Finding a Steady Adventuring Party

Grym

Remember pen & paper games where you played with the same folks each week at a scheduled time and place that could be adjusted depending on everyone's schedule? Why aren't people doing this in MMOs? Its usually a static world just waiting for you to log in. No reason groups of people that enjoy gaming with one another can't do this. In my opinion, this lack of "steady adventuring parties" is what corporate MMO developers (and us as gamers) are forgetting.

Everyone now logs in and shouts "LFG" or starts building a group with whatever warm bodies are available. We still look for other gamers we have met in game and try to group with them, but it seems these relationships fade quickly with all the "speed grouping" we do now days. The emphasis has become fast leveling and becoming raid capable as quickly as possible.  In all the rush, even guild groups frequently find themselves drifting apart.

I am not anti-raiding but to do it successfully in most MMOs, you will need 30 or 40 "close personal friends."  Not my personal favorite, but there are folks out there who live for it and I am staunchly behind the ability for them to enjoy their game of choice. What I am looking for is the old Steady Adventuring Party to meet with each week and explore, quest, adventure with.  

I am an old gamer, beginning with the first edition D&D using 3 six sided die to determine the entire course of the game and memorizing the little blue pamphlet that served as a dungeon master's guide. Everything was done with creativity and passion, limited only by ones imagination.  In those days, you only grouped with friends that didn't mind burning an "all-nighter" on Friday or Saturday night while others were out chasing the opposite sex and looking for cheap liquid refreshment.  Unfortunately, we all age, and I lost contact with most of those old friends.  I've since married, raised children, and found myself with less time to log on and play whatever game I'm playing at the moment. I may be waxing nostalgic, but I really miss that feeling. 

Anywho, thanks for listening to an old man. Best of luck to my fellow gamers out there. I hope you all find something you can really enjoy.

Respectfully,

Grym

talismen351

I completely agree with the OP. I remember my old days of D&D with a small group of friends. When it comes to online gaming, the only time I had a steady group that I was with was my old guild in UO. At least two or three times a week we would go out n do some kind of hunt. N every Sunday afternoon was when we all got together with our T-maps n would go treasure hunting for the day. Was the best time in a MMO I have ever had.

Nowadays, all about the leveling, n if you can't keep up with your friends you are left behind.

Illius

I think the word "adventure" has lost all meaning in the new games.  The majority of the gamers now just want accomplishment.  They want to have new shiny stuff added to their inventory on an almost hourly basis.