New - Mentors and Midshipman games!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

There have long been discussions about how to get new players to learn and enjoy VGA Planets. As every experienced player knows this is a long road with a lot to learn. Most players have learned from someone they know. Someone who mentored them. This has often been discussed on Planets Nu as a possible option, but separating the good new players from the large numbers of people just dropping in for a look made the prospect daunting and some structures were needed before we could do this. We believe the time has now come with the addition of the single player games. 

Therefore, we have started the new Mentors and Midshipmen series of games. We hope all experienced commanders will donate a small slice of their time to play a game with the new recruits. Consider it a new challenge! In this series commanders who are are least Lt.Commanders can join as the Mentor in a six teams of 2 setting. Each team of 2 is completed by a new midshipman player. 

In order to fill these games we will invite new players who are doing well in the single player games to join the game whenever the 6 mentors have signed up. We hope this will fill these games relatively quickly. All recruits who join will have completed at least basic training in the single player games. So they may be very fresh, but should at least know how to build a ship or colonize a planet and have shown enough interest in the game to complete a level. 

As mentors it is important to understand the primary purpose of the game is learning, but it can be a fun and challenging game as well. Your job is to encourage and train your recruit without losing them. This is a game where the Mentors are fighting each other and the recruits are just along for the ride. If you do a good job with your recruit you'll give yourself the best possibility of winning. If your recruit drops, well, you are on your own. 

Be very patient, friendly, and supportive of your recruit. Remember that it's just a game and that we want them to have a great experience. 

Also keep in mind that your Midshipman will most likely not be a Premium player. Please do not pressure them to upgrade. Show them how to use the natives to get the tech levels you are aiming for.  

This is an experiment as we continue to look at ways to increase our player count and share Planets with the world. Your support, feedback and help on the Mentor games will definitely be needed.  

The new games can be found on the New Games List as "Mentors and Midshipman". Mentors must join in the first position of each team. Midshipmen will join in position two of each team.  

So if you are an experienced player please sign up for one of these games. If you are a new player who wants to learn more by playing with an experienced partner now is your chance.

Have fun all and keep the feedback coming!

UPDATE: Many of you mid level players are wondering whether you are qualified to be a mentor. The beginners are true beginners. They don't know anything. If you have played 200 or 300 turns and finished a game or two you are more than qualified to be a mentor. Get in there and share what you know, teaching is always a great way to learn too. You do not have to be an expert playing for 20 years to be a mentor or we'll have about 3 of these games going and very few people will learn anything. Everyone who is enthusiastic should give back what they know by becoming a mentor. 

We would love to see 20 or 30 mentor games in progress and growing! That is only 120-180 recruits and we get about 50 new signups every day! Right now most of those guys just try and give up. So don't just think about it, sign up as a mentor.  No one will judge your worthiness.