Hey DAN
Many new players skip the tutorial entirely, i think if they were to complete the tutorial they would have a better understanding of the game and be able to enjoy it to the full extent (obviously). While you don't ever want to force players to complete something tedious like a tutorial, it helps if there is a clear advantage/reward at the end of it, other than an enhanced playing ability
Something clever that i noticed other tutorials taking advantage of was free rewards for the initial completion of the tutorial. The rewards were something awesome that becomes common and unimportant later in the game (essentially rank points).
perhaps in the initial tutorial screen it could be displayed as:
Code:
Hello Pertominus, I am your advisor. Click, Lets get started, to initiate the tutorial, this process will familiarize you with your new ship and surroundings here in the Galaxy, as well as provide you with a starting reward.
[b]Note. Failure to complete the tutorial will not result in a completion reward.[/b]
So new players are not FORCED to take the tutorial, as seen in some games, but feel OBLIGED. Obviously this wont stop Newbie players from skipping to the end and claiming a free reward but could capture a few previously uninterested players, who clicked the link out of boredom.