Mistakes to Avoid as a New Player
Remember, we were all new once and yes, it can be quite overwhelming at first. A lot of roleplay servers don’t have a tutorial when you spawn in, nor tell you how to level skills or how to start a job, etc. This is because most RP servers want to encourage you to RP it out and learn from others, IC, instead of giving you a giant document of things to memorize.
If you run into trouble, you can check the server website or just ask in their discord. Make sure to respect their rules, as some discords have a specific channel for questions while others ask you not to PM the mods so just make sure to do your homework beforehand.
Now let’s cover some common new player mistakes you want to avoid.
Don’t Violate TOS
This should be common sense but do not violate the game’s terms of service, nor that of Twitch, as many players you may interact with could be streaming live. Sexual acts, ERP, nudity, and other touchy subjects as well as playing copyright music or media will likely get you or the person you’re interacting with banned. Don’t be that person.
Don’t Exploit Glitches or Mechanics
This should also go without saying, but do not exploit glitches or in-game mechanics. This will surely land you a ban or at the very least, a warning for power-gaming and breaking RP. It’s simple- just don’t do it.
Don’t Forget to Eat / Drink
Yes, you CAN indeed die from lack of food and/or water so watch your stats and make sure to grab a drink or quick snack when you need it before you pass out!
Don’t Run Out of Gass
It’s no fun when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere and suddenly your car starts acting wonky right before it comes to a complete halt. And you find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere. Trust me- it happens.
Do yourself a favor and make it a habit early on to check the gas gauge icon. Do this whenever you’re in a vehicle. Gas stations can be found all over the map so just look for the icon when you’re running low and fuel up. Better safe than sorry.
If you DO run out of gas and can’t find a ride, you can run to the nearest gas station on foot. Here you can purchase a jerry can to bring back to your vehicle. If you’re someone that runs out of gas often, you can even stock up! Keep a few back ups in your inventory, but be wary- they DO expire.
Learn How to Swim
Nothing like surviving a jet ski ride through shark-infested waters only to die by drowning. DON’T BE THIS PERSON! (me) Swimming isn’t hard (once you know how to do it). Think of it as the opposite of walking. If you’re using a keyboard and mouse and move with W-A-S-D, think of walking backwards and use “S” to swim upwards and “W” to swim downwards. You can always practice in one of the swimming pools found throughout the city.
Lock Your Car and Store It
Don’t you just hate it when you stop for a quick bite then later realize your vehicle is- MISSING. If your server has you retrieve your vehicles from a garage, make sure to always put it away at a garage when you’re done using it. Temporarily, you can leave your vehicle parked at a store. Or somewhere around the city, but be sure to lock it when you do so no one tries to steal it.
If you leave your vehicle abandoned for too long and you’re unable to retrieve it at a garage, it’s likely been impounded. Luckily, the fee isn’t too bad but it can be quite an inconvenience. If this happens to you, visit the impound yard, pay the fine and you’ll be able to retrieve your vehicle.
Always Fasten Your Seat Belt
Get in the habit of fastening your seatbelt whenever you’re on the road. When you’re in a vehicle, you’ll notice a seatbelt icon appear (typically at the bottom left of your screen). If it’s red- time to buckle up! Servers may vary, but there’s likely a keybind for it.
If you fail to fasten your seatbelt, things may… take a turn. Say someone plows into you headon, you’re likely to be thrown from your vehicle. This can land you some serious injuries so don’t want to risk it.
Use Items Before They Expire
Most items in your inventory WILL expire. Food, gas, even your debit card. Weapons and electronics will also expire after so much use. An easy tip here is to stay organized. Sort your inventory by similar items and stack any you can. Glance at your stats often so you use food / drink / medicine as needed before they expire.
Don’t Change Your Look (When You’re New)
As a new player, it can be tempting to change your clothes, your hair, your style every single day/ Because, well, you can. However, because you’re a new player, it may be hard for people that have been around a while to remember your name. Especially if you’re accepted at a time when there’s a huge influx of other new players OR if you’re constantly changing how you look.
Remember how your favorite cartoon always wore the exact same thing? This might seem boring in a world where we can change our appearance every five minutes. But sometimes having a unique, instantly recognizable identity is more important. Especially when you’re new, and trying to stand out among the slew of other new players just added to the server.
Until you’ve been around a few weeks or have met a majority of the players, I recommend sticking to ONE look. By all means, make it your own, make it unique, make it awesome! But make it memorable. Until others get to know your character, your voice, your mannerisms or personality, make yourself easily recognizable. And avoid drastically changing your look. Need help Creating Your Character? Click here!
My character, DR DESHrespect for example, can always be found in a black hoodie with devil horns. And some form of no pants… (since I run the No Pants Gang) Whenever my friends and I get into mischief, everyone knows it’s a NO PANTS ZONE. They can usually identify us right away due to our… lack of pants. Want to catch me RP live? Follow me on Twitch!
Looking for more Beginner Tips? Check out my Complete Beginners Guide to GTA RP!
Drinker of Coffee, Lover of Games, Creator of Content