Dear ZoS - Please Fix Group Phasing

Jando · May 2014

I know there's a lot going on right now: bug fixing, balancing, new content, etc. But, please do not forget to fix group phasing.

I know there are probably already 10 other posts on this subject..But, I've been trying to help one of my friends (who's new to mmo's) get into (and enjoy) ESO, and it's impossible to group with him without constantly being phased out. He and i only see the white chevron representing the other party member even when we are standing right next to each other.

My understanding is that this issue happens because I completed the zone/town and he hasn't and therefore we are in different "phases."

Obviously, there are a number of ways to determine which phase the group should be in. You can use the lowest/earliest player's phase by default...or perhaps use the party leader's phase, or even a separate selector- like right clicking on a party member to set as the active group phase. This last option i mention is probably the most flexible because it allows you to still be the leader while using another person's phase.

Any idea when this will be fixed? It's important. It's really very awkward trying to teach someone how to play an MMO and then have to explain that because of "phasing" all that other player can see is my chevron.

Thanks!

Ysne58 · May 2014

While you are at it, please allow at least two person grouping for the forced solo quests instead of nerfing all those fights.

Jando · May 2014

Ysne58 wrote: »

While you are at it, please allow at least two person grouping for the forced solo quests instead of nerfing all those fights.

Do you think scaling them appropriately if there are more party members is a viable option?

c1r3gamerb16_ESO · May 2014

@geoffreyb14_ESO: I think the phasing in towns only happens in the starter area and once you progress further you'll be able to see your friend in the same town etc.

If you find yourself in different phases on logging in use the "travel to player" option in your group menu (though beware as it will take you to the nearest wayshrine not to their actual location).

Hope this helps.

Azzuria · May 2014

Only ever had this issue when logging in initially and grouping up. A quick 'travel to player' and we're together in the same phase and have had Zero problems, even when this was a 'game breaking' bug.

Innocente · May 2014

Heh. I can assure you that phase quest stage lockouts are EVERYWHERE in the game. In towns, wilderness, ruins, dungeons, etc. If a quest stage phases, and everyone is not on the same phase, you are SOL.

You are confusing the normal mega server instancing of local areas with quest phasing. They are NOT the same thing. "Travel To Player" will NOT work if you are not on the same stage of a phased quest.

Jando · May 2014

Yes, Innocente. That is exactly what I am talking about. I agree..Travel to player does not fix this issue. We tried many times.

dennissomb16_ESO · May 2014

Phasing happens anywhere a player is on a quest, in town, open world, underground etc. Things like Dolmens, world bosses, public dungeons it won't effect you (unless a quest overlaps one of those areas)

Jando · May 2014

I know this is on their radar screen. But i think it needs to be high on their priority list. An MMO needs to allow you to play with your friends - regardless of whether you both are on the exact same stage of a particular quest.

Jando · May 2014

Ummm...why is this NOT being addressed in the next patch. This is an MMO and we can't group!!

nerevarine1138 · May 2014

geoffreyb14_ESO wrote: »

I know this is on their radar screen. But i think it needs to be high on their priority list. An MMO needs to allow you to play with your friends - regardless of whether you both are on the exact same stage of a particular quest.

How do you propose that they let you and your friend continue the quest after they decided to kill [character] and you decided to let [character] live and kill [other character]? There is no quest chain in this game that is so long you can't either catch up to your friend or wait 5 minutes for them to finish and move on to other content as a group.

vyndral13preub18_ESO · May 2014

I don't really care about much of anything else, well i do, but the first 2 post in this thread are the single most important issues that need fixed to me.

Ysne58 · May 2014

geoffreyb14_ESO wrote: »

Ysne58 wrote: »

While you are at it, please allow at least two person grouping for the forced solo quests instead of nerfing all those fights.

Do you think scaling them appropriately if there are more party members is a viable option?

I would hope that it is. I think that the people who are unable to beat the harvesters could all probably do it with just one other person. And as an observation the harvester in the level 43 fighters guild quest is even worse than that level 30 main quest. Not only does she spam the feast orbs and her heavy attack constantly, Merric just stands next to the Mortuus Vivicus playing with himself while there are other daedra being spawned to help her.

Fleymark · May 2014

Whatever the issue is it seriously kicks the whole point of an MMO in the knee and I hope they can come up with a workable solution at some point.

I have friends that may be starting soon and I've yet to think of a way to group with them for quests short of just rolling a toon and trying to stay where they are quest wise.

Jando · May 2014

[/quote]

How do you propose that they let you and your friend continue the quest after they decided to kill [character] and you decided to let [character] live and kill [other character]? There is no quest chain in this game that is so long you can't either catch up to your friend or wait 5 minutes for them to finish and move on to other content as a group.[/quote]

Easy....All you need to do is allow the leader to select which party member's instance should be active for the whole group.

Rev Rielle · May 2014

geoffreyb14_ESO wrote: »

How do you propose that they let you and your friend continue the quest after they decided to kill [character] and you decided to let [character] live and kill [other character]? There is no quest chain in this game that is so long you can't either catch up to your friend or wait 5 minutes for them to finish and move on to other content as a group.

Easy....All you need to do is allow the leader to select which party member's instance should be active for the whole group.

I disagree. The leader shouldn't have a choice, I think the group phasing should automatically default to the character in the group that has progressed the least.

Ajyn · May 2014

Just wanted to agree with the OP. This would help stabilize the population base too, as some people who left will come back for sure.

Ysne58 · May 2014

I'm so frustrated with the buggy overpowered harvesters in the forced solo quests that I am starting to think about quitting.

Singular · May 2014

geoffreyb14_ESO wrote: »

Ysne58 wrote: »

While you are at it, please allow at least two person grouping for the forced solo quests instead of nerfing all those fights.

Do you think scaling them appropriately if there are more party members is a viable option?

Yes, scaling would be better.

OP: I don't think they're going to forget to fix grouping. Let's just hope they fix it in a useful way!

Singular · June 2014

Rev Rielle wrote: »

geoffreyb14_ESO wrote: »

How do you propose that they let you and your friend continue the quest after they decided to kill [character] and you decided to let [character] live and kill [other character]? There is no quest chain in this game that is so long you can't either catch up to your friend or wait 5 minutes for them to finish and move on to other content as a group.

Easy....All you need to do is allow the leader to select which party member's instance should be active for the whole group.

I disagree. The leader shouldn't have a choice, I think the group phasing should automatically default to the character in the group that has progressed the least.

Good suggestion. So if the leader and 2 others have gotten to that decision, but the last character hasn't, they'd get to see it from that person's perspective, until they'd moved on - and then reach some other decision.

I think that works. Mainly, it's important for the party members to see and be able to help each other.

PSLAnimal · June 2014

City of Heroes had a neat system. If you were a lower-level player teamed with a higher-level player, you were automatically "sidekicked," artificially raised to the higher player's level -1. You did not get any more abilities or buffs, just the ability to play missions and fight baddies at that level.

If the team leader chose a mission belonging to the lower-level player, the higher ranks were "exemplared" to the lower level, so they could run the mission without being in effective Gawd-mode.

Since I know jack squat about code, I've no furshlugginer idea who hard that would be to implement here - but it was a great system.

Jando · June 2014

Rev Rielle wrote: »

geoffreyb14_ESO wrote: »

How do you propose that they let you and your friend continue the quest after they decided to kill [character] and you decided to let [character] live and kill [other character]? There is no quest chain in this game that is so long you can't either catch up to your friend or wait 5 minutes for them to finish and move on to other content as a group.

Easy....All you need to do is allow the leader to select which party member's instance should be active for the whole group.

I disagree. The leader shouldn't have a choice, I think the group phasing should automatically default to the character in the group that has progressed the least.

If you look at my earliest suggestions, you'll see that i agree, the party should default to the least progressed party member, but the party leader can switch to an instance of their choice. Of course, there should probably be some kind of time limit between phase switches to avoid abuse.

Grendel3232 · June 2014

I love this idea and you could alter the achievements so you could tell who soloed and who grouped. That way everyone is happy.

stabbykitteh · June 2014

+1

I always feel bad when a lower level friend asks for help - or just company - and I have to tell them it won't work because I've already done the quests in the area.

Ysne58 wrote: »

While you are at it, please allow at least two person grouping for the forced solo quests instead of nerfing all those fights.

This as well.

Jando · June 2014

Do you guys think ZoS has intentionally not implemented something like this because they are worried that too many overpowered characters would be in the lowbie zones - disrupting progress for people who just want to level in peace without God toons running around?

One solution to this potential problem could be what they did in GW2, where you are down-leveled to the content (or just slightly over it).

Jando · June 2014

I guess they should take it one step at a time. If there is an abundance of higher level toons disrupting lower level play, then they can address the potential for downlevelling. For now, just deal with the phaseing...please!

Jando · June 2014

I was trying to level last night with a friend. We are both VR5. He had a done a quest and i hadn't. So we couldn't play together. C'mon ZoS! This is more important than class balance or new content. I can't play this MMO with my friends! WAKE UP.

siuolly · June 2014

Please fix group questing.....its "the" thing for me to enjoy this game. Thanks.

steveb16_ESO46 · June 2014

I don't mind who groups with who, when so long as they are having fun and subbing each month.

nerevarine1138 · June 2014

Ok guys, it basically comes down to this:

You can have an immersive world where your actions actually have an impact, or you can have the type of grouping you're talking about, where you can basically repeat quests ad nauseam.

Jando · June 2014

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Ok guys, it basically comes down to this:

You can have an immersive world where your actions actually have an impact, or you can have the type of grouping you're talking about, where you can basically repeat quests ad nauseam.

Wrong. You can have both. They just need to decide which phase to unify the whole group into, and then do it.

Consolidating the group into the least progressed phase is the place to start. Then allow the group leader to, optionally, select a different phase.