Mentor minimum requirement is too low / needs adjustment

[Xlantaa]

The problem with mentors is not the requirement, but the attitude. A person with shitty attitude should be not able to be mentor, even if he is the pro of the pros with Rank 1 in AS12 etcetc (people mistake being good with being good person). But, how the hell you can do that? Game doesn't have an AI to detect who is nice player and who is toxic. A mentor need patience, and not be a "vote kick" asshole because a player is strugling with something. Should teach others (always they want to learn) and not do things like tell someone who is new at tank "you're a tank, pull 600000 mobs or I'll kick you", as I see a lot of times.

But, how the hell the game will know who have good attitude and wishes to help?

[Roth_Trailfinder]

I am currently not a mentor, mostly because I did not bother levelling a healer role from 50-60 when Heavensward was released. Meanwhile my /playtime is logged at 643 days, I have beaten A12S, I have all DoH/DoL classes at 60 (despite being lazy with collectables) and all round consider myself a veteran player. I mostly play battle content, yet I am not a mentor due to the requirement of having a healer at 60.

Now this post isn't just me whinging that I am not a mentor (because honestly I don't care to be one). I am however highlighting the fact that if I wanted to, someone who has played the game since 1.x, has logged nearly 2 years of "logged in" time, and completed the highest tier raid in its current state, does not meet the requirements.

You sure you don't?

There are two sets of requirements. The first set is the one you focused upon, requiring one tank, one healer, one dps all at 60, etc.

The other set involves taking a crafter to 60, and a gatherer to 60, and a few other things that escape me right now, largely because I'd already met them when the Mentor system came out.

Meeting either set will allow you to become a Mentor. I was a mentor with WAR/PLD at 50 and DRK at 30, thanks to the crafter/gatherer option. You may have to do a few quests or gather some collectibles, I don't know, but my whole point is that you do not have to level a Healer to 60 for Mentor status if you do not want to.

[Serilda]

I've noticed on my server that mentors with the crown on display are almost never actually in the Novice Network. Those without the crown are usually better mentors than those who are doing it as a status symbol. It's weird. Thankfully those who actually participate in the NN are helpful and encouraging to all of the newcomers so the system seems to be performing a function.

By the way, I'm a Mentor and I completely suck at many parts the game (not quite as bad as the tank in the story, but I have my moments). That doesn't mean I can't help new players, because POTDing a tank to 60 and running easy roulettes over and over doesn't necessarily mean I know anything worthwhile about that role (I didn't actually do that, but I'm not great). Having the common sense to acknowledge that you suck as a tank and shouldn't be handing out tank advice is something that no number of roulettes done or commendations received is ever going to filter out, so I don't think raising the requirements will make a single ounce of difference; crown-chasers will just farm up the new requirements and continue being bad Mentors while those who would have actually been helping in the NN will suddenly be locked out. Common sense is very difficult to filter for with an automated system.

Edit: Incidentally, I'm on a low pop server and our NN usually has 1-8 Mentors in it unless it's peak time during an in-game event, and at any given time half of them will be AFK or busy. If you make it too hard for people to qualify you'll end up with a system which is actually completely empty on smaller servers because the crown-holics don't participate fully. Please consider that too.

[Alleo]

I agree with you OP the requirements are way to low for this.

And yes like Roth_Trailfinder said you can even become a battle mentor with just gatherers or crafters..I am a mentor thanks to this because I care way more for DOH/DOL classes than the others yet I feel that its bad that you can be any mentor by just getting it unlocked with the gatherer/crafter requirements..How am I good as a PVP mentor even though I barely have done any PVP matches? Why I am allowed to be a battle mentor if I dont even have a tank at 60? (I am also far away from the dungeon requirement thanks to disliking them)

I dont understand why they created a system where you can choose all crowns even though you are only good in one?

I think they should first restrict the use of the crown. You should only be able to wear the battle crown if you fit the requirements. The same for PVP and Gatherer/Crafter. If I would be in charge I would also take away the mount since this only creates problems with people that want the crown only to get that. But since I am not the one that decides this I will say that they should change it so that you can either get it with the roulette or with a certain amount of pvp matches or a certain amount of collectibles. (Because if people can only wear the crown with the correct requirements only the battle mentors would have a mount)

After that I would increase the requirements and people should be forced through some kind of test. Not sure what you can do for PVP but for battle it could be some kind of arena battle which you have to be at least decent in each three roles to pass it and for gatherers/crafters they could have some special items that they have to gather or craft that cant be bought on the MB. This would show that someone has at least some kind of experience.

[KarstenS]

It must be something that checks your quality and not your quantity.

Exactly.

Current state of mentor system? Just look at all the "crowns of shame" being death on the floor in Dun Scaith.

[JunseiKei]

~snip~

On the flip side of this, there are players out there that play only one class and could tell you the complete ins and outs of this game, including how to play other classes they simply aren't interested in. A player can be good, but because they are often disappointed in the general attitude of players (in at least NA), they don't do things like queue in DF unless most of the team is pre-made (no commendations). Or they simply play a class that are generally not given commendations (like a DPS).

It's not just about the requirements.

The whole mentor system itself is a pretty hefty let down. There's no push for improvement. I've voiced this in another thread talking about mentoring and the Novice Network in general. You'd think the mentoring system would allow you to coach others on playing the game at a basic level. Rotations, why macros are bad, the importance of dodging, the importance of mitigation, holding aggro, overhealing is a thing and it's bad. You'd think it'd also open the door for more advanced gameplay explanations; jumping out of AoEs doesn't work, maximizing DPS (when to use certain skills for an overall DPS increase and seeking better rotations), healers DPSing, tanks doing more than simply just holding aggro, the importance of mitigation (ALL sources- tanks, healers and DPS), understanding of stat weights, stutter stepping for casters, invulnerability period after a raise (as long as you do nothing, including turning your character to look around), 3-second server tick and how it affects everything, etc.

I've seen all too many times mentors start bickering about opinion and misinformation over solid fact. I've seen bickering escalate into an issue with kicking involved when diplomacy and mediation was needed, not a forced silence with lingering resentment. Simply because people didn't want to see "drama" [neither side willing to yield, their willingness to ignore facts or feeding into emotion].

There is no way to tangibly measure what it is to be a mentor [experienced player], so increasing or reducing the requirements will solve nothing. It doesn't serve its purpose and it can't unless the requirements became skill based, not time based, and that's impossible to accurately judge. Honestly, the idea in concept was good, but the game would be no worse without it.

[QuarIm]

Newbie here who has met too many rude mentors.

How about the mentors gets a new recommendation when they become mentors.
Players can give a mentor either thumbs up or thumbs down. Too many thumbs down compared to thumbs up, and mentor status is lost until said mentor gets another x amount of regular recommendations.
Would possibly weed out bad mentors and good mentors will most likely always have a surplus of thumbs up, so trolling a mentor for them to lose mentor status is hard, if not impossible.

[Martin_Arcainess]

another thing we need to do is kick mentors who don't mentor...at all.........just like the crown icon.

[AmalonStar]

Reading only some of the posts so I may repeat some ideas.

Adding more restrictions to become a mentor is a good idea, it's too easy to become one.

I think they should add a combination of the following on top of the current ones.

- Play time
- Subscription time
- Fates (like when you get the temptress of fate/tempter of fate title)
- Increased # of level synced dungeons (no cheating using unsynced settings)
- Increased comms amount
- Have at least 1 tank 1 dps 1 healer 1 crafting and 1 gathering job all at lv 60 (increase this level cap to 70 after stormblood is released)

[Derio]

Well anyone can Potd a tank healer and dps to lvl 60 in no time flat to become a mentor.

Mentors need patience.

Are there bad mentors out there? Yes, but there are also good ones.

Many mentors just want the crown next to their name and dont even use the novice network, thats the sad part.