Dungeon Finder Needed Badly

Question:
You're basically telling us that we're wrong for not liking these features of WoW, because the numbers are against us. A lot of people use LFG, so that must mean it is fantastic?

Developer response:
No I'm not saying that at all, but it's clear that many people appreciate it. The point you make about a path of least resistance is true, but it's a fine balance. Make something too easy (such as a free gear vendor) and it's no fun, no challenge. LFD keeps the challenge part (the dungeon) but alleviates the often-long-winded group-finding part, allowing people to quest or gather mats, just go about other tasks while a group is found for them. Granted, it's not for everyone, some people enjoy putting a group together personally but, again, we're not forcing anyone to use it.

I've actually posted at least one suggestion to improve cross server LFD that would satisfactorily resolve pretty much all of the complaints against it. I'm quite certain other options would work. Just as I'm quite certain they wouldn't work as well as a cross server option.

Nope, I don't.

If it worked as well as cross server, I'd be all for it.

I want an option that works. If it works as efficiently as cross server, buh-ring it.

And you're the type of person who can't make a point without flinging poo. If the system worked to quickly group you with people to do whatever content you're looking to do, I don't care if it only pulls from the players in your own zone. The only reason I've advocated cross server is because history and experience tells me its the only way to do that quickly and effectively.

There have been multiple suggestions on how to make cross server better and I favor all of them.

Edit: Actually, to clarify, I favor all of the suggestions to make cross server better except the misguided attempts to bring accountability via some variation on public ratings. The ratings pretty much have to be private in order to not be open to abuse.

I notice you have ignored my direct response to you twice, and avoiding the subject. May I conclude you bring nothing to the table served by this thread as well?

Then why are people ignoring the already existing "looking for group" tool they have? It completely removes the need to spam General Chat (poor man, really, getting all the rap) and gives the odd role player a fair chance to "advertise" his willingness for grouping outside FPs and Heroics.

My guess is: People could not care less about team play. They want the grind and they want to be beamed to their group content, not because of the content, but because of the XP and gear they can get.

That's why they demand "LFD" not "LFG". That's why the thread title is "Dungeon Finder Needed Badly" not "Finding Groups Has To Be Improved".

What I do not understand is why Bioware does not simply introduce a "make me level 50 with top gear" button for all those who think, the game only starts at the end.

And then have one odd server for the role players who just want to enjoy a good time together with the option to have a great story to back them up and gradually grow their character? At least that way it would be easy for those few to find one another and team up. Even without any further tools.

Cheers

JP

The current LFG tool is very passive and not as much eye catchy than a channel spam.

As for the rest of your post, the answer is that people simply enjoy different things. The implementation (or the lack) of the cross server LFD/LFG tool, won't change that.

I think a lot of people like grouping, they just don't like putting the group together. That said, I get your point and there's probably a lot of truth in people just wanting to be ported to the content so they can grind away.

Why the value judgement about that? Is it not a valid playstyle?

Actually, if you read any of the previous incarnations of this thread, you'd see that most people favor better grouping tools in general. The ability to quicly form groups and go for Heroic 2 and 4 content should be a priority as well. This version of the LFD thread just kinda focused on flashpoints.

So you really think that people are only advocating LFD for finding groups at end game?

But it already *is* the predominant play style. There is no need to make it even more dominant. Just as it would be a good idea to have a few players chose "republic" for a change, in my opinion it is a good idea to start thinking "how can we improve team play?" and not "how can we improve speed leveling?".

They only use it to get to "end game" as quickly as possible. They don't care about the story, they don't care about careful character development in a group context, actually role playing their character, because they simply don't want to team up. In a RP game. On an RP server.

It is like the food industry forcing me to buy lousy crap for Yoghurt because nobody seems to remember, what yoghurt has to be like. They removed it off the shelves, because people enjoy white, tasteless, watery smeer with 0.00001% fat only. If I whine and say "But can't you at least keep one single plain sort of real yoghurt in the shelves?" I get the "nope, the customers dont want it any more" and that's that.

To me it seems, pulling the good stuff from the shelves and advertising crap as lifestyle has pushed the result.

Just as the LFD tool will marginalize the RPers playstyle to extinction.

Cheers

JP

It is not passive. It is the opposite. You have to actually do something: You have to set yourself on "LFG" and set a meaningful LFG message. And you have to click yourself through to the "WHO" tool to see others that are LFG a well. Spamming "general chat" is just proving my point: The "quick and dirty" mentality of the vast majority of the playerbase.

They might just not know about the greatness of actually RPing on an RP server. I have at least met two players who where unaware that you could share your story even at "class content" phases and in multi player conversation your selection sticks, even if another player's choice is chosen for dialogue.

After carefully explaining those things, we teamed up and they had a great time, praising group play.

Unfortunately, although friend listed, I have yet to meet them again online. We seem to have different schedules. Most likely my fault, since I have to work and only have a few hours at the weekends to play.

Anyhow. A LFD tool would make that sort of group play even less likely is all I am saying.

Cheers

JP

Grouping up, regardless of the purpose, is team play. Its just not as all-encompassing as you'd like it to be to just do it for flashpoints. When I hit the queue for LFD in WoW (when I was still playing), I did so because I wanted to group with other people. Because I like playing my character in a group setting. Did the rewards have something to do with it? You bet, but I'd still do it without the rewards for a break from questing while leveling up.

Valid complaints.

I don't RP so I can't commiserate with as much empathy as it deserves. Also, I support your fight to bring back quality yogurt.

Chillin in the VIP lounge for 90 minutes during peak hours and not even a sniff of a colicoid group. LFD sooner rather than later please.