Suggestion: Change the icon for Mentors

[TheBorzoi]

It seems that a lot of mentors do not do the job they are volunteering to do and wear the crown as a status symbol. There are many threads on the FFXIV subreddit complaining about mentors and the system which gives those who want to help a bad reputation because of the others.

I propose that the icon is changed to something that isn't as attractive as a crown. Since new players are sprouts, I propose that the mentor icon should be a watering can.

Mentors are supposed to help new players grow so this icon would have a metaphorical meaning behind it too. Discussing with other mentors who actually try to help and not just wear it as a status symbol, we seem to be in agreement. Here is a Reddit comment thread support this claim:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...sucks/dde5a7d/

By changing the icon to a watering can (or something that may be considered "ugly") then only the mentors that actually want to help will wear the icon.

[Canadane]

I was hoping for a watering can too.

[CaptnYesterday]

100% support this. Watering Can (to match the new player Sprout) is great for it's intuitive representation of the system and it will attract players that actually want to help support and grow our awesome noobies!

Crown is definitely being used as a status symbol by enough players (who have no intention of helping) to make a noticeable impact on the perception of Mentors. It's off-putting to noobies looking to learn and deciding if they will continue their adventure. That said, mentors that mentor are very good and are exactly what you would hope for.

Edit: words

[Clethoria]

Before I knew what the crowns meant, I thought that it was some sort of power symbol, not mentorship. So I do agree. If I saw someone with a watering can or a symbol signifying mentorship (quill and ink, white feather, something akin to the party finder symbol), I'd assume them to be something more helpful.

[SeriousxSarcasm]

I love this idea. \o/ Watering cans for Sprouts, it's adorable omg.

There could always be a different symbol too. But isn't one of the big draws the rewards/achievements from mentor roulette? (not a mentor, I don't actually know much about it lol). Not sure if an icon change will get rid of those people, unfortunately. Maybe take away the rewards so only people who actually want to help are using it. :P Of course we'll have 80% less mentors, but that's not necessarily a bad thing LOL.

[Canadane]

You don't need the icon on to get into mentor roulette.

[TheBorzoi]

I love this idea. \o/ Watering cans for Sprouts, it's adorable omg.

There could always be a different symbol too. But isn't one of the big draws the rewards/achievements from mentor roulette? (not a mentor, I don't actually know much about it lol). Not sure if an icon change will get rid of those people, unfortunately. Maybe take away the rewards so only people who actually want to help are using it. :P Of course we'll have 80% less mentors, but that's not necessarily a bad thing LOL.

You don't need to have your status set to "Mentor" to get in to the Mentor roulette. The idea here is to stop those who have no intention of helping newbies from wearing it.

[Pentacus]

something I posted in a reddit thread this was linked from:

I'd actually suggest an onion.

Yes I know that seems strange but hear me out:

In FFIII the starting class was translated as "Onion Knight" because of a pun in the Japanese version: "Callow Youth" can also be read as "Onion Sprout"

That is likely what they were going for when choosing a sprout as the icon for a new player, making the new player icon specifically an onion sprout.

Therefore, what better progression from student to teacher than sprout to onion?

[Vnolan]

It does seem like an obvious choice, doesn't it?

By changing the icon to a watering can (or something that may be considered "ugly") then only the mentors that actually want to help will wear the icon.

Haha, no. It will only stop those that do it for the crown.

But isn't one of the big draws the rewards/achievements from mentor roulette? (not a mentor, I don't actually know much about it lol). Not sure if an icon change will get rid of those people, unfortunately. Maybe take away the rewards so only people who actually want to help are using it. :P Of course we'll have 80% less mentors, but that's not necessarily a bad thing LOL.

The main purpose of the mentor roulette is to fill duties. Taking away the rewards would have many less using it. If anything, expect more rewards in the future.

[LunarEmerald]

This is a very good idea but I'm unsure if they're willing to put up with the backlash to take away the precious crown symbol.

This game caters to the majority and the majority only cared about becoming a mentor for the fancy crown. I guarantee that if it's changed, there will be countless complaints about how "I went through the trouble of leveling all roles to 60 for that icon and you took it away."