Are your player interactions getting more or less pleasant?

olemanwinter

I'm beginning to feel like most of the decent players (and by that I mean decent people) have left, leaving the bulk of the community the ....not so decent.

Now, of course...the remaining players are .....us.

But in general, I feel a trend towards worse player interactions. (or maybe I'm just losing my patience with them)

__________________________________________________________________________

My anecdotal story:

Tonight I ran a pledge. First the 4th player took forever to port into the dungeon because he was busy telling us how he was going to "break NB" by creating a new epic build that proves how OP it was. Apparently NB is OP and needs to be nerfed....but he needs to make a build to prove it. So that means nobody else is running the build. So why does it need a nerf again? Ugh.

Anyway, so about the time he revives in the dungeon we notice his buddy, the leader had it set to regular. Out we go so we can reset it. Except the leader instead goes further into the dungeon and starts fighting. WTF I ask? Well he "wanted to solo them so he could level vamp". So I'm sitting outside waiting.

It just got worse. Fighting groups that weren't necessary for the pledge. Party wipes at easy stages where long arguments followed about who was supposed to revive? After one wipe they proceeded to try to repeat the fight without the full group.

The last few moments of the group were punctuated by the other guy saying "At least I have accomplishments and results I can prove"

"What accomplishment's I asked"? Well......he said...and I quote "Check my registration date on the forums". *face/palm*

___________________________________________________________________________

Now, these types of encounters and quality of play have always existed...but what I've noticed now is that I'm getting play quality of new players from those with the arrogance and attitudes of having been around a year+. Most of the long-time veterans that left seems a few bricks short of a load. (heck me included perhaps).

More and more groups seem to be either total newb players that need hand holding (better) or weird acting, poor performing veterans that need but won't accept hand holding (worse).

What do you say?

Hlaadriel

That's why I try to avoid pugs....

Skiserony

There has been a fairly amount of new players, who ofcourse still aren't the best at the game and do not exceed the CP rank of most of us by far. I actually don't mind when I run with them and need to explain all mechanics. We've all been there and it's really awesome when you complete it.

But those weird acting, poor performing veterans really get on my nerves some times.

Nebthet78

This is why I will usually only PUG with players in my friend's list or from the guild I am in.

But, perhaps because of that, I haven't run into the issues you have been running into.

When I started accepting a spot in pug groups, I have typically made it very clear that I am very green on group dungeons, and I am not sure what roll my character was. Some awesome people took a chance on me and I learned very quickly which abilities work best and what roll best suited the character I was using.

I had been used to doing the Public Dungeons mostly on my own (except for 1 or 2 in Vet levels) without much issue and very little to no death.

What was confusing for me, especially since I do not use add-ons and don't want to, was figuring out the whole DPS, TANK thing. I will never know what my numbers are.

Example: Once I figured my vamp sorc was DPS, I changed my style on bosses to stand in the back where it is safer and fire like hell from that distance. I can then still run into the middle of a mob and spam my aoe a few times then distance myself again and still feel safe.

How did I learn all this? I listened to another player who was much more experienced than I was and was doing a pledge. We were in a PuG and our group leader would type out in our chat what we needed to do. We would try it, and fail. So we would try something else. Once we hit our proper roles, boy did things change and everything clicked into place.

I find in a lot of the groups that don't succeed, most of the players are all wanting to be the leader and wanting to get through it at warp speed and don't take any consideration to the other players they invited to the group.

I always have a rule of thumb for myself. If I am answering someone else's LF ad in chat, no matter what, I follow the group leader and what they want to do, unless it is specified that another player is the actual leader and they want to do the dungeon at a lower level.

RoamingRiverElk

I've gotten a couple of whispers in PvP from unhappy enemies (who died because they had weak builds / didn't know how to play / weren't careful enough) recently, but I can't call it a general trend yet because it's still rare. The people in my small PvP guild seem to have gotten closer and more tight-knit within the past couple of months, which means we act more like friends who have known each other a long time.

Then again, yesterday I got some whispers from a random grinder in Alik'r who was angry about us "dropping his xp gains to 50%", who told me to 'go back to WOW' and remembered to use curse words twice when trying to insult me. Luckily that kind of thing is still so rare that I take these kinds of incidents with just some curiosity about how some people can behave. [Grinding to v14 so people can PvP properly with new classes REALLY needs to be easier, the current pace is *ridiculously* slow and only available to those who have *lots* of time and patience.]

Lithium Flower

I was recently leveling up a new sorcerer alt and tried a group dungeon at about level 15 with a PuG that were looking for a DD. When I entered, it was apparent that they were all new players with not much experience but they were very good at listening to suggestions and understanding responding to tactics for bosses and mobs and asking questions about how to play their classes and roles. I tried to help them and they were enthusiastic about changing skills or trying different things. We finished the dungeon in about 20 minutes (which is a really good time for a dungeon scaled to one's level with a PuG of new players) with one wipe.

It was a very pleasant experience. I didn't hold on to their names and we never ran into each other again but I hope they continued leveling up and having fun in Tamriel.

Aballister

Can't say I have noticed them changing one way or the other.

mikifox

I have not been in ESO for a long enough period to know how people used to act, I would say however that 90% of people I run into are nice and respectful. Perhaps faction has something to do with it, as well as the time of day you play? Or... it could just be that I came from 7 years of world of farmville-craft and my experience with the toxic players there make the ones here smell like roses.

Spark

I haven't really noticed any change (EU server here). But I think what may have happened, is that the long time players capable of pleasant interaction have already found the people they're regularly grouping with. So it's possible that a smaller amount of them are looking for random groups/other interaction anymore.

Sausage

Hmm, this is actually normal behavior, if players dont get content, trolling/restlessness start to rise. This was one of the reason why I was supporter of a sub. F2P and B2P models means more trolling and fooling around.

Frogfoot

I'm pretty new to ESO and have been quite pleased with PUG behaviour so far. Several times I have said I'm a noob and got the "Dont worry" responce.
Far beter that WOW anyway which was hideous at times and usually got you kicked before setting foot in the dungeon!!

Zahne

I haven't noticed a change, I do dailies with my guildmates or pugs, I don't mind which and overall pugs are great, it's just that sometimes you get the..... tanks with low health/healer that forgets to heal/dps who takes the tanks shards/vampires who stand in the fire and then blame everyone/players who tell everyone else what to do as they are actually doing it/players who blame everyone else for anything and everything/dps who stands there and plays the lute during a boss fight and things its funny.

Thankfully the majority of pugs are great.

ADarklore

My experience, coming from having played DCUO on both PC and PS4... PC players are much more mature and knowledgeable than console players. There were ENDLESS complaints on DCUO's forums about players, and almost all of them involved complaints against console players. PC players tend to have more tech knowledge and are more likely to use their computers to do research and learn about the game, builds, etc. Console players, from my experience, tend to lack the desire to look outside of their console for answers to questions or to learn about the game- they jump in and do what they want to do and play how they want to play, regardless of how it impacts others. They don't want to learn the game, they want to play the game, and this attitude creates a mess for veteran players who've taken the time to learn their skills. Further, console players tend to be younger, more immature, and downright obnoxious at times.

I had actually shifted FROM PS4 to PC in DCUO, and found the experience refreshing. PC players, from my experience, were a lot nicer and helpful than most I'd experienced on the console.

Now, I'm not saying ALL console players fit this description, but I'm going based upon my own personal experience within a game I played over two years.

Fruitmass

Eh, I've run into about as many friendly folks as I have total jerks. The good one's might not be as vocal and are considerably more reclusive but they're still out there.

Really when I think about it, it's been about where it's always been. People still camp anchor pinions without contributing to the event. Folks still bicker over the price of vamp and ww bites. Lot's of arguing over ninja looting chests and material nodes. Zone chat in any given 1-50 zone pretty much shatters my faith in humanity on a daily basis... yeah nothing much changed there, lol.

Now let's see, worst person I've run into so far was a random bosmer who so eloguently told me to "@*^& off" after I killed a mob he was fighting. He looked like he was having difficulty so I went over with the sincere intention of giving him a helping hand. Guess he figured I was trying to kill steal or something. Ah well, that's life I guess.

olemanwinter

Lithium Flower wrote: »

I was recently leveling up a new sorcerer alt and tried a group dungeon at about level 15 with a PuG that were looking for a DD. When I entered, it was apparent that they were all new players with not much experience but they were very good at listening to suggestions and understanding responding to tactics for bosses and mobs and asking questions about how to play their classes and roles. I tried to help them and they were enthusiastic about changing skills or trying different things. We finished the dungeon in about 20 minutes (which is a really good time for a dungeon scaled to one's level with a PuG of new players) with one wipe.

It was a very pleasant experience. I didn't hold on to their names and we never ran into each other again but I hope they continued leveling up and having fun in Tamriel.

I've had these experiences too and they are great. I've actually really enjoyed leveling up some alts recently and playing the game with the new blood. But whether dealing with rage whispers from enemies in PvP, petty bickering with my own alliance in PvP, or experiences in PvE like I wrote about earlier......playing my higher VR mains is really hit or miss about who I'm going to run into.

olemanwinter

Spark wrote: »

I haven't really noticed any change (EU server here). But I think what may have happened, is that the long time players capable of pleasant interaction have already found the people they're regularly grouping with. So it's possible that a smaller amount of them are looking for random groups/other interaction anymore.

That very well may be. I know I had my "regulars" and never did much PUG grouping, but more and more of my "regulars" have left the game. Constantly weeding through the randoms trying to make new connections in a game that hemorrhages players as fast as this one does...is a real challenge.

MornaBaine

I don't pug for this reason. I exclusively run with my guild or I don't bother. However, I have found my encounters with other players increasingly irritating for a completely different reason. Player harassment is rampant in this game and getting worse. Players going in to banks and spamming spells so you are constantly being irritated by the never ending flashing light show and sounds is commonplace. And gods forbid anyone sees you roleplaying or even standing or sitting still near another character and they SUSPECT you are roleplaying even if you are not using emotes or saying anything in spatial. Then the insults and lewd suggestions begin, the vast majority of which I cannot repeat here or this post will be yanked. AND the spamming of spells begins and will go on for as long as you refuse to flee the area. Apparently a lot of people are willing to devote up to an hour or more to this new fun game activity. And even though this is a reportable offense ZoS apparently now lacks the staff to respond to these reports and remove the offending players from the area where they are harassing others. Pretty much the only reason I'm still playing this game and giving ZoS fifteen bucks a month is because of my guild.

eliisra

That's why they made pledges very easy in 1.6. To welcome all the b2p guys. My last pug pledge was the worse thing I ever seen and we still cleared Spindle no problem.

First dps being a templar only using Jesus Beam from start to finish.

Second dps is a 31k health DK using heavy armor and DW. Probably found his stoner build on Battlemaster's Corner. Also unable to locate the group chat(responding to my "hi" or "ready" is hard?).

The tank over-taunting like crazy while typing "stop stealing my aggro guys". Than goes afk for 15 minutes because his son wants to have ice cream.

We still made it without drama, rage and more surprisingly no deaths

So as far as attitude goes, I dont think it's gotten that much worse. Just a lot of guys that dont know builds, basic mechanics and dungeon etiquette. If you're easily annoyed by that, dont do pugs. But can be a bit hard to avoid when like 90% of your friend list stopped playing the game.

TheSunAlsoRises

ehhhhh. it's about the same. only much less people than during release.

PhatGrimReaper

I'm in a position where I have no option because of my timsezone.... Sometimes I have to do the dailies with a PUG... Its kind of 50/50... some days you bump into a whole group of four people that know what they are doing and others where you have to ask the tank if he has a taunt. I feel that the average quality of player has diminished since b2p and its lead to more bickering in groups/raids.

traigusb14_ESO2

Some good some bad in PUGs haven't noticed more crazy vet jerks than normal in there.

Out in the world... lots more.

Craiglorn jerk harvesters... Check...

Running my 3rd character through VR 5-6 EP zones...(well not EP zones,,, you know what I mean). Doing my quests and getting yelled at by grinders all over the place. Not even in a VR10 zone... I can't imagine what that must be like right now.

Dekken_Blake

I see what I kind of expect in starter/pledge/craglorn zones. There are some very juvenile and ignorant zone chats, but the majority of people I interact with seem very pleasant. I have actually gotten more "good fight" whispers in PvP than rage or gloating ones.

Moonshadow66

I think the overall decency is getting worse, I've never seen so many selfish and rude players before TU came out. As annoying as it is, at some point I started to "just let it go", knowing that someday it all comes back anyways.

About the dungeons; I rarely run group dungeons (never pledges, never trials, though, but doesn't matter), but what you described in the OP is pretty much what I experienced also before TU already. It's these PUGs that often don't work out.

We had tanks starting whenever they felt like they're ready (no matter if the others are), we had DPS players that ran ahead on their own all the time and started fighting, even when the others were still at the entrance, and what not.
Same from one dungeon to the next (in Craglorn) were one was always riding in a different direction to a different/random dungeon and expected everyone else to follow to whereever she feels like it.

Also in Craglorn, three of our group (including me) were on a quest. The other two were NBs and were sneaking through dozens of enemies, while I stayed behind and had to fight alone. Not for long, of course. Happened a few times, then I just opened the map and travelled back to Rawl'kha where I parked and logged out.

One time in a Craglorn dungeon, someone was asking if anyone has some food left, I clicked to interact since I had half a stack left I could share, but they were just starting fighting the boss, and my character was dead right in the next moment (the tank aplogized with the words "I was too excited!").
Same dungeon, I was doing both DPS and healing and was as good as I've never been before, I could keep the others alive until the end (in the last try, of course, after the food-death incidence) and could deal a lot of damage also. Well, one of the random players was giving me [snip] afterwards about how much I sucked.

That's PUGs. NEVER AGAIN!!

Whenever I have enough of other players for the day, I just play in invisible mode. No one can interact with me, and I stay out of any chat. Much more peaceful.

[Moderator Note: Edited per our rules on Cursing & Profanity]

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gard

I don't have this problem, because I don't typcically pug.

I group with my guildmates, most of whom I have been gaming with for several years.
Yeah, we recruit new members.. but we don't accept just anybody. There's an application process and a probationary period.
Not that we're snobs - it isn't necessarily about being the best player or having the best gear. It's about being a good guild/groupmate.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO

I cant remember the last time I was able to find enough vet rank players to form a group. So I guess that means less pleasant?

Victus

I've experienced the few oddballs but for the most part people are still decent.

Robbmrp

Hlaadriel wrote: »

That's why I try to avoid pugs....

Not all pugs are pad. My wife and I have met some really nice people doing pugs. People from all over the world.

Most of the [snip] it seems are mainly in Craglorn waiting for you to fight the mob by that node so they can take it without effort.....

[Moderator Note: Edited per our rules on Cursing & Profanity]

Nestor

I see PUG grouping like dating. You know in the first few minutes of talking to someone if it's going to at least be worth going forward. If the feeling is not there, then move on.

I have only had two bad grouping situations, both in the past. Otherwise, things seem to go smoothly. Well, one was kind of messed up because i did not realize I could not get to where the person who needed help was. But I tried to get them hooked up with someone who could, not sure how that went.

Anyway, I would have kicked this person from the group as soon as I saw break NB" by creating a new epic build that proves how OP it was. or anything like that. This person is more concerned with something else than doing a group to accomplish a goal with the group. Things like, give me a minute, or let me get my bar set up or even do you have any tips to get through this, these are people I would group with over anyone who thought they are all that and a biscuit. The latter is willing to work or listen or take advice or demonstrates they understand they are in a group. Everything else can be worked out after that.

Of course Vet Pledges are a little different, and need some coordination. Especially Gold Level, I did one of those once and was never hit harder by VR1 mobs than in a Gold Vet Pledge. But, I also now know that going in, so I would not even accept an invitation unless it came with, we will help you get through this. But, I don't expect that, so it's all good, and I have no interest in chasing the loot that comes with those, so it's no loss for me.

Whendim_ESO

I don't think it's changed. I only joined a guild recently because it seemed all I saw in general chat was smack talking idiots, so I took my time and found a group that I think I'll like. Lithium Flower - I would love someone who would tell me how to play better.

Gargragrond

I receive hate whispers every other time I use a detect potion. It's awesome.