The Novice Network

[JiraTyanu]

Such a title itself is terrifying.

But jokes aside, the mentor system needs to be adjusted as well as the reasonings for kicking people. There needs to be a ToS drop-down menu for it.

I'm honestly getting quite sick and tired of people giving their interpretations of the ToS or prohibited activities to justify kicking people, can you just give them actual selection menus?

Also for the love of god raise the requirements for mentors to become mentors or add a series of checks to ensure they know what they are doing, it's just a global trade chat for FFXIV.

Why has SE let this particular chat/system go entirely untouched without even so much as a word on what they plan to do with it?

[Johners]

The game would absolutely be better without the Novice Network or Mentor System. Many other MMOs have alternative ways for players to communicate such as zone-wide chat channels that aren't say/yell/shout. Likewise, there's a myriad of guide content to refer new players to, such as WoWHead for World of Warcraft, that are a perfect replacement for having mentors provide answers. In a lot of cases, I've seen mentors give bad answers that are correct by returners and sometimes even sprouts themselves. I'm sure the system actually works better/as intended on Japanese servers but it doesn't work on European or North American servers (although people hoarding housing or engaging with RMT services isn't as much of a problem on JPE servers either so Square Enix will be pretty reluctant in changing anything for us).

[Midare]

Regardless of the requirements, people would grind them at least for the status symbol they perceive the BK crown has, and not because they wish to be helpful or because it supposedly proves they know what they're doing.
Thing is, no matter what, I doubt anything would change for one simple reason: In NA and EU, the whole concept of being a competent, nurturing guiding individual, to those still learning the ropes is not as common as it is for the concept of Kohai/Senpai.
SE can try some things I imagine, but I don't know how much they could do while the cultura difference just renders the entire mentor system an absolute joke in the West.

[NekoMataMata]

I still believe that gutting the novice network and removing it is the only way. People become awful human beings when they're in groups together, enabling each other.

Instead what I'd like is a request a mentor feature. If you have mentor status on and you're not currently in a duty then sprouts can request help/advice from you through a chat function. They're making some sort of strategy board for in game uses in the future right? Well they could probably implement something like that for use during mentor-sprout chat to help explanations too.

[tsuchii]

I personally never got into the Novice Network. Gotten my Astrope (been a mentor a long time), I've never really gotten any advice nor given advice/information on the NN that is not available on Google. Save yourself the annoyance from the occasional snark and circle jerk and just use Google.

As for the mentor system, the amount of sprouts I've taught and assisted in ARR extremes and Rathalos EX, they're not something taken for granted. If there's no mentor system, those sprouts will match with each other on duty finder and frankly will not clear.

I think the fifteen hundred commendations is already a good indicator that the player has played quite the amount of duties in the game and an indicator of experience with normal content. Mentors cannot be expected to know all high end duties nor expected to help all the time. We're just like every other player enjoying our time at our own paces, and sometimes would help when available.

[Darkobra]

I saw a mentor kick someone for speaking another language. The very first thing it says in the network is "All languages welcome."

That's the guy's first impression of the game, coming into a chat that's meant to be welcoming and helpful and he literally just gets player moderated without any repercussions to the mentor.

[SannaR]

They do raise the requirements for getting the status. What does know what they're doing supposed to mean? People should be able to make mistakes. They also might have outdated information as the mentor might not interact with something as often as others. I'm also a bit confused about your last statement. You can add all the requirements you want there are people who will go out of their way to jump through any hoops just so they can wear the crown. A crafting or PVP mentor might not be as knowledgeable as a PVE mentor. One person who might know how to say do a samurai's opener might not know the one for reaper. Same thing with a person who might know a semi failsafe 3 star crafting rotation might not remember the mechanics for Dun Scaith. Do I wish it could be better in NA/EU? Yes. Yet every server has their own NN community that may or may not be useful or friendly.

[LilimoLimomo]

I remember being really happy when I earned my Mentor role, because I genuinely love helping people. But walking into the Novice Network was like:



It was just a nasty, mean, toxic place, full of Mentors abusing their power. I tried for a few days on the off-chance that it was a fluke, but it wasn't. I left and haven't been back since. Turned off my crown too, because I don't want to be associated with that kind of toxicity.

The main issue with the current Mentor system is that it only vets Mentors to ensure they've done enough content, but there's nothing that vets their ability to be compassionate, decent people, nor is there any accountability. And until that gets changed, Novice Network will remain what it is; that's what happens when you arbitrarily give players power over other players.

[Renalt]

The Novice Network was something that sounded amazing on paper but the single flaw is anything run by the people is bound to crash and burn. There needs to be an actual moderator for it.

Each server has a widely different experience with NN just because people are left unchecked.

When I was in Faerie...the NN was actual a decent example of what it could be. Yeah it was used as a global chat for 90% of it but anytime a sprout had a question or even if they simply said "hey I need help with x content" people jumped at the chance to help.

However OTHER NNs have had mentors who straight up power trip and treat it like their own personal chat. If you don't follow the rules THEY lay out or they simply don't like you...you'll be kicked. At least all kicks aren't permanent so you can always come back. Unfortunately so can they.

[Toutatis]

Regardless of the requirements, people would grind them at least for the status symbol they perceive the BK crown has, and not because they wish to be helpful or because it supposedly proves they know what they're doing. I like to help and used to run training runs in swtor and in this game for fc/guild members.

I personally hide my mentor crown (crafting and battle) and I know a few people who do the same thing. The crown looks silly. Unfortunately it shows up in roulette which is ok as people have to know I am there to help if needed though the primary role of mentor roulette seems to be filling groups. I wish the mentor symbol was less ostentatious than the golden crown.

I saw a mentor kick someone for speaking another language. The very first thing it says in the network is "All languages welcome."

Happened to me. I even got kicked as a mentor for answering to someone in Spanish (the question was in Spanish and I am more comfortable in that language too) after someone said English please.

I think the fifteen hundred commendations is already a good indicator that the player has played quite the amount of duties in the game and an indicator of experience with normal content. Mentors cannot be expected to know all high end duties nor expected to help all the time. We're just like every other player enjoying our time at our own paces, and sometimes would help when available.

I agree. While I like extremes, as someone who has joined the game a little late, there are a few lvl 70 extremes for which I was never able to get a synched group. Not for failing to try, PF just wouldn't fill and I don't have all day. I still think that I have a decent understanding of them having watched vids and soloing as tank a while ago (I have to know how Suzaku/Shinryu work to survive as tank on those 2) but it's not quite the same. Chances are those will never pop in the roulette but it's not impossible.

I remember being really happy when I earned my Mentor role, because I genuinely love helping people. But walking into the Novice Network was like:



It was just a nasty, mean, toxic place, full of Mentors abusing their power. I tried for a few days on the off-chance that it was a fluke, but it wasn't. I left and haven't been back since. Turned off my crown too, because I don't want to be associated with that kind of toxicity.

I no longer join Novice Network. It's toxic, often filled with misogynistic comments too. I prefer to help outside of NN.