Are your player interactions getting more or less pleasant?

Whendim_ESO · June 2015

I'm going to assume that means you're doing it right, Gargragond. Yes?

NovaMarx · June 2015

I almost always find chilled people who play for the fun of it, and don't get worked up over nothing. (Of course I have had a couple of occasions where a person has been less than courteous, but luckily it's rare.)

I can't help but wonder if I'm just lucky, or if it's because I treat others the way I want to be treated. I will never rage, blame, talk bad/down to, or in any other way make another person feel disrespected. Instead I will criticize constructively and encourage, if need be. And if a person starts giving me any kind of grief, I usually resort to "killing them with kindness"

(90% of the people on my friend list are from fun/successful groupings. Just saying....)

nastuug · June 2015

Gargragrond wrote: »

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

@Gargragrond

Merlin13KAGL · June 2015

There are a number of factors contributing to this.

First off, time played, level, even CP's have never translated into quality of play. When you are forced to pug content, do so with the understanding that you have less chance to succeed than you do to fail, for a number of reasons.

Second, when you start to get those indicators or that vibe, given rule #1 above, don't be afraid to bail. Better to fail before you start ("This isn't gonna work because...") than to repeatedly fail and cost gold, gems, time, and tolerance.

If it doesn't feel right, it's probably not.

I realize you're thinking "I won't get the key." Thing is, you probably already have a good feel for that after the first pull. If you stop before you begin, you at least have the chance at another group.

Further, if someone's announcing they have an agenda, probably best to leave them to it. When you accept a group invite, you're making a commitment. If there is some circumstance keeping you delayed, you let the group know and understand it may mean you get replaced. Seems to me two of the members did none of these things and had little to no courtesy for the remaining two. (Running forward into fights you can't handle when the whole group is not present = you want to die. (Let them.)

Unfortunately, the people you want in your grouping, even as 'pugs' (They're new to you, right) play less, run pledges less, run repeat content less (non-pledge dungeons, for instance), and have just as much trouble finding a group of four as you do.

This is with a fair list of capable contacts.

This makes it escalate...can't find four, you log out, or you get tired of waiting. Then later, when the other 1/2/3 log, they equally can't find you.

It rolls downhill quickly.

I'm a prime example. I lived for the dungeon runs, long before pledges were introduced. Got most of my 14 Vet Levels through them - back when they weren't such a walk in the park. Now, they're just not as worthwhile, for a number of reasons.

So many of the one's you'd really want to know just don't pursue it as much anymore. As a result, if you can find a group, what you have experienced is what you end up with.

This leaves a bad taste in your mouth...and guess what the result of that is? How quick will you, presumably a good player, be willing to answer the call when an unknown group needs "one more for...?"

I'm not saying the circumstances are impossible, but the odds have not been in our favor for some time.

milkbox · June 2015

I was farming plants in Coldharbour, and a random VR4 started following me around. After a few minutes, she whispered me to tell me about a much better harvesting spot. And she was right- the other spot was great.

I made a bow for someone in zone chat, and told them to pay me what they thought was fair. They gave me so much gold that I wound up returning half of it.

I've been pugging dungeons where people swap purple gear that doesn't fit their class, after the run, and I'm always giving away things I don't need in zone chat.

Maybe I'm just lucky- but I've been having a really good experience, lately.

SirAndy · June 2015

olemanwinter wrote: »

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.

Timely post! I was leveling an alt through the beginning of AD last night and while at Khenarthi's Roost i had to actually turn off zone chat for the first time since launch.

The level of bickering, profanity and general retardedness was simply astonishing...

nimander99 · June 2015

This is why I avoid all human interaction when playing mmo's

Psychobunni · June 2015

I didn't vote because I've quit dungeons all together. Everyone other than my husband that I grouped with has taken a break while "waiting for content" :'( and tbh if they return if/when the dry spell is over, I don't expect them to stay finding themselves so far behind in CP.

I could go pug, but (imo) the rewards aren't worth the time/resource investment of getting them....nor the patience required to deal with those I see in zone chat lol.

Solo MMO FTW!

UrQuan · June 2015

I had a hard time deciding which way to vote, because I haven't noticed any difference in my interactions with random other players (some are great, some are bad, and the rest are neutral - but overall I see more good than bad), but since I joined a good guild a couple of months ago overall my interactions with other players have gotten better. I don't think the point of this thread is about how your interactions are with friends and guildies, though, so I voted for my interactions staying more or less the same.

amasuriel · June 2015

The pledges, designed to encourage people to group more, are actually incredibly harmful in terms of attracting more than their fair share of jerks.

I had very few bad player experiences in ESO prior to doing pledges. Pledge groups in particular I feel have gone down hill in the last few month.

When I started doing pledges, most people were tolerable. I still saw more rude people and jerks than in the rest of my ESO time, but not bad. People would ask if everyone knew the fights, if there was a wipe usually the conversation was fairly productive. If there was a sub par DPS gentle suggestions were given. Today I pity people who's first dungeons are pledges.

Everyone assumes you know all the fights, even as a V1. If your DPS is sub standard there is a good chance of getting ridiculed and mocked. If you lose aggro as the tank once you will be slammed. If some DPS dies after changing into a hoard of enemies its "pay attention plz heals".

The worst stuff is people being rude before anything even happens! Here is my most recent anecdote.

Just the other day I was going to do the vet pledge on my alt, a v12 Templar. I have healed and DPSed all the vet pledges at v12 on this character no problem (I'm well geared and have 170CP and know all the fights like the back of my hand).

I see someone advertising that they are a v14 healer LF a v14 vet pledge. I whisper them that pledges only scale to v12, in case he wasn't aware. No Reply. Whatever.

I continue my own LFG zone spam. This same dude invites me to a group...I think "seems like a jerk, but maybe just missed my whisper, plus a group is a group". I accept. He breaks the group after 5 seconds.

I whisper him again, saying that I assume he broke group because I'm v12, but have DPSed all the vet pledges at v12 with no issues. Again no reply. My vengeance was getting a group while he was still spamming with 2xv12s 1 v13 and 1v14 and finishing the vet pledge with no wipes very fast.

If he doesn't want to group with any v12s I'm totally okay with that, his call. But to not say a word when he has nothing better to do than spam chat? Rude.

And this is without the rush of console players, many of whom are anecdotally less nice as a percentage of the population.

Blah. I'm glad I have almost maxxed undaunted on both my VR chars so I can stick to guild events.

SturgeHammer · June 2015

I've found the majority of the ESO community to be fairly pleasant. I've even had players send me hate tells, then circle back after a little time and apologize sincerely, which I have never experienced on other games.

Naivefanboi · June 2015

Funny never had that happen on pc. Had some bad groups some times sure but nothing like what you described.

lathbury · June 2015

Some good some bad pugs don't think its gotten any worse but I haven't been to the starter zones in a while. The bad folk do ruin it for others especially those node ninjas in upper crag ppl rolling v1 alts with bolt escape and speed buff as only skills speed farming but cant fight the trash so wait for you to pull.
It makes you wary of other players even the ones like myself that will help kill the trash and leave because your always thinking are they're gonna ninja this.
Oh did meet a grade A tool the other day shame I cant name him he was on a v14 in bangorai I was on my v9 questing I saw a group of spiders on my way to a delve where my quest marker was leading me. Obviously I pulled the spiders and killed them next I get hate whispers and says about F... up some ones grinding as he was gonna pull them and I shouldnt mess up his and his buddies cp grinding system by pulling their spiders.

Needles to say I was a bit miffed not as miffed as him though after decided to help him on his grind... by placing funnel health hots on him and his buddy as they farmed and doing nothing but sit chair and reap some of their lovely yummy exp.

I got two cp's and the satisfaction of whatching two jerks get insta karma I even invited a v1 guildy to share there yummy tears and EXP.

Moral of the story everyone can be a...hole so if you set your behaviour standards there don't be surprised if you find out there are others willing to drop to your level.

UrQuan · June 2015

RoamingRiverElk wrote: »

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.

So I don't PVP, but lately I've been doing some PVE in Cyrodiil. Sometimes that means that I run into enemy players who I have to fight. Naturally if I'm facing a group, I get slaughtered, and that's fine (sometimes I seek out a group of enemy players so that I can get a free teleport). If I encounter just one enemy player, though, usually it ends up being a fairly fun fight - sometimes lasting quite a while. When that happens and I end up getting killed, I've started sending a whisper to the guy who killed me saying something along the lines of "well fought sir!"

So if you ever kill me in PVP, you won't be getting an angry whisper from me!

bertenburnyb16_ESO · June 2015

u forgot the option:
"player interactions? 0.o what u talkin bout son"

Dre4dwolfb14_ESO · June 2015

what interactions?

dsalter · June 2015

me personally have had friendly people the majority of the time though you do get some really ego filled people wanting to rub their e-peen on you at all times for little mistakes, but there will always be those types everywhere.

Korah_Eaglecry · June 2015

My only advice is find a PvE/Dungeon Run Heavy Guild.

Pugging regardless of what MMO you do it in is always a flip of a coin. And more often then not its a double faced coin of terribad players.

Danikat · June 2015

I've only been playing since February (1 month exactly before B2P) so I can't really comment, but most people I've spoken to have at least been civil and many have been friendly and helpful.

Also my experience in other games has been that players ability, common sense and friendliness will vary greatly (just like in real life) and even their experience and ability often have very little to do with how long they've been playing or what level/rank/etc. they've attained.

I've played with max level players using FotM builds and all the best gear who didn't know the most incredibly basic things about the game, like what their skills do (or how to understand the descriptions), or that they could dodge or block attacks. And at the other extreme I've played with very new people who picked it up right away and play like they've been in the game for years.

PBpsy · June 2015

I don't PUG much since I have some amazing people to do dungeons with but the last few PUGSs were quite pleasant.
-Port to Deshan
-/VR14 DPS lfg gold pledge.
-Wait max 5 minute to get in.
-Speed runs with no or just 1 ,2 deaths .
-get friend request at end.

The worst experiences I had with PUGS were in 1.5 and they involved Praxin, Imiril and Grubull .

.
I more or less made it a rule to not ever make the mistake of PUGing Vet DarkShade since then.
The problems were due to bad gameplay that degenerated in whining , blaming and eventual insults.

Make yourself some personal rules for PUGs and stick to them.
Mine are :
-leave if people insist on exploit to avoid good gameplay. Hiding behind walls at Imiril in 1.5 made me leave group immediately.

-leave if dps refuses to have any AOE ever since they are too cool for school.(Most boss fights are designed around efficient switching from single target dps.It is what makes the role in this game fun. If you do not like it maybe you should tank or heal or play with your friends.) I still can get over people sniping Ruzozuzalpamaz's spider adds. Really?

-leave if tank begins to whine about not having AOE taunts after wipes.I hate the concept with a passion though.

-leave if inappropriate comments are made.

-never PUG Darkshade.

They work pretty well for me.
Also the golden rule.
Have a thick skin whenever interacting with people on the internet.

djnapstyb14_ESO · June 2015

I love running pugs for pledges. Most of the time everyone is cool. Sometimes there are jerks. Kind of like real life.

idk · June 2015

Two major factors effect the player community (there are probably much more but these have a big impact).

1. Paywall - going B2P lowered the paywall. While most who came into the game with B2P vs sub are decent people there is a larger number who comsider themselves less interested in the player environment. F2P can be even worse. Have seen a game to F2P and the community turns downward though a specific build can still be strong. Once we have DLC zones those zones will have a better environment.

2. With the stagnant release of content the more active players are looking elsewhere (though many are holefull Zos will toss us a bone). With this there is a smaller population of the core of the community which adds to the effect of my first point.

There is still a large number of good people in the game and a decent guild generally provides a good environment to enjoying ones game. At that, ESO lacks some of the tools that are beneficial for building a community outside of the guild's.

UrQuan · June 2015

PBpsy wrote: »

The worst experiences I had with PUGS were in 1.5 and they involved Praxin, Imiril and Grubull .

I'm definitely seeing a pattern there, and it goes along with some of your other comments: all 3 of those bosses require you to deal with waves of adds, so you've got to have good AOE DPS to deal with them.

traigusb14_ESO2 · June 2015

UrQuan wrote: »

PBpsy wrote: »

The worst experiences I had with PUGS were in 1.5 and they involved Praxin, Imiril and Grubull .

I'm definitely seeing a pattern there, and it goes along with some of your other comments: all 3 of those bosses require you to deal with waves of adds, so you've got to have good AOE DPS to deal with them.

It is a big problem from going from solo to group builds. I'd randomly try to do craiglorn stuff 2-3 times a month, but having everyone right off the grind wagon( with no real grouping knowledge) solo in different directions was just too painful most of the time.

In my short stint in Neverwinter, I played a healer... and 97% of the time I ate every add in a boss fight. game had built in scoreboards for DPS... everyone attacks the boss and I have to keep them alive while kiting 22 adds. Joy.

Whendim_ESO · June 2015

I have to admit I miss the pub and concert events from my days in LOTRO. Those were fun.

PBpsy · June 2015

UrQuan wrote: »

PBpsy wrote: »

The worst experiences I had with PUGS were in 1.5 and they involved Praxin, Imiril and Grubull .

I'm definitely seeing a pattern there, and it goes along with some of your other comments: all 3 of those bosses require you to deal with waves of adds, so you've got to have good AOE DPS to deal with them.

Yeah. Heavy add management is kind of most used boss mechanic in the game and it is the job of the dps.It was even more demanding in 1.5. A lot of PUG dps will however want to stay in their spot and spam their precious single target rotation the entire freaking time. That is why most PUGs will fail at those 3 and also the Guardian, Nerien’eth , the Fire Maw ,almost every boss in DSA.

I really like the way it is though . Those bosses are actually some of the most fun to play against. The no add bosses are quite freaking boring.(Blood Spawn, Vorenor, Reggr, 1.6 Mezeluth ,even Valkyn, boss fights in AA). I guess I can use my single target awesome rotation and get really cool large numbers so that makes them fun .

Failure of course the major cause of PUG player bad manners. So yeah if one really need to do pugs is better to avoid the places where failure is probable.

traigusb14_ESO2 wrote: »

It is a big problem from going from solo to group builds. I'd randomly try to do craiglorn stuff 2-3 times a month, but having everyone right off the grind wagon( with no real grouping knowledge) solo in different directions was just too painful most of the time.

In my short stint in Neverwinter, I played a healer... and 97% of the time I ate every add in a boss fight. game had built in scoreboards for DPS... everyone attacks the boss and I have to keep them alive while kiting 22 adds. Joy.

Oh dear. I have been mostly DPS since ESO launch and my rule was kind of Adds first. I am now starting to heal more and I shudder to think how PUGs would look if we had dps score boards only on boss damage.People already have a problem with the add killing concept.

Darlgon · June 2015

Whendim_ESO wrote: »

I have to admit I miss the pub and concert events from my days in LOTRO. Those were fun.

And.. a Weatherstock fan shows up..

Afraid I never was on your server. The community on my server was so bad I turned off zone chat there.

Krycek89 · June 2015

Fruitmass wrote: »

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.

Those bosmer, questionable folk they be, utmost care should be take, or they make take a bite out of your hindquarters

UrQuan · June 2015

PBpsy wrote: »

Oh dear. I have been mostly DPS since ESO launch and my rule was kind of Adds first. I am now starting to heal more and I shudder to think how PUGs would look if we had dps score boards only on boss damage.People already have a problem with the add killing concept.

Yeah, most of my dungeons have been done as either a healer or a tank, so I don't have that much experience on the DPS role, but unless there's some boss mechanic that makes it inadvisable I'd think that the standard rule for DPS should be "adds first" (of course certain types of adds need to be prioritized over others).

traigusb14_ESO2 · June 2015

PBpsy wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

PBpsy wrote: »

The worst experiences I had with PUGS were in 1.5 and they involved Praxin, Imiril and Grubull .

I'm definitely seeing a pattern there, and it goes along with some of your other comments: all 3 of those bosses require you to deal with waves of adds, so you've got to have good AOE DPS to deal with them.

Yeah. Heavy add management is kind of most used boss mechanic in the game and it is the job of the dps.It was even more demanding in 1.5. A lot of PUG dps will however want to stay in their spot and spam their precious single target rotation the entire freaking time. That is why most PUGs will fail at those 3 and also the Guardian, Nerien’eth , the Fire Maw ,almost every boss in DSA.

I really like the way it is though . Those bosses are actually some of the most fun to play against. The no add bosses are quite freaking boring.(Blood Spawn, Vorenor, Reggr, 1.6 Mezeluth ,even Valkyn, boss fights in AA). I guess I can use my single target awesome rotation and get really cool large numbers so that makes them fun .

Failure of course the major cause of PUG player bad manners. So yeah if one really need to do pugs is better to avoid the places where failure is probable.

traigusb14_ESO2 wrote: »

It is a big problem from going from solo to group builds. I'd randomly try to do craiglorn stuff 2-3 times a month, but having everyone right off the grind wagon( with no real grouping knowledge) solo in different directions was just too painful most of the time.

In my short stint in Neverwinter, I played a healer... and 97% of the time I ate every add in a boss fight. game had built in scoreboards for DPS... everyone attacks the boss and I have to keep them alive while kiting 22 adds. Joy.

Oh dear. I have been mostly DPS since ESO launch and my rule was kind of Adds first. I am now starting to heal more and I shudder to think how PUGs would look if we had dps score boards only on boss damage.People already have a problem with the add killing concept.

Adds first is generally a rule in MMOs unless the boss has some trick that makes you not want to. The Damage counter (sorry it wasn't DPS it was total damage) in NVR was for all damage in dungeon, but you lose precious Damage chasing adds around when you can spam your rotation on the boss (with buffs n' debuffs.. and other player debuffs).

A lot of ESO DPS have DIY DPS self counters running. I also get a lot of red standers, non-blockers and non-bashers in dungeons. I sit there trying to figure out why I have to heal them so much... just standing there piano keying their buttons... no defense at all.

Had a guy the other day VR5 NB... All attribute points in STA. all equipment STA and STA regen. Had just enough HPs to survive a squrrel attack... not a VR dungeon. I think our tank had more HP on his equipment than this guy had total.

The game is a bit easy... some wacky stuff is starting to show up at group time.