Assist Channel

=What is the Assist Channel?=
The Assist Channel is a new chat channel for players to provide in-game help to one another. It is intended for new and returning players to exchange information and to seek advice from experienced players whenever they hit a snag in their adventures. 
==Language Display==
There are two assist channels: one for English, and one for Japanese. Both channels are displayed by default.
These settings can be changed at any time, including choosing to display only one of the two languages or neither of the channels at all. 
==Available Areas==
Players can chat in the Assist Channel and view Assist Channel messages in the following areas.
Jueno / San d’Oria (except Chateau d’Oraguille) / Bastok (except the Metalworks) / Windurst (except Heavens Tower) / Selbina / Mhaura / Rabao / Kazham / Norg / Aht Urhgan Whitegate / Nashmau / Western Adoulin / Eastern Adoulin / Tavnazia Safehold / Chocobo Circuit / Mog House (Rental House)
==Requirements for Chatting==
Players must meet certain requirements to chat in the Assist Channel. 
===Be a new player===
Players who have just started the game and are classified as New Adventurers. Such players have a “?” icon displayed next to their name.
===Be a returnee===
Players for whom at least 48 days have passed since their last login are classified as returnees.
*Players will be able to chat in the Assist Channel for 240 hours of login time from the moment they are designated as a new player or returnee. New players will be able to continue to use the channel during these 240 hours even if their new player icon is removed.
===Be a mentor===
Mentors are PCs who have been approved by the Adventurers’ Mutual Aid Network (A.M.A.N.) to assist with others’ adventuring activities. Approved PCs are assigned mentor status and are able to chat in the Assist Channel.
The previous mentor system has been abolished, and those who previously had mentored status have had that status revoked. Players who wish to become mentors after the October 2020 Version Update must meet the new, updated requirements.
Read on for information on Mentors.
=Chatting=
Players may chat in the assist channel via one of two methods. 
===Text Command===
Type the appropriate text command before the text you would like to send to others. The text command for the Japanese language Assist Channel is “/assist” or “/aj”, while that for the English language Assist Channel is “/assiste” or “/ae”.
Ex. To type “Hello!” in the English language assist channel, you would type “/ae Hello!”
===Open the line editor with Ctrl+Q===
This will open a dialogue box for the last Assist Channel you chatted in. Repeatedly pressing “Ctrl+Q” will toggle between the Japanese and English language assist channels.
*The Assist Channels are unaffected by default chat mode settings.
=Mentor Messages=
Messages that mentors send to the Assist channel will be accompanied with a special icon in the chat log. There are three types: bronze, silver, and gold.
=Evaluating Mentors=
Players are able to evaluate mentors in the Assist Channel.
Opening up the chat window and pressing Enter while hovering your cursor over a message will allow you to perform the following actions. 
Give a Thumbs Up	This will provide positive feedback about the content of the message. Anyone who is able to chat in the Assist Channel is able to give a Thumbs Up.
Issue a Warning 	This will provide a warning to players who have given unhelpful responses, harassed others, or have otherwise impeded the gameplay experience of other players. Only mentors can issue a warning.
Evaluations are tallied on a per-mentor basis and affect the color of the icon that displays when a mentor chats in the Assist Channel.
All players can issue one Thumbs Up and one Warning per day, and cannot store them up if they are unused. Each mentor can receive up to three evaluations a day. 
=Anti-Harassment Measures=
The main purpose of the Assist Channel is for adventurers to supports each other, and messages in these channels are considered to be very public. As such, harmful messages will be treated more severely than in other channels, and there may be cases where immediate action must be taken.
As such, we have implemented a Mute List feature on a trial basis. The Must List is shared across the server, and registered users who repeatedly disseminate harmful messages will filter their messages from the Assist Channel and prevent others from seeing what they type.
==Adding/Removing Characters from the Mute List==
PCs can add or remove others from the Mute List if they meet the following requirements:
*Are mentors or have a mastery rank of 6 or above.
*Are not on the Mute List themselves.
Mastery Rank is a new scale that determines how much a particular character has experienced the world of Vana’diel, including things like quests, missions, and battle content. Read on for more info.
===Registering Players on the Mute List===
#Open the chat window and select the inappropriate message.
#Select "Add to Mute List" from the command list to mute the target players.
*A message stating who has been muted will be displayed in the Assist Channel.
*Just like with message assessment, players can only be muted within 10 minutes of their last message.
===Removing Players from the Mute List===
#Display the Mute List by typing "/mutelist".
#Select the player you wish to remove and press "Remove from List."
*A message stating who has been unmuted will be displayed in the Assist Channel.
==What Happens to Muted Players?==
Players placed on the Mute List will be unable to chat in the Assist Channel for 24 hours.
Players will be removed from the Mute List after 24 hours or if manually removed by an eligible PC.
No black marks will be placed on a player’s account even if they are placed on the Mute List. 
===Note===
The Mute List is a feature intended for players to police themselves to help avoid in-game problems. How the feature is used is up for the community to decide. The feature is provided by SQUARE ENIX so that adventurers are able to help each other in a swift, effective manner. If it turns out that this feature is serving as a barrier for players to work together, SQUARE ENIX may alter the feature or remove it all together. We strongly encourage all players to communicate in an open, friendly, and caring environment free of harassment.
Category:Terminology