What is the preferred method of finding a party?

[dyndrilliac]

If the shout channel is off limits, what is the best way to find a party? I'm rarely in an area with more than one or two other people, and it would be nice to be able to issue an LFG style message to the rest of the players on the server indicating you are seeking a party with a specific average level in mind for a specific task. I've seen it implemented on several other servers as a shout macro, looking like this:

<Player Name> is seeking a party for <Task>! (<Player Name's Character Level> :: <Player Name's Class Abbreviation>)

Task can be either grinding or quest, and an example of a common class abbreviation would be FS for Favored Soul or MK for Monk. Also, for the process automating all but the task (the player seeking the party should supply that) the class abbreviation will be the abbreviation of the base class for which the player has the most levels invested in.

[DEV Jlf2n]

I've been thinking about this to. We may need to open the shout channel up for this at some point if we can't find a viable option. There needs to be a way for people to find parties. Because you have to fight, for your right, to par-tay.

[DM Sir Carnifex]

I think the shout would be fine to use so long as we don't have it overloaded. I would hope that that many people wouldn't be forming parties all the time.

[sen]

Well, ehm, this might sound a bit dated but... do we really need something like this? I understand someone needs a party in order to fight worthwile enemies, but isn´t it part of the game to find your companions by searching adventurers or simply because you bumped into each other? Anyway, I respect the ones who would favor rather a global chat channel for this, but I have to fears with this:

- The need to search a party often results in roleplaying situations, even with people who didn´t roleplay in the first place. Remember that every roleplayer started as a normal player who had to be introduced slowly. Without the searching for parties (which pretty much forces many to do at least a bit of roleplay - and maybe thats how they begin to like it) you take away much from this oppurtunity - in my opinion.

- I would not like to see the shout channel used for this. I like it how the DMs are using it, to draw attention to DM events, meaning the channel is used IC only. I myself (known from WoW Roleplay servers ) find Looking for Group messages all around quite disturbing for roleplayers.


Like I said, this is only my opinion. But I think something like that could harm the roleplaying integrity (even if it is a light roleplaying server).

Edit: My point is, don´t remove the need of people to talk to each other, because this is it what produces the roleplay. Many people become roleplayers because they "need" to.

Need is what roleplay brings forward, because it gives a reason to interact with the world more thoroughly.

[DEV Akavit]

Well I simply have my character stick around the Tradeway and greet anyone that comes along and doesn't run full steam ahead past my PC's face.

[dyndrilliac]

There will need to be a filter system put in place. First of all, messages not sent by staff or that match the specified LFG macro format are not displayed. I don't know how feasible such a thing would be to construct using the toolset. It's the most elegant solution though. All that is then required is to give sending LFG messages the same delay as resting, so if you sent an LFG macro now, it will take the same amount of time to become available again as resting in the field. This will completely eliminate spam.

As for it damaging role play, just think of the shout channel as a message board for a massive guild of heroes that everyone coincidentally happens to be members of communicating telepathically via guild magic.

[lorgin2003]

the main problem i can foresee is those who pop in, send the shout and then leave when they don't get an immediate response. it would get real annoying real fast.

however, since the caravan area seems to be emerging as the central meeting spot, simply waiting around there for a little while should garner enough traffic to form a decent sized group.

[otomotetsuo]

I am thinking along the same lines as lorgin with this one.

Using the Elfsong Tavern; the Campfire at the Gypsy Caravan or the one of the taverns in Beregost as a bonafide meeting point could help players RP and meet up with like-level characters.

The basic idea would be to gather together near to the difficulty of quest that you are interested in completing - for lower level quests players could use the Elfsong or the campfire ... one of the taverns in Beregost for higher level quests.

This idea is similar to the tavern from the OC in NWN1 - where mercenaries were known to gather in search of employment ... we could do the same sort of thing here and still support an RP environment.

OT's two pence.

[whenwizardswar]

No, no party requests on the shout channel, bad bad bad! EVILLL!.

Another server I played on, each player had a wand, that when they targeted the,selves it puts them on a list that can be shown in the combat log screen by targeting open ground.

You target yourself to get on the list, you target open ground to see who ever is on the list as well (PC name and rough level)

[DM Sir Carnifex]

Nov 2, 2008 0:24:58 GMT -5 whenwizardswar said:

No, no party requests on the shout channel, bad bad bad! EVILLL!.

Another server I played on, each player had a wand, that when they targeted the,selves it puts them on a list that can be shown in the combat log screen by targeting open ground.

You target yourself to get on the list, you target open ground to see who ever is on the list as well (PC name and rough level)

Sounds like an idea. I was going along with the shout thing to be agreeable Jlf2n (in case it does happen ;D) but I really prefer that players find ways to get party members without shouting out. Really, I usually have no problem finding someone if I want to.

[Bahlzeron]

An LFG thing is a good idea none the less. I saw one on an action server that was well organized, had different types (RP/action) as well as the choice of the party being public or private, public anybody can join should they choose.. and private is by invite only.Didn't get too much of a look at it as I didn't play there for but just a few days. Be quite handy for events.

Also, getting to parties can sometimes be impossible. A party of characters can easily get through stuff that would easily chew a single character up. If you're trying to get to, or back to, your party it may not happen.

[sen]

Yeah, the taverns or the caravans as a local meeting spot should be perfectly suited for that. I have made good experiences with talking to anyone who would not run past me on the tradeway, too. And since level differences and classes are really not that important, you can basically team up with anyone who is willing to lend a hand.

[dyndrilliac]

My problem with that is I don't always feel like RPing, sometimes I like goofing off. I'm not a hard core player, so sometimes I have fun just taking 30 minutes I have time to play and around around with a zombie and people go "wtf" and kill it. An example of abilities being fun in and of the themselves (because the Warlock's summon spell is relatively weak compared to virtually every other class that has access to summoning spells or in the case of druid's and ranger's summoning companions as well).

On a related note, I'm currently a level 6 Warlock and looking for a party to grind level or do the umbral hulk quest in east cloakwood.

[DM blessedone]

So far I have found that it is not hard at all to get a group going or to get into a group. Events take place on almost a daily time frame and it then does not matter what lvl. you are anyway. (other than survival time) Ok, you want to grind away some lvls. and blow off some steam or just "goof off".....well, I have also found that there are groups who do this with a hint of RP to get it going and can freely go between OOC and IC while they grind. They grind just as many xp's as those who do not RP at all.

My opinion is, to use the shout channel seems to be a BAD idea. I can see it turning into a "SEEMENOW - LFG - GOBS/OGRES/GNOLLS..." and so on and so on....it takes those who wish to RP out of their RP immersion and places them into a "WoW/DAoC/GW" environment quickly.


A good balance of this? The meeting place sounds like a good idea. To let those who do not want to RP and just grind some XP, can meet up and do just that. Those who wish to RP can sit by the fire, gypsie, or at the table in the Inn and RP. Perhaps one section for those who wish to RP and one section for those who do not. Then there is no question asked as to why your PC is there? Although, I would really hate to divide the player base like that.....

JUST MY 2 CENTS IS ALL....... GAME ON!

[Raist]

Nov 1, 2008 11:01:47 GMT -5 DEV Jlf2n said:

I've been thinking about this to. We may need to open the shout channel up for this at some point if we can't find a viable option. There needs to be a way for people to find parties. Because you have to fight, for your right, to par-tay.

I second that, thou I am quite certain the vault has some sort of search options.....with this scrying could be incorporated for wizards, so at first you cannot see where exactly players are. but if you scry them, and makes the roll (im thinking int mod + class levels against DC targets int mod+ character level or something similar) you can see what area they are in.