Mentor status/badge

[mtl]

My suggestion:
create a mentor status or badge

Idea:
very good+ players with a certain record (ie certain ranking or # of trophies) will have a mentor status or badge next to their username. They assist Mortals who are unsure how to play, the basics of the game and share board game tactics.

Background:
You may simply think that Mortals should check out the guidelines/rules provided and watch the video links etc. but from my experience even after reading and watching tutorials its always nice to do a run-through of the game myself to get the hang of things.

I started playing yesterday and a few users I have played with have kindly given me advice on what I should have done on a round before or what sort of tactics I should use for the next game.

It would not only be nice if they were recognized for their assistance, but if Mortals could identify them from the pack of other players who may not a) speak their language b) be willing to assist (well, because, they aren't obliged to) c) may not be very good players themselves.

With a Mentor status/badge ....
1. Mentors will be recognizable - and Mortals can take advantage of their guidance
2. Mortals will have a steeper learning curve - will understand how to play the games better and return to BGA to play more!

Some things to think about ...
i) a Mortal may win a match due to the help guidance of this Mentor
--> maybe no trophy count & no ELO count for both members? but gift points for Mentor?

ii) a Mortal and Mentor will be chatting quite a bit
--> play with no time limit OR with time limit but with no penalties for both parties?

What do you think?
- good idea/bad idea? suggestions on my suggestion? why is will (or will not) work? why it is an awesome (or stupid) idea

Thanks for reading!

[Trociu]

I was thinking about similar things recently. But first your idea. The only problem I see is:

Who would made you a Mentor? Because if you want to find a good player you can check ELO, trophies - everything is visible. if you need someone nice you have to look for green thumbs (it doesn't mean that the person will help you, but it is something).

Maybe if people would vote for someone to be mentor? I mean this: You play a game with someone, he gave you some advices. After the game you give him green thumb and vote for being mentor. After few votes he would gain the mentor badge in this game (and only in this game!). The badge would be visible for everyone, great if it would be visible from the "invite menu".

Now my idea, which can be added to yours as i think:

I thought about learning tabels. Of course you can write description that you want to teach the game/learn the game but i thought that it would be much easier if they had other colour. Games at such tables would be without ELO but with the reward for the teacher (of course the gift points would go to a person which was rated as good teacher by the learning one - not a green thumb but this vote-thing about which i was speaking). As you said it would be the best if the game was without time limit or without penalties for long thinking.

We now have system to show if player had played certain game on BGA with ELO on. After implementing this Mentor/learning table system it would'nt be necessary to change it. The learning tables would have same colour if opened by learner or teacher and that thing would say who is this player (teacher or student) The description could be used by player who played the game many times but are still looking for mentor (to learn advanced technics).

I see one problem - this system would allow people to easily gain gift points by cheating: create fake account, play a game with it as teacher, take gift point and repeat with other fake account/game.
I don't how how well BGA fights with such type of users but it would be very important.

[mtl]

Our ideas are vey complementary and I really like the idea of learning tables! I didn't even think about how cheaters would take advantage of making fake accounts (Mortals). Yeah I wouldn't know how BGA would monitor that ... but I like how the Mentors are chosen.

These ideas are a start. Hopefully we can get input and ideas from other members too!

//

From a newbie's point of view, the Mentor system would be great. BGA would also be able to retain newbies - some may get too overwhelmed, not take advantage of BGA has to offer and not return etc. I don't see that happening for me but I only signed up because I wanted to play Puerto Rico. I just know that if I had a Mentor I would be more willing to play other games. (So far have only played Puerto Rico. My points are so low I'm scared it will be 0 or negative if I start playing new games I'm not used to :s )

[Trociu]

I think that better tutorial about "How to use BGA" would be helpful too. Most of the new players who opened a table dissapeard before they played they first game (thats how it looks like for me when i see table opened for an hour by totally new person). I think the system may be too difficult for some people.
In fact it looks like you too mtl are a victim of this - ELO rating is separate for every game. If you want to learn something new write to me when i be in BGA site

[Jest Phulin]

My points are so low I'm scared it will be 0 or negative if I start playing new games I'm not used to

Word of advice to all newbies. Play for fun, not for ELO rating. You'll have more incentive to come back.