It might be my imagination, but a lot more new players seem to be vanishing in the starting taverns. As Newbie Helper, I generally try to wander into a tavern, have a seat, grab a stiff drink, peer from down the bar at the newbie, and bury my face into a book... glancing up now and then at the unfamiliar face. Not forcing myself on them but trying to start an exchange that could lead to the new player finding the game interesting.The 'Tree of Life'.
This is a famous but quite unusual inn. The air is fresh and the
marble-tiled ground is clean. Few rowdy guests can be seen, and the
furniture looks undamaged by brawls, which are very common in other pubs
all around the world. The decoration looks extremely valuable and would fit
into a palace, but in this city it's quite ordinary. In the middle of the
room are velvet covered chairs and benches, which surround large oaken
tables. A large sign is fixed to the northern wall behind a wooden bar. In
one corner you notice a fireplace.
There are two obvious exits: east, up.
An energetic green-eyed female elf, a red-eyed slender male elf, a
round-faced happy male halfling, and a statue of a starry-eyed thick-legged male half-elf.
The energetic green-eyed female elf smiles happily.
The round-faced happy male halfling tells you in Common: Hey, I got you a
job opportunity for you!
The energetic green-eyed female elf says in Common: Welcome to my Inn!
The round-faced happy male halfling ponders the situation.
The round-faced happy male halfling offers in Common: The Queen herself has
requested for a helper!
You sit down on the first chair.
>The statue of the starry-eyed thick-legged male half-elf crumbles to dust.
The round-faced happy male halfling offers in Common: What an honour to be
helping the Queen of Elves!
You emote: Naga mumbles something a about a "stiff drink".
The round-faced happy male halfling smiles brightly.
The round-faced happy male halfling offers in Common: The Palace is on the
northern side of the town.
You hear a cracking sound from the fireplace as the flames consume a large
piece of wood.
The round-faced happy male halfling smiles brightly.
You hear an elf say: Humans might have started a war against us, but at
least they don't stink like dwarves.
Is the instantaneous NPC spam, both directed towards the new player and whoever comes in to offer some interaction (so some hear it all twice!), intimidating those logging on for the first time?