The problem with the mentor system

[MomomiMomi]

We've already talked about a lot of alternative systems that work in other games.
Here we offered constructive solutions.
The system that generates bullying and toxicity should be eliminated.

It doesn't generate bullying and toxicity. These are things that exist with or without the system. It isn't the cause of it.

[SoranRigel]

It doesn't generate bullying and toxicity. These are things that exist with or without the system. It isn't the cause of it.

Not every player additionally puts a check mark under the item "be a model of correct game behavior". Mentors do this.
And mentors, unfortunately, show such game (and non-game) behavior that is not worth tolerating.

Toxicity exists in two cases:
1. There are those who are ready to use it.
2. There are those who are willing to tolerate it.

Don't consider me arrogant, but my gaming experience allows me to compare different gaming systems. In those games where no awards are relied upon to help newbies, I have seen much less toxicity. I can assume that authority, albeit expressed in symbols - an exclusive mount, achievements, a pixel crown, a honorary title "mentor" - has a negative impact on young immature minds.

The authority corrupt and gives a perceived sense of impunity, especially when there is a tacit indulgence of the existing order in the gaming community.

As has been repeatedly mentioned here, the absence of special awards or pixel crown in no way prevents the provision of assistance to newbies. But the aggressive resistance of those for whom this pixel crown is extremely important speaks eloquently for itself.

Help must be selfless. If this is not so, we get what we get: aggressive, toxic and not helping players who compensate for their own inferiority at the expense of others.

[Miste]

That 's the problem. No matter how many hundreds of people talk about having a problem, it will be beneficial for you to deny it and say that "an isolated experience proves nothing."
This is called "depreciation." Depreciation is in your interest.

I did not deny negative experiences happen, make sure you read thoroughly what I explained in my last post.

"Hundreds of people" doesn't mean much when the game can have three hundred thousand to five hundred thousand (or even more sometimes, one ShB count was around 700,000) of active players playing the game at any given time going by previous census info. This game's active player count fluctuates a lot during the course of the patch cycles, but in general is a very populated game.

To try to help you understand what I was trying to say originally...even if we take the lowest range of active players...100 players having negative experiences with the mentor system out of 300,000 total players is only 0.03% of the player base. This is a VERY small percentage of people apparently affected by the system in a wholly negative way, and it is only one side of the coin. We need more data on how much people receive good help from mentors and how many good mentors there are too to really figure out if the system should just be abolished.

Depreciation is in my interest? This is a large incorrect assumption. You assume I personally care if the mentor system disappears. I kind of don't. It would not affect me in any way, but I am only one person, and I realize that others may be affected and lose the help they gain from the NN etc.

I am simply trying to put forth logic into the situation and explain why people may counter your arguments. It is best not to assume that the sole reason I am countering your stance is because I don't want the mentor system deleted. You would be incorrect.

[SoranRigel]

I am simply trying to put forth logic into the situation and explain why people may counter your arguments. It is best not to assume that the sole reason I am countering your stance is because I don't want the mentor system deleted. You would be incorrect.

I regret that I may not have understood you correctly enough. Your reasoning is logical, but they do not cancel that the system itself, based on awards and special statuses, provokes bulling.
That is why I continue to believe that such a system should be abolished.
Especially since there are many alternative ways to help others.

[SoranRigel]

I've actually noticed that a lot of the complaints come from people who went into the Novice Network once, saw something negative, and then left, never to return. This results in a skewed view of the NN. They don't know about all the good things that are going on in there because they turned it off and never went back. I've seen these types of people countless times in threads like this one.

I never contacted the Novice Network for help, but I saw a lot of spam and dirty talks there.
But when I see a player with a crown in my group, in the vast majority of cases he creates problems for other players.

[Igneel_DB]

Honestly they can keep the system as it is now but just change the symbol to a watering can or something like that

[MitsukiKimura]

The Crown symbol should just be changed to a Open book
Sword+book=Pve Mentor
Hammer+Book=Crafter mentor
Flag+book=Pvp Mentor

[RajNish]

The Crown symbol should just be changed to a Open book
Sword+book=Pve Mentor
Hammer+Book=Crafter mentor
Flag+book=Pvp Mentor

The book is a good option also. Associated with knowledge and respect, but not a symbol of the ruling elite.

[VenKitsune]

Honestly, they just need to up the requirements for BEING a mentor in the first place. Like a start would be so that you can only become a mentor if it would allow you access to the mentor roulette - As it is right now, you can become a mentor and not have access to the mentor roulette due to not having completed some dutys.

I do think the crown shouldn't be the mentor icon, but i do think it should still be used. Perhaps after having 5000 in-game hours you can apply the crown and you are able to put up the label "Veteran" Or something? So not really a mentor, but still an indicator that they atleast have the experience, if not the general knowledge to answer a sprouts question. I dunno, just came up with that on the spot.

The mentor icon...I dont think glasses would work really, that seems....Weird, to be honest. They're not librarians.
Watering cans could work, as has been suggested for years.
an Owl could work, usually depicted as wise or knowledgeable
Dove...
Star....

Lots of things they could choose, but glasses is just... a bit weird.

[EpicOverlord85]

Honestly they can keep the system as it is now but just change the symbol to a watering can or something like that

As someone is a mentor I think a watering can would be kinda cute. Would make sense too!