Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

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Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby saladin » Mon Nov 15, 2010 6:12 pm

I want to plant an idea seed for when we (obviously) grow into a larger park.

This is something that I've seen used to great effect. New members are assigned an official mentor, who is essentially anyone who is playing the same class (and obviously has more experience). The Mentor is responsible for helping with rules, weapons and garb. Newbies are always assigned to the same battlegame team as their Mentor, who helps them with combat, tactics, and not dying. This mentorship remains until the newbie reaches level 2, at which point the mentor gets a free credit for all their good work.

Mentorships helps make initial friendships, and it helps with retention of new members. The mentor calls and encourages given newbie to come out. Parks are inherently cliquish, and dorky newcomers may not be able to bust into these cliques too quickly.

I remained friends with and was loyal to my mentor for years.
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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Skye » Mon Nov 15, 2010 7:40 pm

Again, another solid idea from Sal.
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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Aurel Von Slade » Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:50 pm

While this idea does hold some water, I think that it's a fix to a problem we shouldn't have in the first place. I think it'd be much more productive to just encourage a friendlier, more helpful atmosphere among all members of Ashen Spire, rather than assign mentors to new players. We shouldn't have to dangle in-game rewards to make people want to help out new players...the fact that there's a new person on the field, wanting to play the same game as you should be incentive enough for that.
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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Jareth » Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:43 pm

Though I can see how the mentor idea would work, I am kind of thinking that a more cooperative effort from all the more experienced members would be more beneficial. There is still the experience and there are different perspectives on how to work things. If we all help each other, everyone benefits.

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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby saladin » Thu Nov 18, 2010 2:03 pm

I agree. I think that we are all very friendly, welcoming, and nice. We have no problems there. It just helps if someone actually befriends the new person. I think that is harder to do w/o some additional effort.
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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Ranvier » Thu Nov 18, 2010 2:59 pm

I like this idea, we can easily just make it voluntary. I volunteer Saladin to organize it. :)
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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby The Leper » Fri Nov 19, 2010 8:59 pm

Awesome. Ashen Spire has it's own Jedi Academy now! :lol:

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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Ceejers the Cat » Sat Nov 20, 2010 8:28 am

The Leper wrote:Awesome. Ashen Spire has it's own Jedi Academy now! :lol:

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Whoa, calm down there leper,I wouldn't throw the title "jedi" around so lightly.
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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Fiks » Sat Nov 20, 2010 2:41 pm

These are not the dorks you are looking for...

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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Drake » Thu Dec 02, 2010 11:38 am

The Leper wrote:....Awesome. Ashen Spire has it's own Jedi Academy now...


*snicker snicker*
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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Spades » Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:19 am

I fully support a mentor idea. While the whole park should be friendly, it'd mean a lot to me as a new player to have an experienced amtgarder looking out for me. Someone who, off the bat, is explicitly my point of contact for questions and guidance.

This would be well implemented if setup as optional. It is better to focus on friendly atmosphere more as it will generally have a greater impact (which, by the way, this is a pretty friendly park to begin with). Though, the option of being mentored really appeals to me as a total newbie to LARPs and Amtgard.

Therefore, I request a mentor. Anyone willing? Maybe we can be a trial for this idea. :)
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Re: Mentor / New Member Retention Idea

Postby Kentngo » Sun Jul 24, 2011 5:39 pm

I'd totally go for the idea, just because it sucks to not know what's going on. Having a mentor would make it easier for people to join in and keep playing. It gives them more of a reason to come.

And I totally want to be a mentor someday (but first, I need to start playing more).
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