Give me a legitimate reason to NOT have a LFD tool.

ah. I initially skipped reading that because the formatting was so messed up.

You're not correct about the amount of improvement it makes. Just increasing the number of people hitting the queue significantly improves queue time.

two cases

First case: 3 servers, single server lfg tool

• server A: average wait time is ~15 minutes; so it forms a group every 15 minutes, on average, or 4 groups of people every hour.
• server B: average wait time is ~20 minutes; so it forms a group every 20 minutes, on average, or 3 groups of people every hour.
• server C: average wait time is ~30 minutes; so it forms a group every 30 minutes, on average, or 2 groups of people every hour.

Average wait time across servers = 20 minutes.
best average wait time across server= 15 minutes.

Second case: same 3 servers, cross server lfg tool.
Same people queuing as previous.
Across all 3 servers, 9 groups* of people form every hour.
Average (and best since it's only one) wait time across servers = ~6 minutes 40 seconds

Except WoW released the easy content first.

You're wrong on the second count too. Only one of the two addresses the issue of access to content. The ability to complete said content is entirely separate.

Except WoW released the easy content first.

Someone got to teach this guy some math.

The average of 3 numbers CANNOT be less than the smallest number.

That's just it... when you have 3 servers in the same pool, the situation is not an average of the 3 numbers.

If they do not nerf content then they were wrong for instituting the tool.

Since both are an answer to the same problem.

To allow more people access to content.

If you have the tool without the nerf you are saying we want more people to have access to the content.

I know there are several threads on this, but I'd like to debunk some of the myths there are out there. Hopefully others will join and hopefully I might also actually see a legitimate reason to why BW shouldn't implement a LFD tool.

Anyway here goes:


1# A LFD tool will ruin/destroy the community.

People look at the LFD tool and claim that it goes against creating a community on the server. That's just not true at all, instead you should ask yourself, what Bioware can do to gather people around at specific places? - socialize as you call it.

Numerous suggestions have been made in the 'suggestion' forum e.g. card mini-games, expanded cantinas, an actual functioning Casino at Nar Shaddaa.

THESE are the things people should be complaining about and not things that might potentially ruin someone elses game because they choose a server that is now a low-pop server, or people who want's to get the most out of their playtime.

TL;DR - BW should make features/events that will gather people around at specific places to do stuff together.

2# It will all be about loot acquisition if the LFD tool is implemented.

It already is. People do FPs and hardmode FPs because they 1. just want to check out and 2. because they need the gear to progress. . A LFD tool WILL NOT hinder your enjoyment with friends/guildies, in fact it'll actually make it easier for people to play with friends/guildies.

3# We will see more 'thiefs' and people will be bad mannered.

Correct, however, we'll have the same issue regardless. There is NOTHING that is currenlty preventing people to already do that and in the month I've played the game I've never once seen someone yell out "don't play with Mr X because...", I've seen a couple of guilds being mentioned, but not the individual players no.

People don't automatically turn into 'thiefs' just because they won't see the other players again.

If anything you might notice it more because you'll be playing more. At any rate I doubt there's any real evidence suggesting that people become bullies and thiefs just because they won't the other rest of the group again.

4# "I don't want to play with random bad/clueless players".

Finding the players yourself won't prevent anyone from being clueless or bad and they'll still be random. Yes, you *might* potentially make a new friend, but a LFD tool doesn't hinder anyone in doing so anyway outside the FP.

5# Only lazy people wants a LFD tool.

Wait, what?! Spending 1-2 hours LFG in the fleet is 'fun' and socializing? It has nothing to do with being lazy, it has something to do with actually playing the game and a LFD tool will not hinder anyone from playing with friends.

6# If you don't have the time to find a group yourself you shouldn't be playing an MMO.

This is just plain wrong and I've seen people write this. a LFD tool is all about getting the most out of your time, espcially for people who don't have a lot of time, but enjoys the game and the universe. Are we just supposed to neglect those people?

To sum it up:

a LFD tool doesn't hinder people in making friends, the lack of social activities in the current state of the game, however, does. Besides you'll also be playing with 'doucebags' on your own server, a LFD tool will not make this worse, we'll instead be playing more and thus be seeing them more.

EDIT*

Anyway here something for people to chew on:

People claim that without a cross-server LFD tool they 'know' the server and they know who not to play with. There's a server-wide bond.

The thing is, studies have shown that it's not humanly possible for one person to know more than roughly 100 persons - sure they might remember more, but after a certain amount you'll forget facts about people.

If we use this study on a game like SWTOR, a game that might have 3500-4000 people on one server (a highly populated servers) the community aspect of the game suddenly becomes somewhat redundant - not that I'm discouraging it.

The thing is also that people have been claiming the LFD as a mean for 'douchebags' to just run rampant. Tell me though, with 1500 people on one side of the server, how can anyone prevent it anyway?

1. There's a limit on your ignore-list.
2. If someone is called out in the general chat, you most like won't remember them.
3. New alts and players arrives all the time.

If someone is serious about being an a-hole, there's no stopping the person. The person can just as well make an alt an start all over. After a couple of months everyone will have forgotten the persons main.


My personal experience with this game so far (I have a lvl 46 power tech + some alts) is that:

1. People I've quested with are sooner or later forgotten unless I play with them regularly.
2. I'm yet to encounter someone seriously determined to ruin a FP run.
3. I've never once seen someone being called out in the general chat so far.

Take it however you want. If you feel like disregarding it go ahead.

When Rift launched the LFD tool the instances were nerfed.

I know lots of math. Is there an error you'd like to point out?

That's just it... when you have 3 servers in the same pool, the situation is not an average of the 3 numbers.