Already Hate Novice Network

[Nekaru_Infitima]

Finally hit trade mentor.

Already hate NN.

I don't know if it's like this on all servers. But it already is total off-topic chatter other than FFXIV and helping others. Which I guess is fine you can't have FFXIV all the time. But then they started going into fetish stuff and it's like 'can you not'?

Then there's the issue of it seems like a clique. Mentors know mentors, people are regulars so some are 'higher' than others, and it's easy to feel alienated even as a mentor much less a newbie.

... I guess I expected more of a chat where people ask questions, others see and answer when they can. They talk about the game. Everyone's equal and just in it to help each other grow.

... What I got was highschool 2.0.

[Nixxe]

It varies by server, but that's not an uncommon experience from what I've seen on multiple servers.

[Driavna]

It's commonly used as a global chat, yes. If anyone is acting as the owner of the place and make someone else uncomfortable (happens from time to time), reporting will be the best. I personally think it can get very spammy and the only way to fix it is to add an opt-in general channel to EU/NA client.

[Penthea]

People are better off joining a free company or a linkshell that is welcoming to new players, or even post questions in the New Player Help section of the forums.

A lot of mentors are very good and helpful, but enough of them are the opposite that the experience with the Novice Network is often negative. Fortunately the Novice Network is a lone beast. The rest of the public chat channels are far better.

[KageTokage]

It really depends on the server.

I find most of people in there on Cactuar are genuinely interested in being helpful so if questions are asked, they'll be answered in little time.

It would be barren if people only talked when others wanted help, though, and the random gameplay discussion often raises more questions about things newer players aren't initially aware of.

[ADVSS]

Nah OP you're not lying, got back into the game a couple weeks ago(also on Zalera), and it was bad. I eventually just idled in town afk instead of logging off so the returning veteran status wore off,

[Solarra]

It really does depend on which world you are on. I'm sorry you've had a bad experience OP, but you have to realise that the Novice Network is only ever going to be as good as the people in it and that is going to vary a lot. I do hope hearing about these bad experiences doesn't put new players off trying the Novice Network for themselves, because when it's working well it can be very useful to them and it's a great place to make friends as well.

I only have experience of the Novice Network on Zodiark and Cerebus, but both seem to be functioning as intended. New players get help in the form of advice or people joining their party if they get stuck in a long queue. There's a bit of general chat as well, but as long as new players don't get ignored the general consensus seems to be that it's better than silence.

I would urge people to try the Novice Network out and give it a chance. You don't have to stay if you don't want to, mentors, new players and returners can all leave the channel at any time (though new players will need to get another invite if they change their mind and want to join again).

[Reaperking386]

It varies in the servers. Sometimes the chatter is good and sometimes it takes a turn for the worse where people just start kicking each other off the network. I was Mentor in H/W when it was first released and it was really bad back then.

[LineageRazor]

In many ways, the Novice Network operates like a sort of "starter free company". The chatter that occurs in NN is in many ways much like the chatter you'd see in a free company. (To the point, in fact, where some forego joing FCs at all, and just become NN regulars.) Personally, I think this is fine, as long as the Network ALSO serves its other purpose, as a forum where new players can ask questions and get answers.

If novice questions are habitually ignored (not just a question here or there - sometimes, mentors just don't have the answers - but most or all of the time), then there's a problem - but, unfortunately, it's not an easily solved problem. You can't FORCE mentors to be helpful, and there's no way Squeenix is going to spend the money to hire people to serve as forum police.

If the content of the forum chatter makes you uncomforable, there's no harm in saying so. If you're met with defensiveness or hostility, you can always walk away. Sometimes, though, folks will recognize that they've crossed a line, and might show a little more restraint in the future. If the content doesn't make you uncomfortable, though, I recommend just rolling with it, even if it's stuff not related to the game.

As for cliques... I haven't noticed a lot of that on my Novice Network (Gilgamesh). Sure, there are regulars everyone knows, but it doesn't generally get in the way of assisting newbies. Are these cliques ganging up on and harrassing other players? If so, they can be reported, just as you would report harrassment of any kind.

[Infindox]

I will gladly be a mentor but I stay far away from the NN as possible. On my end when I was in it for a little bit, it was nothing but politics and some harassment.

Nah OP you're not lying, got back into the game a couple weeks ago(also on Zalera), and it was bad. I eventually just idled in town afk instead of logging off so the returning veteran status wore off,

No offense but you wasted the status. You can leave NN at anytime.