Idea: Commendation Coins

[Breakbeat]

You'd be more likely to get the chance to think about it if by sticking around, the player might get something they want from it. Right now people don't stick around because they weren't there to get commendations in the first place.

Fair enough and true, if they don't want one, it doesn't matter whether or not I give them one. For my own personal pleasure, I'd still like to be able to give a commendation to the person who deserved it, regardless of whether or not they stick around. /shrug

By the same token, I literally don't want a commendation just because I'm the only one left who didn't exit. I can earn enough commendations via actual effort (communication, good vibes, etc.) to get the achievements or titles or vanity stuff that's available.

The intentions behind this system are honorable and positive. In practice, though, it doesn't work properly. You've got the things I brought up, and the points you brought up, either of which negate the intent. DPS can't normally demonstrate that they actually deserve a commendation, and the people that end up receiving them are just whoever's left in the instance last, or, indeed...

They go to the best glam, random tank/heal, the player who plays a class you like, someone who remembered Peleton exists, 0 dps healbots and so on.

[Fyrebrand]

This is a great idea, but what about the poor DPS? I'm half-kidding, half not.

Perhaps it would change the way people com each other. If not, they could always weigh the number of coins you get based on your class. 1 com doesn't have to equal 1 coin.

This is a toughie, to be sure. I know DPS tend to (somewhat unfairly) get less commendations, but if you implement a system where DPS get more rewards for doing the same thing I fear it could provoke backlash. Some people might refuse to comm DPS out of spite, or simply adopt the impression that DPS don't need to be commended as often because of it.

I think it would be cool if I could possibly think for two seconds about who deserves it, then hand it out regardless of whether the person exited the instance or not.

I'm with you! It sucks when you want to commend a specific person, only to find they've left the group. Obviously the game still knows who you were grouped with, and the party chat logs are still there -- I don't see why they can't just keep the full party list available in the commendations window.

The more reasons you create for players to get commendations, the more they award them for the wrong reasons

I think people should grant commendations for whatever reason they want to. Whether the player performed exceptionally, or was helpful in explaining mechanics, or was just fun and pleasant to have around, or they were a newbie who was honestly trying to learn and had a good attitude, it's not that important. We're not voting for the next world leader here, it's essentially just giving somebody a cookie. In fact, forget the whole idea of Commendation Coins, from now on it's Commendation Cookies!

Remove commendations from the mentor system requirements and I wouldn't object to turning commendations into a currency.

I mean, I've never engaged with the Novice Network or Mentors, and every anecdote I've heard about it has been negative or toxic in some way. Do we really need this system at all? I think people are perfectly capable of figuring things out, using Google, or just asking around in game. We have plenty of friendly players who are willing to help out newbies, and I'd wager most of them aren't even Mentors or seek to become one.

it would also be a system subject to abuse. Get your friends coordinated to solo queue for the same duty at the same time so you could "win-trade" commendations with each other, as an example. Right now, there's no reason to do it unless you're trying to help a friend to get the last few commendations they need for their BK crown. Add more rewards to the system, and it will happen frequently.

Does this really work reliably? I feel like you can easily just not wind up in the same instance as your friends, and even if you do, now you're running some dungeon that at least some of you really don't need and wasting a lot of time. If this became a widely-used exploit, how about if you can't give a commendation to anybody on your Friends list or who is in your FC?

[ItMe]

This is a toughie, to be sure. I know DPS tend to (somewhat unfairly) get less commendations, but if you implement a system where DPS get more rewards for doing the same thing I fear it could provoke backlash. Some people might refuse to comm DPS out of spite, or simply adopt the impression that DPS don't need to be commended as often because of it.

Ah frick, thats a good point.
This is a toughie to be sure.

[Jojoya]

I mean, I've never engaged with the Novice Network or Mentors, and every anecdote I've heard about it has been negative or toxic in some way. Do we really need this system at all? I think people are perfectly capable of figuring things out, using Google, or just asking around in game. We have plenty of friendly players who are willing to help out newbies, and I'd wager most of them aren't even Mentors or seek to become one.

Google search only works if you know the right keywords to use and if the sources it directs you to are current and reputable. I just started a new FC and one of the new players who joined was talking about how they were working hard to get Archer to 15 so they would be able to unlock Black Mage once their Thaumaturge reaches 30. I closed my eyes, internally sighed "oh no" then said "stop, you don't need to". "But this guide I found online said..." "It's outdated. The game has changed."

A player resource to turn to is generally going to be better (assuming you don't end up with a troll). Active players have current information and frequently can bridge the terminology gap through shared game experiences. They can also recommend things the new player may not even realize exist and so wouldn't know to search.

The idea behind the Mentor system is great. Theoretically, having the Mentor icon enabled means "Hi, you can come to me with your questions about the game". New players can talk to those individuals instead of filling up shout chat or bothering someone who doesn't care to help.

The mentor system isn't working well because there are people who are joining for the rewards, not because they're interested in helping others. Some like to say "I'm helping fill queues" but the reality is that roulettes are filling the queues for everything but EX trials and the ones who are "filling queues" will drop if placed into an EX via Mentor Roulette.

Remove the rewards from the system and those who enjoy helping others will continue to join, while it will rid the system of those clogging up the system who only care about the rewards. The rewards can always stay in the game through other means. The mount could be moved to completing 4000 roulettes in general instead of 2000 Mentor Roulettes, as an example. That way those who have already been working toward it will still get credit from the Mentor roulettes they've already completed. Leave the crown attached to earning 1500 commendations since commendations are more about vanity than anything else. It's very fitting with the number of players who want it solely for vanity's sake.