How To: Pick a PUG

[Xander]

Yes, we've all had our PUG horror experiences; however, sometimes it must be done.

What's the best way to group / party players for questing, raids, instances, or RP? Guild Wars is horrible. WoW is acceptable but did leave somthing to be desired. I really hope Aion has a slick party system that's very very fast. I HATE waiting for an hour or more just to assemble the group and get started. Unfortunately, not all of us have 8 hours a day to play MMOs.

Issues to be considered are:
- Travel/summoning - get everyone to the same location at the same time
- Communication - grouping automatically puts you into a voice chat channel would be nice - getting people TS or Vent info just takes more time
- Classes / skills - be able to select what classes you still need, and publish a skill set recommendation (telling people how to play their class isn't cool, but sometimes there is a best way to beat a particular boss, plus it helps noobies that may not be bad players, but don't know the ropes for the raid)
- Booting un-cooperative players and ninjas
- Adding a new member after the /omgragequitscrewyounoobs without completely starting over

[arkhaal]

I remember seeing a search/who panel, with filters, but dunno about a lfg system with auto-invite etc...

The best solution would be to create a channel with guilds having a nice reputation/skill etc... and then, make announcements in this chan when you want to group, this would be the best solution for a fast AND a reliable group but this can be done only after few months (when guilds are created) and it's "user side", everything can be done without asking NCSoft for developing lfg tools etc...

I personally find the LFG tool from WoW being useless, the chan system (general) works fine, and a special chan with only good guilds works even better.

[Azza]

Id pretty much go with guild at all times, though if I had to pug it would be with players I knew & play with at odd times.

[Calindor]

A Global LFP system that also compares quests you have with people in your level range. Anyone simply turns it on and they show up on the Global list.

[Kattrina]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Aion does it as well. Honestly, I don't pug much since my guild's always been quite nice and helpful. However, I used to enjoy pugging a lot because even though it tended to be much more challenging, I enjoyed meeting new people.

That changed when I started pugging as a mage. Before then, I pugged as a tank, but while leveling my sister's mage, I tried pugging. That was the day I came to realize that tanks typically don't know how to play their class and make pugging a nightmarish experience.

[Janis]

Originally Posted by arkhaal

I personally find the LFG tool from WoW being useless, the chan system (general) works fine, and a special chan with only good guilds works even better.

That could be because grouping wasn't encouraged or maybe as in my case way too many terrible pug experiences.

Back in my EQ days the same feature was available and I was always able to find a solid group that would last 12 or more hours. Maybe the quality of player was better, or maybe grouping was encouraged more, not sure.

Personally I would use such a feature until I just got fed up with failed pugs and then I would look for a guild or try to network with good players.

[Azza]

You normally remember the players who mess up a group.

[Xiy]

Originally Posted by arkhaal

I remember seeing a search/who panel, with filters, but dunno about a lfg system with auto-invite etc...

The best solution would be to create a channel with guilds having a nice reputation/skill etc... and then, make announcements in this chan when you want to group, this would be the best solution for a fast AND a reliable group but this can be done only after few months (when guilds are created) and it's "user side", everything can be done without asking NCSoft for developing lfg tools etc...

I personally find the LFG tool from WoW being useless, the chan system (general) works fine, and a special chan with only good guilds works even better.

I like the idea of a guild communication channel. On my wow server, we have good relations with several guilds and it would definitely ease the ability to form a group for content when we don't have certain classes online (usually tanks). It also lends itself to RvR game where the competition is more against the other faction.

I also agree, Wow's LFG tool is useless, but I believe it's because it was released so late it didn't become part of the culture of the game. People found other ways to find groups so not many use the tool. Had it been there from release before really established guilds were around, I think it would be more heavily used.

If you are right, it's encouraging that Aion does have something to help find groups at the start when people are new and don't know many people.

[Casket]

Pugging in MMO's sucks. No matter how good the /lookingforgroup is.

The only game I ever PUG in is CSS.

[Xander]

Originally Posted by Xiy

I like the idea of a guild communication channel.

I also agree, Wow's LFG tool is useless, but I believe it's because it was released so late it didn't become part of the culture of the game. People found other ways to find groups so not many use the tool. Had it been there from release before really established guilds were around, I think it would be more heavily used.

Exactly, that was the problem with Guild Wars. The party system was implemented over a year after the game was released. Aion needs a great system right from the beginning that is beneficial to players to use.

There's a Guild and Alliance communication channel in Guild Wars. It's really nice.

Originally Posted by Calindor

A Global LFP system that also compares quests you have with people in your level range. Anyone simply turns it on and they show up on the Global list.

That's a start, but it's not enough. The system needs to facilitate most of the issues I pointed out in my original post.

If the party system isn't fast and easy in Aion, I'll end up soloing most of the game.

Just saying, "Oh, I only play with guildies" doesn't help. The grouping process can be just as slow and painful if not more so.

[knite16]

Easy, find the one who looks at you the cutest and say, THAT ONE!

Like Wilbur, here.




(on a serious note, Im not sure I've ever heard the term PUG in an MMO before. Unless Im just not calculating it right in my head.)

[Xander]

Originally Posted by knite16

Easy, find the one who looks at you the cutest and say, THAT ONE!

Like Wilbur, here.




(on a serious note, Im not sure I've ever heard the term PUG in an MMO before. Unless Im just not calculating it right in my head.)

PUG - Pick Up Group
It's just where you group randomly with players to complete quests or raids.

I should have oriented my post toward forming parties in general. The system should facilitate guild or alliance groups as well as PUGs.

[Kimino Sage]

Guild Wars' system would work if everyone used it. So, if Aion does something along the lines of what GW has, I'd be fairly content. I don't really plan on pugging to much if I'm in a guild though, so I'm not that worried. Just so long as people don't exclude certain classes (which is, in my opinion, unavoidable). But that's a different topic for a different time.

[N0rdic Ninja]

Coming out of FFXI I always thought PUGs were a standard thing and didn't mind them. =P Then I played Guild Wars... and hated almost every single PUG I was ever in. >.<;

[Fishy McFish]

I'm always willing to give people a chance when looking for a party. It's always a great way to meet new friends outside of your guild. As Azza said its easy to remember the people who do good, and the people who do horribly bad. I came from FFXI as well, and it was common to join pick up parties.