The problem with a rotating Hot Zone setup is we have no hooks into the DB to script things like that. All those changes require simple manual labor across a bunch of tables, and a server restart. I wish it was easier, but people need to remember that EQ was born out of Tanarus, and that EQ's engine/DB structure started life back in 1996. It's something we certainly COULD devote code time to change, but again, it comes up as pretty low priority. The fact is, getting XP in EQ just isn't as hard as it used to be, and there's nothing saying you can't get a change of scenery without it being a hot zone. The people playing just want the path of least resistance at all times. I can't say I blame them, but at the same time, I'm not sure I sure have sympathy either if things don't follow the schedule they want. The EQ Live team is fairly small right now, so we have to be very careful how we allocate available resources. Simple as that really.
EQ F2P- Returning Players & Current Content
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Guest, it's time once again for the massively important and exciting FoH Asshat Tournament!
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Elidroth when will grouping make a comeback? It seems so dead on The Rathe...can be LFG for hours and get nothing
Most people don't like the real answer, but it was true even when I was a hardcore raider. If you want a group, don't sit LFG for hours. Find people who are LFG like you and MAKE A GROUP. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people complain about sitting LFG, when there are a dozen or more people doing EXACTLY THE SAME THING, when in reality they could make a group or two themselves. Sometimes you have to initiate things.Elidroth when will grouping make a comeback? It seems so dead on The Rathe...can be LFG for hours and get nothing
Of course, it could also be because you're a jerk.
lol!Most people don't like the real answer, but it was true even when I was a hardcore raider. If you want a group, don't sit LFG for hours. Find people who are LFG like you and MAKE A GROUP. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people complain about sitting LFG, when there are a dozen or more people doing EXACTLY THE SAME THING, when in reality they could make a group or two themselves. Sometimes you have to initiate things.
Of course, it could also be because you're a jerk.I'm not saying you are, I'm just making a point, but there were certainly people in my day that I wouldn't group with, because they were known jackasses.
I play EQ casually...been playing it since Kunark but of course went to EQ2/WoW/generic_mmo_1 so I fell out of the loop. The thing is, I have no clue what makes a good group. Is it still 1 tank, 1 healer, slower, mezzer, and dps? I guess I just don't want to put together a shit group and be known as a shitty group leader.
Some people were nice enough to bring me along for DH missions (real easy and quick ones, which were enjoyable) but I have no clue what the requirements are for the tank/healer to survive such stuff. I'm pretty sure they overgeared it too.
A shit group is better than no group. Most people in your situation just want to play, and by starting a group you're giving them at least that. If someone is sitting on their ass, but will call a group you put together a shit group, that'd be a good clue to leave them sitting on their ass, and out of it next time.
Good point. I end up soloing old stuff that I never got to get around to while LFG....couldn't really raid at the ripe age of 14 during PoP so it's nice that character power has progressed where I can pretty much kill anything PoP related.
yamikazo
Trakanon Raider
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Basically, mercs can fill in whatever gaps a group has.
Can't find a melee class with good enough gear? Pop a tank merc. Basically any melee can tank, so it's just a matter of, "Hey can you tank this stuff or do we need a merc?"
Can't find a priest? Pop a merc.
Have all the roles filled, but have some open slots? Get dem wiz mercs.
The group game in EQ is so easy nowadays, there are no requirements. Slows make healing easier. CC makes pulling easier, but depending on the content and the abilities of your tank, a lot of stuff can just be facerolled. You need someone to take hits, someone to heal, and someone to bring mobs into camp. Two of those roles can be filled by mercs.
Can't find a melee class with good enough gear? Pop a tank merc. Basically any melee can tank, so it's just a matter of, "Hey can you tank this stuff or do we need a merc?"
Can't find a priest? Pop a merc.
Have all the roles filled, but have some open slots? Get dem wiz mercs.
The group game in EQ is so easy nowadays, there are no requirements. Slows make healing easier. CC makes pulling easier, but depending on the content and the abilities of your tank, a lot of stuff can just be facerolled. You need someone to take hits, someone to heal, and someone to bring mobs into camp. Two of those roles can be filled by mercs.
Xequecal
Trump's Staff
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The main problem with grouping in EQ is most of the players have formed impenetrable cliques, and this just gets worse and worse with time. The way I used to find groups, when RoF came out, was to roam the zone until I found a group using mercs as filler and asked them to join. It usually worked. Today, it works less and less often. You'd think they'd want a real person that's standing right there that they don't have to wait for or CoH or go find, but nope, they'd rather have the merc. Plane of War is the epitome of this, nobody even thinks of inviting people they don't know. You can solo-farm trash and get yourself within 2-3 kills of spawning a Judicator, find a Judicator group and offer to let them share your Judicator, but they STILL don't want to group you. It's unreal. I have full raid gear too, and people still would rather use their rogue or wiz merc.
Well.. unfortunately, there's no system we could in place to stop people from playing with only those people they want to play with. I think that's just a function of the age of the game itself, and who is playing now more so than the game itself. I always took the approach that I don't care who I play with so long as they don't suck.
There is definitely that. Greed isn't really something you can design out of people.. Heh.
These days, it's more that mercs are preferred to fill those roles. It's tough to be a cleric or warrior outside of raids these days. Despite the restrictions, I kind of miss the holy trinity; the days where a cleric and enchanter were highly valued in places like Sebilis.
Mercs are useful. The intent was for people to have them as an option for when real players weren't available, not for them to be preferred to players. It's a very delicate balance to be useful, but not overpowered.
Except when leveling up on low toons
yamikazo
Trakanon Raider
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My post wasn't an assessment of the dev team or the design decisions about balance, though I suppose it could have been read that way. That wasn't my intention. I find that mercs are balanced fairly well at the end game (though the rogues are lacking compared to the wizards - do you all have the stats on level 100 players using a J5 rogue vs wiz?).
My point was, mercs are functional. They do their job with a modicum of ability. I am critical of the playerbase who prefers an exp-stealing merc to much more capable and, often, friendly company.
