Players come and players go.... away!Follow

Whenever I notice what appears to be a new or returning player on FV server, I make a point of trying to help however I can. Like, typically they ask noobish questions in chat, or in the druid channel, and I try to assist. Sometimes I donate some gear or even plat, if they're receptive. They usually appreciate this a lot and typically, we agree to add each other's names to FRIENDS.

What intrigues me is more often than not, in fact, a LOT more often than not, I never ever see that player pop up on /who friends all ever again. Granted, I don't play 24/7 and maybe they do play but on days and times that never coincide with me. But the number of times this has happened leads me to think that the great majority of new and returning players just don't last very long. I wonder if most even play a full month. And some of these players at least appear to have invested some time already. They aren't usually level 1-10 true noobs. I think the problem is these low levels can get really depressing for new and returning players, understandably. The game is hard enough to learn, or to come back to after many years away, and it sure doesn't help if there's nobody to play with. Or nobody answers questions in chat. It always makes me wince when someone asks an obvious noob question and nobody in chat deigns to respond. That's one reason I usually try to. I usually close with something like "feel free to send me a tell with any questions in future, and let me know if I can help in any way." It seems usually appreciated. And I almost never get asked for a power-level. In fact, I'd say most of the time the player declines if I offer. I get a sense that really do want to experience the real game. Unfortunately at low levels that experience requires a time machine to go back a decade or more.

I really think the devs should consider a way to bring all low level players onto a common server where the chance to find a group is enhanced. They sorta did that with the Tutorial, which was a great idea in its time, but no longer adequate. The Tutorial is fine to teach real noobs (or looooong-time-gone returnees) basic gameplay and provide some basic starting gear. But it's good to what, level 12 or so? I don't even think much grouping goes on in the Tutorial. So once a player "graduates" he gets "promoted" into a really lonely world.

Thoughts? There's no reason this couldn't be done. Other games have done it. Might reduce this kind of attrition and help grow the game, or reverse the decay.