Shattered Kingdoms

How do you guys explain the #.item mechanic to new players ICly? I've never come up with a way to explain, ICly, that they can use the 2nd item with the same descriptor by typing 2.item. I always have to go OOC. I don't really mind going OOC to explain such a useful piece of syntax, but of course, the goal is to stay ICly as much as possible. If it's not possible, though, it's not possible.

That's more something you can't explain except going OOC for clarity.

That's my thoughts, too, but I didn't want to come here claiming it can't be done, then made to look like a fool, so I asked from a position of ignorance instead. Again, this syntax becomes extremely important throughout the game. Perhaps this is where we consider putting something into newbie areas that explain it somehow, but those signs are IC...I just don't know.

Not every newbie makes a forum account, so they could go for months, years even, without knowing of this. Got two pale people in the room? How would they ever target the second person? Perhaps they'll figure it out on their own. Perhaps not. The sooner they know, though, the better.

Any ideas?

It could be as easy as putting a pair of doors into one of the newbie training area rooms. The first one would be locked and unopenable, and the way "out" would be the second door. Then, the instructor can say something to the effect of, "Open the second door to move forward with your training," accompanied by a tell prompting them to use "2."

There are OOC tells throughout the newbie areas explaining what to type syntax wise. I don't think this would be too difficult or too much of a stretch to implement, really.

The helpfiles/newbie areas would definitely benefit from mentioning this somewhere if they aren't already. Helpfiles are obviously easier as that would involve making the change in only one place instead of six.

I'd say that both would probably be beneficial.

Nobody reads help files.

I did when I started.

Help files are awesome.

The help files don't explain the function of #.thingie etc. though. It ought be added.

Btw - far as IC goes - a meager attempt:

If you want to pick up on the second apple you lay your eyes upon, make sure to place your hands over it before you pick it up. Similarly, if you have three pineapples, and distinctly want to keep the first two you are holding, you can as readily drop the third, without needing to handle the others.