Solo's great now, but are we getting groups?

[Miztery]

<DIV>With the lack of threads/posts generated on this very board, one almost feels naughty making a new thread like this. However, I really felt the need to <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'll try to make it short and to the point, for 2 reasons:</DIV> <DIV>1: I'm sure this has been covered more than a few times already.</DIV> <DIV>2: To not force you to waste too much time reading my rant <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I just got back from a brake from the game, and I spend the past 4 days, 8 hours each of those 4 days, litterally reading every single thread on almost every single class forum while at work <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now the hottest topic, as far as I can tell, right now, is the solo ability of each class. They all talk about how slow or fast they solo compeared to other classes. I'm sure many of you would call a lot of it whining, but regardless, its interesting reading a lot of the time, simply to see how people feel about their class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now, personally I played EQ for 4 years, as a cleric, and what kept me in that game, was the grouping. The solo ability of classes in EQ was horrible for most, and almost useless for most, at least pre-AA's.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This is partly why I wanted to play EQ2. I wanted to group. Sit there as old times, 6+ hours at the same grinding spot, pulling mobs. Now while this might seem boring to many, it was the social activity during these groups, that I found so great, wether it was with normal "pick-up" groups, or guild groups/raids.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Part of the reason I took a brake from EQ2 in the first place, was that it for me, turned into exactly what I feared it would: Spending 4-8 hours a day being LFG, sitting on my butt, doing nothing. (sure, crafting, questing etc, but like I said, I'm here to group). This was on my very first char, a Wizard, and this was in my 20's and it was back only a short time after release, so it wasnt a matter of lack of players on my level.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As I returned not too long ago, I saw all this solo "nonsens" (sorry, not trying to offend anyone here), and it really got me scared.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Has it actually gotten WORSE?</DIV> <DIV>Is it all about solo'ing now - and if so, why?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now, if I have gotten this all wrong, please let me know, and I'll be thrilled!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My buttom line is this I guess: Am I gonna be spending even more hours a day LFG now, than I did back at release?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I know a lot of people are 50+ now, and thus lower level groups arent around in the quanteties they were back then, but that scares me even more, if on top of that, I also have to battle with the fact that people would for whatever reason rather solo now.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Lastely, are we (Illusionists) even wanted in groups anymore?</DIV> <DIV>I intentionally said "wanted" and not "needed"</DIV> <DIV>I read a lot about 3-man groups, and in none of them is a chanter in the mixup: tank, dps, healer.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I know some of you will probably still say "I get tells for groups within 5 min of logging in constantly", however I'm sure many fighters, scouts and priests get that as well. If you are known as a good player, a nice person, lots of friends etc, this will likely impact this, so if anything, im hoping to a "generic" responce in that area.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sigh, even I, my self feel like this is a post out of the past, that make me sound like eq2 came out last week, but none the less, I would greatly appriciate the Illu community's feedback on my thoughts here.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm so sorry, this post got so much longer than I intended, but I wanted to make sure I made my views as clear as possible, as to make them easier to respond to.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ps: sorry for any terrible spelling, im European :smileytongue:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Padi]

<P>Before and now, you are coming from the position of having no social contact with other people.  Obviously you are bottom of the barrel for getting a group.  You could play virtually any class and not get a group without hours of waiting.</P> <P>People, especially this late after release, look to familiar faces.  If you want to be familiar to people, you are going to have to form groups on yourown.  After a while of grouping with people, you will get a reputation.  Hopefully you gain a good one.  Once that happens, your grouping situation will be good, assuming you are either likable or good at your class.</P> <P>And enchanters, at least 50+, fill the dps role reasonably well.</P>

[Jaxidi]

<DIV>I have to agree with Padien here.  Form your own groups from LFG people until people start recognizing you and inviting you.  In the mean time, while nobody knows you, it will be a little tough.  And of course a guild would be nice to help with that too.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>Edit</STRONG>:  Oh, and something you do have an advantage with that we didn't is that most low-level groups are peoples' alts which means you're playing with experienced players for the most part.  When we all leveled up, we were all newbs.  <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV><p>Message Edited by Jaxidian on <span class=date_text>10-08-2005</span> <span class=time_text>07:54 PM</span>

[Miztery]

<P>Ty for for your replies <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>As I wrote, I do realize that reputation playes a role - however, I surely did not think it would factor in as much as I seem to understand from both of your posts. I'm glad though, cause im such a nice person <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>A good guild is a complete must for me. Not really for grouping reasons...but I simply cant live without my green spam! <3</P> <P>So, established we have, that people will look in guild and on friends list first, when looking for group member number X. I kinda knew that, seeing as I have done that my self for the past almost 10 years of mmorpg playing now. I will even take a friend or guildie of the "wrong" classs over some random person I never met. (Thats why I try to get to know everyone!)</P> <P>However, when for whatever reason past that point we go, what becomes the criteria for looking for members? (That is if we also kinda ignore what the specific zone or mob type calls for)</P> <P>If we for for this posts sake makes a general statement about the "standard" exp group being something like: Tank, healer, dps, X, X, X - how many groups will actually choose to give one of those last 3 spots to a chanter?</P> <P>Sure, theres places where a chanter comes in handy, but to me it seems that mobs and encounters are dying sooo fast now, that going with 1 tank, 1 healer and then just fill up with dps, is the way to go? Then all of a sudden, it isnt enough that you arent a tank, a healer, nor a dps class, but you also have to get passed over for any of the dps classes, and theres a LOT of some of them... Rangers come to mind <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Im starting to sound like a min/max'er or whatever, and I feel im twisting this topic into something I really didnt want it to be.</P> <P>I guess the answer to my question would be: "Play what you like, get in a good guild, get lots of friends, and untill then, get used to sitting on your butt 5+ hours a day LFG" <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Padi]

<P>In the guild and even outside the guild, I get a lot of people who view me as pretty good DPS and look for me for just that.  They also like to have power regen and my stifles.  CC certainly makes life easier as well.</P> <P>There are plenty of people who look for me as soon as they find a tank and healer.  I think we bring enough to a group.</P>

[MillsFairchild]

To answer your the subject simply: I get so many offers for groups each day that I have to refuse most of them. <div></div>

[Jaxidi]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> MillsFairchild wrote:<BR>To answer your the subject simply: I get so many offers for groups each day that I have to refuse most of them.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I'm in the same boat.  I even get people asking me to join then when I'm not LFG.  People like enchanters and bards now a lot more now than before.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Miztery]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Jaxidian wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> MillsFairchild wrote:<BR>To answer your the subject simply: I get so many offers for groups each day that I have to refuse most of them.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I'm in the same boat.  I even get people asking me to join then when I'm not LFG.  People like enchanters and bards now a lot more now than before.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Yay, what great news! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[Bjerde]

I have logged on with my healer and sat lfg for a long time. Sometimes it just depends what is out there and who is looking.  As someone else said, lots of low levels are alts.....more people know the role of a chanter. As a healer, I would always like the chanter in the group and I would ask people to pick one up. The chanter is the "safety net", better than a back-up healer because it is more useful. So, yes I think you will get that spot a lot of times, even if people think all you have to offer is mana regen. It makes grinding go non-stop....people don't like breaking for mana. Tell people that your DPS is better, work it into conversation and use your DD and DoTs in grps. If I didn't have Illusionists telling me that thier DPS was increased, I wouldn't know...not everyone researches outside thier class <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Give little hints of your abilities, I bet a lot of people don't know that you drain power, or that you have stuns/stifles. When people see a chanter lfg, they think...hmmm do we need mezz? and oh...mana regen would be nice. Give them something else to think about... <div></div>

[Jaxidi]

<DIV>I disagree!  Keep all of our neat tips and tricks secret so nobody else finds out about them so they have no reason to call nerf!  <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Manyak]

<DIV>there are lots of times i like to log on and just start duoing heroics with one other person cuz its good xp. but every day id be dragged into at least 4 instances just cuz people wanted a chanter along. i actually turned down a group for scornfeathers roost one day and then later on they told me they didnt go in cuz they didnt have a chanter.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>to make it plain - before revamp id have to make my own groups to do everything. after revamp they come looking for me.</DIV>