As many of you know, every fast paced fps(Quake, doom etc) game is hard to learn and insanely hard to master.
This is something that makes many new players leave.
Games today are easy to master, and the more you play you will get advantages such as perks etc. In quake, you don't get anything. And one mistake means that you're f***d.

So here is my little column about how to get players to stay:
You log on to the game server and a new player connects.
First you feel what he's up to. You see that he believes the machine gun is the a good weapon(Just like in COD) and you rail him straight away.
Obviously this player doesn't know shit about Quake, so instead of raping him 60 - -2 like every other player would. Try to teach him some tips'n'tricks. Give him a brief introduction to every weapon and item, tactics and maneuvers. and then start playing at a easy level so that he can get a few frags too, and when you go a lil' crazy near the end, say that he does good considering he's a new player.

This is something i have done many times to newer players(I'm not that skilled myself)
But i believe it encourages newbies to stay.
Once at a lan i told a kid to register on quake live.
After 8 deaths he ragequitted and told me "The game is too hard" In a crying tone.
This is not what we want.
Winning is fun, obviously... But sacrifice a little for the new players, and for quake!

And so my fellow quakers, ask not what your game can do for you, but what you can do for your game!

-Vizaari