The novice network needs reworked, and a way to rate mentors!

[Frizze]

There are a lot of things I've had trouble figuring out since returning to game a few days ago and it would have been nice to be able to ask.

You can also ask here on the forums. Its not the same as getting in-game advice, but there are plenty of people who watch this board and some of them probly have the answers to any game related questions.

[Mavrias]

the novice network is especially bad when you ask a question and are told to google it, the whole mentor/newb system is flawed anyway, mentors can get good ratings and maintain their status simply from having friends who vote them up all the time which is exactly how mentors are there in the first place, they aren't exactly there because they want to help but because they want the prestige (read - shiny icons) it comes with

i literally left the NN today because i was told to google

Sometimes it is indefensible but, sometimes youre going to be told to google something purely on principle of no one knows off hand. A mentor is not going to remember every single detail of the beginning of a realm reborn or all of the side quests that give you stuff.

I've told people to read their tool tips before too. Mostly because I've been asked what an ability does before and a Mentor is not supposed to be a substitute for bare minimum reading

[Mavrias]

Being a mentor should be like a part time job. If you want to be called a mentor then it should come with much more responsibility.

You can't sign on to help new people on a regular schedule? You can't be a mentor. But those that do, should get rewarded for it aka paid.

Then mentor status should come with a free sub at the very least. Playing a video game shouldn't be treated like a job. Get over yourself.

[NephthysVasudan]

Guess i can look forward to rocking the boat and ruining a few mentors days. - Cause I WILL NOT Tolerate people who tell newbies to "google it". (I've already got one mentor in serious trouble for attitude/behavior in a dungeon)

it's one thing if the answer is complex...but that's just an insult.

This game isn't very newbie friendly as someone whose only been at it for 4-5 months. - Already got a growing friends list for that reason alone by randomly helping sprouts out.

Mentor system is in dire need of a overhaul to be sure.

Speak up...say something...don't tolerate it. Mentors shouldn't be there abusing the benefit...mentors should be mentoring. Period.

As someone who mentors me in-game said "Mentors should turn the flag off if they don't like helping newbies"
-Neph

[Spirlia]

What I always wanted in the mentor network is that a novice would pose a question, and it would get sent to a mentor who is "clocked in". Kind of like a customer service chat, they would then chat until the issue is resolved, where the novice could then rate the mentor on how helpful they were. The rating could then work like a commendation system.

If the mentor does not know the answer or is unable to help, they can choose to pass the question on to another mentor.

If the mentor does not accept the "call" within 30 seconds or a minute, then it get passed on to another mentor. (to help with afk-ers)

Those mentors who have a negative rating, or perhaps a low percentage, will lose their mentorship.

I like the one-on-one interactions better than this glorified world chat we have now.

Edit: That being said, Hyperion actually has a decent NN. When someone asks a question it is answered, mentors help with content, and if anyone says a story spoiler or seems like they are going to, they are quickly told that spoilers are not allowed in this channel and why. Mentors also offer to chat with them about the story in /tell.
However, there are a few unhelpful, "troll" mentors that tend to ruin the channel for novices.

[Fellgon]

"I understand not having a system that is a bad rating to go along with the commendations, since new players might get unfairly judged.

But if you are a mentor I think it should really be an option".[/QUOTE]

I Agree!!

[OMega_ARcane]

I once got an invite to the NN, although I'm not sure if it was due to an absence or what? I don't think I'm a mentor "if he doesn't know he isn't-probably", I declined it thinking to myself "psh I ain't no sprout"-no offense, but after reading this...Is there a way I can get invited back in? Man, I would help all the sprouts grow into strong oak trees! lol, and I'd definitely go against the elitist waive. No I don't do savage, or extremes, but I can offer a whole can and a half of worms to provide information to the starving baby birds "I mean that in a nice way!"

[silverlunarfox]

Sometimes it is indefensible but, sometimes youre going to be told to google something purely on principle of no one knows off hand. A mentor is not going to remember every single detail of the beginning of a realm reborn or all of the side quests that give you stuff.

I've told people to read their tool tips before too. Mostly because I've been asked what an ability does before and a Mentor is not supposed to be a substitute for bare minimum reading

Basically this. I only tell people to go to certain websites, one if theyre completely new and dont want to keep asking people for help (some really dont like that), or if I cannot answer the question for them, and I can't look it up for them at the moment (in a dungeon or something). I can remember alot of things, but some of the old content gets shaky.

[Justuas]

If you ask simple questions, except simple answers. Apart from Google, there are wikis like gamerescape where you can find info.

[EveK]

As I understand it, if you decline returner status and are no longer eligible to be a new adventurer, that only leaves becoming a mentor (see The Smith in the adventurer's guilds) as a way to access the channel.