Guidebook - Beginner Area suggestions

[Jenesis]

This is just one member's opinion, but in here I'm going to list what I would find useful for a beginner handbook ("beginner" in this case meaning "What do I *absolutely* need to know to get started, i.e. from New Bark to Cherrygrove?") Everything else can be tossed into the Advanced Handbooks section.

HOW DO I BE?
-Proboards ToS (i.e. site rating, no M content)
-Don't be a jerk
-Don't plagiarize, spam, advertise in the Cbox, etc, etc.

HOW DO I MAKE AN ACCOUNT/CHARACTER?
-One account per person
-Your username can be your ooc name or your character's name, it doesn't matter
-Link to/summary of the character creation rules; imo they're pretty comprehensive, but a refresher couldn't hurt.
-Link to the "Claim a starter" board after your character is accepted
-Max three characters per person & limits thereof

OK, GREAT. HOW DO I THREAD?
-Include the "Tips: Before you Begin" advice in here
-No minimum word count, just try to give your thread partner something to go on
-No activity requirements; go inactive as much as you like
-Wait 5 days for a mod
-You must go through the routes in order, and according to the route-specific rules
-Once you unlock a route, you can backtrack whenever you want
-You control yourself, your Pokemon, and any NPCs you brought along/originally created for the thread
-Thread limitation rules (right now they're buried in the middle of the Group RP rules, which is super unhelpful because most people will never Group RP on here); link to Group RP rules in a separate thread; distinguish modded and non-modded threads for purposes of things like exp gain and progression
-You can put one thread on hold at a time
-If you have multiple threads, the same Pokemon cannot be in two battles at once (+mention corner cases like exp share and "party splitting" like in quests that have a party limit)

A MOD RESPONDED! HOW DO I BATTLE?
-What the battle screen looks like
-What actions you can do every turn (i.e. move then the foe goes, or switch/item and move/switch/item then the foe goes twice, +mention running shoes/bike)
-What are the limits on running away
-You cannot declare a dodge or hit
-The mod will handle the battle math
-You can flavor the Pokemon's actions how you like, but the battle math will prevail
-You cannot rp the actions of the enemy Pokemon/Trainers

A COOL POKEMON! I WANT IT!
-Catch mechanics from the games apply
-Pre-first badge, you can catch fainted Pokemon
-How to add a new Pokemon to your collection (i.e. fill out the form and add it to your party or PC)
-You can leave blank/reset Pokemon if they've never been used
-You still get XP if you catch Pokemon

THE BATTLE ENDED! PROGRESS MADE?
-The basics of how leveling/exp gain works (don't need the whole table, but the exact pre-25 numbers are helpful, to more precisely plan what will happen after a given battle is fought)
-How to learn new moves, move limits, and how to replace old moves (i.e. it's like the games; newest generation learnlists, except for TMlists that include everything since Gen 4)
-The basics of how evolution works (i.e. it's like the games, you can cancel, + a link to the special evolution methods)
-You can switch party members between battles
-You auto-heal between battle except in quests and areas that specifically say otherwise

Please let me know if there's anything you feel I missed, or anything that shouldn't be here!

[Tiki]

Mar 18, 2024 16:12:15 GMT 11 Jenesis said:

I WON THE BATTLE! WHAT NOW?
-How to add a new Pokemon to your collection (i.e. fill out the form and add it to your party or PC)
-The basics of how leveling/exp gain works (don't need the whole table, but the exact pre-25 numbers are helpful, to more precisely plan what will happen after a given battle is fought)
-How to learn new moves, move limits, and how to replace old moves (i.e. it's like the games; newest generation learnlists)

To add stuff we ask in chat a lot:
- can blank Pokemon until use. Traded pokemon can’t name but can be nicknamed in rp

Would the exp guide for pre level 25 need a little revision for examples?
Tm is one used and already mentioned in the tm list so link there too would work

[Jenesis]

Made an edit to clarify that TM/HM lists do NOT follow the newest generation games, they go back to gen 4.

[Goni]

I wonder if it's worth mentioning any of these
- Obtain Running Shoes to speed up battles
- Casino Fountain once a week
- Gambling at the Casino to earn coins (+ unlimited free 50 coin top-ups to get you started)
- Pokemon Escapades
- Player Estates as an option to visit and catch unique Pokemon
- Adoption Center
- Check out current site-wide events
- Buena's Password
- Monthly Lottery
- Pre-first badge, you can catch fainted pokemon
- You still get XP if you catch pokemon
- You can shop at any time but can't use items you just bought in current battles if the battle has already begun(I think this is true)

[Jenesis]

Mar 19, 2024 4:41:08 GMT 11 Goni said:

I wonder if it's worth mentioning any of these
- Obtain Running Shoes to speed up battles
- Casino Fountain once a week
- Gambling at the Casino to earn coins (+ unlimited free 50 coin top-ups to get you started)
- Pokemon Escapades
- Player Estates as an option to visit and catch unique Pokemon
- Adoption Center
- Check out current site-wide events
- Buena's Password
- Monthly Lottery

These are all optional activities that we can send new players toward once they're in a "Waiting for mod" state looking for other things to do, but I wouldn't put them in the basic rules. The aim of the revision is to not make people feel overwhelmed before they've even gotten started.
I would also add Forum Games to the above list.

- Pre-first badge, you can catch fainted pokemon
- You still get XP if you catch pokemon

This is good and I edited these into a new HOW TO CATCH section.

- You can shop at any time but can't use items you just bought in current battles if the battle has already begun(I think this is true)

I don't know what the rule is actually, would be good to clarify.

[Tiki]

I forget which thread I read it, but now that handbook and extracurricular is combined, maybe pin the EXP and exclusive difference one or at least push them to the top so they're at the top of the list? the rest can just follow.

just my 2 cents

[Lamont]

They are already at the top. And the grouping may not stay the way it is. It's just been asked for so many times I figured why not try it. But I find it hard to spot anything in there now, and it combines concerns. Mixes mod-crunch with high-level casual lists/guides.

Threads will probably be moved around a bit and rewritten a tad to make them cleaner when there's time for it.

[Jenesis]

Could there be a special membergroup for Mod License Holders that allows them access to the mod board?

Then you could put all the mod crunch in there.

As a general member, it's confusing to see mod crunch in the general handbook, but it's even more confusing when there's stuff in the "mod crunch subboard" that I have to go hunting for because I use it regularly as a non-mod.

But we're getting off topic. I did create a separate thread to discuss the handbook in general.

[Lamont]

*moved*

License holders already do have access to the guides portion of the Staff area. The info left in what was Extracurricular is not mod exclusive information. It's 'advanced' member information like the Radar and rate of shinies, how SOS's work. Members don't have to know that information if they don't care to, but it's not modding exclusive if a member is curious about how something works. Same with how battles & EXP work.

Hiding all that information and making in inaccessible to those curious about it would be aggravating when it's not secret or any 'real' crunch. It's all public, open, information useful even to those who may want to be a mod in the future but again, completely unnecessary to know if you don't care or want to know.

Plus, Estate Owners are not necessarily mods or license holders but need Fishing & SOS information available as another example.




The list in first post is a good starting point, but also is mixing up concerns. Generic ToS & Code of Conduct for being a decent individual doesn't need to be more than a couple lines in the rules as it is now. (still keeping the rules as-is ;D) The Welcome (wip) and thread organization doesn't need all that interjected. It's purpose is a brief overview and quick-access linking for 'how to play'.

A way to keep links for all useful OOC bits in one place instead of the current memory hunt game.

[Jenesis]

Mar 20, 2024 3:12:54 GMT 11 Lamont said:

The list in first post is a good starting point, but also is mixing up concerns. Generic ToS & Code of Conduct for being a decent individual doesn't need to be more than a couple lines in the rules as it is now. (still keeping the rules as-is ;D)

It doesn't have to be super long. The individual bullets are just all the points I want to highlight. I can tell you that right now bullet point 1 in the ZZ Trainer's Guide, which is a link to Proboards TOS, isn't helpful. It's super long, most of it is just about the forum software, and "no 18+ content" is buried deep down in point number 18. The vast majority of people are never going to read it and will only know that Proboards in general is PG-13 by osmosis.

I think most people are sensible and don't need to be told not to be jerks, but to this day I still can't remember if the site rating is PG or PG-13. A brief summary of relevant rules would be more helpful than the link, and wouldn't take up too much space. I edited my first post to clarify this.

Additional possibility: Is there a way to force threads to show up in a specific order in the forum?

If the Advanced Handbooks section could be guaranteed to be in alphabetical order, for example, it would make scrolling to a specific thing much easier.

[Lamont]

Just tallying here. Not all are appropriate for the 'Welcome' page as they're more for 'before' you start/OOC generic rules. But still addressing as not to discount any handy additions :3 I consider all of these points addressed here to be fairly surface-level and easy to find.

Welcome book is intended for helping orient approved Trainers IC. Both beginners and veterans.

---

HOW DO I BE?

In Rules Thread

• Proboards ToS (i.e. site rating, no M content)
  ✔ Added "PG-13" addressed in 1.1. Covers all points here.
  
  
• Don't be a jerk
  ✔ Already 1.1 as-is
  
  
• Don't plagiarize, spam, advertise in the Cbox, etc.
  ✔ Already 1.2 & 1.7 as-is
  

HOW DO I MAKE AN ACCOUNT/CHARACTER?

In Rules Thread

• One account per person
  ✔ Already 1.3 as-is
  
  
• Your username can be your ooc name or your character's name...
  ✔ Added "Usernames are not restricted to characters" to 1.3.
  
  
• Link to/summary of the character creation rules
  ✔ Already 2.1 as-is
  

Mod Char Acceptance Template

• Link to the "Claim a starter" board after character accepted
  ✔ Already do
  

Character Rules

• Max three characters per person & limits thereof
  ✔ Already #3 as-is
  

OK, GREAT. HOW DO I THREAD?

In Rules Thread

• No minimum word count
  ✔ Tweaked 2.3 to explicitly state no word counts
  
  
• No activity requirements
  ✔ Added as new point in 1st section
  
  
• Wait 5 days for a mod
  ✔ Already 2.8 as-is
  
  
• ...go through routes in order, and according to route-specific rules,
  Once you unlock a route, you can backtrack whenever you want
  ✔ Already 2.2 as-is (but prolly also worth noting in welcome too!)
  
  
• Thread limitation rules
  ✔ Already 1.3 as-is (noting rewriting group post is on the radar tho)
  
  
• You can put one thread on hold at a time
  ✔ Already 2.4 as-is
  
  
• Pokemon cannot be in two battles at once
  ✔ Already 2.9 as-is (this is repeated just about everywhere on forum too. But could also include in Welcome Guide)
  

A MOD RESPONDED! HOW DO I BATTLE?

In Rules Thread

• The mod will handle the battle math
  ✔ Already 2.6 as-is (may modify/clean-up a lil' once Welcome is figured out)
  

---

Points left for organizing into Welcome Trainers Guide:

• Include the "Tips: Before you Begin" advice in here
  
  
• go through routes in order, and according to route-specific rules, & backtrack freely
  
• You control yourself, your Pokemon, and any NPCs you brought along/originally created for the thread
  
  
  
• What the battle screen looks like - battle screen appearance isn't really necessary
  
• What actions you can do every turn
  
• What are the limits on running away
  
• You cannot declare a dodge or hit *combo w/ 'actions per turn'
  
• You can flavor the Pokemon's actions how you like, but the battle math will prevail
  
• You cannot RP the actions of the enemy Pokemon/Trainers
  
  
  
• Catch mechanics from the games apply - upcoming Adventure Brochure updates
  
• Pre-first badge, you can catch fainted Pokemon
  
• How to add a new Pokemon to your collection (prolly bloat, already conveyed on every catch)
  
• You can leave blank/reset Pokemon if they've never been used
  
• You still get XP if you catch Pokemon
  
  
  
• The basics of how leveling/exp gain works (trim table: exact pre-25 numbers are helpful, to more precisely plan...)
  ** Would opt to not repeat existing info & just link it so we don't have to maintain 2 places should anything change. Instead, can just turn this into a 'battle tips' bit
  
  
• How to learn new moves, move limits, and how to replace old moves (like games; newest generation learn lists, except for TM lists that include everything since Gen 4)
  
• The basics of how evolution works
  
• You can switch party members between battles
  
• You auto-heal between battle except in quests and areas that specifically say otherwise
  
  
• You can shop at any time but can't use items you just bought in current battles if the battle has already begun
  

[Lamont]

Updated the welcome draft.

We don't want to overwhelm the page with a wall of text or vomiting more info than can be digested. It'd be nice to keep it semi-IC from some perspective for key points in each section and then have the sidebar navigation links for further detailed exploration of important topics or threads to highlight for an ease-of-access single place anyone can go to find without having to remember where it's organized in the boards.


I'm not sure how to translate just the rough jot notes provided in this thread. Is what I've done seem useful..? For a brand new approved member anyways. Haven't done the 'advanced' portion but did populate some links.

[Jenesis]

Hi, sorry this took a while to get back to, but I need to clarify something.

The information listed is specifically what I am requesting to belong in the "How to Play" subforum of the rules, as opposed to the "Handbooks" subforum. This is specifically in response to the complaints that combining Handbooks and Extracurricular led to things getting buried.

I understand if the Welcome Guide is meant to be written in an IC perspective and I don't necessarily have an opinion on that.

Alternatively, if the Welcome Guide is meant to replace the How to Play subforum entirely, my points stand for the New Trainers area of the Welcome Guide.

[Lamont]

Ah! Sorry Jen, Yeah that was not clear. I thought you were putting up suggestions for what should be included in our new/replacement 'Trainers Guide' -- thus the name of the thread 'guidebook' and it being made after I mentioned I was looking for help filling it out. I didn't know anyone else but me was complaining about the combination of Handbooks & Extracurricular :p


The draft welcome page is not meant to replace the How to Play. It's a brief snapshot of the most important information with a navigational overview of frequented topics or important links members of all experience could want to have all in one place for easy access.


This jot note format is even more challenging then to translate if it was just meant for where to move existing threads ^^;

There's a good guide for documentation not to mix Explanation-type stuff with Reference-type stuff. Evolution Guide is a reference style thing whereas How Battles/EXP works is Explanation. So I don't think this combination of moving threads works that well (at least, as the threads are atm). That, and keeping the introductory dump of information as lean as possible for what you actually need to start RPing should be kept as small as possible; and that's the How To Play. You don't have to know how evolutions work, or what the battle screen looks like, to start RPing for example -- that's something that can be discovered after you get some posting in. If we moved all this into the intro info board it would be overwhelming.

A few things for sure! But I think our info threads would need to be rewritten to support it. Which will be very backburner at the moment... or maybe not. I'm doing a loooot of documentation at work atm so who knows!? Maybe I'll be in the zone for some further deep info architecting...



Thank you for clarifying! Helps me make more sense of it :3 All valid points for how to split up the info dump that is currently Handbooks. Very on board as you know haha!

[Jenesis]

I do like you differentiating between Explanation and Reference threads, and I guess my argument is that everything I called out in my intro post should be in an Explanation-type section (specifically, I'm trying to handhold new players through one rp encounter, everything else is more 'advanced' and can come later).

Regarding the Handbooks section, because this point seems to have been buried and not addressed:

Is it possible to force threads in a forum to show up in alphabetical order?

I know ctrl+f exists, but it might be less overwhelming to search through a long list of things if you can easily guess where you'll find them ('Fishing' always being right after 'Evolution' for example) whenever you need to reference them.