Getting instanced with people on your block list

L_Nici

Yes I agree I got grouped with people on my igno before and as soon as he noticed he stopped doing the dungeon, but stayed in group so we would be forced to vote him out, which of course failed since he queued with a friend, who blocked the vote. With that we were 2 players down and couldn't do anything about it. On top of that the 2 even started to talk *** about me and insulted the crap out of the other player who refused to vote me out.

Tsar_Gekkou

If people didn't get matched with those on their blocklist, people would block everyone who beats them in battlegrounds or sucks in dungeons, and people with big blocklists would have a hard time finding people after a while (if the block limit is large enough).

SickleCider

redspecter23 wrote: »

Versispellis wrote: »

Stebarnz wrote: »

Someone creams you in BG you block them so as not to get creamed by a better player! grow up!

Nice bait. I never PVP.

It may be bait, but it would be a consequence of what you're asking for. Some players would use it this way. They would simply start ignoring players for all sorts of reasons. That removes them from the potential pool of BG opponents. As I mentioned above, I'd use the system to basically ban all pets from my instances. Others would find very creative ways to abuse the system for their own personal gain.

As with any system, outliers and potential abuses need to be considered even if you're coming from a very sincere situation to begin with. Take the proposal and twist it as far as possible to see if it's not broken and your proposal is currently very broken. It would need to be refined to prevent abuses worse than the ones you're looking to avoid by implementing it.

See, this is a much more reasoned way to bring up the issue. Earlier on in the thread, we entertained the possibility of something in-house that would have a hard cap on it, so that people couldn't run rampant with the feature. That turned out to have serious flaws, though.

I think, based on the current infrastructure of the game, this topic is dead in the water. That really. . . really bites, but it is what it is.

spartaxoxo

tmbrinks wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

tmbrinks wrote: »

Versispellis wrote: »

@tmbrinks I really don't think that's analogous, or at all what people are asking for. The situation is really more like that person steps into a Starbucks you happen to be in, and as a consequence you can't leave and go to another Starbucks, you just have to not have Starbucks if you want to avoid this person, because every Starbucks is the same Starbucks.

My whole thing is that I don't want to escalate things with a report if I don't have to. I think a lot of conflicts of personality can be just avoided rather than confronted.

But that is what has been asked for.

A person is being abusive. You want the "block" feature to restrict contact of any type, intentional or non-intentional. What I stated is the real-life analogy (since a restraining order is the real-life equivalent to a "block" feature)

The intentional is them being in a place they KNOW you would be at (your home, your work, your kids' school)

The non-intentional are places you MIGHT be going. Store, coffee shop, etc... I'm pretty sure restraining orders don't restrict you from going to these types of places (I don't have one... lol)

Real life restraining orders do work that way. They can't be within a certain distance from you. If you show up to someplace they happened to be at, they have to do their best to stay 100 feet from you and generally speaking you just leave those that's not always feasible.

Yes, but they don't restrict them from actually going to those places, they just restrict you from interacting with the person the restraining order is against (and they have to try and avoid you)... just like the block list restricts the person from being able to interact/message you.

Yeah but the person in this game on the block list can still do just quest right next to you or follow you around. Whereas a person with a restraining order has to actively stay far away from you.

A digital equivalent would be the person having to switch instances or not being put in that instance if you're around.

So while I agree that's it's not the way it works here and for good reason, I don't think that's a particularly good comparison.

Araneae6537

I honestly don’t think that’s reasonable, OP. If you’ve blocked someone, then you won’t see them in zone chat, etc. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect ZOS to maintain whole other instances of zone maps. How would that even work??? How many nearly empty zones might that create (going by everyone’s block list)???

Tamriel is a large place, just go somewhere else if you can’t stand to even see a character. Or if they are somehow following you around to troll you then that should be reported.

idk

.

Raiden_Gekkou wrote: »

If people didn't get matched with those on their blocklist, people would block everyone who beats them in battlegrounds or sucks in dungeons, and people with big blocklists would have a hard time finding people after a while (if the block limit is large enough).

True. It should never impact any aspect of BG match making.

Dagoth_Rac

I think the issue is that the permutations become insanely convoluted very quickly.

Adam has Brian blocked. Brian has Adam blocked. Christine has Adam and Brian blocked.

There are currently two instances of Southern Elsweyr, each with 1000 players. Adam logs in and goes to instance X. Brian logs in, ESO sees he has Adam blocked and places Brian in instance Y. Christine logs in, ESO sees she has Adam blocked so cannot put her in instance X. ESO sees she has Brian blocked so cannot put her in instance Y. So it spins up a new instance Z just for Christine? Possibly, and then just starts moving players to that instance at a high rate until it reaches parity with instances X and Y. That is an extra instance than necessary and will use up server resources, but that can be justified to keep players happy and comfortable with their gaming experience.

But what happens if someone logs in who has Adam and Brian and Christine blocked? Now we are up to 4 instances? Even worse, that new player does not need Adam, Brian, and Christine exactly on their block list. They just need 1 person out of the 1000 in instance X, 1 person out of the 1000 in instance Y, and 1 person out of the 1000 in instance Z.

What about guild events? "We are doing world boss runs in Elsweyr! X for group." The leader is in instance Y. 10 people join the group. But 3 of the people have Brian on their block list, so they cannot go to instance Y. The other 7 people have never heard of Brian and are not sure why the group is split up and cannot play together because of someone they do not know who is not even in the group. Maybe give the lead to another member of group? That person is in instance X, without Brian. Everyone tries to travel to new leader. But David is instance X and 2 people in group have David blocked.

This is an incredibly simple example. What happens when you are dealing with thousands upon thousands of players with overlapping and intertwining block lists?

Stebarnz

Versispellis wrote: »

Stebarnz wrote: »

Someone creams you in BG you block them so as not to get creamed by a better player! grow up!

Nice bait. I never PVP.

then in what possible instancing could it be a problem?

Blinkin8r

It sucks, yes. But imagine how many instances there would have to be if no one who blocked someone could be in the same instance. Also, even if this game's server could support that many instances (which it in no way can) imagine how long the load screen would be considering how poorly zos would write the code

regime211

Versispellis wrote: »

I'm sorry to add more to the mound of complaints on the forum, but this is an issue that really sticks with me.

Seriously. Why are we still getting instanced with people on our block list? When I block someone, it's a very clear indicator that I do NOT want to play with that person, and I shouldn't have to avoid maps or playing at certain hours to stay away from that person. Relogging just keeps chucking you into the same instance, too. It's almost like blocking improves your chances of matching with someone.

PS4. I don't know if it's different on other platforms. In all the other PS4 games I play, blocking someone prevents matching with them, so it's a thing that's possible to implement.

EDIT: Sorry the above sounded a little confrontational in hindsight. I didn't intend the tone to be grating, but it sure is! The post should have been framed as a question: why does this happen? Some people have pointed out some technical limitations and uncertainties that are worth a consideration.

It just blocks communication.

Taleof2Cities

Versispellis wrote: »

Nice bait. I never PVP.

Stebarnz wrote: »

then in what possible instancing could it be a problem?

Great question.

If a player is truly worried about instancing of their block list in a video game ... it’s probably time to sit down and do some self-introspection.

Jeremy

Versispellis wrote: »

I'm sorry to add more to the mound of complaints on the forum, but this is an issue that really sticks with me.

Seriously. Why are we still getting instanced with people on our block list? When I block someone, it's a very clear indicator that I do NOT want to play with that person, and I shouldn't have to avoid maps or playing at certain hours to stay away from that person. Relogging just keeps chucking you into the same instance, too. It's almost like blocking improves your chances of matching with someone.

PS4. I don't know if it's different on other platforms. In all the other PS4 games I play, blocking someone prevents matching with them, so it's a thing that's possible to implement.

EDIT: Sorry the above sounded a little confrontational in hindsight. I didn't intend the tone to be grating, but it sure is! The post should have been framed as a question: why does this happen? Some people have pointed out some technical limitations and uncertainties that are worth a consideration.

It would be nice in respect to the Activity Finder. Whether or not it would be worth the extra levels of code to make it happen I'm not sure.

What ever happens, at least having them on your ignore list keeps you from having to listen to them. Which can be a kind of heaven under the right circumstances. So even if you are grouped with them, it still has its benefits.

Kadoin

I remember when you played an online game and people were more grown up and actually dealt with things instead of running to options to give them a false sense of power over others. Perhaps that's exactly why online gaming has become so toxic these days: the very tools that used to be used sparingly are now paraded as tools to inflate personal egos while attempting to control and confine others. Even though most things could be solved with simple communication.

How pathetic.

Sylvermynx

Kadoin wrote: »

I remember when you played an online game and people were more grown up and actually dealt with things instead of running to options to give them a false sense of power over others. Perhaps that's exactly why online gaming has become so toxic these days: the very tools that used to be used sparingly are now paraded as tools to inflate personal egos while attempting to control and confine others. Even though most things could be solved with simple communication.

How pathetic.

Hmmm. I started playing MMOs in 2006. I actually never had any interaction from then to now in an MMO which exemplified "grown up".

Instead, to this day, what I find happens is that people go out of their way to make life as difficult for others as possible.

Which is why I play this game solo.

Infectious1X

Just block and ignore people you dislike. It really is that simple.

Don’t worry, you won’t die if you have to occasionally instance with people you dislike.

idk

Taleof2Cities wrote: »

Versispellis wrote: »

Nice bait. I never PVP.

Stebarnz wrote: »

then in what possible instancing could it be a problem?

Great question.

If a player is truly worried about instancing of their block list in a video game ... it’s probably time to sit down and do some self-introspection.

This is probably the best reply in this thread.

MajBludd

You have to deal with people you may not like.
If you can't overcome the fact that they are near your pixels, you may have a bigger issue.

Stebarnz

Taleof2Cities wrote: »

Versispellis wrote: »

Nice bait. I never PVP.

Stebarnz wrote: »

then in what possible instancing could it be a problem?

Great question.

If a player is truly worried about instancing of their block list in a video game ... it’s probably time to sit down and do some self-introspection.

This person gets a salute!

SenpaiNFT

My lord, how soft are you?

SickleCider

SenpaiNFT wrote: »

My lord, how soft are you?

I don't know why you want to know what texture I am, but I'm happy to help. I'm soft kind of like a kitten. My hair is the softest part of me, and I like to wear soft sweaters. I also like to use this really lovely lotion called "Hand Food." It smells like rose and bergamot. I recommend it.

AlnilamE

Yeah, when it comes to zone shards (instances), it may be difficult to keep you in an instance that's not shared with anyone on your block list.

This would be particularly hard during events, when everyone and their mother is in the same zone.

I do certainly hope that the group finder doesn't group you with people you have blocked, but who knows?

For zone PUGs (for trials and Cyro, for example), that would be tricky, since you don't know who is in the group before joining. Unless the game gave you a message before you accept the invite saying "you will be grouped with player X, who is on your block list, are you sure you want to accept the invite?" - But then you would have to present your excuses to the group leader, as it would be rude to just refuse the invite after asking for it.

Anhedonie

Yeah, I remember blocking one really nasty person with hopes that I won't get with him in the same dungeon anymore. Group Finder matched us 5 more times that day.

SickleCider

AlnilamE wrote: »

Yeah, when it comes to zone shards (instances), it may be difficult to keep you in an instance that's not shared with anyone on your block list.

This would be particularly hard during events, when everyone and their mother is in the same zone.

I do certainly hope that the group finder doesn't group you with people you have blocked, but who knows?

For zone PUGs (for trials and Cyro, for example), that would be tricky, since you don't know who is in the group before joining. Unless the game gave you a message before you accept the invite saying "you will be grouped with player X, who is on your block list, are you sure you want to accept the invite?" - But then you would have to present your excuses to the group leader, as it would be rude to just refuse the invite after asking for it.

Yeah, there are definitely two things I took for granted when I issued my complaint: I thought there were more instances than there are, and I honestly didn't think about how gigantic some people's block lists must be. I don't tend to interact with people much, so my PSN block list has. . . I don't know, a dozen people on it, collectively. I think most of them are from Overwatch. lol It just never even occurred to me that people would block each other over petty things, like losing matches, because I'm not wired that way.

Your idea has some potential, though yeah, for the reasons you pointed out, it'd need a little refinement.

SickleCider

Anhedonie wrote: »

Yeah, I remember blocking one really nasty person with hopes that I won't get with him in the same dungeon anymore. Group Finder matched us 5 more times that day.

That's rough. See, this is what I'm saying. What is the answer to this? Just stop playing for the day? That hardly seems fair.

yodased

Blame multi platform for this. If it was just a ps4 game or Xbox or PC then what you are asking for is not too difficult to implement.

But you have too many services and accounts involved to be feasible to create and update functions that intermingled with in game functions. They would have to create different versions of matching software for every platform.

Instead they just implement what they can control which is effectively a social ban. I would be more worried about the state of the population if you are continually matched with someone you blocked as multiple matching over days with the same person is statistically crazy unless it's a very very small pool.

SickleCider

yodased wrote: »

Blame multi platform for this. If it was just a ps4 game or Xbox or PC then what you are asking for is not too difficult to implement.

But you have too many services and accounts involved to be feasible to create and update functions that intermingled with in game functions. They would have to create different versions of matching software for every platform.

Instead they just implement what they can control which is effectively a social ban. I would be more worried about the state of the population if you are continually matched with someone you blocked as multiple matching over days with the same person is statistically crazy unless it's a very very small pool.

PS4 NA seems kind of dead. I'm shocked at how often it happens, too. There's someone I've been trying to avoid, but they're in the same place day after day, at all hours. I'm a little worried about their health at this point.

On the other hand, it leads to some amusing circumstances. There was this group of girls (I assume girls) who used to wave and blow kisses at my male toon every time they saw me. lol

Araneae6537

Anhedonie wrote: »

Yeah, I remember blocking one really nasty person with hopes that I won't get with him in the same dungeon anymore. Group Finder matched us 5 more times that day.

Yikes! I would have hoped it would have prevented pairing via group finder, even if that meant that the person blocking had to wait a bit longer. I don’t block people often but I don’t make note of the names of those I do. It could create a worse situation for everyone if we were to be placed in the same dungeon and I had no idea they were saying something in group.

yodased

Versispellis wrote: »

yodased wrote: »

Blame multi platform for this. If it was just a ps4 game or Xbox or PC then what you are asking for is not too difficult to implement.

But you have too many services and accounts involved to be feasible to create and update functions that intermingled with in game functions. They would have to create different versions of matching software for every platform.

Instead they just implement what they can control which is effectively a social ban. I would be more worried about the state of the population if you are continually matched with someone you blocked as multiple matching over days with the same person is statistically crazy unless it's a very very small pool.

PS4 NA seems kind of dead. I'm shocked at how often it happens, too. There's someone I've been trying to avoid, but they're in the same place day after day, at all hours. I'm a little worried about their health at this point.

On the other hand, it leads to some amusing circumstances. There was this group of girls (I assume girls) who used to wave and blow kisses at my male toon every time they saw me. lol

Oooooh i was confused about what you are asking for.

You are talking overland instances where you go to say gratwood and you see someone you blocked and not getting matched in group finder.

Yeah i don't know any game that phases people from your actual instance on block. That could be abused to the point of denying a person from ever being allowed into a zone. Get enough people to block an individual and every time they try to go to a zone they hit a blocked wall.

You basically are saying you never want to see a character you block and that isn't going to happen in any mmo i know of. Too many ways to exploit that level of system

SickleCider

yodased wrote: »

Versispellis wrote: »

yodased wrote: »

Blame multi platform for this. If it was just a ps4 game or Xbox or PC then what you are asking for is not too difficult to implement.

But you have too many services and accounts involved to be feasible to create and update functions that intermingled with in game functions. They would have to create different versions of matching software for every platform.

Instead they just implement what they can control which is effectively a social ban. I would be more worried about the state of the population if you are continually matched with someone you blocked as multiple matching over days with the same person is statistically crazy unless it's a very very small pool.

PS4 NA seems kind of dead. I'm shocked at how often it happens, too. There's someone I've been trying to avoid, but they're in the same place day after day, at all hours. I'm a little worried about their health at this point.

On the other hand, it leads to some amusing circumstances. There was this group of girls (I assume girls) who used to wave and blow kisses at my male toon every time they saw me. lol

Oooooh i was confused about what you are asking for.

You are talking overland instances where you go to say gratwood and you see someone you blocked and not getting matched in group finder.

Yeah i don't know any game that phases people from your actual instance on block. That could be abused to the point of denying a person from ever being allowed into a zone. Get enough people to block an individual and every time they try to go to a zone they hit a blocked wall.

You basically are saying you never want to see a character you block and that isn't going to happen in any mmo i know of. Too many ways to exploit that level of system

Oh, goodness. I didn't consider the way a group of people could use it to bully someone. I guess if there's something nefarious that can be done with a tool on the internet, people are going to do it, huh?

I also have to admit that I've only played three other MMOs, and only briefly. I feel like an ignorant potato person. lol

jircris11

FierceSam wrote: »

Sounds like something ZOS really should get their heads around.. otherwise they become complicit in some very nasty behaviour.

I mean if I’ve gone so far as to report something (eg abusive behaviour) to ZOS I expect them to act on it. The fact that they think that merely having me block that person is even a vaguely acceptable way of dealing with this is bad enough, but when they can’t even get that right.... that’s offensive.

ZOS have a moral responsibility to deal with this as a matter of urgency.

In a game like eso it would not be possible outside of group finder. Any mmo is the same, you dont get matched with them in group or see their chat but you still see them outside of matched stuff.