The Novice Network

[Darkobra]

Note to self, start using google translator to gaelic on balmung.

It's a shame that language is dying. Only 60,000 people in Scotland still speak it.

[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 They also might have outdated information as the mentor might not interact with something as often as others.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.

[tsuchii]

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.

The only level 70 extreme I ever saw out of 2000 roulettes is Rathalos. I got it DAILY. LOL - not an exaggeration.
The rest are ARR and the occasional Thordan and Bismark. I never saw the other 60 extremes queued. I've only cleared Thordan once. It is nearly unteachable and most mentors who get trapped in it doesn't know the mechanics either.

[Myrany]

Back when I first did the free trial for this game (not long after ARR released) I couldn't find help and was so confused I left the game 2 days in. I didn't return until early 2019 when I had had enough of WoW and remembered I had the old trial and gave this game a new try. Again no mentor, no invite to NN no help for weeks. A friend joined and got into NN immediately (he is now a mentor himself though on a different DC). It is sort of a crap shoot weather a new player even connects with a mentor. I did eventually get into NN but quickly realized at that time NN was Barrens chat on steroids and left it again. I have found more help just walking up to someone with a crown and asking a question. Outside of that most of what I learned of the game was google foo.

EDIT: TO be fair coming from WoW googling for answers and looking up guides was already pretty much ingrained.

[Toutatis]

I have found more help just walking up to someone with a crown and asking a question. Outside of that most of what I learned of the game was google foo.

People should just ask in gen chat IMHO. Everytime someone did that, they got answers. NN is limited and superfluous.

Edit: agree with the google comments. So many answers there right at the tip of your fingers.

[ICountFrom0]

Okay, so for those who have issues with what's being said in NN. Do you report them?

No? Why not?

Yes? Don't you trust the moderators to do the job?


On the other hand, I had folks show up in hyperion, because they were told, it was the best NN to actually get an answer. They CROSS SERVER TRAVELED, to ask a question, and got it answered.

[Fyrebrand]

I have never interacted with the Novice Network, but I am bewildered at why it was ever deemed necessary in the first place and I've heard mostly bad things about it. Newbies can just ask for advice in map chat, or google it, or ask on the subreddit. Giving a power structure to random players who can control a chat channel and kick whomever they like doesn't seem like a good idea.

This seems like the kind of naivety that originally brought us "no Vote to Kick function in dungeons" and "skippable cutscenes in MSQ roulette." They seem to just assume people will be polite, civil, and nice.

Every time I see a Burger King crown in a roulette raid/dungeon, I just wonder what the heck they are even doing here. They aren't "mentoring" anyone. They aren't helping or explaining things to any newbies. They're just doing the same thing as anybody else. How are they mentors?