Patch 3.3 PTR: New tutorial gallery
by Gregg Reece 
Oct 26th 2009 at 6:00PM
As we've mentioned in a previous post, there are a new set of tutorials on the public test realm designed to help out new players when patch 3.3 launches. This should help smooth the overall experience for people who are completely new to the world of both MMOs as well as video games in general. While they aren't nearly as amusing as the fake one I posted above (although, that one needs to get added at some point), they do walk characters through a lot of the major tasks.
Currently, there are sixty different tutorial windows explaining things from food to durability loss. There is still plenty of room for additions, but these are a great start. While my gallery may not show it, a lot of the tutorials highlight parts of your screen like your enemy health bars, your minimap, or your action bars themselves to help show what new players are supposed to be looking at.
Just a reminder that this is the PTR and these might end up changing or getting re-worded before they hit the live realms. If you have any constructive feedback on any of the tutorials in the gallery, please be sure to hit the US PTR forum or the EU PTR forum and let Blizzard know your thoughts on what they've already done or should add in the future.
Currently, there are sixty different tutorial windows explaining things from food to durability loss. There is still plenty of room for additions, but these are a great start. While my gallery may not show it, a lot of the tutorials highlight parts of your screen like your enemy health bars, your minimap, or your action bars themselves to help show what new players are supposed to be looking at.
Just a reminder that this is the PTR and these might end up changing or getting re-worded before they hit the live realms. If you have any constructive feedback on any of the tutorials in the gallery, please be sure to hit the US PTR forum or the EU PTR forum and let Blizzard know your thoughts on what they've already done or should add in the future.
Patch 3.3 is the last major patch of Wrath of the Lich King. With the new Icecrown Citadel 5-man dungeons and 10/25-man raid arriving soon, patch 3.3 will deal the final blow to the Arthas. WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.3 will keep you updated with all the latest patch news.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
devilsei Oct 26th 2009 6:03PM
Finally! A simple, easy thing showing players how to move out of the fire!!
and I guess just the "moving" part is nice and all too...
Wild Colors Oct 26th 2009 6:05PM
Now they start teaching people not to stand in the fire from day one? I have a few guildmates who should do this tutorial...
curtisrutland Oct 27th 2009 12:18PM
The craziest thing is, for the most part, DBM will tell you, with a big emote and a loud sound, that YOU ARE STANDING IN A BURNING EMBER! MOVE!. And people still die to it. They must have their sound turned off or not have DBM installed or something.
And I've had people give me excuses too, like, I just started casting "x" spell. So, you stood there and ate it to get that one spell off? Move and start casting again! I've blown a 20 minute CD on my DK (I had just started channeling Army of the Dead) to get out of the fire, cause I know I won't last the 10 seconds it takes to channel.
Zach Oct 26th 2009 6:05PM
Let's hope they have something like this:
"Use your mouse to turn your character QUICKLY (away from the fire)."
Gamer am I Oct 26th 2009 6:10PM
The third one more or less says that.
"You can turn your character by clicking the right mouse button and moving the mouse."
Jimmy Oct 26th 2009 6:12PM
:D
Kung Fu Hamster Oct 26th 2009 6:14PM
What about void zones?
You should probably scratch out "fire" and replace it with "bad stuff".
Jason Oct 26th 2009 6:18PM
Those got me in Draktharon Keep the other day... i was busy trying to re-figure out my healing setup and the PUG got impatient, causing me to also heal whilst reading tootips... all of a sudden, twenty feet into the instance... i fall over dead... felt pretty stupid... but it got us all a good laugh... at least it wasnt a wipe
Thorlo Oct 27th 2009 8:53AM
Yeah, i agree... Fire, Void Zones, Green stuff on the group, lava, Clouds, purple stuff, and purple water stuff... Actually, just MOVE off the ground, then you will be safe. If I have learned anything about WoW from raiding, its the fact that the ground SUX!!!
Gamer am I Oct 26th 2009 6:18PM
"That's another real person playing a character. You can tell by the blue name above their head."
Many veteran characters could use this hint as well.
"The keyring can only store permanent keys."
Since I last used it, it stored consumable keys for quests as well. Has this changed on the PTR?
I went through the whole gallery, and it's pretty comprehensive. They'd do well to add something about the auction house, but for the first round of hints, I'm impressed.
Alanid Oct 26th 2009 9:43PM
Same here, my keyring currently accepts keys for 1 use quests, the Crusader Kul daily quests and the like.
Dysmorphia Oct 26th 2009 6:22PM
This is great. I didn't even realize that you -could- turn your character with a mouse until around level 60 or so. Look at this sad email I wrote to a more experienced druid when PvP got me down:
"My enemies literally run in circles around me making it very hard for me to attack. If you can offer any advice, I would be much obliged to you."
Now it's the first thing I tell new players. But having it actually clearly explained in a tutorial will be very helpful.
Muse Oct 26th 2009 6:23PM
Been so long since I did a fresh install, has it been changed so NPC nameplates are on by default?
Clydtsdk-Rivendare Oct 26th 2009 6:39PM
New tutorials are epic. Wish I had these leveling up the first time.
Primeval Oct 28th 2009 10:24AM
What?? And for go the face roll experience? I remember back in My day we raided up hill, in the snow, both ways! /waves his walker threateningly
But seriously, this will be a nice tool for folks who are brand new to MMOs in general and WoW specifically.
lidstrom Oct 26th 2009 6:40PM
i remember in vanilla wow going to northshire with about 50 guildies and all lighting campfires around the spot where new toons first appear and watching them catch fire as soon as they logged in.
childish? yes. mean? yes. funny? oh yes.
nothing like the smell of burnt newbie in the morning. smells like... burnt newbie.
but, i've matured greatly since then. now i only light campfires in the AH.
:)
Dysmorphia Oct 26th 2009 7:08PM
@lidstrom: Childish? Nah, brilliant! I know what I'm doing after the raid tonight.
Drakkenfyre Oct 26th 2009 7:11PM
Player campfires don't do that.
Gregg Reece Oct 26th 2009 7:15PM
@Drakk - Actually, they used to cause damage, but was removed for a very large number of reasons. The above being one of them.
Arktic Oct 26th 2009 6:42PM
If your picture was a comment it would be green already. Thumbs up for hilarity.