How would you handle this situation with mean spirited mentors?

[Aldora]

The problem started, the moment they were groaned about new players joining the duty. It doesn’t matter if you are paired with new players, returning players, veteran players playing on an alt character, or veteran players who’ve run the same duty multiple times. You can’t judge the ability of a player, based solely on that “New player bonus”-message. It’s like judging a book by its cover.

I run a lot of content as a healer and you will never hear me sigh when seeing that message. I consider every single person as a valuable member of the party and intend to clear the duty with said party.

I don’t really care if a party member dies multiple times during a duty. I simply raise them again until the duty is won. That’s the duty of being a healer in a group. Making sure the group survives the encounter. At times, players will die due to certain (one-shot) mechanics, which can’t be avoided if you don’t know how to dodge them. I had a Dun Scaith run where i had to raise a melee 20 times before we cleared the duty. I didn’t call him/her out on that. I simply did my job.

If you don’t know how to handle a mechanic, ask the group. There is no shame in that. Just a simple “When you see an eye, look away”, “Stack for ability x” or “I’ve marked myself, so you can follow me” would be enough for most players. When i ran Dun Scaith last night, my co-healer apologized upfront if he died due to a mechanic, because he was still learning the dungeon. When he told me that it was the “Hallowed Ferdiad” boss he was having trouble with, i told him that he should “keep an eye on which colored orb goes to which colored Atomos. If it’s a yellow orb, run towards the other Atomos of the same color. Otherwise, run away.” He had no problems what so ever after that.

It's not that hard.

You might get replies like “watch a guide on youtube before entering”. This particular reply would only be valid if you are in a complex encounter like Extreme Primals or 8-man Savage raids. Those types of content are filled with mechanics which will wipe the group if not handled properly.

All other content can be figured out with a little hands-on practice and a handful of tips. If anyone believes that giving out tips is too much of a bother, even if the (new) player asks for help, then you’re part of the problem. Not the solution.

People give up way too soon. If you are leaving a group or demand a vote abandon after 1 wipe, then that player needs to take a good look at him/herself and wonder how things when they themselves were new to content and died to mechanics. Everyone has to learn something at some point.

However, there are more than enough people who are actually helpful, crown or not. That’s what really matters.

If i was in that duty, i’d confront the players who refused to continue with the duty. If they didn’t wish to actually help out the people in need or continue the duty, they can leave the duty if they wish. If they don’t want to leave by themselves, they’d risk a kick and a report for harassment.

[Synrin]

Some people should have their mentor crowns removed and be unable to obtain them after a report and situation like that. There is no other way.

[LunaFaye]

Some people should have their mentor crowns removed and be unable to obtain them after a report and situation like that. There is no other way.

I wouldn't focus so much on the mentor crown. Some people should just not be able to play mmo's in general, if nobody taught them some manners. Don't matter if mentor or not, you act like that, well go play tetris.

[Natashio]

The problem started, the moment the developers included a mount reward for having to help new players joining the duty.
*edited*

That summarizes better this problem.

[hiedra]

can mentors have their mentor privileges revoked for this sort of thing?

[Faliandra]

When I'm in that scenario, though, I actually discourage vote-kick; I'd rather they waste their time sitting on their arse while a GM gets around to my complaint than be able to queue up again with impunity (which is why they wanted a vote-Abandon; they didn't want to incur the timer penalty). I've seen nastier players fly into an outright rage storm when they're forced to waste their time (or eat the penalty timer), and it always puts a smile on my face to know they're being inconvenienced for their bad behaviour.

The problem with this is, that this actually wastes your own time as well.
If these people really want to get out,theres a way and they'll win anyway.

Could as well just go "omg brb, emergency", then go afk for 10 mins and you'll be autokicked by the system without any penalty in place.
And thats even legit. It really could be an emergency. Nothing anyone could do about this. They just werent smart about their behaviour tbh.

I say votekick them, but also report them. That'll do plenty without unnecessarily wasting too much time on the actual duty.

[Aldora]

That summarizes better this problem.

No, not really. The problem existed way before the Mentor system was introduced. If you look through the history of the game, the first cases of people leaving duties or going AFK once the duties start originate all the back to the 2.0 patch.

There were multiple cases of people kicking others, leaving duties or going AFK while running “Castrum Meridianum” and “The Praetorium”. This was due to (new) players wanting to watch Cutscenes for the story, or wanting to be carried for the Tomestones. You could say that it’s on the developers for introducing a dungeons with cutscenes or handing out tomes an incentive for clearing the duty.

But, that’s not the main issue. The main issue is that players choose to behave like this, rather than actually participating in the duty and helping others in clearing it. There was no sense of “responsibility” to share knowledge to people in need of it, or supporting your fellow party members when they are having trouble with certain elements of the game. On the polar opposite of that statement, you have players who don’t want to put a sliver of effort into playing their class, thinking they will be carried by the others.

Both camps are in the wrong and it’s not simply because SE provided them with the means to it. It always boils down to the attitude of the players. They choose to be this way. The game does not “force” them to be like that.

A lot of the issues we have with other players in game, mostly boil down to the same thing. Their attitude. For example:

• People that get a certain dungeon they don’t feel like doing, they will either AFK, Leave or intentionally cause grief within the group.
• People who force a “speedrun” on the group without verifying if that’s ok with everyone else, or pull when the group isn’t ready for it.
• With the slightest slip up, you can get called out with the most vulgar language you can think of (sometimes even threatened).
• Or, if you want to point out something (friendly or no), you will be answered with childish behavior (like “Gitgut”, “n00b”, “get a life” or even a “Please uninstall the game”) or more vulgar language.
• People who join farming parties, expecting a clear (or simply wish to be carried) without asking for their permission/informing them.
• People who create farming/clear parties and mention within the PF description that only experienced player may join, expecting a clear they haven’t gotten themselves yet (or simply wish to be carried).
• People excluding or calling out others, simply because they are not wearing the BiS gear (even for something as Hard Mode trials).
• People who wear crafting gear or gear that does not suit (think strength gear on a healer) the class they are playing and refuse to equip the proper gear for their class & level if the party asks them to, simply because they want to spiritbond the item.
• People who don’t bother with mechanics, but simply want to burn down the Boss and thus completely ignore all of the mechanics.
• People don’t feel like sticking around after a group wipes during a trial, even if the situation is perfectly salvageable but will require a bit more effort.

These are topics which can be found on the first page of the general discussion of the official forums on a daily basis. It even reflects on the replies you see within these threads as well. There are plenty of other examples you can think of and most of them would apply in both ways.

It’s like we, as human beings, forgot how to properly communicate with one another, respect one another or work with one another. It’s all about “Me” and the rest can either do it “my way” or take “the highway”.

We, as a community, decide what the community is all about. So, only by actually talking to one another in a respectful way and treating each other as equals, can we even start to hope for a good community. The thing is, this does not only apply on this game, but also in other games as well as in real life.

“Treat others how you like to be treated yourself”

[Driavna]

Ignore/Block (we need this to work cross realm), report if was that bad (yes, do it) and move along with your life.

I wish there was a giant sticky that said: the mentor system isn't what you think it is.

Also this.

[Synrin]

I wouldn't focus so much on the mentor crown. Some people should just not be able to play mmo's in general, if nobody taught them some manners. Don't matter if mentor or not, you act like that, well go play tetris.

Then we'd be left with around 10% of player population. Everyone loses their shit now and again. But if you decide to get a title and a symbol to show that you are willing to help then it automatically implies that you have the patience for teaching players and getting them through. Including teaching them how to behave and have patience/understanding themselves.

Definition of mentor: a trusted counselor or guide

[Neela]

at least at zodiac the mentor crown is just a symbol of scumbags and idiots... "I can't stand first timers but I like the icon!"... says it all... sad but reality... : /