[Request] Can anyone do an offworld LFG-Site like it existed in GW2 for a while?

Iduyenn

Sorry,
but i cant stand it anymore.
Here i am sitting as a Tank,Healer, DD in Eldenroot. Since 2 hours in the LFG tool an no response. (Testing purposes).
The LFG requests are getting less. This a good sign? No it`s not.
Certain player dont even bother to search for a group anymore. Others are hoplessly lost in the chat and seeking process.
I know, that ZOS has mentioned something about "we are working on it".
But they dind`t say anything concrete. My guess is, they just try to apply patches so the current tool will hopefully work (in Patch 1.6).

Sorry guys, but that is ... too late. This stuff should have been hotfixed weeks ago. And now you seem to have even bigger fishes to fry.

So it seems, that the community has to work it out. Its wrong, because this is no F2P game. But what else should we do? Wait and pay our monthly fee until you can catch up? Guess we have to, because making a fist in the pocket and brabbling about cancelling subscription doesnt work either.

Some of you may remember the GW2 LFG - offworld site, where you had the change to find groups for anything. You just had to go to a website and the site did the rest.
If you didnt group up or refresh your Status after an hour, you where deleted from LFG. This was good to keep it clean.

Now my questions:
- Would you guys (the community) appriciate such a site?
- Has anyone the knowledge, manpower and time to trow such a site in the internet?
Perhaps a cooperation of communitysites (Like Tamriel Foundry)?

In case you are thinking. "And what if they have a solution in the next patch?".
Well... my guess is, that even if they adress the issue in their next patch. It will not be to our satisfaction. Some things like language options and level restrictions will not be implemented.

So what do you think about a community creation?

TehMagnus

More community creation to work around the horrific UI this game has to offer?



I'd like to see this but looking at the failure Trading Outpost was, I don't really see anyone trying to dev this or maintaining it on the long run. Sadly..

Iduyenn

Yea, but its the only solution.
We dont have a very constructive community, but we do participate and bring new ideas. It hurts to see, that it doesn`t help very much and nobody seems do realy do somethings about aknowledged problems. It takes too much time and the solutions arent very stable. Sometimes they seem week and unfinished.
For example Werewolfs; They did something and perhaps in the right direction. But in the end a certain disparity remains.

I know games, there would already be a fix for the lfg hotfixed 24 hours after the problem is aknowledged. Or at least a system who works for the time they make the change. It doesn`t have to be pretty. But a week is the absolute maximum of time it should take to adress a problem of this magnitude.
But ZoS asks like. "Are ye sure something is broken? Please restart the game, perhaps it works better then..."
And to say. "Ah... we see... something is not working... we are working on it"... and then you dont hear a word for days/weeks? Customer service isn`t all about politness and good speech. There should be results too.

Things like a backgrounddownloader and other stuff should have been there since beta and the community should not have to draw a picture for the developers first...

I dont expect to play a perfect mmo and i can life with many bugs and temporary problems. But the reaction time should be way shorter or at least they provide some alternatives. It shouldn`t need 20 pages of hate in a forum to put presure on the company.
And as a player i dont need to have the fear, that only when i say something about problems, they are going to do something about them...
Its ok to expect the community to participate. But dont think a moment, that we are your laboratory rats or workbees. We pay money as customers...

We gave them a ton of ideas. Some of them could have been done temporarily.
Or they could have done an offworld LFG site themselves until they fix the problem.

But in the end, they will forget about RP flags and language preferences in LFG anyway. Something will be done, but it will be unfinished and in the end unsatisfying for many player.
It seems they are taping the wholes of a swiss cheese.

But... i am drifting away. Let`s not put more shame to the developers.
And i dont expect anyone outside to sacrifice time and resources for such a project. Especially in a suscription based game wich seems to be in puberty.

Razzak

I completely support OPs idea. We could be long in waiting for a proper LFG fix, so such a site could make a significant contribution to player base.
We can even look at it as another add-on. Maybe that is why ZOS are so slow in doing something themselves. Maybe they are waiting for add-on LFG tool.

Deheart

I support Op's Idea also, but I also feel that I would rather we have the problems we do, than have all the extras actually working and the main game unplayable.

Frenkthevile

They should make another UI for the LFG tool, imho. With a list of parties that are actually searching for members...just a small window with:
-dgn name&pic(maybe Undaunted special loot...it's always nice to show players a reason to go in a dgn...WoW had this info i.e.)
-2/4, 7/12 i.e. needed to go
-symbols to represent classes

The lfg tool we have now is: click ''find something to do with anybody, maybe in the future if you have luck''. Cannot work it's obvious.
In other MMOs, like FF14 or Gw2, when I see a group that needs 1-2 member for exemple, I jump in...
Here if you use lfg you cannot do istances/group activities while waiting or the lfg will be screwed up So i NEVER use lfg and i do the dailies and the DA by good old chat spamming, and i find better groups and when i need it(not when luck blesses me like with lfg).
My 2 cents.

TehMagnus

Frenkthevile wrote: »

They should make another UI for the LFG tool, imho. With a list of parties that are actually searching for members...just a small window with:
-dgn name&pic(maybe Undaunted special loot...it's always nice to show players a reason to go in a dgn...WoW had this info i.e.)
-2/4, 7/12 i.e. needed to go
-symbols to represent classes

The lfg tool we have now is: click ''find something to do with anybody, maybe in the future if you have luck''. Cannot work it's obvious.
In other MMOs, like FF14 or Gw2, when I see a group that needs 1-2 member for exemple, I jump in...
Here if you use lfg you cannot do istances/group activities while waiting or the lfg will be screwed up So i NEVER use lfg and i do the dailies and the DA by good old chat spamming, and i find better groups and when i need it(not when luck blesses me like with lfg).
My 2 cents.

Ideas to make LFG useful and decent:
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/123968/introducing-grouping-2-0#latest

Sadly ZOS is too busy giving us chat bubbles...

Iduyenn

Well, but as it seems, i am wrong, because not as many as i thought seem desperately in need of an alternate/temporary LFG system.
(Or the playerbase is already down to low).

Razzak

Iduyenn wrote: »

Well, but as it seems, i am wrong, because not as many as i thought seem desperately in need of an alternate/temporary LFG system.
(Or the playerbase is already down to low).

Or players realized how useless it is and stopped using it. I hope that's the case as it is easily remedied. A proper fix and a little positive feedback.

HeX7

I think it would be cool to have something like that if players created it. But at the same time, the players shouldn't have to

McLukos

I think players are getting comfortable using the "old school" method of chat spam. If ZOS ever fixes Group Finder ZOS may have to offer incentive to use it.

Razzak

McLukos wrote: »

I think players are getting comfortable using the "old school" method of chat spam. If ZOS ever fixes Group Finder ZOS may have to offer incentive to use it.

I think LFG tool that actually works is incentive enough.

Iduyenn

http://gw2lfg.com/lfgs/new

This one is actualy very good.
When you selected your options, you see everyone, who is searching a group for the same thing. And you see even, if someone has already x ppl in the group.

Since i dont think Zenimax will listen to us and give us more control and settings, this will be a good possibility.
Perhaps, we could even ask the Site owner, if he could copy-paste his code and alter it to a second site...

AngersRevenge

The LFG tool should have been on a top priority list to be fixed since launch. But, it has only gotten worse. With ESO:TU being B2P you would think ZOS would fix it. I know a lot of people will quit when they reach higher levels and can't find a group to do stuff.

If anyone does find a LFG website please let us know.

LIQUID741

This reminds me of the community created LFG for Destiny. Never had to wait for a group. People used it and always found a group due to it was their only choice. Funnel the peeps and they will use it. Shockingly simple but sadly implemented.

redspecter23

Maybe I'm not understanding how the current LFG works. I probably wouldn't be the only one. I want what basically amounts to a classified ad of grouping options that I can browse to find a group that works for me. I don't want to hit LFG and lock into vet Elden Hollow. It may be my first choice, but who's to say I wouldn't play vet Banished Cells if I could see a group posting a LFM ad and they only need one more member and it's exactly the role I play.

To me, this is the largest downfall of the current system. Give the the option to browse group listings and give group leaders complete control over the type of group they place in the ad. Let us see the content they want to run, if they are flexible with that choice in content, what roles and levels they currently have and what they're looking for. A well designed LFM system will let me browse 10, 20, 50 groups within a couple minutes and pick and choose what I'd want to join. The type of content that I need to go out of my way to look for groups for does not lend itself well to autogrouping with someone with the minimal amount of information you get with the current LFM system.

Ser Lobo

LIQUID741 wrote: »

This reminds me of the community created LFG for Destiny. Never had to wait for a group. People used it and always found a group due to it was their only choice. Funnel the peeps and they will use it. Shockingly simple but sadly implemented.

I really do hope someone builds a 'ESOLFG.com' website. I can't, as when it comes to modern websites, I'm a moron with one bullet in my pocket. But DestinyLFG was such a great site and really made finding a group a piece of cake.

This site would help out on PC or each console, no matter if the LFG tool is utilized or not. Some people want more quality out of the PUG's, and even with the LFG and Zone chat spam it's hard to get a group on the PC.

MCMancub

There's currently no Web API for ESO, so if someone were to make such a site, it wouldn't be legitimate.

EDIT: Such a site is really only feasible if you can validate actual game data. If you can't there's nothing stopping me from, say, signing up for a group without even owning the game.

Ser Lobo

MCMancub wrote: »

There's currently no Web API for ESO, so if someone were to make such a site, it wouldn't be legitimate.

EDIT: Such a site is really only feasible if you can validate actual game data. If you can't there's nothing stopping me from, say, signing up for a group without even owning the game.

Disagree, but only because DestinyLFG doesn't require game data. It really is a beauty, and necessary in Destiny, because you can't queue and there is no LFG tool for raids.

It lets you choose which console, which raid or instance, and even which region of your worried about latency (as they aren't broken into NA/EU like we are here). Or you can start an event yourself, choosing all the above as well as adding requirements or notes. You *CAN* link an account, but don't have to.

MCMancub

ruze84b14_ESO wrote: »

MCMancub wrote: »

There's currently no Web API for ESO, so if someone were to make such a site, it wouldn't be legitimate.

EDIT: Such a site is really only feasible if you can validate actual game data. If you can't there's nothing stopping me from, say, signing up for a group without even owning the game.

Disagree, but only because DestinyLFG doesn't require game data. It really is a beauty, and necessary in Destiny, because you can't queue and there is no LFG tool for raids.

It lets you choose which console, which raid or instance, and even which region of your worried about latency (as they aren't broken into NA/EU like we are here). Or you can start an event yourself, choosing all the above as well as adding requirements or notes. You *CAN* link an account, but don't have to.

That's what makes it not legitimate, at least in the most basic sense. If there's no data validation then it's all faith based. You're looking for people for your group on the assumption those players actually exist in the game. It works, but it's not a good way to go about it. I could make such a site pretty easily, but the thought of it being so vulnerable to bad data makes me cringe.

glak

MCMancub wrote: »

ruze84b14_ESO wrote: »

MCMancub wrote: »

There's currently no Web API for ESO, so if someone were to make such a site, it wouldn't be legitimate.

EDIT: Such a site is really only feasible if you can validate actual game data. If you can't there's nothing stopping me from, say, signing up for a group without even owning the game.

Disagree, but only because DestinyLFG doesn't require game data. It really is a beauty, and necessary in Destiny, because you can't queue and there is no LFG tool for raids.

It lets you choose which console, which raid or instance, and even which region of your worried about latency (as they aren't broken into NA/EU like we are here). Or you can start an event yourself, choosing all the above as well as adding requirements or notes. You *CAN* link an account, but don't have to.

That's what makes it not legitimate, at least in the most basic sense. If there's no data validation then it's all faith based. You're looking for people for your group on the assumption those players actually exist in the game. It works, but it's not a good way to go about it. I could make such a site pretty easily, but the thought of it being so vulnerable to bad data makes me cringe.

Better than the alternative, or would rather wait for hours to get a group?

MCMancub

glak wrote: »

MCMancub wrote: »

ruze84b14_ESO wrote: »

MCMancub wrote: »

There's currently no Web API for ESO, so if someone were to make such a site, it wouldn't be legitimate.

EDIT: Such a site is really only feasible if you can validate actual game data. If you can't there's nothing stopping me from, say, signing up for a group without even owning the game.

Disagree, but only because DestinyLFG doesn't require game data. It really is a beauty, and necessary in Destiny, because you can't queue and there is no LFG tool for raids.

It lets you choose which console, which raid or instance, and even which region of your worried about latency (as they aren't broken into NA/EU like we are here). Or you can start an event yourself, choosing all the above as well as adding requirements or notes. You *CAN* link an account, but don't have to.

That's what makes it not legitimate, at least in the most basic sense. If there's no data validation then it's all faith based. You're looking for people for your group on the assumption those players actually exist in the game. It works, but it's not a good way to go about it. I could make such a site pretty easily, but the thought of it being so vulnerable to bad data makes me cringe.

Better than the alternative, or would rather wait for hours to get a group?

How is it better than the alternative? I mean, I understand how it's a necessity in Destiny since there is no LFG tool, but even with how bad ESO's LFG tool is I can't imagine how anyone would prefer to use an illegitimate 3rd party application to find a group (outside of the game, mind you) rather than just use zone chat. Zone chat is the alternative, and it works well enough to not need this.

EDIT: If people aren't using the in-game LFG tool (which is the real problem with it), why do you think they'd be willing to take extra steps and use a 3rd party one?

Ser Lobo

MCMancub wrote: »

glak wrote: »

MCMancub wrote: »

ruze84b14_ESO wrote: »

MCMancub wrote: »

There's currently no Web API for ESO, so if someone were to make such a site, it wouldn't be legitimate.

EDIT: Such a site is really only feasible if you can validate actual game data. If you can't there's nothing stopping me from, say, signing up for a group without even owning the game.

Disagree, but only because DestinyLFG doesn't require game data. It really is a beauty, and necessary in Destiny, because you can't queue and there is no LFG tool for raids.

It lets you choose which console, which raid or instance, and even which region of your worried about latency (as they aren't broken into NA/EU like we are here). Or you can start an event yourself, choosing all the above as well as adding requirements or notes. You *CAN* link an account, but don't have to.

That's what makes it not legitimate, at least in the most basic sense. If there's no data validation then it's all faith based. You're looking for people for your group on the assumption those players actually exist in the game. It works, but it's not a good way to go about it. I could make such a site pretty easily, but the thought of it being so vulnerable to bad data makes me cringe.

Better than the alternative, or would rather wait for hours to get a group?

How is it better than the alternative? I mean, I understand how it's a necessity in Destiny since there is no LFG tool, but even with how bad ESO's LFG tool is I can't imagine how anyone would prefer to use an illegitimate 3rd party application to find a group (outside of the game, mind you) rather than just use zone chat. Zone chat is the alternative, and it works well enough to not need this.

EDIT: If people aren't using the in-game LFG tool (which is the real problem with it), why do you think they'd be willing to take extra steps and use a 3rd party one?

The LFG tool has no culling method. In zone or a third-party tool, the culling method is that they have to at least lie about their abilities, while many honest players will turn away due to their own internal guidance. There lies a short form of culling. After that, a quick few questions can usually weed through the rest. On Destiny LFG, finding a bunch of players to test was simple and easy.

My biggest complaint about using zone for that, is that you usually have to repeat your advertisement over and over again, spamming and filling the channel in a manner that completely breaks immersion, to get anything. In Destiny LFG, once you set up your ad, they usually contact you ... out of the way, without effecting anyone else or ruining anyone elses experience.

Plus, it's not taking up the screen while you do it, something that's crucial when your over two feet from your TV.

Troneon

+1 we need something. Doesn't look like they will fix LFG so....

MCMancub

Try to remember that the 3rd party Destiny LFG tool works well because people use it. This system would only work under that criteria as well.

Zone is a bit more tedious, but what about guild? I'm in 3 different 450+ member trading guilds and get immediate responses when I'm searching for a group there.

I'm not saying a 3rd party system is doomed to not work, I just don't see why it would work in ESO given the solutions the community has already developed for the LFG tool (zone and guild).

glak

MCMancub wrote: »

Try to remember that the 3rd party Destiny LFG tool works well because people use it. This system would only work under that criteria as well.

Zone is a bit more tedious, but what about guild? I'm in 3 different 450+ member trading guilds and get immediate responses when I'm searching for a group there.

I'm not saying a 3rd party system is doomed to not work, I just don't see why it would work in ESO given the solutions the community has already developed for the LFG tool (zone and guild).

We'll remember this when console comes out with text chat support.
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/168026/console-players-we-want-text-typing-chat#latest

Zet-7

Zone and guild chat is not effective enough.

5 guilds, each with 60 members online - 300 players + zone chat, which can vary from just you to around 50 others.

So about 350 people out of 4k is reached.

And do not forget that you need to refresh your advertisement in the chat just in case someone who was afk or just logged on/zoned in has not seen it.

A website thingie, regardless of legal thingie, is starting to sound like a better choice

NewBlacksmurf

Need an app for that

I'd use it tho. Just whomever does it ...if possible think about the Sestiny LFG.net app or something nice

AngersRevenge

DestinyLFG is awesome. I wouldn't have been able to do half the stuff I did without it. I think one of the things that made it good is that for as much as I used it I never encountered a jerk or *** bag when I grouped with someone. It was based off of the loyalty system (for levels and stuff) but I never saw anyone who lied either.

On a side note:

On the LFG UI there is a "dungeon mode" setting at the top middle (with a shield and a vet shield icon). And, there is a "For activity type:" setting with a drop down that has a selection for dungeon, trials, world, veteran dungeon, etc.

My question is; what do you use these settings for?

I have placed dungeon mode to vet and activity to vet. No group. Placed dungeon mode to vet and activity to dungeon. No group. Placed dungeon mode to regular and activity to vet. No group. Lastly, dungeon mode to regular and activity to vet. No group. Every combination I can think of and waited at least an hour to let the tool search for people.

I am thinking it uses both as a criteria to find other people to group with. What is the majority of other people's settings when using them?

MCMancub

It's more of a matter of "Would people use it?" than "Could it work?" If people would use a 3rd party tool why won't they use the in-game one? The console beta has shown us that the LFG tool works just fine, the problem is the player base. We witnessed (if you actually got into the beta/watched a stream of it) people finding groups with the tool within seconds to minutes, not hours. It's only effective if people use the tool.

I ask again, if people aren't using the in-game LFG tool, why would they want to use a 3rd party tool that does the same thing? Zone and guild aren't perfect, but it's what the community prefers, and the fact that people use them as the primary method for finding a group proves that.

Then there's the massive question, "What developer would spend time on a tool that would probably end up not being used much?" If you could prove to me that enough people would use it for the development to be worth my time, I'd make it.

Ser Lobo

MCMancub wrote: »

It's more of a matter of "Would people use it?" than "Could it work?" If people would use a 3rd party tool why won't they use the in-game one? The console beta has shown us that the LFG tool works just fine, the problem is the player base. We witnessed (if you actually got into the beta/watched a stream of it) people finding groups with the tool within seconds to minutes, not hours. It's only effective if people use the tool.

I ask again, if people aren't using the in-game LFG tool, why would they want to use a 3rd party tool that does the same thing? Zone and guild aren't perfect, but it's what the community prefers, and the fact that people use them as the primary method for finding a group proves that.

Then there's the massive question, "What developer would spend time on a tool that would probably end up not being used much?" If you could prove to me that enough people would use it for the development to be worth my time, I'd make it.

To answer your question from my perspective, it's because a third party tool gives me more freedom and control to vet the level and capabilities of the players I pickup.

It's little things most people don't think of. Are they on voice? Do they speak English? Are they sure of their class and how it functions?

A quick scan of the adverts on DestinyLFG, and you can see the intent behind some groups. Is the group leader playing sherpa to newer players (expect a lot of wipes, more than one coming to god session to teach how to play, etc)? Is the group leader a tool (if he has 'must have ghallajorn listed, it's a safe assumption) that'll spend more time yelling and dying than doing his job? Is it a timed run, where you better have your a game? Twitch feed for good connections?

As there was no queue system for raids in Destiny, and only a few raids to speak of, DestinyLFG saw a lot of participation ... and it was one site in many. Plus, Destiny pretty much had a raid night right after server reset, which funneled a bunch of players into trying to get their raids out at the same time, feeding participation.

The in-game LFG tool could be expanded to allow players to add notations, and pick from available groups instead of being assigned, etc. But I feel for low-level dungeons (non-vet), a queue would work much better. Don't worry about the group, just throw the randoms in together.