i suggest to do an experiment, one or more vets should take a random noob (that actually talks or asks something first) and spoil everything for him, like for idiots, tell him everything he needs to know, step by step, where to go what to do , how and what to click to solve puzzles, everything he asks and when he is not asking let him know you can help him if he cant do it himself. lets see how this will influence his behaviour.
unfortunatly its a marketing problem, ...now days "game" defines something disconnecting, relaxing, like looney toons. What i wanted here was an adventure, not as a game, but at all levels, mostly regarding human interaction. basically its not a game, and most expect a game. makes people lose patience fast. either we should change the way its presented, invitation only or such, or make it more game like by adding the classical skills branches and shit, to make people see they gather skill points or so...idk..i dont feel creative when it comes to change md into somehting more commercial sry.
very useful topic anyway, might be needed to make it permanent and advertise it better to the noobs. or even make it periodic, like starting it over with a number, so that noobs wont get scared to read a 100 posts topic, or not to let them influenced by previous ideas.