Hard is Fun, Easy Is Not

[Glitchless]

A recent analysis of player progression/retention has shown the following: those who play the game the hard way, earning their own gold, buying their own weapons, and killing their own bosses, are four times as likely get to max level as are those who have had gold and items gifted to them at the start of the game. This is not incredibly surprising since players who get a free suit and weapon then have to grind a ridiculous amount of levels, completely unrewarded, before ever being able to earn an item upgrade for themselves. ...It is also a finding that coincides with the intended nature of the game itself. Nodiatis is meant to be difficult. Nodiatis is meant to be a slow, hellacious crawl, filled with decisions that players ultimately regret and learn from. Without that initial experience, there is no appreciation for how important your decisions are, or an understanding of how it is that some can do so well at the end-game boss/epic/PvP, while others, with visibly similar equipment, fare so much worse.

In order to ensure that new players experience the game the way it is meant to be played--the way the majority of long-term players first experienced it--we are changing the restrictions on player trading for free accounts. This will not affect alt-accounts, since you can still give your own characters TCs from your main when you wish to start anew, but free accounts will not be able to trade with other players unless they are specifically buying a TC from them.

This means new accounts cannot get free items/gold. As already stated, doing so has been shown to actually ruin their experience.

In accordance, the following rule has been added to the FAQ:
9. Don't make or suggest making the game easier for new players. Nodiatis is not for the weak. An easy beginning makes for pathetic warriors, not worthy of the princess's communions.

We realize the more tender-hearted among the Nodiatis population will wish to express their horror at such a change, which, according to the above rule, is no longer permitted. We will allow you to break rule #9 in the following thread however: http://forums.nodiatis.com/forums/sh...d.php_p=203582

[Glitchless]

For clarity: The fake selling of TCs for low prices to new players you don't own or are not real-life friends with is not permitted according to rule #9.

Yes, you can help players kill bosses if you must, sparingly, but don't ferry them around killing things for them unless they are your real life friends.

You can always help new players with info, just not with handouts.

[Glitchless]

Further clarification: A character is no longer considered a "new player" if they are over 6 months old or are level 85+. As such, paids will be able to trade items to those players (likely their alts), but not get them back unless they use a TC, just like before.