Coaches - A Revolution in Learning

[[S2]MacroHard]

PLEASE READ ALL SECTIONS PRIOR TO VOTING

Suggestion

Create a third type of spectator.

• Observer
• Referee
• Coach

Where Coaches Sit

When a coach joins a game, he may sit in one of ten new slots next to each player slot. This player will be the coach's "student" for that match. There may consequently be up to 10 coaches in any one game. Much like observers or referees, these slots are only active when "Allow Coaches" is selected upon game creation.

The student must click to confirm when a coach sits with him.

What Coaches See

Their screen and vision is locked to match the player they are coaching. They can not scroll the screen or click in any way, but they can see everything that their student clicks on, such as enemy health/items.

What Coaches Hear

Coaches hear everything their student hears, including VOIP chat from allies.

What Coaches Can Do

Coaches can talk to their students with VOIP, but no other allies can hear this. When a coach pings, only the student can see this ping.

Purpose

The purpose is to better instruct/teach/mentor players one on one. This will mostly be used by moonlighting professional players or volunteer organizations such as Epoch.

Benefits

• Coaches can actively watch and understand where mistakes are made
• Coaches can talk a player thru what he/she would do in real time
• More practical/intimate learning experience for student
• Other 9 players are not bothered by the coaches constant voice chat
• Coach may focus on the student rather than have attention diverted by his own game play
• Coach cannot see other team or even check runes across map for fair play
• Pro gamers who charge people to "coach" can now truly teach rather than just win games for their students
• Students who pay for services will feel like they are getting a better value for lessons

Downsides

• Some opponents may not want to play against somebody who is actively being coached
• Not available in Matchmaking games

[Zakharov]

I absulutely agree, this would be great.

[Rordarok]

Y u amase mi allwais )

[[AOWL]SmurfinBird]

This gives an advantage to the player but since it should be very clear when this option is enabled it seems like a good idea. Of course, the player in question will have one pair of eyes for lasthitting and another for minimap / map awareness but i'm sure this won't matter since it will be visible before the game starts.

[Zakharov]

This gives an advantage to the player but since it should be very clear when this option is enabled it seems like a good idea. Of course, the player in question will have one pair of eyes for lasthitting and another for minimap / map awareness but i'm sure this won't matter since it will be visible before the game starts.

Yeah, it's much less of an advantage than having an observer, which is the only alternative at the moment.

[[S2]MacroHard]

This gives an advantage to the player but since it should be very clear when this option is enabled it seems like a good idea. Of course, the player in question will have one pair of eyes for lasthitting and another for minimap / map awareness but i'm sure this won't matter since it will be visible before the game starts.

The other pair of eye's only advantage would be looking at the minimap, which is what most experienced players do naturally anyhow. I specifically mentioned that the coach cannot scroll the map in any way and must look at exactly what his student is looking at.

He can, however, instruct the student to move the map to check the rune, check the health of a far away tower, etc.

This way new players can get a very real sense of how better players play the game. It is a much more vivid experience than simply playing in the same game where the coach assumes you might be doing the basics.

Unless you WATCH your student's screen you really have no clue what he needs to learn. This is how I taught my wife to play HoN. I literally pulled up a chair next to her and pointed at her computer screen as I explained everything. I did not have any omniscient map awareness yet I was able to have her learn 10 times faster than any person I have attempted to instruct while also being in game.

[[DARP]ToxicMonkey]

Very good suggestion - thumbs up!

[[Mehh]Dorki]

It isn't a bad idea, that's for sure. But I don't know if many new players will get a tutor/teacher/trainer, w/e you want to call it. Players who start playing the game because a friend is already playing it, will more easily get a tutor. However, these players don't need eyes from above as their friend will most of the time lane with them and give feedback on how they are playing.
When playing with a friend in the same lane, he is also able to show you how you are supposed to do things. Showing things sometimes makes people comprehend what he needs to do more easily in certain situations. though smooth talkers might be able to do the same, without the need of showing it first hand.

extra suggestion:
- Creating a button in HoN where you can click on if you want to be a tutor.
This might be handy for people who don't know the game and don't have friends in the game yet. People who are willing to spend time in teaching new players can click on the button and will automatically join a game where a new player asks for a tutor. (I hope you get the idea)
- The students are able to kick the tutor with the push of a button if the tutor starts flaming him. (should definitely be an option)
- Student can allow to let the tutor drop an in-game image so the student knows how far the teachers wants him to go. The image is made by some sort of a drawing board for the teacher, which the student can only see. (The student can kick the tutor, when he is abusing it.)

Till so far T-upidy up
(note: I changed some sentences when re-reading my own reply.)

[[Ben]Broodje]

Good informative post. Had a good read and I agree on all points.

[Zakharov]

Bumping this becaude it should be implemented.

[[S2]ElementUser]

This is coming soon btw.

Not the exact system, but a very similar one.

Soon.

(not tm hint hint)

[Zakharov]

This is coming soon btw.

Not the exact system, but a very similar one.

Soon.

(not tm hint hint)

Awesome.

[[S2]MacroHard]

This is coming soon btw.

Not the exact system, but a very similar one.

Soon.

(not tm hint hint)

Was this suggestion influential in that? Or do I just have a knack at predicting already planned changes?

[[Ben]Broodje]

I guess they're already testing it for over 1 month.

[SLxSoldier]

this is really a great idea man... hope it gets implemented... or something like it

[Saithz]

Great idea, i voted for it

[[MIDZ]NubbyMcNub]

Voted Yes.

I and another player had a slightly different implementation.

The limitation of one coach per player is replaced with one coach per side. If players don't want to hear the coach a) they shouldn't be in a coaching game and b) they can mute him/her as usual.

You'd also have coin rewards for good coaching:

Please rate you coach honestly:

Were they friendly?  Yes/Somewhat/No
Were they helpful?  Yes/Somewhat/No

Maximum 4 points or 20 per team. Divide by 5 and round off to get base number of coins. If 3 coins and won then add 1. If 4 base coins and won then add 2.

Winning players get 1 coin each.

This mechanic rewards good coaches and not bad or angry ones. The latter will get 2 coins max. Friendly coaches will get 6 coins max.

As such, good coaches are much more likely to get involved.

Coins could be increased if enough coaches didn't take part.

I'd prefer it as a special game mode such that coaches would queue and newbies wouldn't need to know anyone. Also you could double the length of the picking and pre-spawn phases.

[[S2]MacroHard]

Implemented as of v2.5.0.0

[[S2]ElementUser]

[[S2]Deejay]

Was this suggestion influential in that? Or do I just have a knack at predicting already planned changes?

It wasn't :-( It was just zeitgeist.