Group Finder and Me

Galwylin

Last night I did my first group dungeon. I should say I did my first group dungeon with a group. Come to find out, soloing (and sometimes not able to solo) dungeons is boring. Fights are just too long and its so spammy. Any way, I thought what the heck, all they can do is kick me and harass me until forever. I was playing a nightblade. We sometimes think everyone is a dev. So, it takes forever since I am dps. I did two dolmans sitting around waiting which isn't bad for a weeknight. And its Vault of Madness. Wow, what a dungeon. But it was great. I really liked it. I'm sure all of you have been but I loved that fall. My guy screamed twice I believe which tickled me. I was the first person who said anything ("I found a hole" where I fell off the plank and died). In fact, I was the only death and due to myself.

They probably thought gee, what a noob because I was all over the place trying to keep damage up while not requiring the healers help. And afterward, everyone said thanks to everyone and we left. I think there may have been another nightblade there (so that's where the meetings are). Now at first, since I am level capped, it qued me for a vet dungeon which I though oh no. I'm not doing that to someone. But I figure these normal ones I can solo some portions so perhaps it will be okay. I swear half the playing with others I avoid is due to fear. I just don't feel I've gotten my L2P finished. And I have no idea how important these things are to people. But its nice seeing classes work together since that is a total new experience for me. Eight months of pure solo play. Which is fine. But I think I'll at least do these daily (for that useless reward I get). Just thought I'd share another pointless observation

idk

Glad the experience was positive.

L2P is a constant. Everyone has room to improve more. Well, we all will learn more come Monday.

AlnilamE

Vaults of Madness is my favourite "Normal" dungeon (from when there was a distinction).

The flesh atro fight used to be epic, particularly when he managed to knock someone off the platform.

Second favourite is Blessed Crucible, in case you were wondering.

Voxicity

Group finder is definitely a bit hit or miss.

Thankfully my wife and I can carry groups through anything except HM CoS and RoM. Just today we queued for vCoS and had 2 low levels (DD and healer) who hadn't done the dungeon before. I explained the mechanics before each boss and we got through it fine, actually I was quite impressed with the healer since it was his first time and there's a lot of spike damage there.

I've also had groups where the other dps is flexing his muscles and acting like the tough guy in the group, even though with combat metrics I can see that I'm pulling 75%+ of the groups dps. That's always a laugh

I remember when we struggled for hours to complete Blackheart Haven on normal mode, which is what motivates me to not just give up on new players. If they're willing to learn and improve, then there's no harm in spending a few extra minutes in the dungeon. After all, we all started somewhere, as cliché as that sounds

Glad you had a positive experience anyway

lillybit

Galwylin wrote: »

I swear half the playing with others I avoid is due to fear. I just don't feel I've gotten my L2P finished.

I felt exactly the same before I started doing dungeons with groups! I 100% soloed for over a year and took on a lot of the dungeons solo. But, like you, I found them time consuming and finally thought 'What the hell?' If I can solo them I'm not going to drag a group down too much.

I still feel I'm not as good as the average player (I'm a little older and my reactions aren't what they used to be) but experience tells me that maybe that isn't always the case. I'm betting after you've done a few, you'll notice the same thing. Tho honestly, as long as you end up with a tank and healer that at least try to play their roles, you can't go much wrong as DPS as long as you avoid just spamming light attacks. At least in Normal dungeons!

Galwylin

I'm going to let the winds take me where they will but I hope to at least see all the normal ones.

So they used to knock you off the platform? Hah, that happened to me fighting the Lich King in WoW. Of course that game made me so angry about everything. Here I just try to take it easy (except the constant nightblade nerfs, dammit!). Just a few gold to repair. No big deal. But I know people can really lose it. I used to. At the game. Not the people. Well, a few people. But they were WoW players. So.

kylewwefan

Glad you had a good experience. Little known tip, use the group finder even if you have pre made group. It gives you a bit more weapon/spell power.

Merlin13KAGL

This sounds like the name of an Imperial children's book. One that probably ends with little Billy weeping in the corner. (Due to it's current implementation, not due you, OP.)

The good news is, that's supposed to get fixed next patch.

Glad things went well for you. Sometimes you get those delightful surprises. When you come across good players that you synergize with, add them to your list.

Most people knew hardly anyone when they first began. This was one way we all found other people.

*(On a less positive note, sometimes it is also worth noting who to avoid. Sad, but true.)

Good luck out there.

lillybit

kylewwefan wrote: »

Glad you had a good experience. Little known tip, use the group finder even if you have pre made group. It gives you a bit more weapon/spell power.

Except if you're on PS4 where it absolutely refuses to work that way

Galwylin

Alright then. Four uses of group finder (all normal) and still seems enjoyable. Though I do wish I had a clue about the dungeon. I have no idea where I'm going and apparently the only one who hasn't done a quest. But everyone does let me catch up without a word so maybe I get the silent cursing.

I think it was City of Ash II where the system kicked me out before the two characters finished their performance so that quest remains incomplete. I went through all of that one thinking I missed a step. But I do think they should have that so the dungeon remains active until they get through and you complete the quest instead of just kicking you out.

Still, I am currently happy with things and appreciate everyone I've played with for putting up with me while I'm learning all of this. Maybe one day I'll hit a dungeon I actually am familiar with and they'll be able to see my lack of skill instead. Not that they haven't but chicken with its head cut off covers so much

CaptainBeerDude

@Galwylin just remember to stand in front of the healer and behind the tank. No need to dance too much unless the healer can't keep up (or there is massive amounts of stupid around)

Lavennin

I'm a noob and my pug experience has been great, meeting exclusively decent people and some were happy to teach me a thing or two. I don't think it's that bad, kicking or whatever. But if I keep doing it eventually I'll have some bad experience, which can't be the norm.

You can probably group with some guildies to learn about the mechanics if you are nervous? Just know you are a much better player than me and I've been shamelessly queueing for pledges so you've got nothing to fear

Galwylin

Well, been using the finder just about every day or so. The other day a guildie took me into a vet with it. I died a few times on the last mob. Took me a bit to figure out how to stop that. One poor guy wanted us to do something at a different mob and I was so sorry but I had no idea what he was talking about. Whatever it was, we didn't do it and I still don't know what he was talking about. I think that is probably hard to accomplish with finder since I think you'd need to run something a few times just to learn what to do. Finder probably gives you new folks most of the time.

A group going into White Gold Tower apparently all got kicked out for some reason. Still grouped just removed for not being in one. I knew enough from the forums about this bug and so did the rest it seems. From that vet I ran, I got my first monster helm. I was going through the stuff I'd picked up, what to trash and what to put back, when I found this helm with just two bonuses. I thought, what is this? Then it occurred to me, that trophy I got, this helm, I asked my guildie if that was a vet and sure enough it was. I think I died the most from White Gold Tower and Fungal Grove vet. Both had mechanics that could kill you if you didn't figure out what was coming next. Which meant most would kill you first off. I wished they'd just build up or something. I don't like anything that kills you for lack of knowledge or needing some outside the game to explain them. Even another player. I like to learn things within the framework of the game where my character lives.

I still haven't ran into any angry people and I have to be the worst thing some players could encounter. I fall off edges, I roll into red stuff, I'm hitting the ability on my second bar while still on my first thinking I had switched. I'm not a precision player by any means. Its one reason I'm just grasping what gear will give the most benefits for what I want. Its for fun. I don't like to get worked up over a game. Especially in the game itself. Now the forums... getting worked up here is the fun part.

zaria

Galwylin wrote: »

I'm going to let the winds take me where they will but I hope to at least see all the normal ones.

So they used to knock you off the platform? Hah, that happened to me fighting the Lich King in WoW. Of course that game made me so angry about everything. Here I just try to take it easy (except the constant nightblade nerfs, dammit!). Just a few gold to repair. No big deal. But I know people can really lose it. I used to. At the game. Not the people. Well, a few people. But they were WoW players. So.

Off the platform, that make me think of the AA trial end boss, sometimes people roll dodge off the platform

And normal dungeons are easy so they tend to be smooth, its no drama until group start to wipe.

Galwylin

Haven't seen a group wipe yet. I think my response will be log lol

Magdalina

Galwylin wrote: »

Haven't seen a group wipe yet. I think my response will be log lol

You'd log if your group wiped?o_O That's...kind of a very mean thing to do, especially given groupfinder in its current state is struggling greatly with finding replacements. Also, dying is how you learn

Galwylin

Oh, I figured I'd be the reason for the wipe. Just joking anyways. I'd accept my kick gracefully

bigdeal15

[quote="Galwylin;c-4142647"
I fall off edges, I roll into red stuff, I'm hitting the ability on my second bar while still on my first thinking I had switched. I'm not a precision player by any means. Its one reason I'm just grasping what gear will give the most benefits for what I want. Its for fun. I don't like to get worked up over a game. Especially in the game itself. Now the forums... getting worked up here is the fun part.
[/quote]

laughing about this. Many a time I have thought I was on my destro staff bar but am on resto staff bar instead healing the heck out of every mob in sight!

Magdalina

Galwylin wrote: »

Oh, I figured I'd be the reason for the wipe. Just joking anyways. I'd accept my kick gracefully

Haha well only jerks kick(or leave) after first wipe. Dying is how you learn. It's not about "my god I died, they died, we suck, I'ma just ragequit/kick them all"(some people do that -.-), it's about "so I died to this thing...I guess I'll have to avoid it next time, block/shield/dodge/go ranged/stack with group etc"

Galwylin

I got used to group dynamics in WoW. It drove me crazy to no end that they would vote to kick our tank or healer knowing the wait we would have. And it happened so often like why are these dps so certain what a good tank or healer is if they aren't playing one. Its how I eventually started tanking and healing myself. I never got kicked but I did get plenty of "tips" which were presented as "you idiot". I hope we never see that here. And were not talking that happening in raids. WoW was just toxic all the way around and just one reason I'll never play that game again.

vyndral13preub18_ESO

Galwylin wrote: »

I got used to group dynamics in WoW. It drove me crazy to no end that they would vote to kick our tank or healer knowing the wait we would have. And it happened so often like why are these dps so certain what a good tank or healer is if they aren't playing one. Its how I eventually started tanking and healing myself. I never got kicked but I did get plenty of "tips" which were presented as "you idiot". I hope we never see that here. And were not talking that happening in raids. WoW was just toxic all the way around and just one reason I'll never play that game again.

I use to love it when the tank and healer would get in fights. Both sure that they were the most important part of the dungeon. Then spend the whole dungeon telling the other one they sucked and trying to kick each other back and forth. Until one would get angry enough and just quit.

Cadtruck

I have been having decent group finder experiences. Only two real recent negatives come to mind.

The other day I ran veteran City of Ash and our tank was drunk AF. He kept taking big ol bong rips in the middle of the run. I should have voted to kick him but it was somewhat funny. Took a little longer than usual.

Yesterday I ran normal Blackheart Haven using the LFG random dungeon. Our healer left right away because the tank and other DPS skipped all the mobs at the beginning and he got lost. We 3 manned all the way to the Captain where our tank just left group because he was farming Bone Pirates Impen. He said "Thanks guys for the farm run! This boss is cake you two got it NP" and left group. Thanks for wasting my time on that one....

Galwylin

Ouch. See, that kind of behavior needs to be stopped right now or we will have WoW 2.0

Galwylin

I didn't get to use group finder too much today. Got one dungeon but something was wrong with it. You couldn't que. Sometimes if you just kept clicking it for a minute or two it would accept it. I was trying to use it with the battlegrounds. Either its messed up for everyone really bad or people aren't playing these too much. My dungeon was super quick. Got that one that starts with a M from Shadows of the Hist. We lost one and replaced him without a big wait. The tank, no less. I just remembered, I did three dungeons. Crypt of Hearts (I believe that was the name). I had done that one before and Banished Cells II which I thought I hadn't done only I but I had played through it before so guess I got em mixed up. Was impressed that I got a new personality, heroic, which looks pretty good. Better than the Theif that I bought. Wished they'd fix that run animation. Its embarrassing. Hope you guys have had better luck with the Finder.