I should preface this with a note that I'm not a 'primary mentor' in Sons of the Desert. Whilst I'm happy to provide as much assistance as I can - I tend to get involved a little after people have established themselves. Sometimes, just sometimes, when the moons align and... etc... I'll grab someone I see wandering around and help them out unasked.
What do you enjoy most about mentoring?
- I like the smiles on their little faces as they realise that they too can be a productive member of society! No, seriously, I enjoy passing on enough knowledge so that people aren't stumbling, but not so much that they are spoonfed.
What do you find most difficult about mentoring?
- I'm not incredibly tolerant at times. I'm happy to explain things once, twice sometimes even a third time. But if I have to explain east and west again... or that F3 really does bring up your map (after they've used it before!)...
Where do you find it easier to mentor - on the island or the mainland, and why?
- Having only visited the island for the first time yesterday, I'd have to say the mainland. I'd imagine the island is fun, I've just less experience of it.
How would you describe your mentoring style?
- I think I answered above - I'm happy to get the basics down for people, i.e. F3 for map, F4 for compass and stuff. But I won't 'do' stuff for them. I'll actively encourage them to trade with us for bits that are hard for a single player to produce, but won't give them stuff (except good flax seeds, and maybe a reasonable quality hatchet).
Whats the most important thing to teach / do for a new player?
- Erm... I should imagine everyone will answer 'the wiki'! Also, F3 for the map. That macros are acceptable, and that you just can't do everything by yourself. Oh, and that despite having a knife, you can't kill anyone (which is a pity in some cases!)
Whats the best, or easiest, kind of student to teach?
- Someone who listens, absorbs, and asks challenging questions to allow me to adjust my style a little bit to better serve future mentees.
What problems have you encountered while mentoring, and how were they resolved?
- Never really had a problem persay. But that's because of when I usually get involved. By then, all the "but how do I kill people?" players are gone...
What makes you a 'good' mentor?
- What makes me a bad one? Apart from the above answers of course? :) But seriously, I've got a pretty good grasp of the game now, and I'd like to think that the fact that The Decline And Fall Club has grown to be a well respected guild reflects well on my ability to get the best out of people (Note that I'm not claiming it's all my work!!).