What's the point of mentors?

[Evil Bee]

Like I never bothered with the novice network when I started so my interactions with them have been limited, but in regular play the ones I've come across in dungeons and the like don't seem to care if any new players are struggling, push on ahead when others aren't there yet etc etc..heck I've only seen them twice even bother with a 'hi' before the start.

Like surely the system should encourage people who *want* to help newbies and make everyone's experience of the game as fun as possible? Why is there not a rating system at the end specifically to rate mentors, like there is for commendations, so the useless ones get deregistered and the good ones get extra points?

I don't mean to be rude to those mentors who are helpful to other players, but I'm just yet to meet any and it seems that being a mentor should be something to be proud of.

[Kanaev]

The problem is how this community views any form of criticism and suggestions. You start pointing out mistakes and how to improve and get in return: "you don't pay my sub" or reports for harassment.
Just look at the recent drama of a tank who only single targets in the latest dungeon. Dude literally fails in his role at every level by not keeping aggro and some defend this.

Interacting with others in a non praising way is dangerous, so a lot of people don't bother.

There is a positive to large mentor population - mentor roulette. It can throw you into any duty of the game (except savage), so it helps with unpopular content for first-timers (old raids, for example). And even if mentor doesn't "mentor" - it's still a player who's somewhat adequate in the duty. Unless it's a burger king crowner, who leaves right away if extreme comes up.

[AH-1 Cobra]

The novice network is pointless. It's just a glorified chat room.

If you need help with something, there's better places to ask outside of the game.

[Halcyform]

The primary purpose of mentors is to assist and guide new and returning players. To become a mentor, you have to fulfill a number of requirements which is usually a list of completed achievements. Once you satisfy the requirements, you can don mentor status in relevant area(s).

Mentors get access to novice network and can invite new players to the novice network.

The practical aspect of being a mentor takes shape when the mentor is grouped up another player. When grouped up, they get an experience bonus to their activities. I believe this applies up to level 80.

I skipped this because I felt it wasn't needed and I usually don't bothering mentoring outside of guild related functions (in any mmo).

I have a RL friend that became interested in FF14 when he was done with WoW. It wasn't long after he left the game because he mentioned that the Novice Network was one of the most toxic experiences he has ever had in an MMO. It seems to be common enough of an experience because he's not the first person to say this about the NN.

[Last Place]

Mentors are meant to help, not know every single thing in the game. Keep that in mind first of all.

Second, most people just want the status for the crown, they think they look cooler when people see it on their name.

[Alternity]

Alot of mentors do the mentor roulette solely to farm the astrope mount, keep that in mind guys. If this reward didn't exist the number of battle mentors would decrease drastically.

I do mentor roulettes for that mount as well and I do help but only really in extreme trials as this is the only content where players are actually receptive to receive help in general.

[Goobs]

Mentors are typically there to:
As tanks, pull more than the healer can manage, and quit the group when they cause a wipe
As healers, refuse to heal for 90% of the dungeons and expect the tank to self manage, then quit the group when they cause a wipe
As dps, spend half the dungeon tabbed out autoattacking, then complain when bosses take too long or the group wipes. (Weird how the dps queue changes their attitudes so consistently)

It's easy to know why mentors are *supposed* to be a thing, but the end result is every bad experience I've had in a group was because mentors are jaded, burnt out and the fun they get is from ruining people's experience of the game.

[chipofsalt]

Originally posted by Last Place:

Mentors are meant to help, not know every single thing in the game. Keep that in mind first of all.

Second, most people just want the status for the crown, they think they look cooler when people see it on their name.

The only correct answer is how unsolicited feedback/advice is viewed in this game by strangers. Most people don't say a word in dungeons beyond just saying hi at the start and maybe thanking the group at the end. This bleeds into when players become mentors. Personally, if someone has a question or keeps dying to a boss when we need everyone up, then I'll say something so we can get through it.

Someone also mentioned people doing mentor roulette (which forces the crown on you) for the mount and not really caring about the role. That's also true.

The rest is simply opinionated statements on how mentors *should* act. The barrier to entry to becoming a mentor isn't skill based in the first place. The whole system is pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥.

[Colopatiron]

Yes, mentors are pointless and the system needs to be revamped or removed entirely.

[GeminiEclipse]

Originally posted by Kanaev:

The problem is how this community views any form of criticism and suggestions. You start pointing out mistakes and how to improve and get in return: "you don't pay my sub" or reports for harassment.
Just look at the recent drama of a tank who only single targets in the latest dungeon. Dude literally fails in his role at every level by not keeping aggro and some defend this.

Interacting with others in a non praising way is dangerous, so a lot of people don't bother.

There is a positive to large mentor population - mentor roulette. It can throw you into any duty of the game (except savage), so it helps with unpopular content for first-timers (old raids, for example). And even if mentor doesn't "mentor" - it's still a player who's somewhat adequate in the duty. Unless it's a burger king crowner, who leaves right away if extreme comes up.

Allegedly the tank was doing that because the dps was pulling ahead because tank was doing that dungeon for the first time and single pulling. Also tank died on a boss and said dps decided to kite the boss around the room making it harder for the SAM to do rotation.

[DirtyMick]

They help a lot in novice network. I've asked many questions there and they all get answered by mentors. Most mentors I randomly meet in dungeons give tips if you ask "anything I need to know about this fight?" They'll just tell you the one mechanic that can wipe us, or just say no its an easy one or something like that. Usually it's just an easy one lol. They also do dungeons fast most of the time, which is good for efficiency.

I will say, in my server, some of them get pretty high on their horse when I'm reading the random interactions in NN while playing. There's an occasional abuse of authority, or condescending remarks, or even hypocrisy when they discuss things that they would tell other people to leave out of NN. But meh, they're just people like anyone else. There can be good ones and bad ones like any group.

I'm actually surprised by all the negative views of mentors and novice network. I'm still at level 80 post ShB MSQ. I'm actually dreading getting into endwalker cuz I won't be in NN anymore where I can get my questions quickly answered. Or like if I'm on some MSQ dungeon that's gonna take a while to queue for, I can ask in NN for a tank or healer and usually one of the mentors steps up to help make my queue faster. They've been a very positive part of my experience with the game tbh.

But to simply answer the title question, they are there to answer obscure questions from newbs.

[Evil Bee]

Originally posted by Alternity:

Alot of mentors do the mentor roulette solely to farm the astrope mount, keep that in mind guys. If this reward didn't exist the number of battle mentors would decrease drastically.

I do mentor roulettes for that mount as well and I do help but only really in extreme trials as this is the only content where players are actually receptive to receive help in general.

Perhaps you could just set a macro to say "hello, If you're struggling with all this then talk to me"? Like I'm nobody, just some tit who doesn't mind helping ppl out, but at least I try =(

[Evil Bee]

Originally posted by Colopatiron:

Yes, mentors are pointless and the system needs to be revamped or removed entirely.

I'd honestly love a system that rewards people who go out of their way for others. All the mentors who I've come across have been between useless and a**ewipes - likely idiots who care more for the tiny icon against their name.

[Hobo Misanthropus]

Most Mentors are just there for the Asterope.

There should be a new kind of "Mentor Commendation" but I feel like that would also be abused somehow.

[Alternity]

Originally posted by Evil Bee:

Originally posted by Alternity:

Alot of mentors do the mentor roulette solely to farm the astrope mount, keep that in mind guys. If this reward didn't exist the number of battle mentors would decrease drastically.

I do mentor roulettes for that mount as well and I do help but only really in extreme trials as this is the only content where players are actually receptive to receive help in general.

Perhaps you could just set a macro to say "hello, If you're struggling with all this then talk to me"? Like I'm nobody, just some tit who doesn't mind helping ppl out, but at least I try =(

I tried helping people but the majority are hostile unless we are in an extreme trial. Now I just refrain from doing so unless someone asks specific questions, which is rare.

[The Rizzler]

The problem with mentors is you can earn one without knowing anything