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

[Ramziez]

So I'm sure there is no disagreement that the mentor system doesn't do anything to promote positive behavior and is essentially just a roulette anyone with this status can do for extra rewards and that a lot of people complain about the bad behavior they see in some mentors. I have a proposed solution that I feel would make mentors more helpful and allow people that actually want to help, help people easier.

My first step would just be gutting the current mentor system full stop. The only left over content for it would be mentor roulette which I would rename to be "All Content Roulette" or something along those lines. Any achievements for mentor roulette would be moved to the new "All Content Roulette" keeping the same rewards for both roulette rewards and achievements.

Step 2 is to make the new mentor system into an opt in system. If a player desires to become a mentor they go through the support page in game and choose to become a mentor. For submission the player is able to select what they can mentor on for example specific classes, raiding, gathering, crafting, etc. You would be able to add or remove these as you see fit. Once you submit your application a GM would run a quick check on you to make sure you don't have any behavior reports on your account to ensure we have helpful mentors.

Once you become a mentor you will get a special icon like you do currently, however it will only be visible to sprouts, returning players, and possibly people that opt in to join the mentor network without being an actual mentor. However instead of having the novice network a screen in the system menu would be added, contact mentor. Once here a user who needs help can select a topic which they need help in and can write up their question they want to ask.

This part I haven't entirely decided on, but I have a few options. First option after submitting a question a random mentor with the topic selected will receive a message, similar to how you get responses from the support team, in a special mentor window. From there, a mentor would have some special options to help out. First would be teleport to player, so a mentor can come directly to a person if they need help where they are, second would be join party so they can easily communicate through party chat instead of the mentor window. The third feature I can think of right now would be teleport to a training room, so for example a player wanted to learn about rotations and possibly boss mechanics. The last mentor feature would be close mentor session, when complete the mentor would close the session and the person who was being mentored could say if that mentor was good or not. My second option would be to have a list of currently free people that requested a mentor''s help and you would only be able to see people who have a question with a topic you are able to mentor in. Other than that it works the same.

[Ramziez]

Part 2.

Last major change is adding a new special roulette for mentors only, first timer sprout roulette. For this I also have two thoughts on how this would work. First is just a basic is this person a sprout or first timer, then you'd get priority to join in on these situations. This might mess up queue times though so I'm not sure. Second would be for sprouts and first timers to say they want a mentor and it would prioritize other sprouts and first timers, and match them with a mentor. Of course a player could decide not to use a mentor if they desire. I'm not sure what would be used for rewards, or if rewards would even be added to prevent people from becoming a mentor just for those rewards like our current system.

Well there is my two cents on how to fix the currently useless and counterproductive mentor system. I know almost nobody will care since people are too busy complaining about male Viera and such. Let me know what you think, I would love a new mentor system without all the stigma that the current system has with mean mentors just in it for the rewards

[Aramina]

Step 2 is to make the new mentor system into an opt in system. If a player desires to become a mentor they go through the support page in game and choose to become a mentor. For submission the player is able to select what they can mentor on for example specific classes, raiding, gathering, crafting, etc. You would be able to add or remove these as you see fit. Once you submit your application a GM would run a quick check on you to make sure you don't have any behavior reports on your account to ensure we have helpful mentors.

You are failing to take into account how many man hours this would add to their workload. While I agree the Mentor system could use improvements, the above suggestion is not really workable.

edit: Hit post cap, so replying here. Devs are not the same thing as GMs. There is no "downtime" for GMs because they handle the day to day tickets and such. You are asking that they take time away from actually assisting players to "fact check" people applying for Mentorship.

[Ramziez]

I never said this is something that can be done quickly much less before an expansion is released. I understand that the dev team is working hard on Shadowbringers and wouldn't want them to go out of their way for a feature like this. But this is something that could be implemented during a lull of content after the initial expansion but fixes are done and things settle down.

[NekoNova]

Someone has a mentor crown?
That person doesn't adhere to the mentor standards?


1. Revoke their mentor status
2. Revoke their PROGRESS towards the mount
3. This is a second/third offense? Revoke their possibility to become a mentor completely.


problem solved.

[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.

[Halivel]

I would like to see system improved. Maybe not in this exact shape, but yes.

Though, we should at first change people mindset, because I don't know about other mentors, but I'm tired.

I spent whole 120 minutes explaining The Orbonne Monastery at 1st week in Alliance chat because people asked about it (while I was able to leave, wait 30 minutes penalty and then find new duty almost immediately because I'm Tank). We finally cleared it 3 minutes before the end. And I didn't recieve nor commend, nor even "thanks" in the chat, just nothing. Only thing people did is "Vote Abandon" initialiaze (at 1st week) and complain that mentors do nothing, when there was actually only me with crown and I explained everything and was calm, polite and tried to cheer those who was sad about fails. I don't know, what was I supposed to do really. Play for them the whole game? And it's not the first time when it was like this, it's like this every time in any new (and not new) content. I removed my mentor crown and don't really plan to use it again for while. Maybe at some day, but not now.

So it's not only about mentors, it's about players too: as long as there are people who treat mentors as free servants, there will not be mentors who really want to help others get better. Because who in the world will want to help to people who can't even write "Thank you" in chat?

[Ramziez]

Someone has a mentor crown?
That person doesn't adhere to the mentor standards?


1. Revoke their mentor status
2. Revoke their PROGRESS towards the mount
3. This is a second/third offense? Revoke their possibility to become a mentor completely.


problem solved.

Is it really though? What is the point of the mentor right now? There isn't any, you get a fancy crown and a new roulette that provides rewards everyone wants. By making the mentor system an opt in program you'll get people that actually want to help instead of people just doing it for the extra roulette and rewards. I for one really wish there was more ways to help besides getting a random dungeon where there may or may not even be people that want help.

[WaterShield]

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.

Or we could leave it alone as it does what it's supposed to as is. It fills queues that are long running.

If a mentor is breaking rules you can report them the same as anyone else?

[WaterShield]

Is it really though? What is the point of the mentor right now? There isn't any, you get a fancy crown and a new roulette that provides rewards everyone wants. By making the mentor system an opt in program you'll get people that actually want to help instead of people just doing it for the extra roulette and rewards. I for one really wish there was more ways to help besides getting a random dungeon where there may or may not even be people that want help.

Explain to me how it isn't opt in right now? Last I checked you have to go get it and turn it on. You don't just suddenly have a crown over your head for no reason.