for a long time to obtain. I have also received some.

I just don't agree to any quests/events that exclude players. I know that there are some (like top farmer) that I am excluded from but that is because I have not reached the upper levels where I have all that excess inventory.

 

Here is the problem. Things have changed a LOT since you and I each began. There is always a learning curve, but right now, as much as being inundated with repeated events and so forth is hard for us older players to keep up, its impossible for newer players. Also, at least in this forum, there just don't seem to be as many new players. As a mentor, most of the "newbies" I have gotten recently are actually second farms -- and, though our experience may not be representative, I see a lot of others with similar opinions. If we don't get new players, we won't have a game.. that is just reality. So, it behooves us to support things that will bring in more new players, because it will benefit us all.

The event that I am referring to above would be basically the same event, repeated. The "decorations"/theme might change, but not much else. It would be basic. It would have a lot more direction, and be as much about showing how events work, the benefits of them. The rewards, similarly, would be things that newbies need, but not offer much for older players. Again the primary purpose would be to introduce new players to events. Because it repeats, a lot more time and effort could be put into the instructions and so forth. (not practical with regular events) Basically, its a kind of demo, but more dynamic than could be done in a demo program.

As far as that goes, I would have no problem with older players playing, its just that having all older players would, I think take away from the training aspect. If anybody could participate, then it would be just another thing we all have to do. Other issues would be technical.

 

nm561 says:
says:If Farmerama is having trouble getting/keeping "newbies" then I think they need more than just a repeatable training event. There have been quite a few posts complaining about the frequency of events because of the constant drain on the pocketbook if you want to take part in all of them (to buy BBs, PF, HH, Event Baskets, etc.

Although I feel that there have been a lot of improvements I have also noted changes where if you don't spend the real cash and play for hours daily you have trouble keeping up with the game. When new pens/workshops/trees are offered I always find that I am still trying to get the pens/workshops/trees from 2-3 events ago (could still use Badgers, Chequers, Dogwoods, Rollinia Sugar-Apple, Goldenchain Flower, Dragonblood, Red Anjou Peark, Ponytail Palm Frond...the list goes on). This last G&T I just now received amy first Flamingo.

Maybe what you suggest would help but I just didn't like that it excluded some players. The other suggestions were for "high level players" where eventually everyone could play them once they reached a certain level. We already have a "repeatable quest" in the Farmers' Society that I use when I need to get some coinage. I remember when I first started doing events it was difficult to complete an event because I didn't have the time (couple hours a day and not every day)). It was hard enough just trying to harvest the crops, plant new ones and sell what I could at the market (I still haven't found the time to get my crops upgraded at the greenhouse). We also didn't have a game strategy forum so you were pretty much on your own to figure things out. When you only get a couple of hours a day to play you don't have the time to read all the instructions on what does what and how to improve things (buffs and size of plots, etc.).

Maybe they should look back to the past and see what people liked about Farmerama and try to re-incorporate them back into the game.

Other then "newbies" not having certain items and being able to complete events I don't really see what the difference is between now and then except for the frequency of events which is what makes it impossible to keep up. We used to have some "non-event time" that we could use to replenish our inventory. The prices are higher (goats were $10.00) but that affected selling and buying price. The prices now are the same except when an event is ongoing and then they are skyhigh. How can you complete an event when you can't afford to buy the CAC or the SG?

A lot of the recent changes have been blamed on the new owners but Bigpoint stated that they were still overseeing Farmerama and the events were started coming one right after the other before then so I don't think that they can be blamed for all of this. It actually seems to me that some of the things Bigpoint has done recently is to purposely anger players (low drop rates, constant demands for money for BBs, PF, Event Baskets, PS, etc.) -- maybe there are some disgruntled employees/managers.

 

I think you hot the nail on the head right here. This is the really tricky part combine with

Which is another key element.

I've been a newbie "back in the old days" and I've started over this summer. If I had no prior knowledge to the game it would be very easy to feel overwhelmed, and the chance of quitting. Not everybody have a mentor like I had and I had a few friends from the old days especially Illy, that took me under their wing

Having said that, I hate tutorials - tend to skip them and click straight on to the game. The more hand holding, the more boredom. Others are the complete opposite. So to find a balance there as well is going to be hard. There is also a culture aspect into this, some cultures people ask questions other cultures prefer to read and seek out their answers on their own. I'm not sure if the events as they are today are too hard to understand, but the fact it's very hard to complete a lot of them if you haven't played for a very long time and therefore not engaging the win-feel. Which is what will help keeping players in the game.

 

Both of you are making good points. I am not saying that what I suggest is THE answer, by any means.
Two of your points are actually why I came up with this. Not everyone likes tutorials or will ask questions (and definitely, this is partially culture, but also just personality).

I go "get" the no exclusion complaint. In fact, a big part of what makes events fun is being able to work together, -- whether it is drops or a true group goal. Nor do I think that things should be automatically easy. Challenge is part of what keeps things interesting. I did like another suggestion to have optional levels for events. Maybe that could include a "pure newbie" option that was actually open to all.

 

If Bigpoint has trouble keeping "newbies" then they should do something. To keep "newbies" and us "oldtimers" do away with all that clicking by giving the HH function for free.

 

I like that you are an advocate for the newer player woody

It is tough to balance events for the many different types of player this game has, not just young farm vs. established, but also how much time can be spent in game and how often a player can log in. I'm not opposed to new players having an event that is tailored to them so they can get their feet wet, but often times that is also possible when we have events set up like FSQs and they can do the silver levels. I think the biggest drawback that can be overwhelming to players is finding the right balance between normal farming to build stock or do quests and events that take time and farm resources. That is true for all levels of players. As a mentor, I would normally suggest they skip events until after out of the nest. Why? Because, event crops are typically their longest crop and can level a farm up very quickly giving a player access to lots of crops, trees, and animals which need to be fed. I do remember that at one point I didn't want to level up and get anything else new because I just wanted to build my farm a bit before getting hit with something new (I even considered quitting), but I also remember what it feels like to be on the sidelines and want to participate too.

 

I am old timer playing this game 6 years now. When i was a Newbie. There was not lots of Quests to do back in 2010/2011.

It was Easier to be able to stock up on Barn Stock during that time. Since there was not that many Quests or Events to do. Compare a Newbie from 2010/2011 to 2015/2016.

It is far more challenging to be able to do Quests. At Inflated Market Prices mow. The Increase Cost of Animal Feeds is not helping either. Even Price of Animals and Breeding Animals are very Inflated in today Markets. If only Newbies could see for themselves to what the Markets was like back then.

In the Old Forum we had a huge number of Farmers using old Forum not like the New Forum. As the Old Forum was much better. FAQ was more update and Relevant. We also had more Mods to Check our Forums or Amend FAQs.

Several FAQs are bit out of Date. Which causes lots of Confusion. That tends to put Newbies off this Game sooner compared to the old type of Newbies. The Old Forum was far better to why many carried on Playing this Game.

We did have lots of Newbies Joining this Game in the Past. Many of them Joined this Game Via Third Party. Which is now has been very restricted or no long able to access their Farm or even access the Forum like they use too. It is All very Sad.

No to Mention with Issues using Flash Player to Play this Gam too. It is all very sad.

This Game has to Bring in some Revenues to pay for up keep of this Game. If there was hardly any Revenues for Those Who play this game completely free. Should be Gratefully at All !!!

Many Newbies complain on many things as evidence in Suggest Postings. But some things cannot be modified to those who play for Free. It Makes Sense that Modifications are made to keep those who Buy BB, PF or SSG or SG. To Keep them Happy as they are the Ones who Bring in the Revenues to keep this game

I am Mentor as do try to help those Chickadees. This is New Problem in itself due to lack of New Chickadees/Newbies as we all say "Too many Chiefs and no Indians"

The Alternative to Build up Farms Quicker is using the Market to Study it to Make Millions of CC. Which can help you buy things from the Market which the need to Grow Crops, Animals etc, It not highly Depended on.

I do Share lots of Postings from what is Woody is saying. As we around very long time

 

It was stated that this idea was suggested because there is a problem getting and keeping "newbies".

How do "newbies" complete these events:
You can use larger fields with SG or smaller fields with CAC and put in a lot of hours playing.
You can purchase baskets, SG, PF, etc. to help.

The problem with this is: does a "newbie" want to invest real money into a came right away or wait to see if they consider it worth it because they like the game and want to continue playing it.

As far as you "established" players thinking everything should be paid for in the game and that he answer is to only cater to you well then I point out the original reason for the suggestion again -- they are having trouble getting/keeping "newbies" so that they can continue to game. Other "established" players might not like to have Farmerama discontinued (especially after they have invested a lot of real money into the game) and would also benefit from the suggestion to have HH functions free.

Apparently your suggestion to just keep doing things the same way is to keep the "newbies" clicking event after event after event. If I just started the game now instead of back in 2010 I would probably have quit long ago because of all the clicking required. Without the automated harvester activated to plant one plot you have to click 4 times minimum - this does not include water, manure, SG or SSG. Thankfully the harvesting part only takes 1 click. When events are taking place those of us without the excess funds try to use different techniques -- large plots with SG and switching back to 1x1's to keep the increase chances for drops (with 1x1 plots that is an extremely large amount of clicking just to plant/harvest the farm one time but these events run for days.

Maybe those of you who spend real money should be "grateful" that you have the excess money to spend on the game.

 

Pretty sure most of us are, and we are grateful that people that for whatever reason doesn't spend real money also play this game.

Yes the harvester clicking is tireing, however I am sure it's a great money spinner so to have the option totally free I can't see happening just yet. But I think I see a trend with offering more coupons as rewards which helps a bit.

The game can be very overwhelming for new players as it is now. And newer players struggle to complete events, which is fun, rewarding and helps us improve and move along the game/farm. Sooo, would a dedicated event field help ? That all players could only plant event crop in that particular field ? Less stress harvesting ? and perhaps remove some of the gap between old-timers and fresh players when it came to events ? Could be mixed up with events that would be more targeted at higher level players with all fields, where the events are more like today.

And I really like to have team events too, or quests - something a bit more social than we have now. (I have suggested this before somewhere). This would help mix players, keep people interested and logged in and sharing experience. Just like a good old neighbour-build-a-barn-project.

 

I have to say that the constant clicking is not only tiring but after days of playing can become quite uncomfortable or event painful. I know I don't have to partake in the event(s) and could just farm the farm but I think we all like to take part in the events/quests, etc. that are offered by Farmerama.

I have noticed too that there are more HHC's offered and appreciate them.

Maybe with a combination of the comments above and elsewhere in the Suggestion Forum Bigpoint can come up with something for everyone.

 

another BP game, rising cities, has tiered events depending on your level. With lower donation requirement for lower players and prizes more suited to your level. I think there are usually 3 tiers dependant on your level. There donated items are normally the the same, but the quantities less.