How to find a group

Morgane · 08-27-2008, 10:25 AM

In response to the folks on this forum who complain ad naseum about being unable to find groups, here is what works for me on the Everfrost server, which is a light load server (from what I understand).

1. Please be aware: If you play at odd hours, finding a group will be harder. Most of us work or go to school during the daytime hours. If you live in, example here, Europe, try to find a server with players that play during your available hours.

2. Use the LFG tool. If more people used it, things would be alot easier on all of us. Some of us actually DO use it so turn on the LFG tag and use the LFG tool! Also, if you are a group looking for a certain class, use it.

3. Keeping #1 in mind, when you log in during the evenings after work or school and you have the need or desire to group, pay attention to the OOC channels. On Everfrost in the evenings and on weekends, there are almost always people looking for groups.

4. If you aren't finding anything using the LFG tool and watching the OOC channel, then go to your chosen instance or dungeon (or in the general area) and start spamming the OOC channel yourself. If you are a 38 Templar, then go to the OOC channel hit backslash 5 and backslash 6 (i think) and tell the 30-39 and 40-49 chat channel that you are... "Looking for a tank and DPS for Runnyeye - pst". You will very likely end up with a full group in half an hours' time.

5. Keep in mind that many people want to group but they are very passive about it. In other words, not enough people take the lead. They wait for people to come to them. If this is not working for you then you must take the initiative and pull a group together yourself using the above method.

6. It's always a good idea to understand that if you want to group, chances are you can, but it won't always be the exact group setup you want/need and it won't always be the exact instance/dungeon that you want/need. That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. One day a pug might be to your advantage, another day you might find yourself helping others. Give and take and alla that.

7. Summer, the beginning of classes, holiday weekends and other game releases will ALWAYS effect your server... for better or worse. People try different games, they go places with their families during the summer, they buckle down and hit the books during the first part of their classes (takes a few weeks until they start skipping class to play EQII - hehe). Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet during these times and work with what you have.

8. When everything you try fails, then realize that sometimes groups just weren't meant to be. On occasion it IS hard to find a group. But it rarely happens repeatedly, especially if you use all the tools available to you and play during the peak play times on your server. Just realize that stomping your foot and demanding a group in the next fifteen minutes doesn't always work. In which case, go solo and be patient until you can throw a group together.

9. Joining a guild is a good way to find quality groups. There are raiding guilds and there are adventuring guilds. Find one that suits you. The larger ones tend to offer more opportunities but smaller ones can be fruitful, too. As with the server, find a guild that plays during the times you play and has the same goals, more or less. And as always, be aware that just because you want a group NOW, doesn't mean you will get one. Guildies sometimes want to craft or solo or just hang out at the broker. I find that having a plan and letting people know of it ahead of time will net you a group faster in a guild.

Now, this is by no means a full proof method... it's simply what has worked for me on the Everfrost server over and over again. I find myself to be one of those "passive" players who want to group but don't necessarily want to be the group's leader. I have occasionally had to venture out of my comfort zone and start groups myself... you especially have to do this if you are looking for specific instances to complete a quest or get a certain drop. But if you are simply looking to group, then paying attention to the OOC channels during peak play hours will almost always produce a group for you.

I'm sure I've left a few things out so feel free to add to the list. This was just the basics of finding a group because I hear so often that people are having trouble finding them.

Good luck and happy adventuring.

surepaw · 08-27-2008, 12:05 PM

All good advice!!I might add that some people may get turned off by PUGs because they had a bad experiance or two. This is more for new players and less then casual players that solo all the time. There are good PUGs and their are bad PUGs. It all depends on 3 main factors and multiple minor ones. The three main factors are, and I find them in this order:1) Personality; If you get a group where everyone is just fun to be with and has a great personality, getting whiped now and then is not really a big deal. But if there is one bad apple in the group, it can be very painful, especially if that bad apple is the group leader. Once in a while you find that jerk who thinks he is the ultimate uber player and cannot seem to help himself from be-littleing everyone in the group, or they want to express their uberness over and over till you either leave the group or want to rip your eyes out or ears off depending on if they are in text or voice chat. It is a game, as such it should be fun, not a uber contest on who can talk bad about who. This is actually a minority of players, you just seem to see them more because they are on all the time and literally have no other life to live, so be patient.2) Class Knowledge; I have had groups where the tank, healer, or DPS class just has no idea how to play their class. This can get frustrating at times, sometimes the healer does not know how to heal well, goes afk at the wrong times without telling anyone, or just does nothing and wants to tag along for the xp. Sometimes you get the tank that pulls everything and has no idea what social aggro is, does not taunt, or will not communicate with the rest of the group. And once in a while you get the "I can do uber DPS" guy who has no idea how agg works and keeps pulling the mobs off the tank, dying, and eventually whiping the group, over and over again.3) Wrong group set-up; In a PUG, often pickers cannot be choosers and you end up with a group that knows how to play their classes, has ok personalities, but you just do not have the right set-up to take that instance down you need. Maybe you have too many tanks and not enough healers, too many healers and not enough DPS, whatever it is, it can lead to just not being able to get to where you need to go. If you are settting up the group, try to get all the areas you may need covered. maybe You need one plate healer and one leather healer for big heals and fast heals, maybe you need one MT and one OT, or maybe you need tons of DPS. But most combinations work fine, it is not an exact science. Keep with it and you will find what makes up a good group, do not let this get you down and think it cannot be done, so why try.Over time tho, you will relize what makes a good group what does not. Do not let the jerks in the game turn you off of the game. Do not let the whiners put a bad taste in your mouth. Just pick yourself up by your boot straps and go form another group. It will pay off. Take the initiative and the groups will come to you.Over time you will get some good players in your friends list and you will be able to seek them out for groups as well, making forming a group that much easier and faster.

StormCinder · 08-27-2008, 01:17 PM

Morgane@Everfrost wrote:

4. If you aren't finding anything using the LFG tool and watching the OOC channel, then go to your chosen instance or dungeon (or in the general area) and start spamming the OOC channel yourself. If you are a 38 Templar, then go to the OOC channel hit backslash 5 and backslash 6 (i think) and tell the 30-39 and 40-49 chat channel that you are... "Looking for a tank and DPS for Runnyeye - pst". You will very likely end up with a full group in half an hours' time.

All great advice. I'd just amend #4 above, slightly. First off, the channel numbers can vary for everyone. How the numbers are assigned is based on how they're joined, etc. That said, this idea you present is the biggest help in finding a group: be where you want to go. If you want to run RE, be at the RE entrance in EL, or just inside. Some groups will show up one or two short and will welcome someone ready to go. I'd say I get into about 50% of PUGs that way. And it's usually very quick (depending on the instance/dungeon).

SC

ShashLigai · 08-27-2008, 02:07 PM

I agree with all that has been said. I would like to emphasize that you'll be much more likely to get a group if you make the effort to start one. People always find it easier to follow than to lead.

Ranja · 08-27-2008, 04:43 PM

Morgane@Everfrost wrote:

In response to the folks on this forum who complain ad naseum about being unable to find groups, here is what works for me on the Everfrost server, which is a light load server (from what I understand).
1. Please be aware: If you play at odd hours, finding a group will be harder. Most of us work or go to school during the daytime hours. If you live in, example here, Europe, try to find a server with players that play during your available hours.
2. Use the LFG tool. If more people used it, things would be alot easier on all of us. Some of us actually DO use it so turn on the LFG tag and use the LFG tool! Also, if you are a group looking for a certain class, use it.
3. Keeping #1 in mind, when you log in during the evenings after work or school and you have the need or desire to group, pay attention to the OOC channels. On Everfrost in the evenings and on weekends, there are almost always people looking for groups.
4. If you aren't finding anything using the LFG tool and watching the OOC channel, then go to your chosen instance or dungeon (or in the general area) and start spamming the OOC channel yourself. If you are a 38 Templar, then go to the OOC channel hit backslash 5 and backslash 6 (i think) and tell the 30-39 and 40-49 chat channel that you are... "Looking for a tank and DPS for Runnyeye - pst". You will very likely end up with a full group in half an hours' time.
5. Keep in mind that many people want to group but they are very passive about it. In other words, not enough people take the lead. They wait for people to come to them. If this is not working for you then you must take the initiative and pull a group together yourself using the above method.
6. It's always a good idea to understand that if you want to group, chances are you can, but it won't always be the exact group setup you want/need and it won't always be the exact instance/dungeon that you want/need. That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. One day a pug might be to your advantage, another day you might find yourself helping others. Give and take and alla that.
7. Summer, the beginning of classes, holiday weekends and other game releases will ALWAYS effect your server... for better or worse. People try different games, they go places with their families during the summer, they buckle down and hit the books during the first part of their classes (takes a few weeks until they start skipping class to play EQII - hehe). Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet during these times and work with what you have.
8. When everything you try fails, then realize that sometimes groups just weren't meant to be. On occasion it IS hard to find a group. But it rarely happens repeatedly, especially if you use all the tools available to you and play during the peak play times on your server. Just realize that stomping your foot and demanding a group in the next fifteen minutes doesn't always work. In which case, go solo and be patient until you can throw a group together.
9. Joining a guild is a good way to find quality groups. There are raiding guilds and there are adventuring guilds. Find one that suits you. The larger ones tend to offer more opportunities but smaller ones can be fruitful, too. As with the server, find a guild that plays during the times you play and has the same goals, more or less. And as always, be aware that just because you want a group NOW, doesn't mean you will get one. Guildies sometimes want to craft or solo or just hang out at the broker. I find that having a plan and letting people know of it ahead of time will net you a group faster in a guild.
Now, this is by no means a full proof method... it's simply what has worked for me on the Everfrost server over and over again. I find myself to be one of those "passive" players who want to group but don't necessarily want to be the group's leader. I have occasionally had to venture out of my comfort zone and start groups myself... you especially have to do this if you are looking for specific instances to complete a quest or get a certain drop. But if you are simply looking to group, then paying attention to the OOC channels during peak play hours will almost always produce a group for you.
I'm sure I've left a few things out so feel free to add to the list. This was just the basics of finding a group because I hear so often that people are having trouble finding them.
Good luck and happy adventuring.

Good advice. Monitor the chat channel is all I can say. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this:80 Monk LFG RE280 Defiler LFG RE280 Ranger LFG RE2A group right there but people are sjust spamming the LFG channel hoping someone sends them an invite. I even introduce these people sometimes adn they say stuff like " I dont want to form the group" Or I dont want to group with a xx class. Ridiculuos.What came out of your post is that if you really want a group, you can get one. If you jsut sit on your butt and spam LFG then you are probably going to be soloing for a long time.

Spyderbite · 08-27-2008, 06:56 PM

Ranja wrote:

A group right there but people are sjust spamming the LFG channel hoping someone sends them an invite. I even introduce these people sometimes adn they say stuff like " I dont want to form the group" Or I dont want to group with a xx class.

hehe.. I've witnessed the same thing on several occasions in the past. And, its even more amusing when you stumble across their distressed posts on the forum about how this game is dying because the population is so small and they can never find a group! XD

Oh · 08-27-2008, 07:25 PM

Spyderbite@Venekor wrote:

Ranja wrote:
A group right there but people are sjust spamming the LFG channel hoping someone sends them an invite. I even introduce these people sometimes adn they say stuff like " I dont want to form the group" Or I dont want to group with a xx class.
hehe.. I've witnessed the same thing on several occasions in the past. And, its even more amusing when you stumble across their distressed posts on the forum about how this game is dying because the population is so small and they can never find a group! XD

QFT!!

Seriously i've done some interesting mixes for dungeons, and it's been fun. Yea maybe just maybe it can be setup more optimially but I'd rather just go now and have a group then sit in my chair waiting longer for this other class to hopefully show up. Basic group 101, get a tank, get a healer, fill with dps and your gtg. Sometimes you might need an enchanter, sometimes you might need a 2nd healer.

Zarador · 08-27-2008, 09:29 PM

The easiest method which has worked for years for me is simply just being there. Show up in an area that is not so far off the beaten path so as to have some population there and look for others there that are hunting. Then, simply ask if you may join them. I must say this method has worked about 90% or better for me. Your there, your ready to hunt, their there hunting, perfect match.This of course involves doing what they are doing and can be great fun, really. How to keep that group and get future groups is a whole other issue.

Watch when you see a mob killed and looted or simply look and see what the loot method being used is. Don't suggest that they change that method to one that you prefer. If your doing your job and pleasent to be with, most groups will start to share the wealth more. They added you to the groups, were doing just fine (odds are) without you, so they may at first be reluctant to help someone out at the cost of what they feel is their loot to begin with.
You joined them, don't suggest that they all change their plans to what you wish to do. If you really enjoy grouping and playing your class, you should be enjoying doing what they are doing. This also relates to putting down the zone/area their hunting in citing better loots and experience over there. They were quite content before you came along, they will be quite content after they remove you if you complain too much.
One man's trash is another mans treasure. Avoid trashing the value of the drops. If you have better, good for you! You can simply decline that loot and not say a word.
This one requires more work. Hit the your inventory or skills list and check out your class. See that class? That's the one you are playing. No one cares that you have a "Level X insert class). Don't ask them to gear your other characters or tell other classes how they should play. No one cares that you have a full fabled gear level 80 character if that's not the one you brought to the group.
Your Guild/Friends are not with you, that's why you needed a group. Focus your attention and conversations on that group. Most people could care less what your guild is discussing or how important you are to them. If your that important, stay out of the PuG's and focus on your duties.
Set aside activities like harvesting that can easily be done while your not in a group. Asking people if they mind if you harvest will often get you an "Ok" while they stand around ticked off that you wasted their time.
Avoid starting or joining into heated "game politics" as they tend to bring out the worst in people. Be polite if you must engage in such topics. Explaining about how bad the game is might also explain why your looking for groups all the time.

The idea in the end is to have a pleasent time with new people, plain and simple. With luck, you find some more good players to add to a friends list and get groups quicker as time goes on. In the worst case scenerio, you may spend a few hours doing what you were not in the mood to do only to discover you get invited to some nice instances in the future because you were an asset.

08-27-2008, 12:05 PM	#2
surepaw Loremaster Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: You would never believe me Posts: 139	All good advice!!I might add that some people may get turned off by PUGs because they had a bad experiance or two. This is more for new players and less then casual players that solo all the time. There are good PUGs and their are bad PUGs. It all depends on 3 main factors and multiple minor ones. The three main factors are, and I find them in this order:1) Personality; If you get a group where everyone is just fun to be with and has a great personality, getting whiped now and then is not really a big deal. But if there is one bad apple in the group, it can be very painful, especially if that bad apple is the group leader. Once in a while you find that jerk who thinks he is the ultimate uber player and cannot seem to help himself from be-littleing everyone in the group, or they want to express their uberness over and over till you either leave the group or want to rip your eyes out or ears off depending on if they are in text or voice chat. It is a game, as such it should be fun, not a uber contest on who can talk bad about who. This is actually a minority of players, you just seem to see them more because they are on all the time and literally have no other life to live, so be patient.2) Class Knowledge; I have had groups where the tank, healer, or DPS class just has no idea how to play their class. This can get frustrating at times, sometimes the healer does not know how to heal well, goes afk at the wrong times without telling anyone, or just does nothing and wants to tag along for the xp. Sometimes you get the tank that pulls everything and has no idea what social aggro is, does not taunt, or will not communicate with the rest of the group. And once in a while you get the "I can do uber DPS" guy who has no idea how agg works and keeps pulling the mobs off the tank, dying, and eventually whiping the group, over and over again.3) Wrong group set-up; In a PUG, often pickers cannot be choosers and you end up with a group that knows how to play their classes, has ok personalities, but you just do not have the right set-up to take that instance down you need. Maybe you have too many tanks and not enough healers, too many healers and not enough DPS, whatever it is, it can lead to just not being able to get to where you need to go. If you are settting up the group, try to get all the areas you may need covered. maybe You need one plate healer and one leather healer for big heals and fast heals, maybe you need one MT and one OT, or maybe you need tons of DPS. But most combinations work fine, it is not an exact science. Keep with it and you will find what makes up a good group, do not let this get you down and think it cannot be done, so why try.Over time tho, you will relize what makes a good group what does not. Do not let the jerks in the game turn you off of the game. Do not let the whiners put a bad taste in your mouth. Just pick yourself up by your boot straps and go form another group. It will pay off. Take the initiative and the groups will come to you.Over time you will get some good players in your friends list and you will be able to seek them out for groups as well, making forming a group that much easier and faster. __________________ swashbuckling, adj. [swosh-buhk-ling, swÅsh-bÅ*k-lÄ“ng] -Though many of us will automatically think of a pirate when we hear this word, it actually refers to the characteristics or manners of a 'swaggering swordsman, soldier, adventurer, or daredevil.' Swashbuckling appeared towards the end of the 17th century as the adjective form of English swashbuckler (circa 1560 CE), the 'swaggering swordsman' mentioned previously. This in turn is was formed by combining English swash and buckle. Swash started out as a noun first recorded in 1538 CE meaning 'the fall of a heavy body or blow' and may have been formed as an imitation of the sound made when this happens. It took on a verb form a few decades later, which appears to be the swash that begat our swashbuckler.

08-27-2008, 01:17 PM	#3
StormCinder Loremaster Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,009	Morgane@Everfrost wrote: 4. If you aren't finding anything using the LFG tool and watching the OOC channel, then go to your chosen instance or dungeon (or in the general area) and start spamming the OOC channel yourself. If you are a 38 Templar, then go to the OOC channel hit backslash 5 and backslash 6 (i think) and tell the 30-39 and 40-49 chat channel that you are... "Looking for a tank and DPS for Runnyeye - pst". You will very likely end up with a full group in half an hours' time. All great advice. I'd just amend #4 above, slightly. First off, the channel numbers can vary for everyone. How the numbers are assigned is based on how they're joined, etc. That said, this idea you present is the biggest help in finding a group: be where you want to go. If you want to run RE, be at the RE entrance in EL, or just inside. Some groups will show up one or two short and will welcome someone ready to go. I'd say I get into about 50% of PUGs that way. And it's usually very quick (depending on the instance/dungeon). SC __________________ ______________________________________________ Hostis Humani Generis curÂ·mudgÂ·eon (kr-mjn) n. An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions.

08-27-2008, 04:43 PM	#5
Ranja Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,657	Morgane@Everfrost wrote: In response to the folks on this forum who complain ad naseum about being unable to find groups, here is what works for me on the Everfrost server, which is a light load server (from what I understand). 1. Please be aware: If you play at odd hours, finding a group will be harder. Most of us work or go to school during the daytime hours. If you live in, example here, Europe, try to find a server with players that play during your available hours. 2. Use the LFG tool. If more people used it, things would be alot easier on all of us. Some of us actually DO use it so turn on the LFG tag and use the LFG tool! Also, if you are a group looking for a certain class, use it. 3. Keeping #1 in mind, when you log in during the evenings after work or school and you have the need or desire to group, pay attention to the OOC channels. On Everfrost in the evenings and on weekends, there are almost always people looking for groups. 4. If you aren't finding anything using the LFG tool and watching the OOC channel, then go to your chosen instance or dungeon (or in the general area) and start spamming the OOC channel yourself. If you are a 38 Templar, then go to the OOC channel hit backslash 5 and backslash 6 (i think) and tell the 30-39 and 40-49 chat channel that you are... "Looking for a tank and DPS for Runnyeye - pst". You will very likely end up with a full group in half an hours' time. 5. Keep in mind that many people want to group but they are very passive about it. In other words, not enough people take the lead. They wait for people to come to them. If this is not working for you then you must take the initiative and pull a group together yourself using the above method. 6. It's always a good idea to understand that if you want to group, chances are you can, but it won't always be the exact group setup you want/need and it won't always be the exact instance/dungeon that you want/need. That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. One day a pug might be to your advantage, another day you might find yourself helping others. Give and take and alla that. 7. Summer, the beginning of classes, holiday weekends and other game releases will ALWAYS effect your server... for better or worse. People try different games, they go places with their families during the summer, they buckle down and hit the books during the first part of their classes (takes a few weeks until they start skipping class to play EQII - hehe). Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet during these times and work with what you have. 8. When everything you try fails, then realize that sometimes groups just weren't meant to be. On occasion it IS hard to find a group. But it rarely happens repeatedly, especially if you use all the tools available to you and play during the peak play times on your server. Just realize that stomping your foot and demanding a group in the next fifteen minutes doesn't always work. In which case, go solo and be patient until you can throw a group together. 9. Joining a guild is a good way to find quality groups. There are raiding guilds and there are adventuring guilds. Find one that suits you. The larger ones tend to offer more opportunities but smaller ones can be fruitful, too. As with the server, find a guild that plays during the times you play and has the same goals, more or less. And as always, be aware that just because you want a group NOW, doesn't mean you will get one. Guildies sometimes want to craft or solo or just hang out at the broker. I find that having a plan and letting people know of it ahead of time will net you a group faster in a guild. Now, this is by no means a full proof method... it's simply what has worked for me on the Everfrost server over and over again. I find myself to be one of those "passive" players who want to group but don't necessarily want to be the group's leader. I have occasionally had to venture out of my comfort zone and start groups myself... you especially have to do this if you are looking for specific instances to complete a quest or get a certain drop. But if you are simply looking to group, then paying attention to the OOC channels during peak play hours will almost always produce a group for you. I'm sure I've left a few things out so feel free to add to the list. This was just the basics of finding a group because I hear so often that people are having trouble finding them. Good luck and happy adventuring. Good advice. Monitor the chat channel is all I can say. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this:80 Monk LFG RE280 Defiler LFG RE280 Ranger LFG RE2A group right there but people are sjust spamming the LFG channel hoping someone sends them an invite. I even introduce these people sometimes adn they say stuff like " I dont want to form the group" Or I dont want to group with a xx class. Ridiculuos.What came out of your post is that if you really want a group, you can get one. If you jsut sit on your butt and spam LFG then you are probably going to be soloing for a long time. __________________ Elbryan, 90 Half-elf Ranger Thoghmor, 70 Troll Bruiser Rotir, 90 Dark Elf Swash Terrano, 82 Dark Elf Dirge Aymon, 90, Barbarian Shadowknight The Destroyer of Worlds: http://s7.gladiatus.com/game/c.php?uid=84341

08-27-2008, 06:56 PM	#6
Spyderbite Server: Venekor Guild: Dark Vengeance Rank: Member Loremaster Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,262	Ranja wrote: A group right there but people are sjust spamming the LFG channel hoping someone sends them an invite. I even introduce these people sometimes adn they say stuff like " I dont want to form the group" Or I dont want to group with a xx class. hehe.. I've witnessed the same thing on several occasions in the past. And, its even more amusing when you stumble across their distressed posts on the forum about how this game is dying because the population is so small and they can never find a group! XD

08-27-2008, 07:25 PM	#7
Oh General Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,516	Spyderbite@Venekor wrote: Ranja wrote: A group right there but people are sjust spamming the LFG channel hoping someone sends them an invite. I even introduce these people sometimes adn they say stuff like " I dont want to form the group" Or I dont want to group with a xx class. hehe.. I've witnessed the same thing on several occasions in the past. And, its even more amusing when you stumble across their distressed posts on the forum about how this game is dying because the population is so small and they can never find a group! XD QFT!! Seriously i've done some interesting mixes for dungeons, and it's been fun. Yea maybe just maybe it can be setup more optimially but I'd rather just go now and have a group then sit in my chair waiting longer for this other class to hopefully show up. Basic group 101, get a tank, get a healer, fill with dps and your gtg. Sometimes you might need an enchanter, sometimes you might need a 2nd healer. __________________

08-27-2008, 10:25 AM	#1
Morgane Server: Everfrost Guild: Bloodforged Legacy Rank: Bloodforged Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 654	In response to the folks on this forum who complain ad naseum about being unable to find groups, here is what works for me on the Everfrost server, which is a light load server (from what I understand). 1. Please be aware: If you play at odd hours, finding a group will be harder. Most of us work or go to school during the daytime hours. If you live in, example here, Europe, try to find a server with players that play during your available hours. 2. Use the LFG tool. If more people used it, things would be alot easier on all of us. Some of us actually DO use it so turn on the LFG tag and use the LFG tool! Also, if you are a group looking for a certain class, use it. 3. Keeping #1 in mind, when you log in during the evenings after work or school and you have the need or desire to group, pay attention to the OOC channels. On Everfrost in the evenings and on weekends, there are almost always people looking for groups. 4. If you aren't finding anything using the LFG tool and watching the OOC channel, then go to your chosen instance or dungeon (or in the general area) and start spamming the OOC channel yourself. If you are a 38 Templar, then go to the OOC channel hit backslash 5 and backslash 6 (i think) and tell the 30-39 and 40-49 chat channel that you are... "Looking for a tank and DPS for Runnyeye - pst". You will very likely end up with a full group in half an hours' time. 5. Keep in mind that many people want to group but they are very passive about it. In other words, not enough people take the lead. They wait for people to come to them. If this is not working for you then you must take the initiative and pull a group together yourself using the above method. 6. It's always a good idea to understand that if you want to group, chances are you can, but it won't always be the exact group setup you want/need and it won't always be the exact instance/dungeon that you want/need. That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. One day a pug might be to your advantage, another day you might find yourself helping others. Give and take and alla that. 7. Summer, the beginning of classes, holiday weekends and other game releases will ALWAYS effect your server... for better or worse. People try different games, they go places with their families during the summer, they buckle down and hit the books during the first part of their classes (takes a few weeks until they start skipping class to play EQII - hehe). Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet during these times and work with what you have. 8. When everything you try fails, then realize that sometimes groups just weren't meant to be. On occasion it IS hard to find a group. But it rarely happens repeatedly, especially if you use all the tools available to you and play during the peak play times on your server. Just realize that stomping your foot and demanding a group in the next fifteen minutes doesn't always work. In which case, go solo and be patient until you can throw a group together. 9. Joining a guild is a good way to find quality groups. There are raiding guilds and there are adventuring guilds. Find one that suits you. The larger ones tend to offer more opportunities but smaller ones can be fruitful, too. As with the server, find a guild that plays during the times you play and has the same goals, more or less. And as always, be aware that just because you want a group NOW, doesn't mean you will get one. Guildies sometimes want to craft or solo or just hang out at the broker. I find that having a plan and letting people know of it ahead of time will net you a group faster in a guild. Now, this is by no means a full proof method... it's simply what has worked for me on the Everfrost server over and over again. I find myself to be one of those "passive" players who want to group but don't necessarily want to be the group's leader. I have occasionally had to venture out of my comfort zone and start groups myself... you especially have to do this if you are looking for specific instances to complete a quest or get a certain drop. But if you are simply looking to group, then paying attention to the OOC channels during peak play hours will almost always produce a group for you. I'm sure I've left a few things out so feel free to add to the list. This was just the basics of finding a group because I hear so often that people are having trouble finding them. Good luck and happy adventuring.

08-27-2008, 02:07 PM	#4
ShashLigai Loremaster Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 248	I agree with all that has been said. I would like to emphasize that you'll be much more likely to get a group if you make the effort to start one. People always find it easier to follow than to lead. __________________ ---------------------- Shichea Lucan DLere

08-27-2008, 09:29 PM	#8
Zarador Loremaster Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,194	The easiest method which has worked for years for me is simply just being there. Show up in an area that is not so far off the beaten path so as to have some population there and look for others there that are hunting. Then, simply ask if you may join them. I must say this method has worked about 90% or better for me. Your there, your ready to hunt, their there hunting, perfect match.This of course involves doing what they are doing and can be great fun, really. How to keep that group and get future groups is a whole other issue. Watch when you see a mob killed and looted or simply look and see what the loot method being used is. Don't suggest that they change that method to one that you prefer. If your doing your job and pleasent to be with, most groups will start to share the wealth more. They added you to the groups, were doing just fine (odds are) without you, so they may at first be reluctant to help someone out at the cost of what they feel is their loot to begin with. You joined them, don't suggest that they all change their plans to what you wish to do. If you really enjoy grouping and playing your class, you should be enjoying doing what they are doing. This also relates to putting down the zone/area their hunting in citing better loots and experience over there. They were quite content before you came along, they will be quite content after they remove you if you complain too much. One man's trash is another mans treasure. Avoid trashing the value of the drops. If you have better, good for you! You can simply decline that loot and not say a word. This one requires more work. Hit the your inventory or skills list and check out your class. See that class? That's the one you are playing. No one cares that you have a "Level X insert class). Don't ask them to gear your other characters or tell other classes how they should play. No one cares that you have a full fabled gear level 80 character if that's not the one you brought to the group. Your Guild/Friends are not with you, that's why you needed a group. Focus your attention and conversations on that group. Most people could care less what your guild is discussing or how important you are to them. If your that important, stay out of the PuG's and focus on your duties. Set aside activities like harvesting that can easily be done while your not in a group. Asking people if they mind if you harvest will often get you an "Ok" while they stand around ticked off that you wasted their time. Avoid starting or joining into heated "game politics" as they tend to bring out the worst in people. Be polite if you must engage in such topics. Explaining about how bad the game is might also explain why your looking for groups all the time. The idea in the end is to have a pleasent time with new people, plain and simple. With luck, you find some more good players to add to a friends list and get groups quicker as time goes on. In the worst case scenerio, you may spend a few hours doing what you were not in the mood to do only to discover you get invited to some nice instances in the future because you were an asset.