Mentor Network

[DocKangey]

The whole mentoring thing in EU just doesn't stop to haunt me in my dreams Can't stop thinking about how it would be possible to make it work (better), even if nothing is changed ingame. So here is a proposal, and I make it a poll (because I have never done that yet in EF )

Mentor Network Goals

Please feel free to take a look at, try it out and give me feedback - it's work in progress:
http://eu-mentor.info

(Note: Some of the ideas and concepts have been posted by other members)

Enable mentors to post a profile with all information regarding mentoring

• timezone and availability
• language(s)
• society
• Using XFire / TeamSpeak / ...
• number of active disciples
• takes on new disciples at the moment
• taking depositors / non-depositors
• taking "unofficial" disciples outside the EU mentoring system
• only taking new disciples upon invite (don't even bother asking me)
• specialist areas
• contact information
• mentoring concept, additional information (e.g. I will do all TP runs with my disciples and will spend a lot of time with you in the first week, after that I expect you to contact me if you need information - and I don't do team hunts. Aso don't expect me to give you any free stuff. I expect my disciples to join my society.)

Enable new players to search for a mentor
Search for mentors by timezone, availability and/or language. Other search options are possible, maybe a mentor-browser? Also a way for new players to contact potential mentors or send a mentoring request.

Mentor standards
All participating mentors will agree to abide by a code of conduct (mentor code), that agreement is binding and a prerequisite of joining and being a part of the mentor network. Infingements will be penalized by the mentor community. The code should also contain some sort of minimum requirements for mentors.

• Commitment to spend a minimun time in game per week
• Minimum skill requirement
• Sponsorship for new/young mentors?
• Commitment against disciple harvesting
• Peer Review

Disciple standards
All participating mentors will hold their disciples to certain minimal standards, disciples will be made aware of that prior to the discipleship.

• No begging / scamming
• Keep communicating with your mentor
• ...

Improve communication between mentors
The network can be used for communication between the active mentors. Some thoughts of what can be implemented there:

• Find a temporary mentor to pitch in while you have to take an unexpected leave
• create a shared knowledge base
• shared list of mentor/disciple scammers
• collaborative authoring of tutorials / guides
• ...

That's just a very basic outline of what I think could work. I'd like to ask you guys for feedback ... yeah, actually, I want to figure out if anybody thinks that is interesting enough to get it started.

[chaz68]

personally i think this would be great it would save time for the 1st time players trawling pa and ef to find a mentor

[Alice]

thats pretty much the same i have in an access file on my pc #D

i just never had the time to really realise it online, just had the concept


good luck

[Rowdoc]

An interesting idea.. good idea in principle, only issue I see is will be putting info under noses of all the new arrivals before they click 'yes' to first person that invites them.

[DocKangey]

Originally Posted by Rowdoc

... only issue I see is will be putting info under noses of all the new arrivals before they click 'yes' to first person that invites them.

Yeah, I do agree, this is an issue. I don't think that the "Mentor Network" idea will solve all problems regarding mentoring. It can't stop scammers, it can't stop disciple farmers, it can't stop mentor hoppers and it definitely can't change crappy mentoring gifts or plainly unrealistic skill thresholds.

What a Mentor Network can do is to improve the situation. Maybe a little bit for a few, or maybe more if many join. I don't know if it will work or not. But I believe it is better to try and improve the situation regarding mentoring than to just wait and see if and when MA will be doing anything about it - and to what extent.

My hopes are that we will be able to together create a solid and growing group of dedicated mentors, that this mentoring network will increase it's reputation and in time become a forming factor of mentoring activities in EU.

[Scoutman]

This thread is a good incentive to start not only a mentoring society, but a mentoring community. Sadly, as things are getting even more expensive to obtain, it makes it harder for newcomers to be acquainted to the game, and to achieve a consistent progress. I am thinking of a method that could encourage disciples to be frequent and for them to adapt in the game. Like organizing hunting/ mining parties in a given time, or a small giveaway event, like some kind people do occasionally, and also disciple upkeep to see which disciples remain active or not; as you mentioned in your post. Usually some mentors consider to boot their disciples unless they know beforehand they have inconveniences. But to make it fair everyone should have a deadline and abide by it.

I hope innovative ideas come to matter in this thread.

[NightwolfAA2k5]

I'd normally be interested in such a thing, but sadly, I no longer have the time to be a mentor, I'm usually on 1-2 days a week... For only a few hours.

Keep up the good work

- Nightwolf

[Waldi]

I realy like your proposal, its indeed the best way to improve the current system!

The only problem i see:
How can the potential disciple get aware of the network?

I think, MA's help is needed here to make it official.

[DocKangey]

From the responses to the poll I can see that there are a few people interested in trying out such a Mentor Netwrok. I have been playing around with a piece of software and whipped out a site for testing that concept.

On EU Mentor Network @ http://eu-mentor.info I put up a tiny bit of information and the basic database for mentors to fill out a public profile and disciples to search that database.

Mind you, it is very basic still, but the database can be extended and enhanced. If you feel we are missing some sort of information in the profiles, or filters for the search page, just drop me a line or reply to this thread.

Right now, everybody can sign up, but after signing up you need to send a message to "root" to get promoted to mentor status and be able to fill out all details of your profile.

I am looking forward to some feedback and people trying it out

[Legion]

sorry to say but i think the site looks like crap heh, and no it's not due to the fact that i might get my own site changed into a mentor network. A good initiative on the site though.