Improving the "Getting Started" Thread

So part of the part of the problem of getting new members is that our "Getting Started" thread is rather intimidating. There is a lot of information there that probably doesn't need to be relayed right then and there. And a lot more information that can be said much more simply.

This thread needs to be restructured.

And I need your help doing it.

I recommend we look at each post in the thread and see if there are ways we can improve it. Once we're done with each post, we move onto the next one until we're finished overall. Then we release the new guide.

Let me go ahead and get us started. I've posted a revision to the first post below. The changes are marked in italics.

Original Post for Reference

BMG | PWN | PXR​

courtesy of ragnarok0422​

Welcome to The Pokémon Ultra RPG, or URPG for short. Everyone is invited to join and new members are always welcome!


-What is the URPG?-

This is a multifaceted game based on the Pokémon saga. You start as a Trainer with a single Pokémon, working your way to capture new friends and battle for the championship.


-Why should you join?-

Don't you hate the four-move limit in the games? We do too, so we got rid of it. Now your Pokemon can battle with as many moves as you want!

We also offer exciting battle opportunities through our Gym League System, Free-For-Alls, and Tournaments.

Prefer something more creative? Earn Pokemon and other prizes in our Roleplaying, Story, and Art sections!


-Getting Started-

To begin your journey, go to Starter Requests (BMG | PWN | PXR) and apply for the Pokémon you would like to start with. You will also receive $5,000 in cash and $5,000 contest credits as part of your starter package.

After being approved, you must post your Trainer Stats at the Trainer Stats Sub-Board (BMG | PWN | PXR). You keep track of you own stats and edit them after every change. You are responsible for having correct information in your stats.


-Now What?-

Once you receive your starter and created your stats, it's time to have some fun!

Go to the Trainer Station (BMG|PWN|PXR) and request a battle.

Alternatively, post your AIM or Skype name in the AIM/Skype List (BMG|PWN|PXR) and one of our Staff or Welcome Committee members will invite you to our group chat where there are always willing battlers.


Visit the creative sections if that's more your cup of tea.

In Stories (BMG|PWN|PXR), you have the opportunity to share your tales and fan fiction with other members, allowing you to capture more Pokemon.

The National Park (BMG|PWN|PXR) is a wild place full of adventure. Roleplay into the deep wilderness, not knowing what dangerous beasts you might encounter!

Visit the Art Gallery (BMG|PWN|PXR) for a more visual approach. Styled renditions of the various species in the Pokemon World could soon earn you a new friend and companion.


-Not Sure What to Do?-

No worries, we're here to help!

Feel free to contact one of our friendly Welcome Comittee members! They are happy to answer any of your questions and will give you free cookies!

• Tychiel
• swiftgallade46
• Smiles
• Meow Wow

 

This looks pretty good! However, I can't help but notice that you haven't mentioned Contests anywhere... I would recommend adding mentions to it in the "Why should you join" and "Now what" sections.

 

outline the benefits of getting aim or skype (faster battles/access to ffas) in the aim section

link to the forum profiles of each member of the welcoming comittee

maybe link to the urpgdex in the part explaining how mons have access to all the moves

search out a long extensive forum battle that showcases urpg battling the best and include that when talking about battling, the same can be done with a detailed rp run and a graspable story/extensive grade (nothing more than 20k cc)

 

What Fawkes said is a step in the right direction. I don't think linking to heaps of other pages full of rules is good, it's probably intimidating. We want a super summary of how to URPG.

 

Will post actual reply with complete thoughts regarding this when I have time, but I just wanted to point out that graders are actually banned discouraged from writing Extensive grades for short stories. Stories under 25k are only ever supposed to receive Moderate pay.

That being said, I think there were three/four Stories/grades that were at some point posted as examples of high quality story-writing/grading back in the waaaay ancient days of BMG that'll probably serve the purpose quite nicely, although in the name of minimizing massive linking as Monbrey suggested, it might be better off to store these links somewhere in a Stories subforum?

oh links what am I doing

here you can see them all on the last page because they are the first stories posted in BMG

 

To keep the ball rolling, is there anyone interested in taking over this project?

 

What else even needs to be done?

 

Well that was just the first page.

We should probably make the 2nd post a shorter, simpler Question and Answer section. Something someone can quickly skim for some of the more obvious questions.

Further Information should be moved to the 3rd post and reduced in complexity.

We need to eliminate the 4th post, and add a short tidbit somewhere about joining us on AIM/Skype. We don't need to give new members the full logical reasoning for using an IM system.

 

If nobody is doing this already, I can try doing something.

EDIT: How about this for a possible first draft?

Spoiler

- Rules -
The URPG, like every big system has some rules to keep it from falling apart, but don't worry, they're very simple.

Don't cheat! We work on a system based on trust so we ask you to please respect our rules.
Sockpuppetry (Having more than one account in a forum while pretending to be someone else) is not allowed in any of the three forums the URPG is in – a bannable offense in all – and as such are not allowed here either.
Inappropriate behavior will result in disciplinary action.
Plagiarism is not tolerated and doing so will have serious consequences.
Please try to cooperate with the staff at all times.

- Now What? -
Well, now that you know the rules and what you can do in the URPG, you are ready to go out and have fun! It's extremely recommended to get AIM or Skype though, as that mean you'll be able to interact with more people – and make more friendships – have more opportunities to battle, contest, etc. as well as getting more advice from members.

Both of this services are free, and after you have the account made just post it on our AIM/Skype List (BMG | PXR | PWN) thread, or contact a moderator (list), official (list) or Welcome Comittee member (Lovecraft, Swiftgallade46, Smiles, Meow Wow).

And should you still have any doubts, these are also the people you should contact

- Frequently Asked Questions and their Answers -
Q. Are Pokemon restricted by 4 moves?
A: No, unless there's a special clause in effect during the battle (or contest) all Pokemon can use all of their level up moves as well as any extra moves (TM/HM/BM/MT/SM) the player has bought.

Q: Is there any compatibility problems with moves?
A: No, all moves can be used, regardless of whether this combination is possible on the games or not. One could have for example a Charizard with Acrobatics (Event move) with Dragon Dance (Breeding Move) despite being impossible to get in the games.

Q: Do I have to post stats on BMG / PXR / PWN?
A: No, you may make your own separate forum to do so, people usually make them on proboards, zetaboards, although there are other free services like jcink or invisionfree.

Q: I'm terrible at art, how do I get more mons?
A: You can win them from Tournaments or other special occasions, as well as buying them from the Mart or Berry Store. Other option is doing art deals, basically someone elses does the art to get the mon and you trade them an equivalent amount of items, EMs, etc. as compensation.

Q: I'm terrible at battling, how do I get moves on my mons?
A: You can get them via art deals as well as special events on the art sections.

Q: Is there a way for me to get quick money?
A: The most lucrative way to get a money is getting a URPG profession – ref, judge, ranger, grader, curator – as usually the average per wage period is around 15k.

Q: Is my Pokemon shiny?
A: It is if you want it to be since i's completely asthetic and affects the games in no way we don't really care about that here.

Q: What's my Pokemon's gender / ability / nature?
A: The ability isn't set in stone and may change between battles, however the gender and nature cannot be changed after set.



Post 3:

~ Evolution text ~

-Helpful Tips-

~ the lists from Marth ~

 

Opinions on this in bold. Some of this is probably just aesthetic things, but I'll still point 'em out anyways. I'm willing to make the thread all pretty and whatnot though; I'm pretty badass with BB Code, or so I like to think. :3

I think that's everything. Might want to cover a question on each section, but that's just my opinion. .-. At the very least, I did suggest some things that would be overall beneficial to the guide, or so I hope. :3

 

As a clueless noob I often find deciding EMs pretty difficult. Maybe something to consider would be a list of recommended EM purchases, obviously doing it for each mon would be a huge amount of effort, but possibly a general list of universally available and useful EMs, plus points to consider when buying them.

Also, if someone had say a Top 5 list for a particular Pokémon they could submit it for 5k if it were popular enough. This way you could build up a comprehensive list of what things are good to buy so that newer players didn't throw their moneys away.