Mentor Requirements

[MiriRynendaith]

I'm glad other people aside from myself have noticed how petty things can get when mentors are arguing about captious and slanderous things, in a chat as open as Novice Network- Which for many newer players would be their first point of major exposure to the community itself.

No worries, its just we need a way to properly hold the Mentors accountable that show a negative impact on the player base. Yes we are not on a payroll, HOWEVER there should be some sort of method to keep those that actually want to be a mentor for the positive reasons. Yes I said 20 weekly roulettes a week, and like someone said make it monthly. Completely agree, because it shows some sort of check and balance. We have 100 Mentors in the Novice Network sitting there and doesn't help when you have the hand full of 5-15 that actually do per server.

[Vickii]

I’m a trade mentor, and honestly collectibles was something I had to go out of my way to do for this mentor thing. Because when I did it there was no real reason to gather so many of them. This probably changed with ishgard and custom deliveries.

But I’d say trade mentor should be far harder. As it is people just get it so they can chat in novice network, they don’t really know much about trade and often give bad advice.

I’d make it 80 in all hand and land, all custom deliveries maxed. Throw in beast tribe achievements too maybe. Ishgard restoration. GC hand ins. All of these are better than mindlessly collecting trees to hit a number that you don’t need to hit.

[MiriRynendaith]

I’m a trade mentor, and honestly collectibles was something I had to go out of my way to do for this mentor thing. Because when I did it there was no real reason to gather so many of them. This probably changed with ishgard and custom deliveries.

But I’d say trade mentor should be far harder. As it is people just get it so they can chat in novice network, they don’t really know much about trade and often give bad advice.

I’d make it 80 in all hand and land, all custom deliveries maxed. Throw in beast tribe achievements too maybe. Ishgard restoration. GC hand ins. All of these are better than mindlessly collecting trees to hit a number that you don’t need to hit.

I could go behind the Hand and Lands because to be a Trade Expert you should be skilled in all classes. As for the custom deliveries, yeah I would go for that as well. It shows you put effort into your role to learn more. The Best tribes, I don't think I would support that one though.

[ReynTime]

Honestly the mentor system is the most poorly executed feature in the entire game. They should just remove all benefits and make the only perk be a free Burger King meal every month.

I mean that abusing the mentor title by abusively "guiding" people or negatively coaching others should be reportable with it's own kind of ticket that removes or suspends mentor status if confirmed. Mentors need a player initiate-able check on them because it's not a status badge, it's supposed to be a beacon for new players and uninformed players to flock to for advice. They shouldn't be afraid to ask because "maybe they're one of those asshat ones". Standards for losing mentor status wouldn't quite be as strict as "abusive chat" or "Harassment" but would only result in the loss of mentor status, not suspension or banning unless deserved.




Exactly. Mentors need a watchdog system, not heavier reqs.

Just remove the mentor system then. It's frustrating enough playing with players who flat out DON'T want to improve, or literally get angry if you say anything. You're asking for Mentors to be "watched"? And who watches the non-mentors who drag roulette experience down and think they're entitled to not try being helpful to their parties?

[Krotoan]

Honestly the mentor system is the most poorly executed feature in the entire game. They should just remove all benefits and make the only perk be a free Burger King meal every month.



Just remove the mentor system then. It's frustrating enough playing with players who flat out DON'T want to improve, or literally get angry if you say anything. You're asking for Mentors to be "watched"? And who watches the non-mentors who drag roulette experience down and think they're entitled to not try being helpful to their parties?

Yes remove it, because there are people in it who think being a mentor is about bringing people up to standards instead of helping those who want it. Yes mentors are full of people who shouldn't be mentors and the system either needs to be scrapped or heavily moderated itself.

[SecretIsland]

These requirements just seem to be grindy for no reason. How about open access to a help chat in the game and allowing people to right click a person and select "Give Thanks". If they have a lot of "Thanks" from a lot of unique players they'll become a mentor after a certain point. (Something like 50 thanks from at least 20 different people).

This way you have to help people to become a mentor. People's suggestions in this thread mean that whoever grinds the most becomes the mentors which I don't think makes sense.

There is the potential for cheating your way to get many thanks, but so does the commendation system and I have never seen someone buy commendations from others.

[van_arn]

Oh look another thread trying to tell mentors how to mentor.

[Syntharia]

So a little background first, I've been a mentor since the system started way back when, I have been in the game since it started. I have seen this game change through the good, the bad, and the ugly, when they introduced the mentor system I feel like it was a wonderful new addition. We had it back in FFXI (Yes I know that horrible game that everyone freaks out over the minute you mention it on FFXIV) which was actually a nice system when it first started out. You could help new players, make some lasting friendships, even help them experience and deal through the crazy rage inducing system that was FFXI. So the minute they spoke about bringing the system to FFXIV I knew I wanted to jump on that due to having been a mentor in FFXI and remembering how it felt to help new players and then see them at top level completing things they only hoped to accomplish when they first started. THAT is what I thought of when the mention of the mentor system first came around, the idea of getting to see new players talking about their frustrations, being able to lead them in the correct direction, being the mentor who gives them a reason to keep playing and finding that right spot for them in the game. Being the one who is able to help them when they are lost, being able to teach them about all the exciting parts of the game that makes it fun, the story, the 24 man raids, the side quests like Hilde, teaching them melding, crafting, gathering, etc. This is what it means to be a mentor to me, being the person that when someone is lost you are there to answer for them and if you can't, well you have co-mentors there to lead them to. Making friendships with your co-mentors so that you all work together knowing who is better at what and being able to lead a sprout to someone who is better and understands crafting, or gathering, or raiding, or PvP, whatever it maybe, just so that player understands and isn't frustrated anymore. We as mentors are not here for the shiny crown, not for the 2 seater mount locked behind the mentor roulette, not for having our own little "private" chatting channel, WE are here to help the players who are lost, confused, and just frustrated to make sure they get the help they need so they ENJOY the game as we all did once.

Now with that said, sadly the Mentor System is NOT what I just described above, it is a toxic chat channel where I have met many sprouts who won't even ask questions because they either have been ignored in the past because mentors are just chatting and not caring, because mentors are talking about topics they should NOT be talking about in Novice Network, or because they simply are too terrified to ask due to seeing how some Mentors treat other players in either chat in general or dungeons. A system that is supposed to be there FOR THE SPROUTS isn't even really used by the sprouts at all because of some of these reasons and perhaps many more.


With that said, one of two things I believe should happen. Now this is my opinion and mine alone but this is what I believe.

First option, remove the system all together. It is a failed system as it is now, sprouts who do chat with the mentors do because they have been accepted into the "cliques" that are created in there just turn around and quickly level their crafters and gatherers to then be able to get back into the Novice Network so they are back with their "clique" chatting again. Mentors use the channel as just a chatting channel, and rarely (I didn't say not at all I said RARELY) does the channel ever actually get used for the purpose it is intended for. If it's not being used as it's supposed to be, then remove it. Strip the crowns so that is no longer something people strive for, remove the channel so a global chat is no longer a thing, and just remove the whole system all together that way people don't want to try it just because there is also a mount locked behind it. Take this back to where the "help" should be coming from THE PLAYERS & FREE COMPANIES. Free Companies are a dead thing now, yes I get some people do use their FC's and I also understand some FC's are Role Playing FC's. However, a lot of FC's are just a single person owned FC's to own a house, or they are FC's that have been trying to recruit and just having no luck. This would revive those FC's and give them more players who might of never even thought about it before. We have a wonderful new Website for the Community Finder for FC's, and it could be used to it's full potential. You can list your FC as new player friendly, however I believe if the Mentor System was removed, they could give FC's the right to list themselves as Mentoring style FC's and "Host" 1 or 2 FC's on the Community Site as endorsed FC adds ushering the sprouts towards these FC's who are there to help. Make it so those 1 or 2 FC ads are at the center top, and they get cycled through every so many minutes so a new FC is shown all the time so it's not a someone has more time than another FC thing. ALSO give people the right to report FC's if sprouts find them to NOT be new player friendly, or let sprouts be allowed to give the FC's stars or something showing a sprouts support of that FC, or write a review in a sense of the FC. Something that shows they are what they are claiming to be, but also something that if you have an jerk player in the FC, well now it's on the Officers and Owner of the FC to deal with it, if not then the sprout can leave and find hopefully a better fit for help. This will put new players back into a system of wanting to join an FC, wanting to find an FC that fits them and will help them towards the goals they want to achieve rather then a system where they just play alone the whole way. I really believe we need to find another way to utilize the FC's so they have and serve a purpose again (However that is another topic for another day).

Second option, SE needs to decide to finally put a separate Terms of Service and attach it to the Mentor System. You want to be a mentor? Awesome, this is your TOS. Have it outline things like, how you should act towards your fellow players within the Novice Network, how NN isn't a global chat, what is appropriate and isn't appropriate to be discussing in the NN. Things like how you should act towards others while in dungeons if you have a sprout with you. Things that YES I know are already in the original TOS, but things that should be defined a little more to hold Mentors accountable to their actions so that if a sprout wants to report them, awesome they have a WHOLE separate TOS they are being held to because this is a mentor interacting with a sprout. Can it be abused? Yes. Do I feel like mentors should be held to a higher standard than other players? YES. Mentors signed up to BE MENTORS. We didn't just earn the crown, it wasn't just randomly given to us, we actually had to walk our characters over to the smith, click on them, and DECIDE to BECOME a mentor. That was OUR choice, not SE, not another player, it wasn't forced on us, WE decided this. So we should be held accountable to our decision and how we act as such.

End result, I don't think there will ever be any suitable "requirements" to being a mentor that will ever fix the flaws we have in the current system, I believe the system in general should be either removed or mentors finally held accountable. Would I love to see a watering can next to my name instead? GOD YES!! However, if the crown remains, then make that crown SHINE like it should. Make the mentors what they should have been all along, shining leaders for the new players who come into Eorzea all wide eyed and excited to be there for them when they are frustrated and ready to quit. To be the hand to lead them when they are lost and need guidance. That is what a mentor SHOULD be, and we SHOULD be held accountable for our actions because we choose to be a Mentor.

[Krotoan]

These requirements just seem to be grindy for no reason. How about open access to a help chat in the game and allowing people to right click a person and select "Give Thanks". If they have a lot of "Thanks" from a lot of unique players they'll become a mentor after a certain point. (Something like 50 thanks from at least 20 different people)

This way you have to help people to become a mentor. People's suggestions in this thread mean that whoever grinds the most becomes the mentors which I don't think makes sense.

I like the idea of putting your mentor qualifications in positive votes instead of some arbitrary grindable metric. Commendations aren't particularly laudable especially with a XP incentive behind giving them out. You can farm them just by being a tank and doing raids or being the last to leave an instance.

[Awha]

Congratulations! You've just removed all Mentors from the game.
Every. Single. One.

You say that as if it is a bad thing. :P