Are Mentors seen as unhelpful?

[Kaurhz]

Most are, yes.

But that is because people do largely have unrealistic or inappropriate expectations of what a mentor should be, they aren't really designed to be anything more than a simple signpost for FAQ-esque questions e.g., "When do I get my Chocobo", "How do I unlock xyz"

It doesn't really help either that there is a status symbol and mount locked behind it - Because this means that people will oft' work towards it for cosmetic reasons - Rather than actually wanting to help people. There should be no symbol whatsoever for becoming a mentor. Equally, there should not be a mount locked behind it - At best just a Framer Kit for reaching that level. Achievements, sure. But they should be like the commendation achievements, in that the score they give is 0.

You will rarely actually find people that are useful and/or helpful. There are countless people that are just simply bad for it - and I mean people that are teachers/mentors by career.

[Shinkuno]

Most are, yes.

But that is because people do largely have unrealistic or inappropriate expectations of what a mentor should be, they aren't really designed to be anything more than a simple signpost for FAQ-esque questions e.g., "When do I get my Chocobo", "How do I unlock xyz"

It doesn't really help either that there is a status symbol and mount locked behind it - Because this means that people will oft' work towards it for cosmetic reasons - Rather than actually wanting to help people. There should be no symbol whatsoever for becoming a mentor. Equally, there should not be a mount locked behind it - At best just a Framer Kit for reaching that level. Achievements, sure. But they should be like the commendation achievements, in that the score they give is 0.

You will rarely actually find people that are useful and/or helpful. There are countless people that are just simply bad for it - and I mean people that are teachers/mentors by career.

I dont think expecting mentors to actually know how to play is unrealistic. But 90% of mentors that you get as healer are curebots.

[Kaurhz]

I dont think expecting mentors to actually know how to play is unrealistic. But 90% of mentors that you get as healer are curebots.

Expecting a rudimentary understanding of the game is not an unrealistic and inappropriate expectation, no.

My comment was more framed in reference to people historically having proposed that mentors should clear savage/ultimate etc (Which has been present in other threads/locations)., Mainly because:

a) At that point in the game people should be able to find the knowledge and improve in a much more independent manner than someone who is, say, level 15.
b) The facets of the game those pieces of content test, don't necessarily align with what the purpose of the mentor system is, really.

Just as a little context of what the system is supposedly aiming to accomplish

Provide gameplay advice for new adventurers and other players.
Be an exemplar for player etiquette.
Invite new adventurers to the Novice Network, and answer their queries in the chat channel.
※Inappropriate mentor behavior may be reported.

Granted, these are lofty goals - But I just don't necessarily think that having completed certain areas of content translates very well into either of the above points. Bar may be gameplay advice. But then there is a certain point where players should be able to discern what is and isn't good advice or sources of information. - As you can get bad information and misinformation at any level, and from any player.

I've always viewed mentorship as essentially being equivalent to first-line tech support. - In that, you expect the person to be capable of answering very rudimentary questions, or at the very least be capable of pointing you in the right direction (e.g., Balance, IV) - and by rudimentary I mean; "Where can I get my Chocobo", "How do I unlock Crystal Tower", "Where can I get tomestone gear"