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The problems with LFG in chat
delete5230
Member EpicPosts: 7,081
In a group orientated mmo finding other players is an age old problem.
Player mindset never changes. The popular method seems to be using general chat. Yes, spamming chat for hours. This method sucks, yet its widely used.
- Players don't always catch rolling chat.
- Players are intimidated, and fear NOT KNOWING the content, then simply don't volunteer.
- Acronyms, the three letter abbreviations that new players don't understand.
Here's an example:
I'm playing LOTRO and I just randomly logged in to get this example of rolling chat.
BBS++2/3
Box 1/3
SS T2 farm 1 boss 5/6 (tank)
Hammer 1/2 any level welcome
Can anyone do Minas trith with me
Boxes 2/3
What the hell does all this mean ?.........I'm not asking someone to explain LOTRO to me. I'm saying this is intimidating !
This makes players play solo, This makes player stop playing. This is EVERY MMO !.......What to do about it?.....I don't know.
Player mindset never changes. The popular method seems to be using general chat. Yes, spamming chat for hours. This method sucks, yet its widely used.
- Players don't always catch rolling chat.
- Players are intimidated, and fear NOT KNOWING the content, then simply don't volunteer.
- Acronyms, the three letter abbreviations that new players don't understand.
Here's an example:
I'm playing LOTRO and I just randomly logged in to get this example of rolling chat.
BBS++2/3
Box 1/3
SS T2 farm 1 boss 5/6 (tank)
Hammer 1/2 any level welcome
Can anyone do Minas trith with me
Boxes 2/3
What the hell does all this mean ?.........I'm not asking someone to explain LOTRO to me. I'm saying this is intimidating !
This makes players play solo, This makes player stop playing. This is EVERY MMO !.......What to do about it?.....I don't know.
Comments
What they don't understand, is the struggle players have in deciphering the content. Add the players have to type !.......Many of us are veteran mmo players, will put up with it, most don't.
If a developers could solve this issue, they will have a gem !
I'd love to see more "Hey there adventurers, were looking for people to run some group content. Not bothered if we succeed or fail, just get together and have a blast trying." in global or lff.
More people will feel less intimidated in joining groups if they feel like they don't have to win at all costs.
YES !!! I'm with you on this.
Problem is all the power is in the developers hands.
I learned early on in World of Warcraft to use the social panel, thn spam players individually.
I learned I can fill ANY group in less than 10 minuets instead of spamming chat for hours !
I used this method in every mmo including Vanguard when the population was the lowest !
If you do make friends in game, more often than not you will be leveling differently. Yes you may catch them up with xp potions.
It would be better if for example I took a week off playing but my friends didn't, I can still just login and play with them without having to catch them up through/areas content. I've not been left behind.
Otherwise you'll just be making an effort meeting new people constantly and some just can't be bothered with that.
That's why the LFG tool came into existance. LFG is for casual players who want to just play with others but can't be bothered putting in the effort to make friends.
A little off topic, but you bring up a good point.
ALL newer mmos, you level too fast. Often its one or two quest per level.
Take a day off to go to the gym, and your friend is now twelve levels above you !...bad for community.
MMO are too small ( 30 day games ),
Also if you're shy/introverted and don't like typing in general, just play a class that's in demand and wait for people to LFM. Then all you need to do is "/w Invite please".
I don't really understand why people see finding groups as a problem. I see it as an opportunity. Sure sometimes it takes time and can be frustrating if you play that one damage class that half the server plays, but if you're clever, play a class that is in demand and keep yourself busy while LFG (instead of doing nothing and spamming chat) then you'll find a group before you know it, every time.
Also you are allowed to join a guild and that generally speeds up the process considerably. But if you don't like guilds (like me) just play a class that is in demand like tank or healer and finding groups will be a piece of cake.
A way to list myself as looking for a group and for others to search for me, plus a way for groups to advertise their group in the same tool so I can look for them would resolve most of the issues. Giving more XP for guild groups will also help. Also making content more flat and not base on level so much would help, or dont take XP away from groups with a higher level player in them just sync the player down.
I often find guilds could work against you at times.
- Expecting a guild to have 4 more like minded players at your level can be hard.
- What do you do if you ask in guild and 4 dps would like to go and you need a tank and healer....I find it best to fill groups alone.
http://forums.mmorpg.com/discussion/459745/no-group-finder/p1
Making loads of threads complaining about the same thing is not going to change the devs stance on it. If you really cared you would join the Pantheon forums and make your case.
Mods should close this thread.
Because of LFD tools you cannot base the way guilds act today on what they would do in a game without an LFD tool. You can also add in extra XP for Guilds
I think there is a way to make a game without a automated LFD tool. There are also ways of helping guilds out and pushing Pre-made groups. The problem is we left any effort to do so behind in the name of convenience and convenience as hurt MMORPGs like no tomorrow. It's time we got the Social aspect of MMOs back and leave LFD behind. That does not mean do not fix the problems of the past it just means stop fixing everything with a sledgehammer.
Perhaps you should start the "Gamer's Popular Revolutionary Front" or something similar...
What is much more intimidating in more recent MMORPGs, especially if you don't join at launch is something along the lines of "LFM, speed run, must know content, GS 850+, noobs will be kicked"
Using the social pane doesn't overcome this as I don't feel comfortable forming a group for content I don't know well myself, and in more modern dance with the stars MMOs I rarely know the content, even if I watch a video.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
If someone is intimidated by text though - so intimidated that they won't ask - then they probably won't say that they are a "newbie don't know mechanics" or "not done this one before" when they join a group. And will probably get kicked or just left in the lurch when stuff starts. And leave the game or play it solo.
This will happen if they come together via chat or via a group finder or via a guild. Remember the premise: this is someone who is so intimidated they won't type "what does that mean".
If they ask things changed. I certainly responded to someone earlier today - not in LotR but same stuff. In LotR someone will - I think I can guarantee - answer. Players get the idea from general chat that its a friendly game.
I suppose maybe .......
Devs anticipate that stuff like this happens.
So they create a format for asking for groups if people use world chat. And provide a list of the acronyms.
And then new players will have a better understanding.
So what would you do? Get rid of world chat and make it that you can only talk to people you can see?
Just send them a tell and ask what it is. People will tell you.
I was a Archage newbie and didn't know any of the areas or acronyms. I just spammed ppl with whispers and not one person shot me down. Some people even over explained a little to the point where I had to blow em off!
The way mmo's were: Community, Exploration, Character Development, Conquest.
The way mmo's are now : Cut-Scenes,Cut-Scenes, solo Questing, Cut-Scenes...
www.CeaselessGuild.com
A great feature that would make LFG chat much easier to work with is how Aion had a <Recruit> link you could insert into chat that would show the current group mates, levels and classes.
The mindset of the people are the problem... When you live your life in 144 characters... that is why you get LFG 2 DPS DBB M+
The path of least resistance...
I personally like the way you look for group in GW2, it is designed for any particular group content you are looking for, not just dungeons. LFG in chat can get annoying with everyone spamming so depending on the game i usually disable those chats.
As far as grouping goes I am all for LFG tools, but not so much that they put you into a group automatically and then transport you to a group. I like to be able to list that I am looking for a group or search groups looking for people themselves. Where you actually have to talk to the other people before you join the group to ensure you are looking to do the same thing or you need to learn the fights ect.... But I also don't watch chat for this either, I have a tendency to start blocking people that spam the same thing over and over because no one wants to group with them.