Mentor a New Player!

[Drewx]

<p>Long story short...I rolled an alt the other day and was disgusted with how people were acting in the chat channels...and on general.</p><p>I understand that alot of people like to joke around but there is no need to jump all over new players who are asking for help. One player asked what AA's do. (And that pop up box doesn't really give you much indepth on it. And the channel turn on him and tore him a new one.</p><p>Later on someone was simply asking for directions as they had just entered Commonlands and were overwhelmed by it's sheer size. Some people did thankfully offer to help em out and give em some directions. While others laughed about it. </p><p>Later on on my main I encountered someoen being jumped by some goblins in Fens and it turned out to be someone I had helped out and shown the ropes about 4 months ago. Sappy as it sound I got that warm fuzzy feeling when they told me just how much my advice helped them get to where they are now. To add to things they also make lots of Fable Adornments and seeing as i helped them so much early on I get some nice freebies. <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> _________________________________________________ _______________________________________</p><p>Anyways SoE gave us this awesome feature called mentoring...most people use to it to turn in old quests but it was originally implemented to allow people to play with lower lvl friends and show them the ropes...hence being a "mentor."</p><p>I hate to sound like a public service announcement but EQ II Veterans it's time to show the new blood the ropes.</p><p>All I hear in chat channels are people complaining about players who dont' know what a salesman crate is, what and where certain instances are, what a HQ is. Or they complain saying people don't know how to play.</p><p>To give credit where it is due...SOE has tried hard to make the beginning quests simple and fun. But they hardly truely teach you how to actually "PLAY" the class you selected. There is no pop up to explain what a Heritage Quest is, what a salesman crate is and how you obtain one.I often see people giving great advice on the forums...why not give that advice in game? When you find yourself bored in a city...not wanting to harvest for your tradeskills, or you just can't figure out what to do. Go to Greater Faydwer, Darklight Woods, Timorous Deep, and show some newp layers the ropes. Give advice in the channels, the new players take after the old. (Hence the horrible economy on some servers)</p><p>Figured I'd post this cause we're currently in the midst of a new wave of new players and if we don't embrace em and help em we'll lose em.</p>

[Killerbee3000]

soe should reduce the leveling speed at very low levels, seriously, i'm not surprised at all todays new players dont learn how to play anymore, they level far faster than they can figure out stuff.

[Freydinessa]

A lot of players have an ego problem and their way of feeling superior is by putting other people down, and thinking they know it all ~shrug~.

[Melodee]

I completely agree with Drewx. It disgusts me when I see someone asking for advice, directions, etc,, in channel and all they get is smart (( see? even I can't control my language sometimes )) remarks and no help. it's also very frustrating when someone asks a question and instead of "Sorry, I'm not really sure" all they get is total silence as if they had never said a word. Even in high end chat, I've seen a question go completely ignored becasue people are talking about this, that, or the other thing not even related to game. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against out-of-game topics, but it doesn't hurt to answer a call for help, even if it's simply to acknowledge the question with an "I don't know". Many times I've been hunting to get rid of a gray quest or for LnL parts and if I see someone of lower level working in that area, I will offer my help. I will ask them to please let me have the parts I'm working on and they are perfectly willing to allow that since I refuse any other loot. After all, what's 50 silver to me when I'm getting over a plat every time I group with my level?  If I'm on my healer, I'll heal them outside their group so they can get all the xp and live through an encounter that they ordinarily could not solo. Too many people nowadays ignore the Golden Rule, and it's rather sad.

[Kursa]

<p>This is why i turn off the public channels.  EQ2 used to be VERY helpful but as more people (children really) migrated here from other MMOS they brought a lot of their unhealthy and rude ingame practices with them.</p><p>The best bet for asking for help is to get involved in a guild ASAP and ask there or come directly to the forums where most of us are here to help.</p><p>Shame really, I know how you feel.</p>

[interstellarmatter]

<p>If you are really interested in helping new people, Sony has something called the Guide program.  It's a great way of showing people the ropes.</p><p>Mentoring, whatever it's good intentions, still turns you into a Tiger tank.  Stats are reduced but you still pretty much trivalize the content.  Then you give the new player the wrong impression that stuff is easy.  Then when they go off on their own, they get fustrated because they can't kill the same way.</p><p>Creating a new character and hanging around the starting areas is pretty cool.  I've done that quite a few times.</p>

[Melodee]

<cite>Kursa wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>This is why i turn off the public channels.  EQ2 used to be VERY helpful but as more people (children really) migrated here from other MMOS they brought a lot of their unhealthy and rude ingame practices with them.</p><p>The best bet for asking for help is to get involved in a guild ASAP and ask there or come directly to the forums where most of us are here to help.</p><p>Shame really, I know how you feel.</p></blockquote>Unfortunately, most of the smart-youknowwhats are not children at all, but adults. Some of the best players I've grouped with or chatted with during RP are kids under 18. As far as guilding ASAP is concerned, sometimes even that isn't much help.

[ShashLigai]

<p>As part of my roleplay I enjoy helping out new players. I look for characters that are the same class as mine and open a dialog with them. After a few questions you can easily tell who is a new player and who is a simply playing an alt. During the interview I check out their armor, its interesting to see what kind of stuff new player can put together when they are short of cash and leveling rather quickly. </p><p>Since my char is a high level tailor, and if I'm in a really good mood, I'll offer them a set of MC armor, gratis. I use the role play aspect of one class helping a brother (or sister) in the same class. Occasionally I'll get turned down. Most of the time the players are grateful, they get a nice set of armor and we get to roleplay a bit. </p>

[Kursa]

<cite>Melodee wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kursa wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>This is why i turn off the public channels.  EQ2 used to be VERY helpful but as more people (children really) migrated here from other MMOS they brought a lot of their unhealthy and rude ingame practices with them.</p><p>The best bet for asking for help is to get involved in a guild ASAP and ask there or come directly to the forums where most of us are here to help.</p><p>Shame really, I know how you feel.</p></blockquote>Unfortunately, most of the smart-youknowwhats are not children at all, but adults. Some of the best players I've grouped with or chatted with during RP are kids under 18. As far as guilding ASAP is concerned, sometimes even that isn't much help.</blockquote><p>True, some guilds are just as bad as the public chat channels.  That is certain!  However, i would at least make it a top priority to "interview" guilds so that you can get plugged into one. If you ever need a mentor and you're on the AB server. gimmie a hollar....or /tell</p><p>Krysaila is my main</p>

[Talz]

Public channels are... public. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/1069449046bcd664c21db15b1dfedaee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Nordran17]

<cite>Killerbee3000 wrote:</cite><blockquote>soe should reduce the leveling speed at very low levels, seriously, i'm not surprised at all todays new players dont learn how to play anymore, they level far faster than they can figure out stuff.</blockquote>If that was case, new players would be detered from the game, as it would take too long to get with the 'crowd' at a higher level.

[Melodee]

<cite>Killerbee3000 wrote:</cite><blockquote>soe should reduce the leveling speed at very low levels, seriously, i'm not surprised at all todays new players dont learn how to play anymore, they level far faster than they can figure out stuff.</blockquote>I so completely disagree. When I first came to EQ2, I had a 70 paladin friend from my days on EQ1 to help me. He mentored down to my level ((which was hilarious when he forgot to dump his strongboxes first)) and showed me around Norrath................. where to find quests and books and such, taught me about HOs, taught me how to tell the difference between a heroic and a solo mob or encounters and such. I would have been completely lost and probably would have gone back to EQ1 if it had not been for his help. I leveled very quickly on my original toon and would have kept her if I had not decided to change servers. I learned her class quite well even though I leveled quickly and I'm sure others do as well. Power-leveling is an entirely different kettle of barracuda, though <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[ShashLigai]

<cite>Melodee wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Killerbee3000 wrote:</cite><blockquote>soe should reduce the leveling speed at very low levels, seriously, i'm not surprised at all todays new players dont learn how to play anymore, they level far faster than they can figure out stuff.</blockquote>... When I first came to EQ2, I had a 70 paladin friend from my days on EQ1 to help me. He ... taught me about HOs...</blockquote>We don't have HOs in Norrath, maybe in Freeport, but not in Norrath...

[Skivley101]

<p>I think mentoring can be a good thing, but also a bad thing depending on the class combo, and if the mentorer ends up doing all the work.</p><p>A healer mentoring another class is probably the best, You can hold back a bit, and let them actually have more of an impact on the situation.</p><p>Where as a tank mentoring for a healer, Is gona be tuffer to not do most all the work (maybe pull some gear off , to lower mitigation)</p><p>The point im making is, Where as its fun to flex our awesome uberness when mentoring down , It really doesnt help them learn the game.</p><p>I would suggest pointing someone to a quest website, if you run into someone that just wants all the work done for them .... atleast theyll have to read.</p><p>PS: I made a new char the other day, And was pleasantly suprised to see a guide in chat <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />. At the very least, we had much less of that annoying chat everyone is talking about.</p>

[Skivley101]

<cite>ShashLigai wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Melodee wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Killerbee3000 wrote:</cite><blockquote>soe should reduce the leveling speed at very low levels, seriously, i'm not surprised at all todays new players dont learn how to play anymore, they level far faster than they can figure out stuff.</blockquote>... When I first came to EQ2, I had a 70 paladin friend from my days on EQ1 to help me. He ... taught me about HOs...</blockquote>We don't have HOs in Norrath, maybe in Freeport, but not in Norrath... </blockquote>You mean in qyenos? ..... Oh they'er there ,  Just not maybe as out in the open about it  <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/ed515dbff23a0ee3241dcc0a601c9ed6.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Kellin]

<p>What server are you on, Drewx?  I'm on Perma, and I don't see this kind of attitude.  At least, not in the channels I watch (usually 1-9 and Good_Crafting), or in zone chat (shout and OOC).</p><p>Yes, there's a lot of trash talking and such, but I don't recall anyone stomping on the real newbies.  It sometimes takes a while for their questions to get answered, and you do get some stupid remarks, but I've never seen any real malicious intent.</p><p>Most of the rude talk is saved for those who have been playing a long time, or who are jerks in the channels.  In fact, questions about gameplay and quests are usually treated very well on all channels, not just the newbie ones.</p><p>It's good advice, nevertheless.  Don't flame the newbs.  You were one yourself, once.</p>

[Melodee]

HO = heroic opportunity you dorks! <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Skivley101]

<cite>Melodee wrote:</cite><blockquote>HO = heroic opportunity you dorks! <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></blockquote>LoL .... ya i shouldnt have commented on it probably ... <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/499fd50bc713bfcdf2ab5a23c00c2d62.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Ciara52]

<p>I see alot of that too.  It's sad.  And if you ask werent' you ever new?  look out!</p><p>Mentoring is a nice way to help someone and glad to say someone did it for me  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>In a guild I am no longer a member of we were told "why would someone high lvl go backwards and help, find a group in your range, and mentoring is a bad idea"  </p><p>Needless to say  I moved on.   </p>

[Melodee]

<img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/385970365b8ed7503b4294502a458efa.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />   oooohhhhhhh HOs...... freeport........... i finally got it LOL

[Oakum]

<p>While mentoring a very  new player (under level 10) is something I do occasionally to help out new guildies and show them around a little in qeynos, mentoring for hours on end while they do quest and level is too much like power leveling. With T8 legendary/fabled gear and me mentoring guildies for the final fight of something which is too tough or they cant gt enough people to do, I end up being tank, healer, and dps. </p><p>As far as the guide program, while a nice idea, I would want to do it on my own server, not a different one unless I really get bored. Then again, in the years I played (since Dec 04)I can't remember ever seeing or being in a guide event so I am not even sure what they can do. I am afraid that all I would be able to do is hand out cookies and cake to new players, lol. </p>

[SisterTheresa]

<cite>Ciara52 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I see alot of that too.  It's sad.  And if you ask werent' you ever new?  look out!</p></blockquote><p>Haha reminds me of my father always saying to me "What, you don't believe I was a kid once?"  No dad, you just poped into thin air as an adult.</p><p>I would do the Guide program but it is hard on the East coast, where one has to be on IIRC 4 days a week and during PST times meaning I'll be up til 2am .. uhm no way.  Maybe if they realized there are people who are over here in EST zones and maybe you know ... throw us some lovin.</p><p>And sadly I do want to mentor people and help but not many either listen or take advice.  And they ask the same question again.  And just because no one answered in chat doesn't mean a tell wasn't sent.  And yes, I am a person who likes to direct people to forums, I'm not going to spend all my time walking them through an entire quest when another person spent that time typing it up!</p>

[Thunderthyze]

<cite>Killerbee3000 wrote:</cite><blockquote>soe should reduce the leveling speed at very low levels, seriously, i'm not surprised at all todays new players dont learn how to play anymore, they level far faster than they can figure out stuff.</blockquote><p>Here's a first...I tend to agree with KB3k on this one <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p><p>A while back I reloaded EQ1 and was quite grateful for the "continental drift" speed of levelling as I found I had almost totally forgotten how to play it.</p><p>For those of you who disagreed with the quote, how many times have you turned up in (eg) Sanctum to find that the tank had never grouped before? Maybe we should petition for the return of the subclasses in levels 1~10 and 11~20?</p>

[Valdaglerion]

<cite>interstellarmatter wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>If you are really interested in helping new people, Sony has something called the Guide program.  It's a great way of showing people the ropes.</p><p>Mentoring, whatever it's good intentions, still turns you into a Tiger tank.  Stats are reduced but you still pretty much trivalize the content.  Then you give the new player the wrong impression that stuff is easy.  Then when they go off on their own, they get fustrated because they can't kill the same way.</p><p>Creating a new character and hanging around the starting areas is pretty cool.  I've done that quite a few times.</p></blockquote>FYI - the guide program is not available on all servers, specifically the exchange servers are excluded from this program which I fail to understand but anyway. The other thing about the guide program is you may not be a guide on a server on which you have any character. I find the guide program kinda odd. If you really enjoy a particular server and want to help build/grow the community there you can not do it through the guide program and if you are on the exchange servers, this isnt even an option. Heaven forbid someone might sell a guide item because they are so rare. The rarity of the guide items should tell you something about the guide program right there./rant off

[erin]

If the person appears to be a true new player, and you can usually tell by the question, I'll send them a tell and answer the question that way.  Often that's followed up with another and another, and I help them for a while.  If they appear to be asking smart questions and are willing to do work (such as, if I point them at eq2i or something they actually go try it, not just whine about it) then I'll finish up with a "if you ever have other questions, just send me a tell, I'd be happy to help out".  If they are whiny or unwilling to do anything for themselves and basically want me to run out there and hold their hand forever, I will log.  Half the time though it turns out its a returning player or just someone RPing a newb (yes I'm not kidding).  Which gets annoying when after trying to help for several minutes you get "ok well thanks, I'm gonna go log onto my level 80 for a guild raid" or "dude, I was just messing around".  Sometimes I think why bother?But the l33t kiddies in the 1-9 chat definitely annoy me, when I start a new alt and they are pretending to be helpful but really just stroking their [Removed for Content].  You can tell with how they always insert the level of their main in the answer somehow.

[Antipalad]

Personally, I try to be helpful with new people playing the game by hanging out a bit in the low level channels. However, I have been totally turned off mentoring for good after receiving insane amounts of "Powerlevelmeplz" tells from random people I have never seen before. Help people help themselves, do not spoonfeed them by mentoring them in my opinion.