New Player Experience: Tutorial Stage 2

I will be taking the Career agents one at a time and working from top to bottom in the navigation window.

Starting isk: 9,000

Career Agent 1 – Jouvelen System, Anmon Otsi

The first message I receive is an Important Information popup. Nice and simple.

Mission 1, The Swap

Clear the area of hostiles.

Reward 1 x Propulsion Jamming, Bonus 41,000 isk available.

Tutorial, Acceleration Gates

• Screen 1 of 3. Tells me what an Acceleration Gate is and tells me to undock. I learned what an Acceleration gate was in Part 1 so I don’t think this is necessary.
• Screen 2 of 3. Tells me how to warp to the mission. I learned how to do this in Part 1 so this isn’t necessary.
• Screen 3 of 3. Tells me how to activate the Acceleration Gate. I learned this in Part 1 so this isn’t necessary.

I complete the mission easily, though the overview layout if awful as I can only see 1 red cross at the bottom of it due to the customs offices without scrolling down. A tutorial screen mentioning how to learn to target more ships would be great instead of the acceleration gates one we’re given. Perhaps even giving me the skill. Docking back up I receive my rewards and request the next mission.

Mission 2, Angel of Mercy

Fly the Frigate I will be provided with into the pirate base, once the explosive charges are set the mission will complete.

Granted: Condor. Reward: 38,000 isk, Bonus 37,000 isk available

Tutorial, Minimizing Your Losses

• Screen 1 of 6. Tells me that I should fit my ship for the task I need to face.
• Screen 2 of 6. Tells me to read the mission description to determine how to fit my ship. Also tells me that I have to fly the ship I have been given for this mission.
• Screen 3 of 6. Tells me to board the ship I have been given. This is outdated as it refers to the ship hangar in the Neocom which has now been replaced with the inventory, which also impacts on some of the narrative which follows.
• Screen 4 of 6. Tells me to strip the fitting on my ship. This doesn’t make much sense as I only just assembled it and it therefore isn’t fitted.
• Screen 5 of 6. Tells me that it’s always a good idea to check your fitting before you undock. Nice and simple, but I don’t know anyone that does. Goes on to tell me to undock and complete the mission.
• Screen 6 of 6. Directs me to the EVElopedia to find out more.

I warp to the mission and sue the Acceleration Gate. Three red crosses on my overview, nothing to indicate the Control tower is there if you have your camera pointing a different direction. Large Collidable Structures need to be added to the overview, or at least tell me how to. There is also nothing to tell me to approach the aforementioned Control Tower; an Agent conversation popup would be good.

I return to the Station in my Pod and complete the mission to receive my reward.

Mission 3, Your Undivided Attention

Catch the NPC using your Warp Disruptor; do not kill the main target. Other NPC’s may be destroyed.

Granted: Civilian Warp Disruptor. Reward 40,000 isk, Bonus 33,000 isk available.

The NPC tells me that I should get a new ship if I haven’t already. I’ve got my trusty Ibis so use that.

Tutorial, Warp Disruptors and Warp Scramblers

• Screen 1 of 6. Tells me that warp scramblers and disruptors can help to prevent enemies escaping. Tells me that I should have a Warp Disruptor in my hangar, which I do.
• Screen 2 of 6. Tells me to fit the Warp Disruptor to my ship. Upon trying to do so my ibis doesn’t have any free slots as I have one mid slot which has the Shield Booster in it. I am not hold how to unfit a module.
• Screen 3 of 6. Tells me how to activate the module and its range.
• Screen 4 of 6. Tells me about Warp Core Stabilizers and scramble strength, also tells me the range of Warp Scramblers is lower the Disruptors.
• Screen 5 of 6. Tells me to undock and complete the mission.
• Screen 6 of 6. Tells me where to find out more on the EVElopedia.

I undock and head to the mission. Please fix the overview. I Disrupt the Fleeing pirate and get a popup saying leave him alone and he’ll go away. The Agent Conversation window appears and I head back to station where I complete the mission and receive my rewards.

Mission 4, A Friend in Need

Find the missing Agent and repair his vessel.

Granted: Civilian Remote Shield Transporter. Rewards: Shield Emission Systems skillbook, Bonus 19,000 isk available.

Shield Transporters Tutorial

• Screen 1 of 5. Tells me what a Shield Transporter does and that I should find one in my Hangar.
• Screen 2 of 5. Tells me to fit the Shield Transporter to my ship, remember I’m in the Ibis? The Shield Transporter will not fit due to a lack of fitting resources on my Ibis.
• Screen 3 of 5. Tells me how to activate the module and advises caution over range.
• Screen 4 of 5. Tells me to undock and complete the mission.
• Screen 5 of 5. Tells me where to find more information on the EVElopedia

I warp to the mission, approach the Damaged Vessel and activate the Shield Transporter to complete the mission. I head back to station to complete the mission and collect my rewards.

Mission 5, The Stand

Go to the pirate base and make a last stand, destroying at least one enemy ship. I’m given a Condor and told I need to fit it myself using cheap fittings. 

Grants: Condor. Rewards: 49,000 isk, Bonus 45,000 isk available.

Medical Clones Tutorial

• Screen 1 of 5. Tells me that losing ships is inevitable and that once I lose a ship I escape in my Pod. Tells me that NPC’s don’t attack Pods but that players will.
• Screen 2 of 5. Tells me about the skill point limit on Clones and the consequence of not having at un to date Clone if podded. Instructs me to open the Medical window.
• Screen 3 of 5. Tells that once podded I need to buy a new clone. Tells me to upgrade my Clone, whilst I appreciate that this is difficult to explain without doing so it isn’t necessary as the base “free” clone covers up to 900,000 skill points. I would also change the default sort order so that the lower skill point Clones appear first so we don’t need to scroll down. Tells me that I can change the location of my Clone and tells me about station lockouts.
• Screen 4 of 5. Tells me that I’m safe against skill point loss if podded and that if I get podded I should follow this process to update my Clone.
• Screen 5 of 5. Points me to the EVElopedia article where I can find more information on skills.

Insuring Your Ships Tutorial

• Screen 1 of 5. Tells me that all ships have a 40% default insurance pay out. Tells me I should upgrade my insurance if I’m undertaking a high risk activity. Perhaps it would be good to mention that it is recommended to fly with maximum insurance at all times?
• Screen 2 of 5. Tells me to select the ship I wish to insure from my hangar.
• Screen 3 of 5. Tells me to open the insurance window.
• Screen 4 of 5. Tells me to select the ship I want to insure and click the insure button, reading then accepting the terms of insurance. Goes on to tell me about the range of covers available including the duration of insurance being 12 weeks.
• Screen 5 of 5. Directs me to the EVElopedia article on insurance.

Note: for this mission I have the Condor and can  only use blasters as I have no skills trained other than Shield Operation. This ship has one turret slot, two launchers and I have not been told anything about Launchers. I manage to kill the enemy ship using my Condor with one Blaster (I stripped my Ibis). I will admit to being surprised at this!

I head back to the station to complete the mission and receive my rewards.

Mission 6, Don’t Look Back

Use your Afterburner to reach a location within the mission.

Granted: Civilian Afterburner. Reward: Light Missiles Skillbook, Bonus 22,000 isk available.

Afterburners Tutorial

• Screen 1 of 5. Tells me that Afterburners are modules that increase speed and cost capacitor to use. Tells me that I have been given a Civilian Afterburner.
• Screen 2 of 5. Tells me to fit it to my ship, now I’m currently in my Pod after my Condor got exploded so maybe tell me to board a ship. My only other ship is the Ibis so that’s what I use.
• Screen 3 of 5. Tells me how to activate the Afterburner and that the speed boost persist while it is active.
• Screen 4 of 5. Introduces the Microwarpdrive as something that is faster but more capacitor consuming than the Afterburner.
• Screen 5 of 5. Directs me to the EVElopedia for more information on fittings.

I head to the mission in my Ibis fitted only with my Civilian Afterburner fitted.  I get the following message “Alright, once you enter the next area, you should see an Asteroid Station. Head to that as quickly as you can. The area surrounding it will be dangerous, but once you make it to the station itself, you will be safe.” I make it to the Station with 9% armour. It is also worthy of note that the Asteroid Station does not appear on the Overview.

Mission 7, Weapon of Choice

Granted: Civilian Light Missile Launcher. Reward: 22,000 isk, Bonus 24,000 isk available.

Racial Weapons: Missiles, Tutorial

1. Screen 1 of 5. Tells me that there are a variety of Missile Launchers available and that there are short and long range varieties, that Launchers use no Capacitor but that damage is delayed by flight time. Awards me 100 Civilian Scourge Light Missiles.
2. Screen 2 of 5. Tells me that missiles can do every different damage type. Tells me how to load missiles.
3. Screen 3 of 5. Tells me that a target’s speed and size impact upon missile damage and that both Target Painters and Stasis Webifiers assist with missile damage.
4. Screen 4 of 5. Tells me that different ships allow different weapon system layouts. Tells me to check my ships information and match weapon types so that they take advantage of bonused weapon systems.
5. Screen 5 of 5. Directs me to the EVElopedia for more information on fittings and missiles.

NOTE: I only have an Ibis and I can’t fit my Launcher to it. I haven’t been told how to buy a new ship! I’m forced to go outside of tutorial imparted knowledge and buy a Condor from the market.

I fit my Launcher to my newly bought Condor and set off. I complete the mission using two missiles and return to station to complete the mission and collect my rewards. 

Mission 8, The Pacifist

Acquire 10 hostages by following the Concord Commanders instructions.

Reward: 18,000 isk. Bonus 14,000 isk available.

Damage Types Tutorial

• Screen 1 of 6. Tells me that there are four different damage types.
• Screen 2 of 6. Tells me how resistances work.
• Screen 3 of 6. Tells me that I can fit hardeners to raise resists on both shields and also on armour.
• Screen 4 of 6. Tells me about the different weapons systems and the damage types which they can deal.
• Screen 5 of 6. Tells me that trial and error can inform the optimal damage type to use against enemies but also that the wrong type will take them down but take longer and use more ammunition.
• Screen 6 of 6. Refers me to the EVElopedia on damage types.

I warp to the mission and receive a message when I approach the acceleration gate:

“Welcome to the fray, egger.

I've ordered the fleet to hold its ground for the time being, but we're going to send you in to recover the hostages shortly. Move out to the next area where the pirates are. They're expecting a negotiator, but we're sending you instead.

You are not to engage unless I give the order. We need to maintain the appearance of peaceful negotiation until the safety of the hostages can be confirmed.“

After a few moments I’m told to rescue the hostages from the Prison Facility. With the hostages safely aboard I return to base. I complete the mission and receive my rewards.

Mission 9, Glue

Use a Stasis Webifier to interrogate the pirate.

Granted: Civilian Stasis Webifier. Rewards: Destroyers skillbook, Bonus 19,000 isk available.

Stasis Webifiers Tutorial

• Screen 1 of 5. Tells me that the web will slow the enemy down but not prevent them from warping. The tutorial also grants me a web so I now have two!
• Screen 2 of 5. Tells me to fit the web to my ship.
• Screen 3 of 5. Tells me how to activate the module and tells me its range.
• Screen 4 of 5. Tells me to undock and complete the mission.
• Screen 5 of 5. Refers me to the EVElopedia on fitting and electronic warfare.

I warp to the mission web the pirate to complete the mission before returning to the station to complete the mission and receive my rewards.

Mission 10, The Exam

Kill the terrorist leader.

Granted: Cormorant. Reward: Rapid Firing skillbook, Bonus 121,000 isk available.

By the time I got to do this I’d trained Destroyers to skill level 1 so I used the Cormorant to attempt the mission, please do bear in mind though that theoretically I didn’t know how to buy fittings for my ship. I fit 7 x 75mm Railguns, Civilian Launcher, 2 x webs and a Small Shield Booster as this is what was available off the market in station. I also insure my Cormorant at maximum level.

Combat Tactics Tutorial

• Screen 1 of 6. Tells me that my abilities are about to be tested and that I’ll be webbed and scrambled. Gives me suggestions on different targeting strategies and tells me about blitzing.
• Screen 2 of 6. Suggest the use of an Afterburner and tells me of some of the advantages of using speed to dictate engagements and about kiting.
• Screen 3 of 6. Tells me of speed tanking and transversal velocity and briefly how it works.
• Screen 4 of 6. Continues on the subject of transversal velocity by telling me how to close range and take less damage. Reminds me also that my speed will also affect how well my weapons track their targets.
• Screen 5 of 6. Tells me about aligning out, for worst case scenarios. Tells me some about how a ship gets into warp and that being pre-aligned at full speed will enable instant warp out when pre-aligned. Reminds me that being warp scrambled will prevent me warping.
• Screen 6 of 6. Tells me that more information on combat tactics can be found on the EVElopedia.

I complete the mission with 25% cap remaining and just over half shields. I loot the wreck of the terrorist and then head back to station where I complete the mission and receive my rewards.

Suggestions

• All the Career Agents say that they’re Event - Distribution Agents, Can this be changed so that you can tell which career path they relate to?
• Please sort the overview.
• Acceleration Gates Tutorial is not necessary. Can be removed from being shown at the acceptance of “The Swap” mission. Replace this with a tutorial about the max number of targets and award the Targeting skill, suggesting that I train t to level 1.
• Minimizing our Losses Tutorial. Alter the wording on screen 3 of 6 so that it no longer refers to the ship hangar but to the Inventory. Then perhaps use the text “Once the Inventory is open. Left click the Ship Hangar and right click the ship and select assemble ship, and then make active from the contextual menu.”
• Angel of Mercy Mission. Overview problems again. On warp into the deadspace pocket the control tower is not on my overview, please add it to the overview. Also a conversation popup from the Agent would be great to tell me that I need to approach the tower to destroy it.
• Warp Disruptors and Warp Scramblers Tutorial. At screen 2 of 6 I’m instructed to fit the Disruptor but have no free slots available. You need to tell me how to unfit a module to make space. Remember I’m only in an Ibis as I’ve not been taught anything about how to buy a ship. There needs to be tutorials added to tell me how to buy a Ship and also how to unfit modules. Thus far you’ve told me how to strip a fitting but that was on an unfitted ship.
• Shield Transporters Tutorial. Screen 2 of 5 tells me to fit the Civilian Shield Transporter; however it doesn’t fit on my Ibis which has 1 gun and the Disruptor fitted. Now would be a good time to tell me about Powergrid and CPU. I unfit the Civilian Warp Disruptor to continue.
• Mission 5, The Stand. You haven’t told me how to buy things to fit my ship and I need to do so for this mission.
• Medical Clones Tutorial, screen 3 of 5. Reverse the Clone Upgrade sort order.
• Afterburners Tutorial, screen 2 of 5. I would add a line telling me to board a ship as my last one got exploded on the previous mission.
• Mission 6, Don’t Look Back. Add the Asteroid Station to the overview. The reward is the Light Missiles skillbook, which I can’t train as I don’t have Missile Launcher Operation trained to 2 and you haven’t told me where to get skillbooks from.
• Mission 7, Weapon of Choice. I cannot fit the provided Civilian Missile Launcher to my Ibis.
• Stasis Webifiers Tutorial screen 1 of 5. I’m awarded a Civilian Stasis Webifier but the Glue mission I had just accepted already awarded me one.

Positives

• Racial Weapons Tutorial good.
• Damage Types Tutorial good.
• Combat Tactics Tutorial well put together.

Summary

So with the first Career Agent done there are a few points which I find at the forefront of my mind:

• The Overview is a problem and needs addressing.
• The order which the Career Agents are done does seem important, I would not have known about using the market to buy ships and modules.
• Many assumptions have been made on what I will know when I do this chain, that needs to be considered. Perhaps this Career Agent should not be available until Cash Flow for Capsuleers is completed (not that I theoretically have yet)