Ok, so I just ranked up a char to level 8 after a couple years being away. Gotta tell you, I've forgotten a lot! It wasn't easy getting my bearings again, it's worse for newbies.
Things to fix:
HELP: most of those commands are class-specific and are just frustrating. I couldn't remember how to check stats and I had to go to the wiki to find it.
COMMANDS: Again, most of those are emotes or class specific. NOT helpful.
TOUR: Too wordy! Break it down to one file and get to the stinkin' point!
NEWBIE SCHOOL: All those statues need to be condensed and include more useful information. The ghost wraith is ok, but I couldn't remember how to get into the chest. The notes from the blademaster is hard to figure out how to read. I couldn't do it.
If you ever want new blood here, you got to keep from scaring them off from being too vague in the beginning.
Also, those vote sites that everybody is always pressuring to vote on? I think they are out of date. Google search MUDS or whatever you use to find RPGS, and get listed on the first 5 that come up.
Newbie area is currently being completely redone by Erana. Will be a lot more helpful when done.
Good to hear. 
In my downtime I tried out another mud recently called DragonRealms.....
I used to think forsakenlands was confusing and vague.
Are the help files also getting revamped? It sorely needs it.
If any of you have suggestions for updates to helpfiles (or just a list of helpfiles to be updated) post them in prayer, and we'll take a look, there have been a few suggestions amongst staff already, but it would also help to compile a list quicker, like we do with bugs.
Dizz - you also have a valuable resource in the newbie chat channel which can be OOC to a point. I think you can use it up to level 15? However, I don't recall if there's any mechanism which informs new chars/players about that channel.
I think it would be nifty if by level 15 we could have a message stating:
YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO USE THE NEWBIE CHANNEL.
IF YOU STILL WISH TO USE THE NEWBIE CHANNEL FOR HELP, TYPE: NEWBIECHANNEL NEWBIE.
IF YOU STILL WISH TO USE THE NEWBIE CHANNEL TO HELP OTHERS, TYPE: NEWBIECHANNEL EXPERT.
And then that would automatically send an app to use the newbie channel, etc.
Ahhh DragonRealms was my first MUD. I loved it. Then they went pay to play and considering I was 12....I had no chance.
I think it would be nifty if by level 15 we could have a message stating:
YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO USE THE NEWBIE CHANNEL.
IF YOU STILL WISH TO USE THE NEWBIE CHANNEL FOR HELP, TYPE: NEWBIECHANNEL NEWBIE.
IF YOU STILL WISH TO USE THE NEWBIE CHANNEL TO HELP OTHERS, TYPE: NEWBIECHANNEL EXPERT.
And then that would automatically send an app to use the newbie channel, etc.
Best idea I've seen on the forums in a long time.
I tried the newbie channel. I think I heard crickets in reply.
lol. If you were on like an hour ago, there were at least three high level characters who were online and could use newbie channel. But yes, sometimes you do hear the crickets.
Jibber's idea would promote more higher-levels using the channel anyway, so more chance of a question being answered.
Dey
On the other hand, we don't want it to be a chatterbox and want to encourage people to seek IC answers. True newbies usually wind up getting newbie access very quickly. Vets can join the academy as a faction, although many 50s already have newbie access.
One of the best things you can do is to approach a newbie, or any sub-pinn, ICly and directly. Get them involved in game. You can always make up something for them to do, ways to get them involved, or guide them.
You can also use 'who newbie' and if you see somebody beyond the 10th rank with newbie access, but not an established 50, chances are that person is a newbie. You can approach and interact with those too.
Why don't we make it more newbie friendly by doing this, AND encouraging IC talk? I can't tell you how frustrating it is sometimes to explain to someone, IC. I mean, if I'm frustrated, surely they are too?
Bah, I completely forgot about applying for newbie channel access. Liadon was one I remembered just before I left the last time, and I had a ball RPing and teaching the basics on Pwint (sp* I think my halfling bard or something). Was an absolute ball. Reminds me to apply again.
If the newbie has command syntax problems (to the point of not being able to play the game) and you somehow notice it--which wouldn't really be possible even if you had newbie chat--you won't be able to help them very much.
That would take an imm, or at the very least, a rolled newbie in the same newbie room helping them.
So by all means, if you encounter a true newbie, roll up a character and play with them at their level. This is far better than OOCly explaining mechanics from a distance. You will have the newbie chat and you will be able to help them as they inevitably encounter more and more difficulties.
Newbie chat is most useful for the stage between having some basic command syntax down but not knowing the particulars of our game very well. This kind of help can almost always be done IC, but we reserve the OOC newbie chat for lost starters.
Point is, we don't want an OOC channel, even a newbie one, available to all players by their choice.
Why is newbie chat turned off at a certain level? I have seen plenty of newbs at 50 that struggle.
Yet the inconsistent assigning of newbie channell access denies the channel its proper function. Efforts are so strong to squelch any "possible" ooc interaction, that you crush the productive venues of assistance.
I agree with K.
I think that when it comes to helping some newbie, going OOC should be an option.