Genuine question for those upset with the new Mentor requirements

[Voltyblast]

Well, if the way you offer advice runs the risk of getting you banned, then perhaps the problem isn't with SE's terms and conditions. In six whole years I've offered advice probably thousands of times and not once have I been reported.

If it would help any, or if you want it, I'd be happy to offer some tips or advice on how to do this?

Just to clarify, that right there is both an actual offer AND how I do it in duties. Don't try to force it, merely offer help if things are clearly not going as smoothly as they should.

See how unreportable that was? Easy. Just don't be a massive douche about it and you're fine.

I don't offer advice. At least not anymore. I'm not crazy enough to even dare to tell anyone how to improve their gameplay. Did I do it before? Yes, I did, infact I used to tell tactics and how to improve certain things - like how a monk didn't know that bootshine critted when behind an enemy - but even then people were usually too cranky and very aggressive that I just didn't bother try because I don't want to risk finding THAT guy who decides to report me: I had enough flak for merely stating opinions that are harmless, I can't imagine if I even dared to tell someone how to use a spell correctly.

Does someone ask for help? Well, I would tell you, gladly so, but I'm not a mentor: ask the real one, he's the one risking causing major distress to the one player. I could also tell why the dungeon run is taking too long, it could be the fact that the dragoon is constantly dying, or even that the dps is so low that the tank is doing more, or the tank is missing their tanking stance, but I'm not even DARING to do that.

But if this makes me a douche then I guess I am but at least I'm safe. Better safe than sorry!

This literally never happens so long as you're polite when you give your advice. (Dont even have to be nice. You can just say "use flare for aoe" and be fine.) If this has happened to you, its a problem with you, not the ToS.

I was once kicked and heavily bashed for telling during a run of Castrum - back in ARR when you could skip cutscenes - that a bunch of peeps were watching CS and that we should wait, so no, it does happen.

But I suppose I'm just "not nice enough" so who knows. Still, by all means, you keeps risking your account, I'll just mind my own business. Deal? Deal.

[Krotoan]

I don't offer advice. At least not anymore. I'm not crazy enough to even dare to tell anyone how to improve their gameplay. Did I do it before? Yes, I did, infact I used to tell tactics and how to improve certain things - like how a monk didn't know that bootshine critted when behind an enemy - but even then people were usually too cranky and very aggressive that I just didn't bother try because I don't want to risk finding THAT guy who decides to report me: I had enough flak for merely stating opinions that are harmless, I can't imagine if I even dared to tell someone how to use a spell correctly.

Does someone ask for help? Well, I would tell you, gladly so, but I'm not a mentor: ask the real one, he's the one risking causing major distress to the one player. I could also tell why the dungeon run is taking too long, it could be the fact that the dragoon is constantly dying, or even that the dps is so low that the tank is doing more, or the tank is missing their tanking stance, but I'm not even DARING to do that.

But if this makes me a douche, you know the "not trying to help", then I guess I am but at least I'm a douche with an account still going.



I was once kicked and heavily bashed for telling during a run of Castrum - back in ARR when you could skip cutscenes - that a bunch of peeps were watching CS and that we should wait, so no, it does happen.

But I suppose I'm just "not nice enough" so I'm not even going further. You keep risking your account, I'll just mind my own business. Deal? Deal.

People don't just get banned without ANY cause. If a GM can find something in your "advice" worth banning, you really need to look at how you're phrasing things.

You are of course right in that by never offering advice you keep yourself safe from any action upon you, but it's not the advice that's damning it's how you give it.

[Deceptus]

So let's be honest with ourselves here. This was never about helping people. It was about feeling superior.

Way to generalize and stereotype.

I've been a mentor since day one it was allowed, I've never once thought I was superior to anyone else and I could care less if it's a crown, a watering can, or whatever icon they make it. I don't give two sh!ts about the icon, and I doubt most people do.

Like anything in life, the bad experiences stick with you, the good ones you generally forget about.

I rarely keep nameplates on so I don't even see who does have a crown and who doesn't. I just offer advice when it is asked for, or when it is needed.

[Voltyblast]

People don't just get banned without ANY cause. If a GM can find something in your "advice" worth banning, you really need to look at how you're phrasing things.

You are of course right in that by never offering advice you keep yourself safe from any action upon you, but it's not the advice that's damning it's how you give it.

I once banned a couple of players who threatened me and as far as I know, nothing happened to them, in fact I saw them running months later as nothing happened. If they did get punished I cannot say, but I don't think so. And I'm fairly sure that kind of threat there isn't "other way to phrase it". And yes I even sent a screenshot alongside my report.

Meanwhile, I legitimately can risk being banned if I "accidentally" say someone's DPS is low, as it implies I run something in the background, even though my intention is to say that "we should increase our damage or else we won't make it". And bear in mind, I only want to end the run, and I want to help the team to understand who's causing the issue and I swear I'm not trying to create problems of any kind, but if that dragoon would stop dying maybe we could make it through! (just an exaggerated example, but you get the point)

Thank you for your advice but I'll keep being the silent person. Better safe than sorry.

[Krotoan]

I once banned a couple of players who death threatened me and as far as I know, nothing happened to them, in fact I saw them running months later as nothing happened. If they did get punished I cannot say, but I don't think so. And I'm fairly sure that kind of threat there isn't "other way to phrase it". And yes I even sent a screenshot alongside my report.

As far as you know. This is how the system works. And I'm not saying "anything is ok if you phrase it right" because that wasn't advice, that was just being toxic.

Meanwhile, I legitimately can risk being banned if I "accidentally" say someone's DPS is low, as it implies I run something in the background, even though my intention is to say that "we should increase our damage or else we won't make it". And bear in mind, I only want to end the run, I'm not trying to create problems but if that dragoon would stop dying maybe! (just an exaggerated example, but you get the point)

You are very likely only risking banning if you use certain terms like "Damage meter" or specifically calling out ONE of the DPS (something you wouldn't really know unless you had a meter) , even then all actioned reports are reviewed by a human in the end. This isn't a blizzard game where you get enough reports and poof you cannot talk/play and you have to appeal. You get reported and depending on content you either get punished or warned or nothing happens. Sure you can get kicked but that's minor.. some people just not gonna wanna play with you.

Thank you for your advice - no I won't report you, don't worry, I only report personal offenses on me! - but I'll keep being the silent person. Better safe than sorry.

Er.. you're welcome but I stand by my assertion that you cannot get me banned/silenced simply by nonsense reporting me, I have to do something that earns it. The problem is that YOU are not the judge of that, and it sounds like your perspective may not allow you to see what others might consider offensive/toxic. it's not up to the player or you, it's up to the GMs.

[Voltyblast]

Er.. you're welcome but I stand by my assertion that you cannot get me banned/silenced simply by nonsense reporting me, I have to do something that earns it. The problem is that YOU are not the judge of that, and it sounds like your perspective may not allow you to see what others might consider offensive/toxic. it's not up to the player or you, it's up to the GMs.

That was a joke anyway so, of course, I wasn't going to do that - even edited out cause it was just pretty bad - but who knows, maybe you're right, maybe my perspective doesn't allow me to see beyond what's offensive and toxic...and that's fine, I don't really see the issue as long as I don't cause trouble, which I don't because I'm an old person and I got irl trouble and stuff to deal with, last thing I need is to cause trouble in a game.

And for that same reason I'm just keeping things for myself and letting other get the glory, which sounds like a fair deal: others are risking to possibly lose their accounts for something that isn't really well detailed and easily open to interpretation, while I'll just mind my own business and cause no harm to anyone. It's win-win as far as I can see.

Again, better safe than sorry. And trust nobody too while we're at it.

[Catwho]

I'm one of those that turned the crown off entirely and just answer questions in NN to the best of my ability.

I give advice in dungeons when there's a new player in my group, but I try to limit it to things that aren't obvious or will one-shot a person who misses it. Don't need a crown for that.

Turn it into a watering can or a poop emoji. Don't care about the icon, I just want to encourage people to stay and play the game and have fun.

[Mavrias]

I was once kicked and heavily bashed for telling during a run of Castrum - back in ARR when you could skip cutscenes - that a bunch of peeps were watching CS and that we should wait, so no, it does happen.

But I suppose I'm just "not nice enough" so who knows. Still, by all means, you keeps risking your account, I'll just mind my own business. Deal? Deal.

What exactly does that have to do with being reported and recieving action against your account for giving advice exactly? Hello?

[RyuSaarva]

I'm one of those that turned the crown off entirely and just answer questions in NN to the best of my ability.

I give advice in dungeons when there's a new player in my group, but I try to limit it to things that aren't obvious or will one-shot a person who misses it. Don't need a crown for that.

Turn it into a watering can or a poop emoji. Don't care about the icon, I just want to encourage people to stay and play the game and have fun.

you don't have to turn it off because it's off normally, you have to manually turn it on everytime you log in.

[Catwho]

Hmmm, did it change? Used to be on any time you logged in, until you turned it off manually. Still reappears if you run mentor roulette regardless.