Idea for more relevant Mentor Icons for Mentors

[Zwipp]

I think one of the bigger problem creators within the mentor system today is the actual Crown Icon that players get next to their name after becoming a mentor.
I believe it makes unsuited people wanting to become mentors just so they can have that "fancy" crown next to their name, instead of actually wanting to help/guide people through the game.

I never really understood why mentors, which are supposed to help and take care people, has a crown as their icon since a crown is literally a symbol of power and superiority. Mentors are there to help, not to rule. Are they not?


If the mentor icon were changed to something that didn't have that "cool/fancy" status attached to it, I believe that it would make way less unsuited people from wanting to become mentors. Since there won't really be anything they'll get from it.
This also means that the icon cannot be anything desirable, in other words, the icon should be plain and simple. People should become mentors because they want to help out, not just to get a fancy icon next to their name.

I thought a lot about what a new mentor icon could look like and thought it would kind of make sense to change it to the "Question Mark" icon that is used within the tutorial menus, maybe just another color or even have just a simple M for Mentor.

I made some examples what it could look like:
After reading some feedback in this thread a Watering Can seems to be a popular idea, so I made an example of that as well.







This is how it would look like in-game:




This is how the Watering Can could look in-game:




Personally I like the Blue Question Mark and the M Watering can. The Question Mark icon is also well known from the tutorials I think it could make it easier for new players to understand that a player with that icon could help them. Even if it's another color.

But regardless if the Question Mark or the Watering Can could work as the new icon or not, the most important thing is to not make the new icon too desirable just because it looks good, cool, cute etc. Because that would defeat the whole purpose of changing it.



If you have any ideas what a new Mentor icon could look like or have any feedback in general, please share!

[HeulGDarian]

Sure. It wont work but anything to make people flame mentors less.

[SenorPatty]

I guess mentors and mentor system is the flavor of the month...

[EaMett]

Sure. It wont work but anything to make people flame mentors less.

This. Not that anything needs much work, it's just getting old hearing people talk ill of a system that actually works pretty well already.

[Thi]

Id love a different icon for mentors, though I feel like they should fit the Sprout and the Flower theme. Mentors should be something that helps a plant grow... like a watering can, or if we are being a bit fun, fertilizer. Poop emojis for mentors.

[Avatre]

Id love a different icon for mentors, though I feel like they should fit the Sprout and the Flower theme. Mentors should be something that helps a plant grow... like a watering can, or if we are being a bit fun, fertilizer. Poop emojis for mentors.

Tear drop would work just as well.

[Zwipp]

Sure. It wont work but anything to make people flame mentors less.

I see it as a win if anything regarding mentors are flamed less.

Not that anything needs much work, it's just getting old hearing people talk ill of a system that actually works pretty well already.

The system by it self isn't the problem, it's the reason why people join the system that is. They want to feel superior, and a crown is the very definition of superiority. That's why I think it's stupid to have a crown for mentors that has nothing to do with superiority.

Id love a different icon for mentors, though I feel like they should fit the Sprout and the Flower theme.

This is what I first wanted as well, but I want to remove the "I'm better then you" principle completely which means the icon should not be something bigger something better. It should just be a straightforward icon.

[Nhala]

I wrote the exact same idea in french 2 years ago so I'm all for it too.

The golden crown is definitely toxic.

Except I'm still in favor of an icon related to the novice's one: wheelbarrow, watering can, grown tree... something fun and.. green! xD

I'm afraid the question mark is not a good idea: mentors are not part of the tutorial nor SE team... they are just players willing to help. Seeing that icon would be too confusing for novices.


https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...82#post4697582

[Zwipp]

Except I'm still in favor of an icon related to the novice's one: wheelbarrow, watering can, grown tree... something fun and.. green! xD

I actually like the idea of a watering can which Thi also mentioned. But still, the most important part is that the symbol can't be so nice that you want to have it just because it looks neat, because that would defeat the purpose of changing it.

I'm afraid the question mark is not a good idea: mentors are not part of the tutorial nor SE team... they are just players willing to help. Seeing that icon would be too confusing for novices.

I was thinking the Question Mark because it's well known to learning the game, maybe a different color would be better? Just to separate it from SE but still be similar enough to be recognized as a help icon?

[Canadane]

FFXI had a big ugly M icon for it.
I'd like that, please. Don't make it an appealing icon.