The mentor system sucks, and here's how I would fix it.

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Originally Posted by DuskTS

Put Astrope mount for MGP in gold saucer problem solved.

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Then mentor roulette goes back to what it was, where almost no one ran it, and the whole point of the roulette is to fill other queues.

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Originally Posted by DumdogsWorld

I have a serious, unbiased question since I rarely deal with mentors, the novice network, etc etc.

One day I said into my FC chat that if anybody wanted help with clears related to Stormblood main-story dungeons, I would like to help because of boredom.

They said I should become a mentor because the mentor roulette gives "random content".

I responded by saying something along these lines (I don't have the chat log so I'm going off memory):

"I would need to be an exceptional player for that. The first step is knowing one's own limitations, correct? I don't consider myself a bad player, but I'm not exactly savage raid material either."

The first response was "I already like you better than any mentor"

That was a red flag for me. Are there *really* mentors running around who aren't....um...helpful?

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wow I was once this innocent. But yes, depending on who you talk too there's MORE of them then helpful ones. I'm jaded so I lean towards most of them are horrible unless proven otherwise. Then again I feel like 90% of the game is horrible ingeneral so.... >.>

If you provide meaningful rewards for being a mentor (beyond the joy you get from helping people), a lot of people who don't actually want to mentor are going to become mentors.

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Originally Posted by ShinShimon

If you provide meaningful rewards for being a mentor (beyond the joy you get from helping people), a lot of people who don't actually want to mentor are going to become mentors.

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And unfortunately if you *don't* do that, then the queues they are trying to fill won't get filled.

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Originally Posted by Aramina

And unfortunately if you *don't* do that, then the queues they are trying to fill won't get filled.

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This is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

If you reward mentors by locking content, and giving them a crown - people who don't want to help will join
If you don't reward mentors - people wont be doing the roulette because it offers nothing

If the system is that flawed, why does it exist?

As I see it right now, it's a bunch of people who aren't trying to help, but trying to unlock content in the game.
If 90% of the mentors in the mentor roulette don't want to help people, then how is it really a tool to help new players?

I hate to put myself on the spot, but I'm a collector when it comes to games. The mentor system has a mount locked behind it, and some shiny "look at me crap". I'm the type of player that's being attracted to the mentor roulette. I've been playing for less them 6 months, and while I am good at all the healer jobs, that's basically it. I barely have any level 70 skills, and I'm more focused on the casual content (not that I don't wanna do the hardcore content, I'm just waiting for friends to catch up). I'm at best a novice that has mastered one role in the game, and has yet to do any of the high end EX content, but I'm 10 tank levels away from becoming one & I am going to become one as soon as I get those levels.

It's not that I don't want to help people, or anything like that, but my goal is simply to brute force my collectibles. I'm sure as time goes on, I'll become more bitter during the roulette because I'll see them as a chore that has content locked behind them.

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Originally Posted by Hash_Browns

This is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

If you reward mentors by locking content, and giving them a crown - people who don't want to help will join
If you don't reward mentors - people wont be doing the roulette because it offers nothing

If the system is that flawed, why does it exist?

As I see it right now, it's a bunch of people who aren't trying to help, but trying to unlock content in the game.
If 90% of the mentors in the mentor roulette don't want to help people, then how is it really a tool to help new players?

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It exists for 2 reasons more than likely:

1. The good of queues being filled/new players being able to do "dead" content as intended outweighs the bad of some bad apples.

And probably more importantly....

2. The system isn't broken, we (NA/EU) are. The system functions as it should on JP servers.

I see some issues with the whole mentor topic.

1. The ammount of bad mentors is not as high as some ppl claim. But the exaggerations are causing confirmation bias. There might be 30 silent mentors getting ignored, but the 1 guy with a crown complaining after a wipe gets remembered.

2. The definition of "bad" or "good" mentor is different for everyone. A Mentor telling a healer to "pls use some dmg spells" ... good or bad?

3. The expectations of what mentors should know are often really too high. I can explain every dungeon and every normal and hard primal, but if mentor roullette puts me into ex, i can´t help. So should I not do mentor roulette at all, even if im filling a healer slot for many dungeons with always instant invite?

4. Mentors cannot read minds. Even if the firsttimer message pops up, it could of course be a new person, but it could also be a 2. char from a vet. Maybe the sprout wants to run the content blind, maybe he wants explanation, maybe he is on voice com with a friend already explaining everything...

I think you are probably 100% correct Laphael.

4. Is easily solved. I just ask is everyone comfortable with the fight. Most times players that are new tell you they are new. then you can ask if they want or explanation or a lot of the time they go ahead and tell you.

My only complaint about the mentor system is that I need a Lv 60 from all roles. including land and hand roles, why do I need those?

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Originally Posted by Beki_Bayaqad

My only complaint about the mentor system is that I need a Lv 60 from all roles. including land and hand roles, why do I need those?

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You don't need land/hand. They are their separate thing. It's one of each battle role OR .... not AND. :)

- Mentor Requirements
To qualify to become a mentor, players must first have earned certain achievements. There are two sets of prerequisites, one for Disciples of War and Magic, and one for Disciples of the Hand and Land. After earning the required achievements for either set, speak with one of the Smiths to become a mentor.

Achievement Requirements for Disciples of War and Magic
・Complete at least one level 60 job quest as a tank, healer, and DPS.
・Complete 1,000 dungeons, raids, or trials.
・Receive 300 player commendations.

Achievement Requirements for Disciples of the Hand and Land
・Reach level 60 with at least one Disciple of the Hand and Land.
・Synthesize 100 collectables.
・Gather or catch 300 collectables.

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Originally Posted by Beki_Bayaqad

My only complaint about the mentor system is that I need a Lv 60 from all roles. including land and hand roles, why do I need those?

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You don't, but even if you did, getting most of them to 60 is a joke these days.

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Originally Posted by cicatriz313

I would just get rid of mentors completely. The system doesn't work, novice network is just a global chat and people just like having a silly crown.

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That's not necessarily true.

Source: am mentor, typically hide my crown.

...I just want the global chat.

There should definitely be an easier way to report mentors' bad behaviour, and they should be held to higher standards by GM enforcement, at the risk of their status being taken away at the very least.

Also, I think it would probably help a lot if being a Mentor were seen as less "cool". Like take the crown away and turn it into a watering can or something (in keeping with the newbie sprout/returner flower theme). Many "mentors" don't really want to be mentors, they just want a crown next to their name because it looks cool and elite. Taking the coolness away would probably weed out a lot of those people already.

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Originally Posted by SpiritMuse

There should definitely be an easier way to report mentors' bad behaviour, and they should be held to higher standards by GM enforcement, at the risk of their status being taken away at the very least.

Also, I think it would probably help a lot if being a Mentor were seen as less "cool". Like take the crown away and turn it into a watering can or something (in keeping with the newbie sprout/returner flower theme). Many "mentors" don't really want to be mentors, they just want a crown next to their name because it looks cool and elite. Taking the coolness away would probably weed out a lot of those people already.

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Can my watering can still have my hammer? If so, I am on board. FWIW, I think that big crown is ugly. I like the little crown with the sword or hammer, or whatever other things are there.

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Originally Posted by galbsadi

That's not necessarily true.

Source: am mentor, typically hide my crown.

...I just want the global chat.

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Lol well I wasn't saying everyone wants the crown, but thanks for being honest.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-plhYb-TP...hg9uo1_400.jpg

Hmm....nope, not interested.

Actually kinda wish mentor status was a lot harder to attain. Like you had to be tested on whatever you were getting your mentor status for, and you had to periodically take that test to keep your mentor status.

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Originally Posted by SpiritMuse

There should definitely be an easier way to report mentors' bad behaviour, and they should be held to higher standards by GM enforcement, at the risk of their status being taken away at the very least.

Also, I think it would probably help a lot if being a Mentor were seen as less "cool". Like take the crown away and turn it into a watering can or something (in keeping with the newbie sprout/returner flower theme). Many "mentors" don't really want to be mentors, they just want a crown next to their name because it looks cool and elite. Taking the coolness away would probably weed out a lot of those people already.

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A watering can would be cute, and would match the flowers 'n sprouts. Theme ftw!

The only problem I have with mentor are the primal ex fights. 9 out of 10 times they end in a vote dismiss. They are almost always a waste of time and you get nothing out of them. I would like to either:

- See primal ex fights removed
or
- If you are in the fight for more than 30 or 40 minutes then you get credit for it toward the 2000 achievement.

I don't mind helping people but I've been in to many where the other people just don't listen and they are nothing more than beating your head against a brick wall.

nobody wants to be a mentor due to not wanting to get banned for mentoring.