Something that I think this game could benefit from is something that helps spread the love for the lesser used professions in game and maybe help the learning curve a little easier.
What im talking about is...
if a new player starts and they want to be a gang member.. that's really easy and obvious on who to go for to join up and get some degree of mentoring on the finer points of being a full of flavor big bad mean gang banger...Sure they might try combat before and no doubt fail spectacularly .. but eventually they can and i guess usually find a mentor to show them the finer points icly and in game how to go about combat and being a ganger in general..
if a new player wants to rise the corporate ladder again that's sort of easy to get into and find a means and a ways and one or more mentors to get you into how and why, the ins and outs for you to learn both how to behave and how ,. when why and should you of their chosen profession....
This however doesn't extend to all aspects.. some are obviously more difficult than others to get into and learn the ropes so to speak..
Now i'm not suggesting that this role cant or is not filled in game by players and one off NPC puppets.. but i was thinking more of a semi permanent NPC's to provide stepping stones.... a port of call so to speak at least.. a sign post if you will.. something to scream out into that dark night.. hey there budding (insert criminal wannabie).. your not all alone.. well maybe.. but there is help if your willing to look for it ....
for example.. new player joins and wants to learn the ropes and be the withmores finest cyber jockey.. player does the usual, joins.. RP's and generally hangs out learning the game, the city and does all the usual immie things.. at some point there really should be a semi obvious NPC at least for the player to approach in character to get a starting idea on what they need, who to speak to... where to get x.. or even just tips and ideas on how to use commands.... now some of this could be scripted or even is just a focal point for a player to attract the attention of the GMs icly.. (the usual @notes ives spoken to soo and soo).. now obviously this should be themed and can stepping stone or what not.. so in this instance could be a renowned but burnt out cyber jockey that sits in a dive bar somewhere.... gives out a little bit of advice.. and helps the player have a focal point to contact.. maybe after awhile the GM's could use it as a vehicle to point them in the direction of a well established player in game fulfilling a role that the immie hasnt come across or is on a different timezone..It could also serve as a message board sort of thing that lets other players contact said guru to discretely advertise they lookin for said cyber jockey..
other examples that i could think of that could do with a in game mentor/ guild/ heck even a specific focal message board that's not open grid would be..
Job Broker for independent solos/street samurai.. the wanted / bounty sort of does this but its not the same for immies...
Thieves .. we so need a thieves guild..and who can advertise they want a mentor in this?
Fixer? .. maybe there are enough ingame and they are visable enough? to approach..
Gunsmiths/ Lords of war - basically anything illegal thats hard to know who to contact..
Candy man - i mean there is the corpies.. but im thinking mixer based..i can only imagine but the learning curve and setup costs of this means that for immies its like looking at Everest...so they will drop out / re roll or just get frustrated and look elsewhere..
Tech guru.. maybe there are enough jobs and businesses in the mix./ topside.. what are peoples thoughts..??
im sure there are plenty of other examples...
Now these NPCs might be used also for Player to GM interactions of more establish characters and provide a natural ic conduit for GM - Player interactions for players that either through choice or RP dont want to or it works better thematically that they dont sign up to an organistaion or what not but still need a conduit to the GM's, to advice or even jobs/RP/approiate items/ story hooks etc.....
It would also help the general player base as well.. because then we wouldnt have the slightly jaring experience of someone doing something out of character or totally retarded icly just because the player (not character but player) doesnt know any better... Im thinking of someone failing spectacularly at trying to buy a gun in a open bar ( they should but might not get the subtle art or understand just how illegal they are).. or hacking ( they dont know which equipment or how to do it with commands) or pick pocketing ( they do something stupidly retarded because quiet frankly i imagine that this is a hard thing to get into and the consequences i imagine are quiet serve for a minor slip up early on)....
now dont get me wrong. failing.. and failing badly can be great RP and loads of fun.. but failing because the player doesn't know this or that about a in game command or not knowing something that their limited history says they should know is no fun for the player (not to mention very frustrating) or the rest of the community where they have to turn a blind eye or just laugh it off somehow... i mean there are plenty of character types and ideas i would love to try out and even after months of play im totally turned off them as the learning curve would just be a total nightmare...
anyway.. as always just me thoughts and 2 cent...