Speaking for myself here (as a newbie):
I found the site originally through some completely unrelated blog entries. I liked the sound of the game but a quick peek through the Wiki told me there was a lot for me to learn before joining a mainstream game. Then I found The Road To Rome. Ok, newbie games. Right, where to sign up?
I joined the forum and signed up in the newbie thread. I then spent the time waiting for a game to start reading through old games, the wiki, Mafia Discussion and essentially anything I could find.
Having got a few things wrong in the first game, I have learned a bit and signed up for a second which is still in progress. I got told in this game that I am "uber-intelligent. I'm not, I took the time to scope how it works. Something that MOST newbies don't seem to do.
One of the things that I realised very quickly is that there is a hell of a lot more to learn than just the roles in the C9. I am probably going to play at least one more newbie before signing up for anything else.
Reading through a few of the New York games, I had also noticed how many newbies had signed up. No matter what their claimed experience of the Mafia game,I have seen (even in my limited experience) newbie mistakes.
I agree that you can't make playing a Newbie game mandatory, but perhaps a huge sign on either the homepage, in the Wiki or a sticky thread in the forum that says something like "Played Mafia Before? New Here? We suggest you play a newbie game first." And then give a few reasons why. Perhaps you could highlight the way things are done differently here to other forums or in meatworld?
Zindaras wrote:I think that the problem we have is that, currently, we're getting a lot of newbies who aren't going to go very far.
QFT.
The problem with many people (newbies) is that they think something looks "like a bit of fun", sign up and play half a game (outside the newbie game) realise it's a hell of a commitment and disappear without a trace.
Something I have wondered as a total newbie to the environment is the setup of the newbie game. No problem with 2/3 ICs and 4/5 Newbies and a MOD. What I wondered is if a really dedicated person (advisor if you like) posts and educates the newbies with where the newbie might be going wrong, what certain terms might mean etc. The advisor couldn't be lynched and would take no part in the play of the game, they would just be there to advise.
The ICs could then play their own roles bringing the experience to the game without having to educate too. Perhaps the MOD could play the advisor role?
Might be a way out suggestion, but it was just a thought I had.
I have typed for too long so will shut up now!