New Member Mentor Program

[Adam255]

I both agree and disagree with this idea.
Regardless, for the sake of finding new people to RP with, i'm in.

[Aphetoros]

I don't think this needs to be GM run.

My proposition: Forum helpers post a link to a New Member Mentor Program post with a list of 'mentors' that applied on it. The New Member is asked to post if they would like a mentor, and then whoever is in-charge/group of people in charge match them with mentors.

[Kage]

Better yet, why not make it a bit more detailed. Each person has their own favorite ind of rp correct? Why not try to match them up based on that.

[Aphetoros]

I thought about that but I didn't feel like typing it

[c0rzilla]

Mmh.

Call me a cynic, but this seems to developing into a bureaucracy filled with tiers and red tape despite the best of intentions. And, you know what they say about what the best intentions pave the road to.

In responses to the introductions of new players, FHs and GMs mention that new players can PM them with any question they have. Why is a "program" needed? It's part of the job of FHs and GMs to guide players already. I don't see the need for a new system where players could unintentionally be misinformed by well-meaning compatriots.

Again, nice meaning idea. Just not that well thought out.

[Kage]

Well to be honest I've seen a bunch of new players who don't ask the questions cause one: they don't know the .gm ingame thing, and two: they really don't think there's anything else to learn. I've helped many people figure out the .lo rp thing alone. It's hard to ask questions when you don't know it exists to begin with. (Just sayin, not trying to be mean .o.)

[c0rzilla]

That command is usually mentioned in introduction responses, and you don't need it to PM us Helpers or fellow Masters in the forums. As well, people usually jump to help if one asks in an OOC area.

True, sometimes people don't know what to ask. But, at the same time, we (as in everyone on the server) can't all know what to offer. And a system (emphasis on system, not just people helping to be nice) like this is ripe for misinformation, misinterpretation and the like.

I advise just sticking to PMing us fancy colored name folk. We don't bite! And no question is "stupid", really.

[Zarquon]

I find the idea interesting...

...may I apply for a mentor?

[Fortwit]

I think corzilla is just afraid that this program will compromise her job security!

Just kiddiiiing.

Still, Perhaps someone should simply make an easily found guide that is very comprehensive.

[Harmonic]

This sounds similar to the vouch system.

To expand on what I mean, basically... you could get a bunch of people on varying levels, and...

Well, here's how the vouch system worked.

Good RPers vouched for okay RPers, okay RPers vouched for crap RPers, and crap RPers vouched for everything and anything. Now, this is different in that it wouldn't determine who gets gruntship... however, it could set a false idea on what the rules are, or how to approach things.

Typically, and, call me wrong here, but after a while we've all figured out things about CoTH, right? I think that if someone wants to learn these things they will regardless of the buddy system or not. Everyone also knows that I'm pretty much a cynic, but as much as this could help to me it just seems like a time waster and another way to spread "attention" rather than being a practical and useful system.




Sorry if I come off as mean, but I just think it's something that if you want, it can be done through simple socialization rather than -another- convoluted methodology.

[DaveM]

I joined the server a while ago, but back then it'd of felt hell'a awkward to poke up someone with "Heya! Show me around, advise me on my characters, shadow some RP with me and give me some feedback and then send me on my way to gruntship thanks!" Spent weeks before I could call anyone truly experienced a "coth-friend".

To be told "This is the person who will teach you and guide you, if you want them." would've felt like the warmest online thing ever.

But I well agree it should be limited to confirmed staff and/or a group confirmed by staff, to avoid a clusterfel. I don't think it's a mega-bueracracy, nor that "PM these guys for questions" already covers it.

[Beltharean]

I joined the server a while ago, but back then it'd of felt hell'a awkward to poke up someone with "Heya! Show me around, advise me on my characters, shadow some RP with me and give me some feedback and then send me on my way to gruntship thanks!" Spent weeks before I could call anyone truly experienced a "coth-friend".

To be told "This is the person who will teach you and guide you, if you want them." would've felt like the warmest online thing ever.

But I well agree it should be limited to confirmed staff and/or a group confirmed by staff, to avoid a clusterfel. I don't think it's a mega-bueracracy, nor that "PM these guys for questions" already covers it.

I held the same position as c0r up until this post, really, but consider my mind changed. I thought about being a lil' ol' peon again, and what it was like joining the server; Thankfully, I had someone around to show me the ropes. Zunaj, to be exact, for those of you that remember him. If this were going to be done though, I don't think it would really be necessary to have one person designated to certain individuals. Rather, we could have the chosen mentors follow a system somewhat similar to the current .gm in game command. Perhaps .mentor or some such, that would let the player know whether or not there even were any online. I'm not particularly sure how the .gm in game command works, but I do know that schedules are almost always conflicting in online communities, and a network of aids would be much better than one person for one newcomer!

[c0rzilla]

Helping is great. All players should help all others without a system.

If we speak of times when we were peons, I remember Bounty guiding me my first few steps. A system was not needed then. Why is it now? If anything, these stories prove we don't need a Mentor system, or whatever, since people seem to be willing to help without it. Without a new sub-group with a fancy name. We even have GMs sitting at a desk in Shatterspear now.

Perhaps there is an idealistic sheen to my cynicism, but I think CotH's people are nice enough to help if a peon asks without a new command or rank or sub-rank.

Nice People of CotH > Mentors

Again, if a solid system is made, it should be kept to FHs, GMs, or other approved folks. But, don't we Fancy-Name People already do this?

[Kage]

I wouldn't think this was about a new ranking. I was thinking more or less just something to help people ingame. To be honest, I found gm's terrifying when I first started. They had all that power, the npc controlling, the banhammer. I didn't want to ask their help because they intimidated me. Course, they don't as much anymore (Still, that banhammer has me on edge sometimes. Always afraid I could do something wrong in front of them) but the point is, sometimes flashy names only scare people away. I was thinking this was more of a grunts helping peons get use to the game. Not about getting a new rank.

[Beltharean]

Helping is great. All players should help all others without a system.

If we speak of times when we were peons, I remember Bounty guiding me my first few steps. A system was not needed then. Why is it now? If anything, these stories prove we don't need a Mentor system, or whatever, since people seem to be willing to help without it. Without a new sub-group with a fancy name. We even have GMs sitting at a desk in Shatterspear now.

Perhaps there is an idealistic sheen to my cynicism, but I think CotH's people are nice enough to help if a peon asks without a new command or rank or sub-rank.

Nice People of CotH > Mentors

Again, if a solid system is made, it should be kept to FHs, GMs, or other approved folks. But, don't we Fancy-Name People already do this?

The difference is that not everyone has a story like ours. I've seen plenty of people ask in Barrens and Chat, for help with this or that, or information on a topic that most newcomers are curious about, and go without an answer. If there was a place they could go to ask where they knew they were going to get an answer, there doesn't really seem to be any harm done. They can ask forum helpers and GMs, but they won't; They don't know who the FH's are in-game, and I know that I personally, was a bit intimidated by the staff when I first joined. You don't know what questions are worthy of asking, and the questions that you want to ask, you probably end up putting in a ticket, which may or may not be answered that day.