Should there be a <helper> tag in wow?

[Kynario]

problem is just that theres a big difference between wanting to help and knowing how to help

Couldn't agree more, so many players out there that'll just give out wrong information. :/

[G3 Ghost]

I love this idea. I would love it even more if it acted almost like a queue system.

Typing into say /h would put your question in a queue and a person (player) would get your question as a popup and be able to answer it.

If they used the BattleNet system, it would be even more amazing and a great tool to supplement the GM system.

[Kokolums]

It might be just my realm but I generally find most people are helpful if you ask a question. If people are tagged they'll get bombarded with questions to the point where they might not want to do it any more.

It can be a toggle. Turn it on, get questions. Turn it off, you aren't in the system.

I love this idea. I would love it even more if it acted almost like a queue system.

Typing into say /h would put your question in a queue and a person (player) would get your question as a popup and be able to answer it.

Wow that's brilliant!

[Soisoisoi]

No. At least not for class specific helping as the vast majority of people who would like to help people are generally ignorant of the actual class mechanics and how to improve. If they were vetted somehow, sure, but otherwise no.

For things like questing, pet battles, whatever - sure.

[Kokolums]

No. At least not for class specific helping as the vast majority of people who would like to help people are generally ignorant of the actual class mechanics and how to improve. If they were vetted somehow, sure, but otherwise no.

For things like questing, pet battles, whatever - sure.

I'm actually in total disagreement here. I think its more important to get people who are enthusiastic and want to help. if you vet for accuracy, you actually wind up with a bunch of knowledgeable people who are also very grumpy and irritable and they wind up not helping much. That's just something I learned from a lot of experience with helping people. So I'd toss that system.

[Soisoisoi]

I'm actually in total disagreement here. I think its more important to get people who are enthusiastic and want to help. if you vet for accuracy, you actually wind up with a bunch of knowledgeable people who are also very grumpy and irritable and they wind up not helping much. That's just something I learned from a lot of experience with helping people. So I'd toss that system.

Problem is then you get people who have people spreading misinformation, which doesn't help anyone. Half the population still think Noxxic is a reliable source of information, and even Blizzard themselves took the piss out of that website in a live Q&A. I agree, you need enthusiastic people who want to help, but they cannot be people who don't know what they are talking about. They either need to be taught it and kept up to date, vetted somehow, or just not do it at all for class specific info - or at most, link to guides, discords, etc. that people who know what they are talking about have written.

If it was to happen, that is if someone with a <Helper> tag was spreading false info, you'd have people going around discrediting those people spreading misinformation and causing clashes within the game. I'd happily point out if a <Helper> is actually giving people terrible advice as you could say that's a pet peeve of mine, and that would cause backlash for sure. Many people would do the same.

Personally, I'm happy to help people who want help and always have been - but I've learned over the years you can't just help people out of the blue either, as they just shout elitism/my sub I do what I want blah blah. I'm also someone who tends to research every class and spec I play (which is pretty much all of them since I help my friends figure stuff out for their classes too). Most people are not like that, especially those who are "friendly" and want to help others.

So, again, the only reliable way this could work is if:
It's NOT for class-specific (read: performance) help, unless it's as mentioned above.

[Ealyssa]

Being willing to help and being able to give useful assistance isn't the same thing. Sure it isn't the best sample source, but trade is often filled with people trying to pass on information and help and they are so frequently wrong or passing on outdated info. Teaching somebody to do something wrong is far worse than not helping them at all.

100% this

Trade chat is pretty much always wrong. The idea by itself isn't bad. But shouldn't be a free opt-in. Players should be vetted and limited to the area they are good for (be it PVP, PVE, ah, pets, whatever).

[Progenitor Aquarius]

That would be lovely.

[Kokolums]

Problem is then you get people who have people spreading misinformation, which doesn't help anyone.

Like I say, I disagree. I think you break it totally if you go that route, because then all the enthusiastic helpers will flee because they are afraid of getting criticized if they say something wrong. You are left with a bunch of bunch afraid to help and some very smart people who don't talk at all. You wind up with no one getting any help at all. I've seen that happen several times before. So definitely not.

[Raldazzar]

hmm so now you are lazy open GOOGLE and TYPE WOWHEAD? xD bois im too old in my days no one help me in wow I find Out by myself

no.. you just used thottbot instead...

let's not pretend things were different in vanilla.

[Deleted]

In a perfect world, it would be a great tool that many people could use. It would be similar to the "green posters" on the official forums. Perhaps if someone's account is flagged with that green text from the forums, perhaps they could get the option to toggle a "helper" tag on their name in WoW.

That said, if it was something that everyone could use, there would be those that would abuse it, just to be jerks. It would have to be filtered out in some way. For dungeons, there's already the option to be flagged as the leader - not that it ever works.

^They should add this but make it only available for MVP players.

[Kanogan]

Hmm, maybe change the title name of the tag. I would support this.

Just call it a 'Mentor' tag.

Requirements should be: No reports or penalties should be on your account for the past 5 years, Blizzard has a system that can confirm it. An account age of minimum 3 years. As well, being an active player of at least 12 hours a week.

You clearly had a good thought about it. I support this. Every now and then I come across new players, who sometimes just don't know exactly what to do. It's easy to help them out in most cases, but it would be nice if more people are available for them. I personally believe it's a positive thing for the whole community.

[Deleted]

hmm so now you are lazy open GOOGLE and TYPE WOWHEAD? xD bois im too old in my days no one help me in wow I find Out by myself

exactly. why bother doing something for themselfs...

[tkioz]

The only way it would work is if Blizzard screened every applicant and monitored the hell out of them. That is not going to happen. No way, no how. They simply wont spend the money required.

There is no way a player run system would work either, not based on votes or anything like it. It would simply be gamed by this game's community, the same community who set up groups to rig a blood fashion contest. People would abuse the hell out of any automated or semi-automated system.

Nice idea, but no practical way to implement it.

[Kokolums]

The only way it would work is if Blizzard screened every applicant and monitored the hell out of them. That is not going to happen. No way, no how. They simply wont spend the money required.

There is no way a player run system would work either, not based on votes or anything like it. It would simply be gamed by this game's community, the same community who set up groups to rig a blood fashion contest. People would abuse the hell out of any automated or semi-automated system.

Nice idea, but no practical way to implement it.

Why would they need to monitor the hell out of them? You know, if you trust people and expect the best they actually will respond positively. Its just a game. If you expect perfect answers, people will just start referring to a website with every question. People are a lot easier to deal with than you think.

[AwkwardSquirtle]

Like I say, I disagree. I think you break it totally if you go that route, because then all the enthusiastic helpers will flee because they are afraid of getting criticized if they say something wrong. You are left with a bunch of bunch afraid to help and some very smart people who don't talk at all. You wind up with no one getting any help at all. I've seen that happen several times before. So definitely not.

Sometimes no help is better than being hindered by bad advice.

[MisterBigglez]

hmm so now you are lazy open GOOGLE and TYPE WOWHEAD? xD bois im too old in my days no one help me in wow I find Out by myself

Not all questions can be answered via google or wowhead. The more complicated your question is, the less likely you will find a good answer online.

[Nefarious Tea]

Being willing to help and being able to give useful assistance isn't the same thing. Sure it isn't the best sample source, but trade is often filled with people trying to pass on information and help and they are so frequently wrong or passing on outdated info. Teaching somebody to do something wrong is far worse than not helping them at all.

That's less ignorance and more intentional trolling.

This would have to be a system where you couldn't just turn it on yourself, you'd have to earn it somehow.

[taishar68]

I think it is a good idea; I would create it in game, an an achievement that let's you flag yourself as a helper/mentor when you want to do so.

I agree that a system like that could be abused...but, so can any system. You can get bad info on WoWhead or MMO-C, for that matter, and people can/will correct that, as they do in /trade. I think we want a world (real or not) where people want to help, not one where we don't allow helpers because some might be jerks about it.

[Hey There Guys its Metro]

Absolutely not. It's 2018. People need to be encouraged to go find answers themselves instead of requiring other people to find it for them. There are dozens of fan sites, discord, and YouTube channels out there. If anything, there should be some in game recognition for those instead.