PSA: Mentors can talk about anything they want in Novice Network - Discussion with GM

[Amiaze]

"Oh no you will be kicked right after this"

I lol'd a bit.

I'm sorry, but I did as well.

As for the ban and revelation that the chat can be used in any way, I have to say that that's more than a little disappointing. I was looking forward to giving friendly advice to other healers and, on an alt on a different server, seeking advice on how to tank/DPS properly. As someone else side, there's nothing wrong with side-chatter. But if the amount of threads and posts I'm seeing regarding the chat being completely off-topic is truly proportionate to the amount of off-topic conversations, then there's really no use in going in.

As for the OP, thank you for posting the screenshots and taking one for the team. At least now we have clarification regarding the matter. Sorry that it was gained at the cost of a temporary ban, though.

As a side note, I'm curious to know how people are faring on other data centers. To be blunt, I wonder if the abuse of the new chat is more on the side of the player base or on the side of the developers?

[Kalsoa]

Yeah, I had to put the Novice Network in another tab, people just use it as giant chat channel, spamming it with mindless chatter, not even about helping newbies or answering questions. I think this idea was a big bust. Not serving its intended purpose at all.

[AlphaFox]

I admit I kinda expected it to be like a Teacher/Student kinda thing. Your logged in and signed as a Mentor and can have X students under you, either randomly chosen or paired up or by student choice. A giant chat channel, I think we all saw this coming, though I guess it may just be the english version. Anyone know if Jap forums are having similar issues or complaints?

Plus lets be honest, there are several ways to go about it, getting 1 solid idea is a lot better than say me mentioning I prefer Nocturnal stance to Diurnal and the entire board blowing up saying "NO! Do not do that!" when it is a viable option regardless. Yes I am aware fresh newbies won't be ASTs but just an example.

[Canadane]

My takeaway from this is that, if I'm going to get in trouble, do it as close to midnight as possible!

But really, I don't mind idle chat here and there among mentors. Mentors can learn things just as much as novices can! However, keeping up random social conversations seem to keep novices away from asking questions. As to not interrupt. That defeats the purpose, I say. So far, Hyperion has been pretty good about it all. No huge amounts of drama, no FC or recruitment spam. It's nice. It's helpful. It's classy. ...most of the time.

[AsteriaStarfall]

Well so there we have it from a paid employee. The novice channel is a world wide chat channel for mentors to basically use however they want and flood the sprouts with random stuff they will likely know nothing about. And if you actually try and enforce the widely accepted "use this channel to help new players only" method. You will be issued a ban.

Had a ton of new players today ask to be kicked from the channel for this exact reason. It was somewhat sad to see them go because a chat channel specifically designed for them cannot have simple rules made and enforced.

[Schark]

Other than rarely being able to get into the channel because of a really low mentor limit, turning the chat off because of meaningless spam and a VAST majority of the sprouts being bots, I think this system is a massive success...

[Evangela]

That's what you get from trying to take away the rights to speak from other people.

We are free!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_...s_Constitution

[WellFooled]

Probably because I'm on a smaller server, but the novice channel has been a big success here I think. We had a little drama on day one over this very topic, but after that it has settled down and is functioning quite smoothly I think. No spam, questions asked and answer. On Goblin I'm happy to report that it seems to be serving its purpose.

[Cherie]

I'm totally for having a meaningful discussion about the game, but what keeps that channel from descending into tangent after tangent?

And then there are the sprouts, and I see some in this thread even are referring to the mentors as "higher status" or "betters" or some such. I mean, are the mentors a fraternity and the sprouts the first year recruits? Are there hazings too?

Is it just me or does anyone else think that maybe the first experience someone gets when they join the game shouldn't be joining a highschool-ish clique with some "cool kids"? This is coming from the like the former chess club kid so what do I know? :P

[Lego3400]

That's what you get from trying to take away the rights to speak from other people.

We are free!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_...s_Constitution

+

Except the game is run in JAPAN.