Guild Wars 2

I debated over making this post or not, but ultimately decided nothing ever gets better unless you talk about it. The TL;DR essence of it boils down to: tip your Mesmers, people! Now, onto my reasoning.

I didn’t get into Mesmerism to make money. I still remember the first time I got a port for a JP, it was to Sharkmaw in sunny old non-destroyed LA. Someone pinged the WP, said they were porting…I didn’t even know what it was, but I saw a lot of people saying they were on their way so I figured hell, I’ll check it out.

Then BAM, through the magic purple gateway to free loot. I remember thinking that was the coolest thing I’d ever seen in an MMO, that you could do that for people. I knew right then that I wanted to make a Mesmer. More than that, that I wanted to get really good at JPs.

And not to be immodest, but I have. The ones people tend to have trouble with and need ports for, specifically. I run Not So Secret almost daily, because aside from the satisfaction of helping people with it, there’s 4 chests there in total and it’s pretty sweet loot.

It bothers me how few people tip, though. I never ASK for tips in-game, it feels…crass, somehow. I mean, this is a game after all, it’s not like I’m a waiter where if you don’t tip you’re an absolute kitten. This is a leisure activity, the ability to feed my kids doesn’t hinge on it or anything. But they’re appreciated, y’know?

It’s an easy way to say you appreciate the time and effort we’ve put into learning how to do these things so you don’t have to. I’m not asking for much, here. I’m not talking gold, I’m talking silver. If everyone who takes a port gave 5-10 silvers, which is really nothing…like, the cost of taking two or three far-away waypoints…that really adds up.

Or just use your own best judgement. Base it on what you can spare, and what not having to run that JP yourself is worth to you. If it’s one you didn’t really need, you already had the achievement for, you just happened to be passing by as the port was going down and you don’t tend to have a lot of liquid capital in-game, a few silver is plenty generous.

If it’s the last JP you need the achievement for, and you’ve been trying to do it for 3 hours and kept dying before I came along and offered to port, AND you’re rich anyway, AND possibly also got an exotic or something from the chest, maybe make it a few gold.

I’ve gotten some very generous tips before, for which I’m grateful. But they’re far outweighed by scores of people who gave nothing, not even so much as a “Thanks.” If everyone gave a little bit, it wouldn’t take the rare person who tips like 5G to balance it out. >_>;

Personally, I always tip 10 silver minimum if I’m the one receiving a portal on an alt or something. That adequately covers the WP cost of them getting there, the effort they spent running it and the time they saved me not running it.

Okay, /rant, have a super day and good luck with your loot.

Umm porting doesnt cost anything if you port in town to another wp in town.

Travis the Terrible.4739:

Umm porting doesnt cost anything if you port in town to another wp in town.

True, but of all the JPs in the game only three of them are in a town.

yeah!
next time i’ll be doing a content/dungeon/etc I’ll ask for tips to put a fire field , and blast it , to give you might&fury so you can do the content/dungeon/etc faster .

ElforTheLandStander.7052:

Travis the Terrible.4739:

Umm porting doesnt cost anything if you port in town to another wp in town.

True, but of all the JPs in the game only three of them are in a town.

True but a majority of them are easy and require little to no effort, the only time youd even know if someone was porting them youd have to be in that zone or advertise on lfg. More often than naught people still wont tip.

I don’t tip mesmers often for portals, but then I’m often a mesmer portaling others for free, so I figure it balances out in the long run.

The only time I go out of my way to tip is if the portal saves me time and energy like the Not So Secret or the Skipping Stones Puzzle.

ive seen several mesmers say “porting [puzzle or difficult jumping objective] for tips, [port location].” it is commonly accepted and completely appropriate to word it that way

People are obviously free to request tips, but no one should feel obligated to tip the person. I port people to the aether JP and other various ones, and I don’t ever expect (or even think about getting) a tip because I’m just doing it to be nice after I’ve already received my own reward from the JP. The only times I’ve tipped others for a portal are when I’ve gotten ports to the Obsidian Sanctum JP because of the amount of time it can take to finish that one.

ElforTheLandStander.7052:

I didn’t get into Mesmerism to make money.

It bothers me how few people tip, though.

This bother’s me the most. You say you didn’t do it to make money, but you expect it.

If you didn’t expect it you wouldn’t feel so bad or irritated at the lack of tipping.

You make portals because you’re a good person, and tips are just icing on the cake. At least that how it is for a lot of people.

If you want to require tips, thats fine, but don’t come in here counteracting your own thesis in the same debate.

I don’t tip mesmers often. Why? I have a mesmer myself, and i do the same thing. I never ask for tips, and i don’t care to, because the community is awesome.

When i need help, i get help. People are awesome at explaining things, and will do a lot for you without even asking..

If I’m trying JP’s on my own (I suck so I am usually there a good hour) I always say thank you when I see a portal pop up in front of me to use., but I never considered tipping anyone for it. I just figured they were giving me a helping hand.

There is no tipping etiquette in GW2. If tips are not requested, you should get a polite ‘thank you’, but anything past that is at the discretion of the benefactor of your port. I somewhat expect that people will tip for the hardest-to-reach places, but unless you explicitly ask for money, you should never expect a donation.

With that said, it’s more than a little annoying when a person doesn’t even bother trying to do the JP but sits at the point where you can jump down to (or the WP) and EXPECTS (sometimes loudly, and with worse-than-acceptable language) a port just because you are on your mesmer. Just like I am not entitled to the donation, you are not entitled to getting a port after I dumped 10+ minutes on the JP.

Zania.8461:

With that said, it’s more than a little annoying when a person doesn’t even bother trying to do the JP but sits at the point where you can jump down to (or the WP) and EXPECTS (sometimes loudly, and with worse-than-acceptable language) a port just because you are on your mesmer. Just like I am not entitled to the donation, you are not entitled to getting a port after I dumped 10+ minutes on the JP.

I’ve luckily only had someone do that to me once, right after I got to the chest for the aether JP. I stood there for a minute or two checking my loot and chatting in guild chat, and then I notice someone standing below said “hey dumb*** im waiting”. I told them I didn’t have portal unlocked and went back to chatting.

I have never tipped a mesmer. And on my mesmer I’ve never expected tips.

I also would not port someone that is demanding a port. Or maybe I will port them somewhere completely inaccessible where they pretty much have to WP out now. That would be so satisfying lol.

op isnt in it for the money but expects tips hmmm…

Tactu.4867:

yeah!
next time i’ll be doing a content/dungeon/etc I’ll ask for tips to put a fire field , and blast it , to give you might&fury so you can do the content/dungeon/etc faster .

I think this expresses why tipping is silly.
If you want money for something, then charge.

Marthkus.4615:

Tactu.4867:

yeah!
next time i’ll be doing a content/dungeon/etc I’ll ask for tips to put a fire field , and blast it , to give you might&fury so you can do the content/dungeon/etc faster .

I think this expresses why tipping is silly.
If you want money for something, then charge.

You have to admit that this is not a fair comparison. In the dungeon scenario, when you buff the party you are making the dungeon go faster for everyone, including yourself. Thus doing so benefits the player who buffs. (Caster benefits from their own actions)

However when mesmer ports someone through a JP they are trading their own time (time they put in the JP itself plus the time to actually port someone), for…well a ‘thank you’. (No direct benefit to the caster, in fact usually takes extra time to port people)

Depending on the port, I always tip a mesmer that’s willing to help. If it’s a jumping puzzle, I always tip. Just seems like the polite thing to do.

I think the OP is right.

Although it shouldn’t be required, but it certainly is appreciated.

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

In the end, it’s just a nice thing to do. But if you want to be a kitten….well that is your perogative.

No..? Do you tip that warrior that is rezzing your kitten at events ? Do you tip that guardian that is providing you with boons ? You want more people to pay mesmers for portals…atleast you expect to be payed,yet you didnt make a mesmer for money…This thread man…

pdavis.8031:

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

Yeah, except the servers NEED tips to meet minimum wage (at least in a majority of states/regions of the US). A mesmer dropping a portal after they already finished the JP (or after they logged onto a character that’s permanently parked at a chest) and got their reward is hardly the same thing as working a job that doesn’t pay minimum wage and assumes your tips will make up the difference. If a mesmer in GW2 doesn’t get a tip for portaling someone, they can still play the game the exact same way they would if the person had given them 10s or whatever.

You realize most people that use their mesmers for ports, leave them there and just log in, drop ports to end of JP, rinse repeat until done, then leave them back there and log into whatever their other toons are, right? (Aside fro like OS etc obvs) I used to do this when I was waiting for groups to get together for WvW, so let’s all drop the “I’m a waiter” BS, if you don’t want to port or only want the tips from it instead of just being happy helping other players, don’t do it. Get over yourselves. <3

Caedmon.6798:

No..? Do you tip that warrior that is rezzing your kitten at events ? Do you tip that guardian that is providing you with boons ? You want more people to pay mesmers for portals…atleast you expect to be payed,yet you didnt make a mesmer for money…This thread man…

And once again, missing the point. A warrior that’s rezzing me at the event will benefit from my participation and get a polite ‘thank you’ from me (note, if time it takes to get me up is not going to be offset by my damage, I will WP myself). Guardian providing me with boons 1) costs nothing to the guardian and 2) benefits the guardian as increasing uptime of party members increases the party damage and thus decreases time it takes to complete content. A mesmer that ran through a JP does NOT benefit in any way or form from porting other players up.

pdavis.8031:

I think the OP is right.

Although it shouldn’t be required, but it certainly is appreciated.

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

In the end, it’s just a nice thing to do. But if you want to be a kitten….well that is your perogative.

I agree with this assessment, and I generally tip a few silvers. I used to try to encourage people to tip, but I’ve gotten less enthused about it, on account of my lackluster opinion of the overall state of the game. A jumping puzzle is out of the way content that is largely a solo endeavor, and I think mesmers who port are the bee’s knees.

I usually tip about 50% of the value of the loot that portal earned me. I will never standardize this because RNG makes it so that you never know what you will make. A lot of the time the chest at the end of a JP is only worth about 5 silver, I’m certainly not going to tip myself into a loss.

RoseofGilead.8907:

pdavis.8031:

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

Yeah, except the servers NEED tips to meet minimum wage (at least in a majority of states/regions of the US). A mesmer dropping a portal after they already finished the JP (or after they logged onto a character that’s permanently parked at a chest) and got their reward is hardly the same thing as working a job that doesn’t pay minimum wage and assumes your tips will make up the difference. If a mesmer in GW2 doesn’t get a tip for portaling someone, they can still play the game the exact same way they would if the person had given them 10s or whatever.

It’s not about the NEED, it’s about the gesture. In places where servers depend on tips to make minium wage sure its a neccesity, but that doesn’t force the customer to provide a tip at all, or even a tip of a certain amount. Sure a mesmer can still play the game in the exact same way, but it’s the gesture. Showing your appreciation is always a good thing and should be encouraged whether they NEED it or not.

Of course it’s entirely up to the person taking advantage of the service provided. But if it were me doing this, out of the kindness of my heart, and got a bunch of people who just used it, and many without so much as a thank you or without a token of appreciation, I think I would stop after awhile. But thats just me.

Travis the Terrible.4739:

Umm porting doesnt cost anything if you port in town to another wp in town.

But making their way to Rhendak or to the top of a difficult JP costs the mesmer time. Time you don’t have to spend jumping through their portal. Not all mesmers are permanently stationed at these locals for your convenience.

You claim you didn’t get into it for the money, and yet you’re annoyed when you don’t get money for it? Hmm. OK, sure.

As for needing to reward the effort… nah. If I run the JP, I get a chest. That’s the reward. They ran the JP and also got the chest, that’s their reward. I don’t see why they need extra for pushing a skill button and jumping off a cliff a few times. Certainly not 10s extra, that’s more than what you’d get out of the chest in the first place most of the time.

Of course, I rarely take ports, since I actually enjoy most jumping puzzles anyway (Troll’s End being the exception). Even less so now that there’s no JP dailies or anything, so if I’m at a JP I’m typically there because I want to do it as there’s little other reason for me to do it. But when I do, I give them a thank you and nothing more.

I think that much of the disconnect here comes from a possible misunderstanding of the difference between performing a social nicety and a professional service. Opening a door for someone, or holding it open as they approach, is something we (some of us) do as a social nicety. It is not something for which the recipient of the favor should expect to offer a tip. A polite thank you is all that should be expected.

Someone who is performing a professional service of a similar sort might very well expect a gratuity for their service, and in line with the quality of that service.

If you do not make clear that you are providing a professional service rather than a social nicety you should not fault others for not knowing.

Of course those who are demanding or who dont thank for the effort are something else entirely.

Question, when (OP) was the last time you tracked someone down to offer a tip for making space for you to merge into their lane in traffic ? or did you just wave your thanks ?

I tip anyway. I don’t need someone whineranting about it to be polite and grateful.
I’d probably tip a Charr mesmer even more, just because Charr jumping is garbage.

RoseofGilead.8907:

pdavis.8031:

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

Yeah, except the servers NEED tips to meet minimum wage (at least in a majority of states/regions of the US). A mesmer dropping a portal after they already finished the JP (or after they logged onto a character that’s permanently parked at a chest) and got their reward is hardly the same thing as working a job that doesn’t pay minimum wage and assumes your tips will make up the difference. If a mesmer in GW2 doesn’t get a tip for portaling someone, they can still play the game the exact same way they would if the person had given them 10s or whatever.

Except that anywhere that pays servers under minimum wage and expects tips to make up the amount is legally requires to pay the server more if the tips do not bring them up to minimum wage, so until the tips bring the server over minimum wage, you are “tipping” the establishment and not the worker. But that’s totes off topic.

Play a Mez and have ported people and never asked for a tip. Have tipped others though. Based on your post I never will and now will probably never tip another Mez again either. If you are looking for fees for a service, be honest with people and call it a fee. The difference here is being nice versus looking for self gain. It’s ok to go for the self gain, just don’t lie to yourself about it.

When I roam Diessa (with my thief) I frequently see in map chat people asking for a port to Rhendak and seem miffed that they may have to wait.

It’s not holding open a door because you were already there. It’s running to the door on the opposite side of the mall because someone texted asking for someone to open the door for them.

So when I ran my Mesmer and I happen to be doing that tough JP or could provide a portal to the end room of a mini dungeon like Rhendak while other players are doing it as well, I wouldn’t expect a tip, I remember sending a tip back because “spirit of cooperative game play”.

Now if I responded to the requests for a mesmer to open a portal to Rhendak and it required me to transverse the mini-dungeon to get into position I kitten well expect compensation especially of the requesting party didn’t want to simply team up and do the mini-dungeon as a party. Which is why I don’t bother providing that service anymore due to those ungrateful players. No more Ms nice Mesmer.

Behellagh.1468:

When I roam Diessa (with my thief) I frequently see in map chat people asking for a port to Rhendak and seem miffed that they may have to wait.

It’s not holding open a door because you were already there. It’s running to the door on the opposite side of the mall because someone texted asking for someone to open the door for them.

So when I ran my Mesmer and I happen to be doing that tough JP or could provide a portal to the end room of a mini dungeon like Rhendak while other players are doing it as well, I wouldn’t expect a tip, I remember sending a tip back because “spirit of cooperative game play”.

Now if I responded to the requests for a mesmer to open a portal to Rhendak and it required me to transverse the mini-dungeon to get into position I kitten well expect compensation especially of the requesting party didn’t want to simply team up and do the mini-dungeon as a party. Which is why I don’t bother providing that service anymore due to those ungrateful players. No more Ms nice Mesmer.

If someone is requesting that you go some distance beyond your current location to do something that you were not already doing then it isnt really a social nicety its a professional service for which you should probably charge. Tell them how much your service costs and go from there.

Note that the example given by the OP was a jumping puzzle he was doing anyway. He was there already, for the resources to be gained from the chest. He was effectively standing at the door as others approached. He opened the door (or held it open) for them. Of course they should thank him, but if he wanted to collect a fee for this effort he should have stated so up front.

Mythoclast.6340:

RoseofGilead.8907:

pdavis.8031:

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

Yeah, except the servers NEED tips to meet minimum wage (at least in a majority of states/regions of the US). A mesmer dropping a portal after they already finished the JP (or after they logged onto a character that’s permanently parked at a chest) and got their reward is hardly the same thing as working a job that doesn’t pay minimum wage and assumes your tips will make up the difference. If a mesmer in GW2 doesn’t get a tip for portaling someone, they can still play the game the exact same way they would if the person had given them 10s or whatever.

Except that anywhere that pays servers under minimum wage and expects tips to make up the amount is legally requires to pay the server more if the tips do not bring them up to minimum wage, so until the tips bring the server over minimum wage, you are “tipping” the establishment and not the worker. But that’s totes off topic.

As someone who has worked at a restaurant that refused to do that, I can tell you that this does not always happen, despite the owners being “legally required” to do it. But indeed, it’s off topic.

RoseofGilead.8907:

Mythoclast.6340:

RoseofGilead.8907:

pdavis.8031:

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

Yeah, except the servers NEED tips to meet minimum wage (at least in a majority of states/regions of the US). A mesmer dropping a portal after they already finished the JP (or after they logged onto a character that’s permanently parked at a chest) and got their reward is hardly the same thing as working a job that doesn’t pay minimum wage and assumes your tips will make up the difference. If a mesmer in GW2 doesn’t get a tip for portaling someone, they can still play the game the exact same way they would if the person had given them 10s or whatever.

Except that anywhere that pays servers under minimum wage and expects tips to make up the amount is legally requires to pay the server more if the tips do not bring them up to minimum wage, so until the tips bring the server over minimum wage, you are “tipping” the establishment and not the worker. But that’s totes off topic.

As someone who has worked at a restaurant that refused to do that, I can tell you that this does not always happen, despite the owners being “legally required” to do it. But indeed, it’s off topic.

Yup, creates a terrible system where you are afraid to lose your job for reporting them. So yeah…I never found it offensive if Mesmers asked for tips.

I don’t find it offensive at all for mesmers to say “tips are appreciated” or something along those lines. It’s when I see the occasional “don’t use my portals if you’re not going to tip” (or similar things) that I get bothered. Plus, these are pixels on a video game being played for fun, not a job; compensation is nice, but it shouldn’t be seen as a requirement.

RoseofGilead.8907:

I don’t find it offensive at all for mesmers to say “tips are appreciated” or something along those lines. It’s when I see the occasional “don’t use my portals if you’re not going to tip” (or similar things) that I get bothered. Plus, these are pixels on a video game being played for fun, not a job; compensation is nice, but it shouldn’t be seen as a requirement.

Not only is a notification that tips are appreciated not offensive, its very helpful in a situation where gratuity appropriateness is not clear.

Mythoclast.6340:

RoseofGilead.8907:

pdavis.8031:

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

Yeah, except the servers NEED tips to meet minimum wage (at least in a majority of states/regions of the US). A mesmer dropping a portal after they already finished the JP (or after they logged onto a character that’s permanently parked at a chest) and got their reward is hardly the same thing as working a job that doesn’t pay minimum wage and assumes your tips will make up the difference. If a mesmer in GW2 doesn’t get a tip for portaling someone, they can still play the game the exact same way they would if the person had given them 10s or whatever.

Except that anywhere that pays servers under minimum wage and expects tips to make up the amount is legally requires to pay the server more if the tips do not bring them up to minimum wage, so until the tips bring the server over minimum wage, you are “tipping” the establishment and not the worker. But that’s totes off topic.

This guy understands minimum wage law.

A lot of people think servers who get $2/hr don’t get minimum wage. They legally have to. Most of the time tips will get them there, but if it is a particularly slow restaurant and they don’t, then the restaurant has to make up the difference so they hit minimum wage.

If you are a server and you aren’t making minimum wage for your hours worked (after you factor in your tips), then you need to complain to your manager, because that is illegal.

I’m a little shocked at the entitlement and hypocrisy throughout this thread. You made a mesmer not expecting tips, but you are complaining that you don’t get them. You are obviously expecting them. Stop kidding yourself.

Others have argued that if you want tips for portals you should be tipping for rezes, might stacks, etc. You argue back that they are directly benefiting themselves by helping you. Bull. How many times have you been rezed at a world boss event when your added dps was just a drop in the bucket? Or what about regular open world content? Do you have any idea how many times I’ve seen a downed player, stopped what I’m doing, fought my way to them to rez? Heck, I’ve done this for plenty of people doing jumping puzzles who have fallen and died. Where’s my tip? I frequently see others doing the same. People do this kind of thing all the time.

Or how about the many times daily that I, as a guardian, go completely out of my way to give swiftness to other players that are doing something totally different than what I’m doing. I do this just to make their experience of the game a little quicker and a little more enjoyable. Should they tip me? Can you guess how often I get tipped for these things?

I use the mechanics of my class (and things like rezing, which everyone can do) to help others, even when it doesn’t directly benefit me. I don’t expect a tip, but a thank you is nice (though I would never complain on the forums because I didn’t get enough thank yous). You use the mechanics of your class to help others, even when it doesn’t directly benefit you. You do expect a tip and complain on the forums when you don’t get it as often as you feel you deserve. Come on. I always thank mesmers for giving ports. I also thank other classes going out of their way to help me when it doesn’t benefit them. You are not a special snowflake because your class has a portal skill.

Edit: Yes, I have a mesmer. Yes, I give ports in jps and other content. No, I don’t expect tips at all.

Edit 2: I’m also bothered by the “servers make less than minimum wage” analogy. Tipping people that make less than minimum wage assumes that other who have jobs are making minimum wage or more. In this game that is not the case. Other classes are not making more gold than you. You don’t need tips to bring you up to the minimum standard.

5s tip after port every time. Even if u get crap you can salvage it and make the balance back.

I was expecting a topic on dolyak tipping, instead it’s a plea from a mesmer to think about tipping for services rendered.

It may be just me but I usually do think about tipping something. I played EQ where there was teleport spells by two classes which were used for world travel easily (so long as you were grouped, which had a limit of five other people). Almost never were they freely offered, but the charge was usually pretty small.

I can honestly say I’ve never skipped a JP via another mesmer’s portals. I’ve had s few people be very rude to me when I was on mine and not portaling people around though.

Never was able to figure out just what some people’s kids expect is going to happen when I’m just minding my own business doing some JP and get random ‘hey stupid we need port stop ignoring’.

My being a mesmer in a JP signed me up for some sort of charity service? I usually flat ignore such nonsense. On the odd occasion someone’s asked nicely I’ve helped them, but mostly, nah.

It’d never occurred to me to sell the service for ‘mandatory tips’ though. Not really a tip of its expected, solicited or otherwise functionally required then, is it?

Can’t sympathize much here, op. If you’ve been quietly hoping gold would fall line rain in gratitude for your being nice, you’ve been somewhat naive.

Nobody can fix that but you.

Draknar.5748:

This guy understands minimum wage law.

A lot of people think servers who get $2/hr don’t get minimum wage. They legally have to. Most of the time tips will get them there, but if it is a particularly slow restaurant and they don’t, then the restaurant has to make up the difference so they hit minimum wage.

If you are a server and you aren’t making minimum wage for your hours worked (after you factor in your tips), then you need to complain to your manager, because that is illegal.

Yes, they’re legally obligated to do it. Do they do it? Definitely not all the time (or even the majority of the time, I’d be willing to bet). And if employees complain to the manager, the employees run the very real risk of being fired (which no one would really bat an eyelash about because of the high turnover in the food service industry). It’s just like cases of employers firing women on the basis of their getting pregnant or an employer refusing to hire someone because of their sexuality or race or gender; it’s illegal, but it happens all the time.

When I am in the mood to offer ports, I don’t expect a tip (but always pleasantly surprised when I get one). That said, I have no problem with people saying “tips appreciated” as they offer a port.

I also don’t expect anyone to thank me for my services (even if that would be the polite and gracious thing to do) any more than I expect people to always say thank you when I hold open a door for them.

I always offer my thanks when I get a port and I sometimes tip, I sometimes don’t. (More often if I get something exceptional from the chest and less often immediately after porting.)

I don’t see anything wrong with the OP requesting people to tip more often and explaining why they think that’s appropriate.

naiasonod.9265:

…

My being a mesmer in a JP signed me up for some sort of charity service? I usually flat ignore such nonsense. On the odd occasion someone’s asked nicely I’ve helped them, but mostly, nah.

…

My sentiments exactly and since I generally don’t read chat I don’t know how many times players have asked for a portal, whether nicely or rudely. The times I have provided a portal for a vista or jp is when I’m playing with my sister, who doesn’t like/isn’t very good at jumping puzzles.

As a person who plays a Mes and ports people for NO tip, all the time; I must disagree with the OP.

Why do I port? Because I want to help people. That’s it. I never do it with any expectation for a tip of any kind. In fact, I tend to return the tips I received with a note “Thank you but please keep your money, this portal was complements of the Pious Knights Guild, have a great day”.

The way I see it, pressing skill 7, jumping down a cliff and hitting skill 7 again is NOT a paying job. Sure it does take some of your game time but really is no effort at all. I tend to do it for a half hour or until I run out of takers then move on.

Now you may argue, “But I made the effort and completed the puzzle, that is surely worth some payment”. Maybe you did and kudos for you or… maybe, just maybe, your Mes was just ported by a previous Mes and you took over where they left off, orrrrr maybe you just left your Mes there and logged on another character, only to log onto your Mes at the top of the puzzle at a later time and start all over again.

I guess all I am saying is IMO, if you are portaling with a deep down expectation to make money, you might want to get out of the portaling business.

Please tip me for buffing others’ dmg with my banners. My loot doesn’t pay me enough to make rent.

pdavis.8031:

I think the OP is right.

Although it shouldn’t be required, but it certainly is appreciated.

Think of it as working in the service industry. Some places, such as restaurants (at least in the US) tipping is a social obligation. People accept and understand that you should tip your server, and generally do. However, some professions in service are often overlooked as far as tips. It doesn’t mean that they don’t want them, or need them. But such a gesture is greatly appreciated.

I think the OPs point is, if someone is doing you a service (porting you to the end of a JP) proper etiquette would demand that a small token of your appreciation be given. It’s not hurting anyone, and it shows that you are grateful. Sure you could not tip, but it does reflect upon you as a person. Just like if you go to a restaurant and don’t leave a tip, what kind of person does that make you appear? Servers will remember you, and next time you come in, you will get the worst possible service. They will also remember if you do tip, and even more so if you tip generously, resulting in the best possible service, and sometimes some extra goodies.

In the end, it’s just a nice thing to do. But if you want to be a kitten….well that is your perogative.

This has no bearing on anything. The only reason tipping is customary in the service industry is because employers dump the responsibility of employee wages on the consumer. If it were like any normal job, you would do the job you were paid to do, and you don’t get any tips on that.

There’s a reason people tip, and don’t tip. Its not the consumers fault that the burden of whether the server gets paid enough or not is on them, as opposed to just paying the servers a regular wage, and adding to the cost of food/product like any other company does.

Also, since they make a base wage anyway, and its classified as a “job” Something they must do, this makes no sense either.

Horrible example.

A better example might be a friend helping his buddy move. He might help out and get nothing in return because they are friends, or because he returns the favor at another time etc, however most times if a buddy is helping me move i’ll buy pizza and beer or whatever he wants.

He’s not required to help me move, nor am i required to pay him for it if he asks(he can just not help, like the mesmer can just not port).

This says more about OP not being true to his feelings, and counteracting his own statement, saying “he doesn’t do it for the tips, but then wants tips”.

OP needs to stop lying to himself and just admit he wants tips, and ask for them.

If he was really doing it for being a good person, it wouldn’t matter one bit, like it doesn’t matter to me.

I haven’t done a single jumping puzzle since the demise of monthlies. But when I used to do them, if I got a port, I always tipped 25 silver (roughly the value of one rare item). It was well worth it to me to save the time and aggravation, especially for one of the tough ones.

Without the monthly reward, I have no motivation to do them anymore. A chest with a blue/green and a medallion? No thanks.

Ok. I think a lot of people have misinterpreted the OP’s intent. Some of you keep getting caught up in the fact that the OP claims he or she doesn’t play a Mesmer for money then claims he or she is bothered by the fact that not many port recipients give gratuity. The OP isn’t saying he or she is bothered by a lack of tips because of the MONEY. It’s about the lack of a display of ETIQUETTE. The fact that this form of etiquette is monetary doesn’t necessarily help the OP’s case, but don’t let that suggest that the OP is only concerned with money here. The OP is simply arguing that tipping is a good form of etiquette in these situations and is suggesting that it actually be considered by more players. Considering how many players probably don’t even think about tipping Mesmers, the OP’s attempt to spread the word seems somewhat noble to me. It’s an attempt to spread etiquette.