So, I was talking to Cygnus while on the server, talking about one of the things we used to have new clan recruits do... and I started remembering the other things we'd have rookies do... part training, part initiation. This was also back in late 2003 and 2004, when Freelancer was not only new, but so were most of the players on the servers. It was not uncommon to get players that hadn't played the SP version of FL, let alone had any MP experience whatsoever. Now remember, this is a Vanilla FL server.
Mining Grind
This was partly to get recruits into the habit of earning their own money, shooting with accuracy and skill, and staying alive during long and boring game periods. We'd do it in Dublin, because mining for gold is just classic. Ok. It was boring, repetitive, and busy work. But it was better than a fraternity initiation of making someone drink whisky from a butt crack. So, you give
Fishing Trip
When it came to AI races to pick on, Xenos always won out. Sure, they are one of the races everyone (in the game) hates, and if you kill enough of them, your rep gets better with everyone else (except the Zoners, oddly enough). There are others, but Xenos have a base just on the other side if the Colorado NY jump hole. So, you take a recruit out there, and park them in space... and go fishing. You don't run missions, you just kill and kill... I guess you could call it a Xeno hunt... but you didn't go hunting... you just sat there like a fisherman in a boat, and they came to you.... like going fishing. Of course, it was repetitive, but it did to a lot for improving a recruit's ability to dogfight, and stay alive. I know... nothing compares to actually dogfighting with another player... but remember, we were talking about players with little to no FL experience.
Theta Run
This is always fun and challenging. Here were the rules. Start a new character. Load up on batts and bots... and that's it. No CM, no more guns, no better shield, and no better ship. You, and your Starflier. Your mission? To undock from Manhattan, and not dock ANYWHERE until you reach Freeport 9 in Omicron Theta. you can take whatever path you like, and there was no time limit. You just were not allowed to dock at any bases along the way. If you died, you would (of course) respawn at Manhattan and have to do it again. If you left the game via F1, you failed, and had to come back and do it over. To this day, this one is STILL a challenge. You might think it is easy... and once you know how it can be easier than the first time you try it... but if you have never done it... give it a go.
So... anyone else have any related stories to share?
