Player Onboarding and Community Rules
Tags: onboarding, rules, community, retention
First impressions decide whether players stick around. A predictable join flow, clear rules, and quick access to essentials keep new survivors from bouncing after the first night.
Before they join
- Publish connection info in one place (IP/port, password, version, required mods, wipe cadence).
- Pin a one-screen “what to expect” summary: difficulty, loot settings, raid windows, party size limits.
- Offer a small “getting started” link for new players with basic commands and voice/Discord channels.
First 10 minutes
- Spawn near resources and a safe trader; avoid dropping new players into wasteland or Tier 4 POIs.
- Give a modest welcome kit (food, bandages, stone tools) and a short MOTD with two links: rules and support.
- Provide waypoints: a public storage, a community forge area, and a map marker for your main hub.
Rules people can remember
- Keep it short: no griefing/claim theft, no exploit use, build limits, chat conduct, and raid schedules.
- State enforcement steps (warn → kick → temporary ban → permanent ban) and how to appeal.
- Define building limits early: claim spacing, chunk limits for farms/traps, and allowed prefabs near traders.
Communication and support
- Use automated reminders every few hours that link to rules and a ticket/DM channel for reporting issues.
- Post downtime windows and wipe dates at least a week ahead; include time zone and UTC.
- Log admin actions (teleports, item grants, bans) so disputes can be reviewed later.
Automation that helps
- Schedule restart warnings at 15/5/1 minutes and re-post the connection string when the server is back.
- Enable join/leave notes for admins so you can greet first-timers and spot repeat offenders.
- Rotate a small set of chat tips: how to report a bug, where to build, and how to escape death loops.