Can we add a character title to alert people we're looking to group?

trell

Yes, I know you can post in chat that you need help in a certain area. I just think it would be helpful for less social people to be able to advertise their willingness/desire to group.

When I first started playing I'd sometimes stand outside a public dungeon wishing I had the courage to ask a passing player for help. If we could add a new title that read something like, "New Adventurer Seeking Companions" it would let you know that elf on the corner wouldn't mind a group invite and that they're not just waiting for their friends to port in.

Or for veteran player who wouldn't mind playing bodyguard to a newbie for the evening we could have, "Willing to help new adventurers". I know there were times I felt like offering my services to newbies but didn't want to appear pushy. It would also help the newbie who's saying to themselves, "I'm only level 16. That level 1200 would never want to help me."

Michaelkeir

Hmmm, I agree with you on this. I tend to help any lowbie I see struggling. If I see someone struggling with a dolman, mobs, or a world boss, I automatically stop what I’m doing to help out.

But my advice is don’t be afraid to ask for help in chat. There are quite a few of us willing to help people as we go about our daily business. If I see a request in chat, I’ll whisper them a quick, “On my way to help” and usually several other people show up too. Step out your comfort zone and you’ll be surprised how helpful people can be, and this is from someone who hates talking to other people.

Or join a guild and pull help from there. That’s why they exist.

Odovacar

I like the concept. It would benefit newer players from getting discouraged early and giving up.

oldbobdude

Maybe just as simple as a color change for your name area. I was lucky to have a friend to get me started and joined a helpful guild. I would go out of my way to help folks.

Fennwitty

Speaking for PC NA, this is the friendliest MMO community I've ever encountered.

Of course there are still jerks. Especially in certain zones' /zone chats. But they are a tiny minority in my experience.

There's usually half a dozen or more players willing and able to help out with anything at all. CP1600 folks in an overland zone are probably *more* likely to help than players with low levels characters, because they're more confident they can handle things without any risk. And often they're very close to your character on the map.

I frequently help "newbies" from /zone and we register as friends.

Now here's an important point though: Try to be clear.

If you say "/z Need help with a worldboss/quest" or "Is anyone available?" you're not giving any information. People reading the message may be inclined to help, but don't know what you mean.

It makes it hard to help you. Because now anyone who might help has to send you a private message asking for more details. And those helpful people themselves are sometimes afraid you'll ask for something they can't actually do.

Here are some effective ways to ask questions:

• "I'm at <location on the map>, is anyone available to help with the world boss <name of worldboss>?"
  
• "Is anyone able to craft <light/medium/heavy> training gear for my level <x> character? I need sets <x> / I'm not sure what sets I need."
  
• "I'm a newish player, and don't quite understand <x>. Can someone help explain?"
  

coletas

"I'm at <location on the map>, is anyone available to help with the world boss <name of worldboss>"

Or IANPADQU XXX CSHE? XDDDDDD

Nestor

One thing to note, most people arriving at a Dungeon are already grouped so hanging out near the entrance would not be the best place to recruit.

1. Guild Chat is best source
2. Zone Chat is second best
3. Group Finder

Danikat

I do think it would be helpful if this game had a tool like some other have where you can put up an advert for a party for any content in the game, which is then visible to everyone rather than just the people who happen to be in the same copy of the map you're in.

It's basically the same as putting a message in zone chat, but visible to everyone, you don't have to keep repeating it to keep it up there and people will only see it if they're looking for a group to join so you can be sure you're not annoying anyone by asking.

Fennwitty wrote: »

Speaking for PC NA, this is the friendliest MMO community I've ever encountered.

Of course there are still jerks. Especially in certain zones' /zone chats. But they are a tiny minority in my experience.

There's usually half a dozen or more players willing and able to help out with anything at all. CP1600 folks in an overland zone are probably *more* likely to help than players with low levels characters, because they're more confident they can handle things without any risk. And often they're very close to your character on the map.

I frequently help "newbies" from /zone and we register as friends.

Now here's an important point though: Try to be clear.

If you say "/z Need help with a worldboss/quest" or "Is anyone available?" you're not giving any information. People reading the message may be inclined to help, but don't know what you mean.

It makes it hard to help you. Because now anyone who might help has to send you a private message asking for more details. And those helpful people themselves are sometimes afraid you'll ask for something they can't actually do.

Here are some effective ways to ask questions:

• "I'm at <location on the map>, is anyone available to help with the world boss <name of worldboss>?"
  
• "Is anyone able to craft <light/medium/heavy> training gear for my level <x> character? I need sets <x> / I'm not sure what sets I need."
  
• "I'm a newish player, and don't quite understand <x>. Can someone help explain?"
  

I was going to say the same thing. There's been several times I've seen someone ask for help in zone chat but without saying what or where it is, then when someone asks for that info they either don't reply or just repeat what they said the first time. No one can help unless they know where to go and what to do when they get there, and many people may be reluctant to respond to a vague offer in case it's something they can't do.

UGotBenched91

Lineage 2 does/did this. It out a title above your head saying you’re looking for a group. This encouraged others players to approach you and help when they can. Great feature

Jaraal

UGotBenched91 wrote: »

Lineage 2 does/did this. It out a title above your head saying you’re looking for a group. This encouraged others players to approach you and help when they can. Great feature

EverQuest does the same. You type /lfg and it puts a <LFG> tag next to your name.

AcadianPaladin

I like the idea and would recommend adding a couple more titles: Healer and Tank.

I also like the idea of asking for task help (like assist with a WB) in a separate section of zone chat. I'd love to hear 'Need help with xyz WB' but I can't tolerate monitoring all the spam/drivel/guild adds/non-game chatter in zone chat so keep it disabled.

Kiralyn2000

Do people actually notice other players' titles? (unless they're deliberately looking for them, I mean).

Or is there some other nameplate setting I'm not using, that makes these things more obvious?



Most games I've seen that have "looking for group" advertising, have some sort of "here's the characters in the zone" window, where people can see all that stuff in one place. Not happening to glance at a title.