Oolite Bulletins

This poll is a product of the discussions covered in the various forums dealing with the cadet pilots issue.

When a person runs the game for the first time they can get overloaded with the number of options that the game provides. Providing a First Flight Guide would ease them in to the game and show them the mechanics of it.

I've tried to cover some of the issues in the RS but there's only so much you can cram in. I know that there is one 'buried' in the Oolite website and much of it covered in the wiki but the information can be hard to find.

I've sort of semi-produced one as part of the work on the manual. I've always pictured the said manual as a separate download. A smaller guide would get them up and running, and then use as a launch pad to the other sources of information. With careful use of graphics and simple no-fills text it could be crammed in to a few hundred Kb so not bloating the download size.

So should there be a guide: yes / no / maybe? Let the voting and posting begin.

The Windows package contains a Readme which includes an advice for new commanders section written by Disembodied. Why this isn't included in the other versions I'm not sure. Anybody?

Anyway, looks like a tutorial run or whatever could be attached to that and the whole thing polished up into the official cross-platform readme.

There's a first flight tutorial (Lave to Zaonce) written by Giles online here. It could be easily converted to a PDF.

Disembodied wrote:

There's a first flight tutorial (Lave to Zaonce) written by Giles online here. It could be easily converted to a PDF.

Yep, I already got it. I should have included the link to it in the original post for any cadets reading the thread. Thanks for highlighting it. I was going to use it as the basis of the PDF/HTML file but include the return flight as well to show the concept of the Milk Run. I also agree with Micha that Disembodied's Read Me should be included in all packages as advices to freshers. Do you mind Disembodied if I do a little of my DTP magic and make it look all shiny so all the cadets will feel compelled to read it?

Less than 24 hours, 12 votes, the majority in favour of it so far. I'll wait till after the weekend and see what the outcome is, but it feels like I'm adding more work to my plate. Sometimes I swear that my work compulsion chip is over-clocked

KZ9999 wrote:

Do you mind Disembodied if I do a little of my DTP magic and make it look all shiny so all the cadets will feel compelled to read it?

Feel free! The latest version of it is the one on the wiki (there's probably very little difference between this and the one in the ReadMe, though, barring some anal-retentive text-fiddling).

Go for it definitely, but make it more than the first basics. For the do do's like me there needs to be a good upfront non techie 'whats it all about, how to, tips for advancing etc which comes up when you download, all about OXPs etc

Thanks for thinking of the noobs!

Lysander

Lysander wrote:

Go for it definitely, but make it more than the first basics. For the do do's like me there needs to be a good upfront non techie 'whats it all about, how to, tips for advancing etc which comes up when you download, all about OXPs etc

Not a bad idea, but it's a bit more than get you started files I was aiming for. How about this...

Included as part of the game files itself
Oolite RS
Your First Flight - featuring Disembodied's tips guide.

Seperate Downloads
A more detailed Hints & Tips Guide done as a single file wiki system. (a Tiddly Wiki)
The full manual as a pdf.

And not forgetting
The wiki and this fine BBS.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions anyone? Have your say in what you want, it's for you after all.

Please do it.... anything that makes it easier is good...

speaking as an almost complete newbie there are so many things different from the original elite that its very bewildering even then.... if you're starting from scratch with no previous knowledge it must be madness...

stuff i'd like to have known before which has taken me ages to find out...

q-bombs kill you instantly and you can't always see them coming
missiles are much much more powerful than you expect/remember
you can sell your starting ship and buy a cheap one and free up some credit
the space compass can also point at the sun and other stuff
ecms don't kill all missiles
witch space injector thingies need to be used (i assumed they were automatic)

Given the previous post, I think I have to expand the Your First Flight to Your First Flight & How To Survive Your First Fight <deep thoughtful look at the expanding workload.>

I've completed a rather interesting flight from Lave to Zaonce which has generated over 50 images. Almost ramming a station keeping viper leaving Lave station. Being tailed by a opportunistic coby3 while avoiding a rock hermit. listening to the GalCOP's fraging the coby3. Dogging a Anaconda and its escorts. Barely docking with Zaonce station. I tell you I had it all. Now to do a few practice fights around Lave. I'll post an update when I've got a good one.

Any other suggestions for the guide? Keeping in mind its for first timers.

please add in "learn the difference between an asteroid and a rockhermit before you fire your gun" otherwise expect to be running from the police all the time!!!!

Rebecca wrote:

please add in "learn the difference between an asteroid and a rockhermit before you fire your gun" otherwise expect to be running from the police all the time!!!!

"Know your target and what is beyond.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second. "

CptnEcho wrote:

Rebecca wrote:

"Know your target and what is beyond.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second. "

wise words... bit like experience really - something you get just after you need it!!!!!

CptnEcho wrote:

Know your target and what is beyond.

Hehe, the classic...chasing a pirate that is goind for a trader...and either shooting a bit too long when the pirate's gone or missing the pirate and hitting the trader. With police around, this easily can provide offender status or worse (especially if the pirate did fight a police ship).

Sometimes I just have to stop shooting because there's three ships in a row.

Screet

Since there is confusion about what a player can and can't get away with in the game I've added a section to the Oolite RS I'm working on covering GCW Orbital Laws. It lists both what make you a criminal and what you can do to restore your reputation. Hopefully this should deal with some of the issues noted

I've just completed the first draft of part one of the Your First Flight.

Be warned it weighs in at 1MB at the moment because I've haven't spent time squeezing the graphics like done with the OoliteRS. It covers the same area as the original Giles one with the inclusion of some of the newer tech, calling Station Traffic Control, and basic weapon usage. It's rough-as-guts at the moment, spelling and layout errors etc, but I've put up to see if I'm on the right track with it.

Your input is important on this so if you don't want to make a post, just PM me about anything that's catches your eye.