How do Storyline beginners overcomplicate course building?

What do beginners tend to overcomplicate when building courses with Storyline?

Storyline is powerful, and new users can feel overwhelmed when they first jump in. They see polished examples on E-Learning Heroes, read “tips and tricks” blog posts, and spelunk the depths of r/InstructionalDesign to learn what Storyline can do.

Armed with all that knowledge, it’s easy to start reaching for every bell and whistle, while overlooking the simpler tools that are already right there.

Here are some examples I see from time to time:

• Using complicated show/hide trigger toggles with multiple objects instead of simply creating custom states on a single object.
• Endlessly nudging object positions on the timeline instead of using cue points or trigger events like “When media completes.”
• Adding loads of animations without stopping to ask how they actually help the learner understand anything. Sometimes less really is more.
• Jumping straight into using advanced concepts like variables and custom JavaScript when simpler, built-in options could achieve the same outcome.
• Most great courses start kind of boring. One slide. One interaction. One clear outcome. Then you layer in complexity only where it earns its keep.

If you’re experienced with Storyline, I’m curious:

• What do you see beginners overcomplicating the most?
• What’s the one thing you wish someone had told you earlier?

And if you’re newer to Storyline, this is a safe space.

What feels harder than you think it should?

Let’s compare notes.