Reading this thread about a possible new feature found by the user Kopla I got a simple idea for another feature that could use the new scaling technology Blizzard has been using for Proving Grounds, BGs and Challenge Modes. I call it Dungeon Mentor and I wouldn't be surprised if it was already suggested by someone else, but since I haven't seen it around yet I'll post it here for you folks to evaluate.
The idea is simple, the player, at max lvl, queues up for a low lvl dungeon and is then paired with 4 other players still leveling their characters. He then has to guide them through it and in the end receives a reward based on a voting made by the other 4 players.
The requirements to be a mentor would be having done that dungeon before and be at max lvl. Obviously there's no ilvl requirement. The player can choose between queueing to mentor folks in a random dungeon or choose specific dungeons he wants to guide newbies through, the reward not being affected by that choice. What will affect the reward however is the voting. If all the 4 newbies give him 5 stars he gets, say, 100 VP (or w/e really, we can decide on a fitting reward later). If they all give him 4 stars he gets 90 VP. You get the idea.
I think the system should force these mentors to guide only random strangers to avoid people queuing up with friends to ensure maximum rewards and to incentivate better interaction with newcomers. They can vote down their mentors based on skill and social interactions after all! Play very well, but be a jerk to them and they'll give you 0!
Having a knowledgeble guide serves another purpose too. This would allow low lvl dungeons to be a bit harder. It doesn't have to be super TBC hard, but maybe around later Cata difficulty level? :P
What do you guys think? Is this idea any good or too easily sploitable?
While I'd love to see game mechanics that reward positive social interaction and discourage toxic behaviour....
I'm not 100% sold on the idea that new players want to be bossed around by a random stranger in dungeons (at least in their current incarnation).
I've been in enough random dungeons where things were going completely smoothly, but someone had to 'instruct' people on something insignificant and derailed the run into a negative experience for all involved.
I think this concept may be more useful in LFR. (I can hear the screams of anguish now). The duration of LFR's is generally more substantial then dungeons, and the role of learning mechanics and improving your gameplay is higher.
Personally, I'd like to see old raids revamped into the scheme of leveling via LFR/Flex, and this mentor reward would fit nicely into it.
I think WoW needs more positive reinforcement mechanics like this, similar to LoL honor system. I'm not sure what you have suggested is entirely feasible, but I agree with the general idea.