PTS Update 40 - Feedback Thread for Group Finder

ZOS_GinaBruno · September 2023

This is the official feedback thread for the new Group Finder. Specific feedback that the team is looking for includes the following:

Did you use Gamepad/Accessible or Keyboard UI?
Creating Group Listings
- When creating a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in achieving your ideal group? If not, why not?
- While creating a group, were there any criteria for other players to meet that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?
- What (if anything) did you find unintuitive about creating or managing a group?
Searching for a Group
- When searching for a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in joining your ideal group? If not, why not?
- While searching for a group, were there any filters not present that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?
- What (if anything) did you find unintuitive about searching for a group?
Do you have any other general feedback?

fall0athboy · September 2023

I think Bastion Nymic needs to be listed under the general categories with Arena, Endless Archive, etc.

WhiteCoatSyndrome · September 2023

Tried putting together a test Trial group (normal, Aetherian Archive, only role required was one Healer - because that was me and it wouldn’t let me remove that requirement) didn’t get a lot of people but the join mechanism seems to be working. I set it to automatically invite, it took a lot of people by surprise but I have to say I like that it’s there.

It did seem to disband the group when I left. 😕 Less keen on that. I’m hoping that was just because the two people remaining bailed before I could check for the group, but I hadn’t grabbed their names before leaving to check afterwards (my bad).

gariondavey · September 2023

Can you please fix this group finder so that my bg team + 2 other bg teams can intentionally get into the same bg match? As is you can't do that and this functionality is highly desirable and sorely needed.

caserdar · September 2023

i would like the default search to show everything by default like, code required groups and all role requirements and then add in parameters myself. also would like the parameters to stay intact when i change difficulty or group type (like if i just searched dungeons for tank role i would like to see trials for tank role when i change the activity). there also seems to be something weird going on with the group visibility when you create a group for veteran difficulty but the group is currently set for normal, the group seems to be visible under normal difficulty groups. tested all thanks to @XxGenova

Luke_Flamesword · September 2023

Can you please fix this group finder so that my bg team + 2 other bg teams can intentionally get into the same bg match? As is you can't do that and this functionality is highly desirable and sorely needed

You know that will never happen, because it would allow to cheese things for achievements or daily rewards? Two teams don't do nothing, one team takes all score and than swap.

gariondavey · September 2023

Luke_Flamesword wrote: »

Can you please fix this group finder so that my bg team + 2 other bg teams can intentionally get into the same bg match? As is you can't do that and this functionality is highly desirable and sorely needed

You know that will never happen, because it would allow to cheese things for achievements or daily rewards? Two teams don't do nothing, one team takes all score and than swap.

Disable achievements and daily rewards in those games. Premade teams are sick of not getting to fight other premade teams because the game won't match us up. We have no desire to fight people who just avoid combat and end the game in 3 minutes. We already can't choose game mode.

TheImperfect · September 2023

In the drop down for speed runs, educational runs etc I think an option for slow quest completion and role play runs would be good.

NoticeMeArkay · September 2023

Did you use Gamepad/Accessible or Keyboard UI?

I use nothing but the Keyboard UI. So far I haven't run into any issues with it, only noticed that the drop down menus for the "Zone section" don't hold any options yet.

When creating a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in achieving your ideal group?

I was pleasantly surprised by the options given. From the top of my head, I couldn't immediately think of an option I'd like to see added to further specify the type of group I'd like to create.

While creating a group, were there any criteria for other players to meet that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?

I'd like an additional condition for applying to be added, which includes an achievement chosen by the group leader.
From my won experience with trial groups, it has never been vital to have an certain amount of CP acquired.
But what leads the majority of pug runs to an early end, is players copy-pasting their friends achievements in a whisper directed at the group leader in order to gain access to the run. These players, in 99.9% of all cases, end up not knowing a single mechanic for the trial and leading the group to an early end based on frustration and disappointment.

It would not engage any sort of gatekeeping, as with the group finder every player is capable of setting up a trial run of their liking with ease and in quick fashion. But it would keep people who are simply looking for honest group members safe from those who don't care for the enjoyment of others and bring nothing to the table intentionally.

With an achievement condition set up, there's no way left for this type of player to rest on the shoulders of others until their one-bar build gets everybody killed in vCR.

What (if anything) did you find unintuitive about creating or managing a group?

Nothing so far. It went quick. It was easy to utilize the group finder for the first time and set it up in a couple of seconds.
I've created a trial group for vSE with the minimal requirements to assure that absolutely everybody was able to apply. Set "autojoin" to active. So far nobody as applied, so I can't give any further feedback on managing a partially or fully filled group via the manager.

Edit 20.09.2023: When selecting "Edit" for my self-created trial group, I am unable of changing the trial or type of activity in general. Additionally I cannot change the difficulty from "Veteran" to "Normal". Everything else I can change.

When searching for a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in joining your ideal group?

I found the given filters to be very helpful.

While searching for a group, were there any filters not present that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?

I'd like to have a searchbar added or the ability to sort out found groups matching my filters by name in order to quickly find the one group I've heard of due to friends and apply for it. Just as I'd highly appreciated such to be added to the guild finder!

What (if anything) did you find unintuitive about searching for a group?

Described just above.

Do you have any other general feedback?

None so far. Will edit this post possibly in the future and mark the edit should something cross my view or mind.

xyphrum · September 2023

Did you use Gamepad/Accessible or Keyboard UI?
Gamepad

When creating a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in achieving your ideal group? If not, why not?

"group title" is empty and can't be left empty. It could default to "player name's group" or something

While creating a group, were there any criteria for other players to meet that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?

I would like to group only with people having a certain achievement when doing certain hard content.
Can we extend our character sheet stats with "maximum DPS recorded on a trial dummy"? Then enforce a criteria where a damage role should have a certain minimum number of DPS recorded?

What (if anything) did you find unintuitive about creating or managing a group?

When I'm creating a group to hunt a certain achievement, I would like to put the link for the
achievement in the description, so that people who want to join my group can easily see what to do
for the achievement and whether they already have that achievement or not.
How about extending the actions in the achievement options menu. Not just "Link in chat" but add another
action called "Create group". Then it should automatically create a group in the group finder specifically
for that achievement. Maybe also "Find group" to see if there are groups up looking to do that achievement.
If I'm creating a group to do undaunted pledges, there is no option in the dungeon category for that.
It only says "any dungeon" or a specific one, not "undaunted pledges". Or make me able to tick more
than one dungeon (today's pledge dungeons being a different color for easy selection)
I expect to able to set non 2-4-12 group size especially in custom category. Who knows I'm roleplaying Snow White and the 7 dwarfs one day and can't set a group size of 8.
When doing a daily world boss quest, I would like to have an option in my quest journal to easily create a group finder entry for this quest (or find an existing group). It should also conveniently share the quest automatically when people join.
Add this option actually for any quest

When searching for a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in joining your ideal group? If not, why not?

When I have created my own group in the group finder, I can not search for other groups anymore.
I can imagine if I could, then I may find an existing group that fits me and then remove my own group.
But as soon as I made a group and I'm still alone, I'm locked out from searching other content that I
might want to do in stead.
This is really limiting the functionality. Say I have a group of 6 for Hel Ra and then
still be able to use the group finder and see someone else who also has a group of 6 for Hel Ra.
How nice would it then be to whisper that group leader and ask "join groups?".

While searching for a group, were there any filters not present that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?

Search for different roles easier. I have to exit the group finder first, then change role, then search again. Can you make me change role at the bottom of the screen? (ticking "show all roles" is not the solution here).
I would like to have a filter set to "any category", not just forced to set one specific category.
Or at least a generic pvp or pve category.

What (if anything) did you find unintuitive about searching for a group?

I can open an "additional filter" for the category I am in. But in that filter I can change the
category. So that's not an "additional" filter to what I already filtered in that category.
Same for difficulty, etc that I already selected. It's not "additional". I already filtered it above.
Default difficulty filter is the same as the social group difficulty. However if you change the social
group difficulty, the default setting of the group finder difficulty will not change accordingly.
Filters are not "global". I would like to set the filter first (like min CP and show all roles),
and then select the activity like a dungeon or a trial. But If I set up the whole filter for a dungeon, and
then switch to trial, I have to set up the whole filter again.
I think I find it more intuitive that when for example I change the filter for dungeon difficulty, that the arena and trial filter would change accordingly.
It would be nice if the filters would be persistent across logging in and out.
Why is there a checkbox for group size in Endless Dungeon?
Do I really want to find a group of 2 for a trial?

Do you have any other general feedback?

"Preview group" option. I would like to see who else is already in the group before I join.
If nothing matches the filters, could I turn on "notification" and when a group is made that
matches my filter, I get a notification? This way I don't have to check every 5 minutes or so.
Bug: go to group finder, find group, dungeon, press filters button, set category to something else like trial, Now ticking or unticking a box below is all glitched.
Bug: Zone category has no activities for me to select (dropdown is empty)

YffresTrill · September 2023

TheImperfect wrote: »

In the drop down for speed runs, educational runs etc I think an option for slow quest completion and role play runs would be good.

I am disappointed to learn that this isn't implemented, as such runs are exactly the primary thing I plan to use this group finder for. ZOS, please listen to this excellent feedback and make it simple to use this tool for the purposes of finding like-minded players for story/RP runs without having to wade through irrelevant listings.

ThelerisTelvanni · September 2023

Did you use Gamepad/Accessible or Keyboard UI?
Keyboard

Creating Group Listings
When creating a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in achieving your ideal group? If not, why not?
They are a good baceline but there are a few things missing. For example I'd like to have a Bastion Nymic category. A way to search directly for a quest or achivement is also welcome.

While creating a group, were there any criteria for other players to meet that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?
Depending on the content gear requirements might be helpful. Like some sets for veteran raid content.

What (if anything) did you find unintuitive about creating or managing a group?
It was loocking good on first sight. But I have not gone to deep. How good it will work is something we will see once it goes live and is actually used. I was just loocking over the options.

Searching for a Group
When searching for a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in joining your ideal group? If not, why not?
I did not look into this to deep but I was missing a serch function for a specific group. Information if there is a specific set I need to bring for harder content like veteran raids.

While searching for a group, were there any filters not present that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?
I was missing the above mentiont search function. Also a filter for groups created by guildmates and friends.

What (if anything) did you find unintuitive about searching for a group?
The lack of a search bar that allows to serch for a specific group oder group creator.

Do you have any other general feedback?
I think the groupfinder will be a good addition to the game. Thank you for making it.

Soarora · September 2023

I would suggest a button that lets someone quickly whisper the group leader because people may put in the description that people have to link clears, like they do in craglorn.
That, or the ability to have achievements (norm clear/vet clear/hm clear) be a join parameter but I figure that might be more complicated to add.

I'm not sure the point in having a drop-down for trials to include 2 and 4 players. 2 and 4 players could go into a trial but they are not going to get very far.

For Cyrodiil and Imperial City, it'd be nice to be able to see what the alliance is on the listing in case that isn't mentioned in the description or title. With that, a filter for "just my alliance" like the "only show group for my role" filter would be great, or have it only show groups of your alliance and never the other two alliances as to hide any game plans that would be within the description (if that is not the case already).

When it comes to role requirements, dropping to 2 players for a traditionally 4 player activity should (when the group leader isn't a healer) default to 1 dps + 1 tank or 2 dps rather than 1 healer + [role of the group leader], as 2 dps or 1 tank + 1 dps are the most common duo roles and 1 tank + 1 healer (if the leader is a tank, this happens) would not be a pleasant experience.

While searching or making dungeon runs, it would be nice to have a "any dlc" and "any non-dlc" option.

Aashiana · September 2023

Did you use Gamepad/Accessible or Keyboard UI?

Keyboard

Creating Group Listings

When creating a group for any of the categories, were the default settings helpful in achieving your ideal group? If not, why not?

I'm a co-GM of a dungeon guild, and I can say we use different categories in our in-guild lfg that I think would be fairly universal. First off - there are three basic difficulties for dungeons and trials, not just two - normal, veteran, and veteran HM. Now you're clicking between the normal and veteran shields, but I think this should be a drop-down of its own. Clicking between the shields could easily be missed, resulting in the incorrect level of being accidentally selected (this happens all the time with the current dungeon finder).

Then in terms of types of runs, categories I think of are lore runs, training runs, pledges, farm runs, and achievement runs - to include challengers, trifectas, and side achieves. Also you could include random normal and random vet.

If you are doing an achievement run, it would be pretty cool when you click on that subcategory, if it presented you with a list of achievements for that trial/dungeon and you could select one or more to go in the description. However the achievement is put into the description, they need to be clickable by people lfg, so they can easily see what it requires.

While creating a group, were there any criteria for other players to meet that you either expect or desire a group finder feature to have?

Checking for achievements. For example, we typically want a person to have the challenger (or in the case of a trial, the HM clear) before joining for a trifecta run. For trials it is often that they want one or two of the HMs completed for a run to try for the later ones.

Also, many trial runs and some dungeon runs are looking for a minimum dps. That may be harder to implement since there's no easy way to link or check it.

Other

I second above suggestions to be able to search by runs offered by guildies and friends, and also to be able to combine groups.

Think creatively about all the possible zone events, maybe make categories for the most likely ones (WB, dolmen, skyshards, delves). There could also be fishing, since it is better in small groups.

It would be great if there were more offerings for solo players that are new to the game - guilds could put on social events like dance parties, sleeping on bridges, costume contests, dueling etc. So I really like a "social" category.

SavySnapdragon · October 2023

When testing out the group & activity finder with the veteran trial difficulty in mind, I found the character limit to be frustratingly low. When just typing out a sample roster of expectations for gear for my key roles, I am unable to get past the second healer. 100 characters is not enough. For even the most abbreviated rosters 200 characters is needed. This would be helpful so that you could have a roster with gear expectations and a brief message about when applying please verify you will bring the requested gear/ skills as listed on the roster.

Due to this character limitation, at this time I don't see myself using this tool.