A few thoughts you might want to look at

[Saya_Mutella 0]

Well, I decided to try out your academy on thursday Jan 20th and was disappointed.

 

Sure the people were nice and all, but I was disappointed with the help.

 

Was told to ask certain people for help during the sim as I never been to those with so many tags and all. Never received answers until farther into the sim so I was lost.

 

Then had an emergency with my husband, took care of it ... specifically let them know I was ... and left out for rest of sim.

 

My suggestion is to make someone in your group ONLY answer questions for total newbies. Not be in the sim at same time. I got frustrated I left to cool down.

 

Most people may say why? If I am told to do speak to a person for help .. I expect it. I am new and what I saw in that sim was NOT covered in your Help part of site.

 

I will try one more time at a later date to look into the academy.

[WxMurray 0]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Don't give up. I can't speak for others, but if someone asks me a question, I answer it.

Edited January 21, 2005 by WxMurray

[Dumbass 0]

This was not a normal sim. Usually there are two GMs (sometimes more) who can help answer questions and steer cadets in the right direction. We only had one GM tonight and lots of cadets so Lebowski had to work double-duty.

 

One trick people have learned is to copy-paste their position tags so that you only need to set it up once - maybe twice if you are on an away team and need to slap the @ symbol on.

[Atragon9 0]

Yes, our Academies are in place specifically for teaching anyone the basic procedures and policies in simplay. They exist to help folks get up to speed with others more experienced so that everyone will have fun playing. If you had a bad experience, please know that it was the exception and not the rule. Come back and play in another Academy!! Thanks.

 

See You In Space!

[sasbas 0]

i hope you try again i have found that majority of the other people here simming are very helpful. give it another try everyone here are a great bunch and willing to help you out. :D

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

Here is my tip....i was a bit intimidated at first too. What i did, was before i ever participated, I watched. i watched about four different sims, academy and advanced, before i said a word in the chatroom. While i did, i asked some questions in PM's to the GM's (i just love the sound of that)....but if they didn't have time to answer right away, i wasn't too affected, because i wasn't playing. When i did sim, i would stick around afterward and have a long chat with the GM (via PM) about what I could work on. But i would suggest observing....There is a teaching tool for people in traning (both trainers and trainees) that goes as such:

 

1. I do, you watch

2. We do it together

3. You do I watch

4. You do

 

So maybe that will help you "assimilate" (hehe) the academy better

 

Good luck, see you in the sims.

[Saya_Mutella 0]

There were 2 people who said they would help, and I was told of OTHERS when the sim was more than halfway done. And those others who could have helped me were not simming at the time.

 

So ... *shrugs*

[Seiben 0]

Yeah, what I'd reccomend is to try an Academy earlier in the week, such as Mon - Wed. Since Lebowski usually is the only GM in there, on Thurs. But sims like today with so many cadets are rare. Usually, there's more advanced simmers or GMs in Attendance to help newbies out.

[Jenna James 0]

I am so sorry you had a rough first sim!

Please don't give up!

You are not expected to know how to do everything on

the first try, it will take a few trys to become used to filling the

positions the GM's give you.

 

The Academy sims are here to teach you what you need to know,

in order to continue to an advanced sim. Please try to be patient and

stick with us. I know if you'll give it a couple more tries you'll come

to love it.

 

That's my two cents.

Hope you stay with us.

Jenna

[Saya_Mutella 0]

Well sadly I can't since I have college and a sick mother going through chemo so .. mon-wed is out.

 

First impressions make everything you know. I can't help it if people don't read their PMs. Go take care of an emergency ... letting them know .. come back .. letting them know .. then I'm ignored. Sweet.

 

~~This was not a normal sim. Usually there are two GMs (sometimes more) who can help answer questions and steer cadets in the right direction. We only had one GM tonight and lots of cadets so Lebowski had to work double-duty.

 

One trick people have learned is to copy-paste their position tags so that you only need to set it up once - maybe twice if you are on an away team and need to slap the @ symbol on. ~~

 

Okay, there were other informative people on that could have helped by being designated helpers, who weren't simming. As for the tags ... NO WHERE in the Help section did it even state what they were. I had to ask the question to "my department head" and wait ... and wait ... Argh

 

To frustrating. Just thinking about it makes me angry.

 

I'm outta here. If you think there is something important I should know e-mail me

 

[email protected]

 

Not holding my breath though :D

Edited January 21, 2005 by Saya_Mutella

[OHNO 0]

Sorry about you having a bad time. We all have a bad time some times but we just get back up and keep going. I understand how angry you can get when you don't know whats going on and it seems that nobody is going to tell you eather. We all have been through it at one time or another, some of us a little longer then most. I will say that I thought I would never get out of the Academy. I would show up every day that I could. I could not even tell you how many of them I did, I stoped counting at 10. And yes I was getting mad to. but you just have to hang in there and keep going. Questions can be hard to get answers to during the sim, but after the sim, they will answer all you have. Now think about it, your not the only one there and he is trying to answer every body. Its hard when there is only 1 GM there and nobody else to help out. Like I said, I'm sorry you had a bad time but don't let that stop you. See you around, and Have Fun. :D

[Saya_Mutella 0]

Sorry about you having a bad time. We all have a bad time some times but we just get back up and keep going. I understand how angry you can get when you don't know whats going on and it seems that nobody is going to tell you eather. We all have been through it at one time or another, some of us a little longer then most. I will say that I thought I would never get out of the Academy. I would show up every day that I could. I could not even tell you how many of them I did, I stoped counting at 10. And yes I was getting mad to. but you just have to hang in there and keep going. Questions can be hard to get answers to during the sim, but after the sim, they will answer all you have. Now think about it, your not the only one there and he is trying to answer every body. Its hard when there is only 1 GM there and nobody else to help out. Like I said, I'm sorry you had a bad time but don't let that stop you. See you around, and Have Fun. :D

No one seems to read what I have been saying, there were other people there who later on in the sim I found out could have helped me. They were not simming to my knowledge. I was also talking to whomever was supposed to be my department head, then I was just forgotten. So I was not just talking to the GM.

 

What I am trying to say is this. I understand there will be days when only 1 GM. But if you have people there who are knowledgeable .. and I would assume if it has LT and Cmdr in front of their names they are, then designate them as newbie helpers. They don't sim just answer questions.

 

Take alot of strain off the GM.

[Grom 0]

Okay, there were other informative people on that could have helped by being designated helpers, who weren't simming. As for the tags ... NO WHERE in the Help section did it even state what they were. I had to ask the question to "my department head" and wait ... and wait ... Argh

Actually, explanations on the tags and abbreviations are in the help section...

 

http://www.stsf.net/howtosim/positions.php

http://www.stsf.net/howtosim/abbreviations.php

 

As far as "helpers" are concerned, there are many people who sit in the chat rooms while doing other things. There is an advanced simulation after the Thursday night Academy and many of those players arrive early and go off and do other things. That's their choice. Some advanced players do play the academies when they have the time. That's why the roster in the beginning of the sim is very important. That way you can see who is playing.

 

One minor note about PMs. Because PMs don't flash on the bottom of the toolbar when new ones are received, it is often difficult to see when a PM is received. In the future if you wish for someone to read your PM message, feel free to type to the chat screen something like this...

 

<<Trekkie430, please check your PM. Thanks!>>

The << >> symbols are for OOC (Out of Character) conversation.

 

As what was mentioned before, what you experienced is the exception not the rule. It is your choice whether or not you wish to try again, however, please note that our GMs work hard to provide a positive experience for all players. Just talk to any of our newer graduates. :D

 

See you around!

[Dumbass 0]

But if you have people there who are knowledgeable .. and I would assume if it has LT and Cmdr in front of their names they are, then designate them as newbie helpers.  They don't sim just answer questions.

Advanced players continue to sim in the Academies because we like to. And we are all willing to help a fellow player out, Cadet or not, if we see an opportunity to do so. I happen to know that Lebowski not only asked some of the Advanced players to help watch over the Cadets but he also arranged the roster so that there were a mix of Advanced and Cadets in the different departments. It didn't quite hold up when some of us went on the away mission but that will happen sometimes too.

 

What you are suggesting, however, goes a step farther and is a bit unfair. You are suggesting the GMs take the Advanced players - who are there because we want to sim - and say "You can't sim tonight. Just help me control the Cadets." This would also result in a missed opportunity for you since you would not be able to watch the "professionals" at work as an example to follow.

Edited January 21, 2005 by Dumbass

[DaryusZaphodDracal 0]

Hey and welcome. Don't get discouraged if you make mistakes or don't know what to do your first few sims. That is what the academy is for, to learn. I've been playing role playing games for 30 years, but was totally and utterly lost my first couple of academy's here. My advice for any new cadet is to read everything on the site, the help section and Moose's tips especially. Also, practice your typing skills and multitasking. One of the secrets to being a good simmer is to be able to keep up with the action while you are typing. So, take some time on your own and just practice typing tags and commands and whatnot. Don't worry if you goof up during an acadamy. I've done some doozies in my time believe me. It will all come to you with practice. Also, watching what other's do durring a sim is important. One of the best ways to be guided is by example. But, most of all..... HAVE FUN!! This is after all a game. And, the object of a game is to have fun playing it. Once again welcome, and I hope to see you around the sim's.

 

Zaphod,

"You will be assimilated, meow."

[Saya_Mutella 0]

Remember that your Chief might also have been a cadet. It takes practice to multi-task, read, and type rapidly all at the same time while trying to remember Star Trek Departmental details. For better or for worse, if you want to get noticed, you have to speak or do something in character.

 

~~~I didn't know what to do.  And I didn't feel like making a total idiot of myself there.~~~

 

When you see nicknames in the room with a higher rank, it doesn't necessarily mean they are available for chat. Some like to just hang out. It always sounded creepy to me, but they are called Lurkers.

 

One important question... You might have been trying to PM people in other rooms. Did you notice the difference between the nicknames that were white and grey? There are 3 rooms and everyone shows up on the list no matter what room they are in. Not everyone likes PM's so feel free to ask your questions on these message boards.

 

~~~Oh that's nice to know now~~~

 

Don't be discouraged. You'll get more familiar with the simming conventions. Just be sure to read -About Us, Help, Rules, and Tips From the Moose-.

 

~~Um read them all~~

 

When I'm simming, I don't have the time for lengthy Private Messages. But I am getting used to making sure I check my PM's especially when the GM's have something important to teach.

 

Trying to keep up with the posts in the room is not easy. Hopefully you'll attend another Academy or two when you have time. Post any question no matter how small on this message board.  Don't fret it's ok, it's just a game. We are all cadets in training. Sometimes you miss it when another person is speaking to you.  They are not intentionally ignoring you.

 

The Red Star Nightclub is a much more relaxed sim and you can PM this wanna-be Admiral the whole hour. :D I play a different character every Saturday. Being a Gemini, I like to keep the twins happy. Maybe I'll see you on Saturday Night.

 

~~I don't know, people make me feel like I am stupid and should know what is going on, and I don't like it. The help section may SHOW tags, don't say you need to put them in there. As for my suggestion that Dumbass shot down, if there is not enough GMs to help new simmers, I thought it would be nice for the extra help. I only have very slim times to get on between my mother who has ovarian cancer and going through chemo and my college ... a place I wanted to try and relax ... and now I get treated like this. Just take my name off these boards because I am so angry and frustrated right now it's not worth it anymore.~~

[FstLtMcLean 0]

~~I don't know, people make me feel like I am stupid and should know what is going on, and I don't like it. The help section may SHOW tags, don't say you need to put them in there. As for my suggestion that Dumbass shot down, if there is not enough GMs to help new simmers, I thought it would be nice for the extra help. I only have very slim times to get on between my mother who has ovarian cancer and going through chemo and my college ... a place I wanted to try and relax ... and now I get treated like this. Just take my name off these boards because I am so angry and frustrated right now it's not worth it anymore.~~

Like everyone else has said, we're sorry that you had a bad experience. In all fairness though, every reply on this topic has been encouraging as if to say "hey, we're sorry you had a bad experience...but don't give up...sometimes it takes a few tries to get a hang of things." I'm proud of the way STSF members have responded, it speaks well of the community that we have here. :wacko:

 

So...we hope that you choose to sim here again sometime and get to know some of the most awesome people on the planet. :D

 

-McLean

[WxMurray 0]

Like everyone else has said, we're sorry that you had a bad experience. In all fairness though, every reply on this topic has been encouraging as if to say "hey, we're sorry you had a bad experience...but don't give up...sometimes it takes a few tries to get a hang of things." I'm proud of the way STSF members have responded, it speaks well of the community that we have here. :)

 

So...we hope that you choose to sim here again sometime and get to know some of the most awesome people on the planet. :D

 

-McLean

Agreed.

 

Again, you chose the Thursday Academy, which is different with the one GM. I'm sorry we did not sim together. My advanced sim is the same time as the Thursday Academy, so I was not available. I always sim the four Academies on Monday through Wednesday and I give all the help needed.

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

Besides all that everyone has said, there is something else...

 

Now that we know how you feel, and what you're experience was...the next time you're name shows up in a chatroom....everyone will be more than willing to wamly welcome you and give you all the help we can. Knowing the STSF world from the veiwpoint I do, i would strongly urge you to give us another chance, and not let this opprotunity slip by with only one sim. Hang in there, we are all here for you. (And we'll pray for your Mom too) :D

[WxMurray 0]

Besides all that everyone has said, there is something else...

 

Now that we know how you feel, and what you're experience was...the next time you're name shows up in a chatroom....everyone will be more than willing to wamly welcome you and give you all the help we can. Knowing the STSF world from the veiwpoint I do, i would strongly urge you to give us another chance, and not let this opprotunity slip by with only one sim. Hang in there, we are all here for you. (And we'll pray for your Mom too) :D

What he said.

[Seiben 0]

~~I don't know, people make me feel like I am stupid and should know what is going on, and I don't like it. The help section may SHOW tags, don't say you need to put them in there. As for my suggestion that Dumbass shot down, if there is not enough GMs to help new simmers, I thought it would be nice for the extra help. I only have very slim times to get on between my mother who has ovarian cancer and going through chemo and my college ... a place I wanted to try and relax ... and now I get treated like this. Just take my name off these boards because I am so angry and frustrated right now it's not worth it anymore.~~

Oh well, sorry you feel that way about us, we really a helpful bunch.. but this is just a game, and your life is more important. Will keep you and your mom in my thoughts. :D

[Johnny Unitas 0]

Gosh....angry angry. Just take it slow, don't freak out on us and you'll be fine.

[Atragon9 0]

Okay, Saya wants this discussion to end, so we'll close the thread.