Can we not help random adventures any more?

[PopJen]

Hi! I was playing last night and tried to help an adventurer who was very clearly being clobbered.  I wanted to help, but when I tried, it wouldn't let me engage the creature or let me cast any of my absorb/deflect damage spells.  Has this recently been changed in an update? Why would it change - i.e. is there something about intervening that I should know is bad?Thanks!PopJen<div></div>

[JimmyMa]

It depends on the player/group leader.If they lock the encounter, nothing you can do <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />When you want to help someone, if what they are fighting is grey, you can assist them with whatever, if it cons normal but has a lock on the end, you cannot help.<div></div>

[PopJen]

Well, that's good to know <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span>Silly newbie question... why would someone lock the encounter? (I assume this is a setting you make in options or something)- PopJen<div></div>

[Mechase]

There are a couple reasons I can think of fast.1. Locked encounters will not hit outside players with AoE's or aggro players not in the group, something that can happen if the group leader chooses not to lock them. Conversly you cannot get outside help this way.2. It's very hard to accidently train other players when it's locked, unless of course they happen to be say at the spawn piont of the encounter and you die, fd, etc.There are other reasons but I don't feel like going into detail. Hope this sheds some light for you.<div></div>

[Wilin]

When the game was released, locking the encounters was the only option. It was on by default and you could not turn it off. Locking was done (I think) primarily for the reasons stated above. But, many were frustrated that they could not help those in need. So, they created the locking option and made unlocked the default instead of locked. Locking is still there for people who still want to use it though.

[Erendil]

<DIV><BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> PopJen wrote:<BR><BR>Silly newbie question... why would someone lock the encounter? (I assume this is a setting you make in options or something)<BR><BR>- PopJen<BR><BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>1. If you are a caster soloing, you can easily be griefed (ie a melee type goes up and smacks a rooted encounter a little bit, only to see them run after the caster)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2. Certain classes can break an encounter on you by doing things like charming mobs<BR></DIV>

[Dracor]

And in PvP you become unattackable until you finish your encounter.<div></div>