"Interview with GM Khatentar!"
by Sharyn

The world we play in has always been and always will be a complex one. That is part of what makes DragonRealms a fun place in which to play. In game and out, there are many things in place that are meant to aid players. These things hold diverse information, from player-run web sites that give information on how to circle, verbs to use, and even maps so you don't get lost, to official Simutronics websites that explain how to get started, describe what spells are available, and explain official game policy.

Those are all things that help players outside the game, but what about those poor lost souls who create a character and are immediately lost; is there any help for them in the game? The answer to that question is a definite yes. To begin with, there are always the HELP and ADVICE verbs, but for people that need a more hands-on approach, the Lorethew Mentor Society is ready and waiting to help.

What is the Lorethew Mentor Society, and what does a Mentor do? The Mentor Society is a group of players, approximately 100 strong, who are dedicated to helping young players get started and to showing, through their actions and lives in the game, that there is more to DragonRealms than just hunting and advancing in a guild. Mentors are players from each guild who have always shown an interest in teaching and helping young players. Mentors do many different things, such as spending time at the Jadewater Mansion in Crossing, helping novices get started and answering questions, planning and holding parties and events to remind people that there is fun to be had, holding teaching sessions at their guilds (check the In Game news for times and dates), and much, much more.

With that background out of the way, let me say that I was very lucky to have been granted an interview with GM Khatentar, the GameMaster who oversees the Mentors. He agreed to speak with me and answered a few questions that will shed some more light on the Mentors. Without further ado, let me introduce you to GM Khatentar, and to the Mentors through his eyes.

Sharyn: GM Khatentar, before we start, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you.
GM Khatentar: The pleasure is all mine!

Sharyn: Before you became a GameMaster did you ever mentor?
GM Khatentar: Yes, I was a Mentor with the Lorethew Mentor Society for years. But before then, I mentored on my own.. helping novices with my own funds, time and donations. I really enjoyed it, and at first was hesitant to join a Society when I was already doing it on my own! But after I joined I discovered how great it was to belong to a group of like-minded individuals, and how our thoughts and ideas together created more of a force in helping novices than just me doing it on my own. I still help novices on my own, but I also love helping as part of a larger group. It offers more possibilities!

Sharyn: How does someone become a Mentor?
GM Khatentar: You know the answer to this one!
Sharyn: Yes, I do, and I will explain at the end of the interview.

Sharyn: Will my character still be mine if I become a mentor?
GM Khatentar: Absolutely! No one 'owns' a mentor. Mentors are people who choose to abide by mentor policy and guidelines in helping novices. If a mentor is off-duty, they can still roleplay as they usually do to their heart's content, as long as they are not breaking any DragonRealms or Simutronics Policy.

Sharyn: I know tons about my guild but very little about other guilds. Can I still be a mentor?
GM Khatentar: Yes you can! We prefer that you do know a little about every guild, but you don't have to be an expert in every guild to be a mentor. We have mentors representing every guild in Elanthia, all with a great deal of experience, and rely on each other for help when we are asked questions that we aren't familiar with. Being a member of the Society is being a part of a large team; if one person doesn't know, another will step in and provide the correct information. As a mentor, you are never really working alone.

Sharyn: How will I know what to do? I have never mentored before.
GM Khatentar: We have an extensive training program for mentor inductees. Our trainers are very, very thorough.. you'll be well prepared when you have completed it!

Sharyn: Do I have to do all my mentoring at Jadewater mansion?
GM Khatentar: Absolutely not. There are many ways to fulfill your mentor requirement of 10 hours a month. Some mentors prefer to take novices as proteges, and work with them one-on-one. Others prefer to plan and run events, which benefit seasoned players and novices alike. And yet others spend their time working on our website so that the information available there for everyone is up to date and useful. The Jadewater Mansion is our headquarters, and many of our meetings and events are held there. But all mentoring does not need to be done there!

Sharyn: What was the funniest situation that happened to you while you were mentoring or that you have heard about happening to a mentor?
GM Khatentar: Well, right now poor Rathi is being attacked by every novice he takes into rats when he tries to teach them combat. He was actually nailed with a crossbow bolt on a field trip today. (GM Khatentar grinned at this comment.)

Sharyn: What is the best part of your job as the GM in charge of the Mentor Society?
GM Khatentar: The best part of my job is working with the fantastic mentors themselves! How could I not thoroughly enjoy working with people who take time out of their playing to help others? They are such a creative and caring group of people, they really make things happen. I am extremely proud of them, and do my best to make sure they are supported as they should be.

I again want to thank GM Khatentar for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak with me. To answer some final questions you may have about the society, being a Mentor myself, I can explain how you too can become one.

There are a few requirements we have all have to meet: you MUST have a clean record, be at least 15th circle in your guild, and agree to spend a minimum of 10 hours per month on duty and attend weekly meetings. Once you meet, or agree to meet, all of those requirements, if you decide that you want to join us in the Society, go to:
.....https://www.dm.net/~aldamus/Mentors/DragonRealms/frames2.htm
and fill out the application you will find there.

When it's complete and you send it in, you have set a wheel in motion. As soon as the application is received, your name will go on a waiting list. Once it gets to the top of that list your application will be reviewed. Due to the number of positions available and the time it takes to train new mentors, there can be a wait before your application is answered....but don't despair! Once the evaluation is complete and it is verified that you meet all the requirements, you will get to speak with a couple folks in the Society, a member of the Council and the Council Chief. As one of the Council Representatives, I want to encourage you to be yourself during these interviews, and please feel free to ask any and all questions you have. We won't bite; well, not hard, anyway...

If you have any specific questions about mentoring, please feel free to go to the DragonRealms message boards (in the Official Organization section) and ask them there, or come by Jadewater (type DIR JADEWATER in the Crossings) and ask any mentor. We are always glad to help.