Mentors and Novice Network

[SturmChurro]

Novice Network is currently just a discount global chat and is exactly what an actual global chat would become if one ever does become implemented.

A discount global chat where you can get kicked for having the wrong opinion, or chatting out of turn.

[Penthea]

Today I was in the novice network and one of the lovely regular posters there decided to tell us all about the end of Shadowbringers. Which kinda puts a dampener on the whole rest of the game for me.

The mentors in the network said not to spoil but the guy was not kicked. When a novice complained they were kicked for spoiling the mood.

Wow that was a really scummy thing to do.

The Novice Network is a lovely idea but it doesn't work well because the community can't be trusted to police themselves.

[Vickii]

I’m not too sure it was malicious, just the mentors using it as a second free company instead of a chat to help new players. It’s a shame though, kinda ruins it for me.

[Penthea]

I’m not too sure it was malicious, just the mentors using it as a second free company instead of a chat to help new players. It’s a shame though, kinda ruins it for me.

It's the Novice Network. Mentors know that there are new players who wouldn't be as far in the story as they are. The channel literally exists for the sole purpose of helping new players. There is no excuse for spoiling the story in that channel, aside from maybe accidentally typing into the wrong channel. And reading what you said about it, it appears that this isn't what happened. That they chose to kick a new player who complained about the spoilers just shows how little they care about sprouts.

[Vickii]

I don't get this assumption that mentors are supposed to be the best of the best, infallible and never be the ones to ask questions. That's just as hyperbolic as a blanket claim that mentors are all worthless and toxic. In any game I've ever played, the mentor system is designed around mentors just being players with a basic working knowledge of the game and beng willing to help out other players. As a result you're going to get mentors running the gamut from people with extensive knowledge of the game to those with a more social "welcome to the game! lets have fun and learn stuff together!" type. All are equally valid and welcome.

I aslo don't get the assumption that novice network is supposed to only be used only for answering direct questions from novices. It's definitely a major purpose of it, sure, but there's also nothing wrong on its own with people chatting in the novice network. If anything, this makes the game seem more active for a truly new player who is probably spending a lot of time in older zones with less people physically around them. Mentors are also just players, so they're going to interact just as any player would both positively and negatively (e.g. spoiling the story or trolling.) There are tools for dealing with the negative player interactions within the novice network just like for those outside of it. E.g. you can mute the novice network temporarily, leave the network entirely, report misuse of the novice network kick if you feel it was unwarranted, etc.

Side note: The OP made it seem like sprouts automatically get put into the novice network without a choice. Did that change recently? It used to be that you had to be invited by a mentor and accept the invitation to gain access, presumably to avoid it from turning into a RMT chat network.

You’re right about the automatic thing, I forgot about the invite. But most new people aren’t going to say no.

Also sorry but disagree on the rest of it. There are lots of avenues for you to chat. The novice network is to help novices and honestly would be better without mentors in general. Often it’s returners and novices who are the most helpful people, interrupting the mentors chat about ilvl and computer specs in my experience.

[Theodric]

It doesn't help that the requirements to become a trade mentor are fairly lax, to the point where quite a few players openly flaunt the fact that they become a trade mentor solely to continue chatting with their friends in the Novice Network.

Policing the actual channel is pretty difficult, too. If a mentor were to attempt to clean the place up by kicking someone who constantly turns the place into a glorified chat channel rather than a place to seek advice, they'd just be removed themselves.

[Laphael]

The novice network is to help novices and honestly would be better without mentors in general. Often it’s returners and novices who are the most helpful people, interrupting the mentors chat about ilvl and computer specs in my experience.

How long have you been in the Cerberus NN? Because thats just not true...

[Vickii]

How long have you been in the Cerberus NN? Because thats just not true...

You are saying the NN is not full of talk like this? I’m sorry if you’re part of the clique there but it’s absolutely true.

Just last night a “mentor” was saying how he got mentor so he can chat in novice network and get ppl to run dungeons with him and laughed about helping people.

Better name for Cerberus novice network would be ‘veterans chat’.

[Laphael]

You are saying the NN is not full of talk like this? I’m sorry if you’re part of the clique there but it’s absolutely true.

Just last night a “mentor” was saying how he got mentor so he can chat in novice network and get ppl to run dungeons with him and laughed about helping people.

Better name for Cerberus novice network would be ‘veterans chat’.

I´m not, i´m usually silent and only answer direkt questions.
Sprouts as well as Returners talk as much as Mentors in that chat. Yes, there is some chitchat sometimes, but you make it far worse as it is.

[Vickii]

I´m not, i´m usually silent and only answer direkt questions.
Sprouts as well as Returners talk as much as Mentors in that chat. Yes, there is some chitchat sometimes, but you make it far worse as it is.

Last hour has been mentor whining about being forced to do hildibrans quest,
mentors talking about overwatch, mentors talking about glamour. Two questions/comments from novices have been ignored.

At least they aren’t complaining about a sprout scholar not using exog like they were earlier I guess.