Request: Allow Grouping in Currently "Solo-Only" Instances

GreySix

This request is targeted to developers, and yes, I did request this through the in-game reporting system as well, but received no feedback.

Now I realize up front that many who post here are "serious" gamers who've likely already maxed out one or more characters (though perhaps not through all the veteran levels). My perspective is from that of a working man who casually plays games like these cooperatively with my wife in the evenings. Our characters are currently at Level 18.

What we are seeking is the option to group together in dungeons that currently force solo-only play within the main quest line. Specifically, I'm referring to the main quest line, though such options would be nice to see in the popular side quests like the Fighters and Mages Guilds.

I offer SWTOR as an example of what worked nicely in regard to grouping (and they got a lot of other things wrong): At no time, could my wife and I not group content. Don't misunderstand: What I propose below would not disable solo-only play; those who desired to fight instances solo would still be able to do so.

Current configuration:

1. There are public dungeons, where it is first-come, first-served. I'm not referring to those.
2. There are instanced dungeons that allow either solo-only instances or grouped instances. Keep those as are, since they facilitate player choice.
3. There are currently solo-only dungeons, wherein grouping is not allowed.

Proposal: Modify Number 3 to allow what we see in Number 2 . Solo players would still be allowed to solo such content without seeing other players, and grouped players would be allowed to group such instances. If the levels/HPs/whatever of baddies and bosses would need to be increased based on the group size, I'd be fine with that.

But please offer us the choice we enjoyed in such MMOs as SWTOR.

caelumpanache

I agree. I'm in a similar circumstance and it is annoying to have to solo something when I always play with my wife.

GreySix

caelumpanache wrote: »

I agree. I'm in a similar circumstance and it is annoying to have to solo something when I always play with my wife.

It took me a long time to get my wife into online gaming, and we both enjoyed the immersion of the grouping experience in SWTOR.

We both liked playing Oblivion and Skyrim, so when we saw ESO it looked like a great idea - we could play the whole thing cooperatively!

Now, my wife gets frustrated with the solo instances into which she's forced in the main quest line, and then we're done for the night.

Eris

I would like to see solo/duo options for solo missions as well. I generally travel with my roommate and find that whenever we get oh, go solo this, one of us has to sit around and wait for the other.

I liked that LOTRO started offering duo options for solo missions. I also liked that SWTOR took the class story mission and made it so others could enter. The only problem with SWTOR class story mission is if 2 people were playing the same class they'd have to repeat it to complete for both characters, but that was only minorly annoying and I know why they did it, so I sort of whatevered it.

Evandus

I don't think this is a bad idea, OP. But I'm concerned about the rammifications of bypassing the difficulty of those quests/encounters. The way they are set up really acts as something of a stop-check. If one is doing well enough with build/gear/etc they are easily doable. And if they are not, then there is something to improve.

Honestly, I'd love to play these quests with my gf. But I really don't think it would be helpful to her in the long run. She didn't even start worrying about blocking attacks, and her positioning until she started getting one shotted by boss mobs. Had I gone through the quests with her, she never would have caught on I think.

GreySix

Think you can learn that in a group of two. My wife and I are relatively proficient at blocking attacks and dodging (my wife not so much with the dodging piece). If we get whacked together by a boss, then we discuss what to do differently and change our tactics. Lost count of the times we were curb-stomped together in SWTOR, sometimes leveling up prior to come back and try again, usually with different tactics.

It would be a relatively simple algorithm to increase boss HP/stats, based on the number (and level) of folks within a group IOT keep a modicum of fairness.

Hoylegu

GreySix wrote: »

caelumpanache wrote: »

I agree. I'm in a similar circumstance and it is annoying to have to solo something when I always play with my wife.

It took me a long time to get my wife into online gaming, and we both enjoyed the immersion of the grouping experience in SWTOR.

We both liked playing Oblivion and Skyrim, so when we saw ESO it looked like a great idea - we could play the whole thing cooperatively!

Now, my wife gets frustrated with the solo instances into which she's forced in the main quest line, and then we're done for the night.

This is exactly what happens when my wife and I play together. I'm just dumbfounded how an MMORPG, an inherently social experience, forces so much solo play on the user.

Hnightblazenub18_ESO

I completely 110% agree. I have not played many MMO's, but my take on them is that the second "M" means multiplayer. I am a husband (to a non-gamer) and father of two. I have to game alone the majority of the time, but once every month my best friend comes out to the house and we game. We both really enjoy the Elder Scrolls games, and thought ESO would be an excellent fit, but when we are forced to split to complete certain quests be it "Main Story" or "Guild" quests it more than takes away from the enjoyment. It flat out ruins it, and makes our time together a massive waste. One of us is constantly twiddling our thumbs bored out of his mind while the other is frustrated with the quest and having issues completing it. We may both quit ESO for good fairly soon if something is not done to make the Massive "Multi-Player" game actually multiplayer, and after we each spent hours of Beta time and nearly $100 so far that would really suck. It is a great game full of amazing scenery and epic fighting sequences, but it's always more fun to game with your friends. After all that is the main reason people play multiplayer games.

Mujuro

The flip side of this: Allowing grouping in these instances will cause an increased influx of multi-boxing bots. Until such time as ZOS can get a handle on catching/banning bots, allowing grouping may make matters worse in the larger scheme.

Hnightblazenub18_ESO

Every time I hear about bots in ESO I think to myself in an MMO with no community marketplace what difference do they really make. Don't get me wrong I am 100% opposed to any kind of cheat/hack/exploit/etc. My only point is that without being able to corner a market, I don't see the real effect it has. I mean if someone wants to sell something, they have only two options: 1- Join a Guild (Whom if they see you trying to corner markets or *** off their other members can boot you out) or 2- Post their items in Zone chat (where if you don't like their price, don't buy it. In time we all have the opportunity to get the same items). I fail to see the fun in being in a multiplayer game that is not only able to be played solo, but it is at time FORCED upon you. In my opinion that is just sad and wrong. All content should be able to be played multiplayer and enjoyed with friends and family. Forcing people to play solo in an MMO is absurd.

Skirmish840

I completely agree.

The Stop Check still works as most content at 45 and above is group content afaik, I haven't got there yet

It's not just girlfriends but other family members too, I'm teaching my Son how to play an MMO for the 1st time, together we can steam roll content 3 or more levels above cause we have a great synergy going, DK/NB duo, he makes a great tank but finds doing damage difficult and frankly so do I on my DK because their both tank builds, it's too early on to really get a well established dual build happening (passives inc) and because we group for everything, we've built our chars to tank (we have 2 each, we take turns tanking) So, it would really help if we could duo the main questline delves.

On another note, and I don't mean to stray off topic but it would also be nice to have instanced "Delves" gets pretty irritating having a guy training through what must be 6 different accounts (multi boxing) attacking all the mobs (I thought they were bots, but they had meaningful names and seemed to be able to think for themselves), he literally looked like a bloody train.

RobShu

Please, Please, PLEASE do this Zeni?!?! This is an MMO, for god's sake! Heaven forbid you should get to play with other people in an MMO, lol. Seriously, some of us are here to play the game for the story and to enjoy our time in the TES world, NOT to become uber skilled pro gamers, or to get frustrated because we can't beat one particularly hard boss in a solo only instance while we're in an MMO where we should be able to group!! This is one of the reasons why I'm un-subbing at the end of the month, I can't finish the main storyline, the fighter's guild storyline, or the main AD storyline because some of the "solo only" bosses are just too hard. Who is the freakin' MORON who thought that it would be a good idea to force solo in an MMO anyways? IDIOTS!!!

LadyDestiny

I really don't understand why they want to chance losing so many subscribers over this issue. Just make it an option to group like any other quest. Problem solved. The casuals can get on with the story and enjoy, while the uber awsome hardcores can chose not to group and go solo. Does Zos really dislike their player base this much? I have not played since the patch yesterday, but from what I am reading in the forum now it is a mess. I guess they increased hp and damage in the VR zones? If that is the case, well people that think solo bosses are hard in 1-50 content, they might as well hang it up and go home. In VR I have had several bosses before the patch from just normal quest lines that were almost impossible. I am not alone on this situation and have seen many good players frustrated and in the same position. Now if this is true, since this patch yesterday they will be impossible. I don't mind doing it solo, and like the challenge and feeling of accomplishment, but not to the point of breaking my bank. Just give people the ability to group please so this ends.

Ysne58

I believe that grouping, at least with one other person, should be allowed. Some of those forced battles are just stupid hard.

RDMyers65b14_ESO

It would be so very nice to have someone else to be able to help with the quests I can't do. Being I'm not a 'professional gamer', I don't have the skills they expect one to have to do these quests. Someone told me to kite. I wondered why they wanted me to go get a diamond with a string attatched to it to put in the sky while trying to play a game. AoE I understand as Area of Effect. Someone said DoT. What does the department of transportation have to do with ESO? Please realize some of us don't have the real life skillsets you're requiring to play the game. Not all of us are MMO veterans.

Epona222

It's really quite simple, just allow people to group. You know you get a little pop-up when you find a group dungeon that tells you it's a group dungeon? Just have a similar pop-up that tells you "this quest was designed as a solo encounter, are you sure you want to enter with another player?"

Just because some players seem to enjoy getting their nuts kicked repeatedly in order to teach them to "learn to play", does not mean everyone should be forced to do it that way - it's a multiplayer game, just let people ask for help from or group with a friend/guildmate.

This is an MMO, there shouldn't be ANY POINT where a player has to be taken to task by a difficult solo boss over his or her soloing capability. MMO. One of those Ms stands for Multiplayer. If you want to play solo and repeatedly pick your teeth up of the ground, go and play Dark Souls.

RDMyers65b14_ESO

I am about to unsub if this doesn't get changed. I'm an older player and don't have the skills the younger players who have grown up on MMOs have. I also have arthritis in my hands making the game more difficult for me to begin. I'm so very frustrated that I can't finish the main quest line or the figher/mage guild quest line, I am in tears. I went out to buy a gaming mouse, hoping this would help. It hasn't. The character I have tried is 10 levels over the quest level and it still doesn't work. I'm not a min/maxer but a normal gamer who chooses skills based on how realistic they sound for my RP. I know my $15 a month won't make a difference to Zenimax, but it appears I am not the only one who has the problem. Please fix this.

RingobloodtheOld

Dude I been yelling and screaming about this since Nov.'s 2013 Beta and nothing been done not even remotly close to it. This is a MMO not Single-Player RPG, if you want a single-player game, go play Skyrim or wait for the next TESO game. They screwed up here. This is a freakin MMO, LET ME QUEST WITH MY FRIENDS!

Lunerdog

RDMyers65b14_ESO wrote: »

I am about to unsub if this doesn't get changed. I'm an older player and don't have the skills the younger players who have grown up on MMOs have. I also have arthritis in my hands making the game more difficult for me to begin. I'm so very frustrated that I can't finish the main quest line or the figher/mage guild quest line, I am in tears. I went out to buy a gaming mouse, hoping this would help. It hasn't. The character I have tried is 10 levels over the quest level and it still doesn't work. I'm not a min/maxer but a normal gamer who chooses skills based on how realistic they sound for my RP. I know my $15 a month won't make a difference to Zenimax, but it appears I am not the only one who has the problem. Please fix this.

This ^^^ times 10

It's alright setting the difficulty for the gaming ninja's who's only thoughts re gaming are combat combat combat and then some more combat with an extra dose of combat thrown in.

Mere mortals would like to explore the game world, do a few quests and enjoy their time in game, instead of wanting to bite bloody chunks out of their keyboards.

Not everybody has the reflexes or skills of these so called gaming gods who can solo megas bosses while scoffing a sarnie and guzzling Redbull.

Give the ordinary guys a chance.

Ragnar_Lodbrok

No, solo instances are beatable.

GreySix

Ragnar_Lodbrok wrote: »

No, solo instances are beatable.

And if you are still allowed to solo such instances, why would you be opposed to others who wish to group them?

How would their choice to group adversely affect you?

Ragnar_Lodbrok

GreySix wrote: »

Ragnar_Lodbrok wrote: »

No, solo instances are beatable.

And if you are still allowed to solo such instances, why would you be opposed to others who wish to group them?

How would their choice to group adversely affect you?

Consider it a skill check, to see if youve actually learned to play or just facerolled through.

ZOS_TristanK

Hey, folks. We've moved this thread to the General Discussion section. Thanks for all of your constructive feedback.

dennissomb16_ESO

Single biggest complaint for me about this game (even more then the bot/hacking fiasco). Can't go back to help a friend quest due to phasing, doing quests as a group to get to a final stage that is solo only, quests in veteran level where the final Boss is a 2 bar uber boss, that is not meant to be soloed but can't get help unless the person helping is on the exact same quest, exact same stage LOL. Basically an MMO that discourages day to day grouping doesn't make a lot of sense to me

troyub17_ESO4

No to "grouping" currently solo dungeons, YES to DUO currently solo dungeons. I like playing MMORPGs, but I don't want it to turn into an issue where I need a group to play current solo content because they make it harder to account for new grouping. I like playing solo, but would like the idea of a duo possibility, in case I want to help my son, for example, or have him help me (no chance I'll get my wife on this lol).

dennissomb16_ESO

troyub17_ESO4 wrote: »

No to "grouping" currently solo dungeons, YES to DUO currently solo dungeons. I like playing MMORPGs, but I don't want it to turn into an issue where I need a group to play current solo content because they make it harder to account for new grouping. I like playing solo, but would like the idea of a duo possibility, in case I want to help my son, for example, or have him help me (no chance I'll get my wife on this lol).

I believe OP is asking to be "able" to group not turn them into group fights. It is an MMO you should be able to have friends help when you are struggling

GreySix

Ragnar_Lodbrok wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

Ragnar_Lodbrok wrote: »

No, solo instances are beatable.

And if you are still allowed to solo such instances, why would you be opposed to others who wish to group them?

How would their choice to group adversely affect you?

Consider it a skill check, to see if youve actually learned to play or just facerolled through.

Yeah, that still doesn't answer my question.

If others choose to group a currently solo-only dungeon, but you and others are still allowed to solo the same dungeon, how would that adversely affect your experience?

esonlineub17_ESO3

I agree with OP 100%, and I have posted the same request myself in several other forum threads. The main story, Mage's Guild, and Fighter's Guild solo phases need to be changed to enable groups to enter.

I play this game with my family. We play all the content together, except for the forced solo phases. The forced solo phases are the single biggest complaint that we have with the game, and we are very close to unsubscribing all our accounts because of this issue.

GreySix

troyub17_ESO4 wrote: »

No to "grouping" currently solo dungeons, YES to DUO currently solo dungeons. I like playing MMORPGs, but I don't want it to turn into an issue where I need a group to play current solo content because they make it harder to account for new grouping. I like playing solo, but would like the idea of a duo possibility, in case I want to help my son, for example, or have him help me (no chance I'll get my wife on this lol).

Would be okay with limiting increasing current solo-only dungeons to pairs (AND solo, for those wanting to solo them). Would even be okay with scaling the difficulty for those choosing to pair up such dungeons.

Just allow the player the choice, vice shoving down our throats as solo-only.

MaxBat

I completely agree with this on the condition that Craglorn be made solo player.

Thank you.

stabbykitteh

Ragnar_Lodbrok wrote: »

Consider it a skill check, to see if youve actually learned to play or just facerolled through.

That could be addressed by bumping the difficulty slightly (let's not get carried away) if there is more than one player present.