No more LFG channel... at least officially
by Mike Schramm 
Dec 8th 2006 at 3:06PM
Just a follow up to David's LFG post yesterday. My suggestion for the disappointing LFG system in place after the patch was for Blizzard to leave the system in place and also reinstate the LFG channel-- players who want to use the LFG system can then do so, and players who want to LFG the old fashioned (and messier, and more annoying, and yet more effective) way can do so as well.Blizzard, however, disagrees. Neth says clearly that the devs are standing behind the new system, and that no matter how much players ask for it, the old LFG channel ain't coming back. In fact, she even asks that players who don't want to use the LFG system use it anyway and give feedback on how to make it better.
I'm not sure that's going to happen-- it's Blizzard's responsibility to get creative about solutions, not the players'. But in the meantime, lots of players have gotten creative anyway, and if you "/join lookingforgroup" on almost any server, you'll find a close enough approximation of what the LFG channel used to be. Until Blizzard fixes their interface and actually gets something in place that finds me the group I want doing exactly what I want, you can meet me there.
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Blizzard, Instances, Quests
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Orin Dec 8th 2006 3:12PM
I agree that Blizzard should be the ones doing the creative thinking here. Hell, they could have just copied the Call to Arms mod if they needed someone else to do the thinking for them...
AcceptableRisk Dec 8th 2006 3:26PM
It can't be both ways simply because it divides the player base. Once one method attracts a few more people than the other, it'll gain gravity and pull everyone to the more popular choice, leaving the other as a worthless vestigal tail.
While the new interface is far from perfect. I prefer that I don't have to dig through a million off topic comments in order to find a group. The new LFG interface is a step in the right direction but it needs some more refinement.
Ringo Dec 8th 2006 3:40PM
I wont use it because I may end up grouped with a hunter, and I refuse to cripple my group with a wasted slot.
Its a nice try by blizzard, but making a solid group isn't nearly as easy anymore.
SB Dec 8th 2006 3:37PM
I was going to post, but I'd have said the same thing as AcceptableRisk. You can't have two functioning LFG systems, or neither will work.
If they tweak some of the problems (like autogrouping and the lack of options in many cases) the new LFG will be great. But people need to use it to figure out how it can be improved.
Mike Schramm Dec 8th 2006 4:31PM
I see your points, but at the same time I'm not going to be forced to use a system that doesn't work when there's a perfectly good one that does.
If Blizzard needs to tweak the LFG interface to get it right, then they need to tweak it. The second the interface is better than a chat channel (as people have said, Call To Arms pretty much did it right-- before Blizzard broke it), I'll use the interface, not the chat channel.
Surtr Dec 8th 2006 3:44PM
You know the hilarious thing? On Llane-H, quite a few people still /join lookingforgroup... but now the *only* messages on it actually are for groups or members! It seems like people are using the new tool to get 3-4 people together and then spamming LFG to find their tank/healer.
Maybe what we really needed are Tank and Healer channels that people can beg on, er, LF1M on, since that seems to have been the biggest problem for most PUGs before and now after as well.
agreeingwithblizz Dec 8th 2006 3:52PM
I want to say I understand the Choice thing and sympathize with wanting the LFG channel some.
BUT..
The intention of having the new system will be shattered if we allow LFG channel. In order to change "habbits" and force people to use that new feature...the removal of LFG is a must.
In the long run people will use this and learn to get used to it..eventually it will work out well for us all.
People have a hard time with change and habbits changing. But tuff cookies...
In order for the new LFG sytem to work they need people to use it...a LFG channel would defeat the purpose of the changes.
I put my full approval behind this LFG system and if we ALL use it ..we will see the great advantages of it. Just try it...encourage participation in using it.
What I don't get is why can't people just give the new system a shot for a few weeks...and shut the hell up and stop crying.
Drew Dec 8th 2006 3:58PM
Obviously, the attempt was to repair the damage created by offering an open forum for anyone and everyone to rant about everything NOT related to looking for a group. I mean, really, who enjoyed reading all the stupid Chuck Norris crap and comments about everyone's mother in the prior LFG channel? I usually turned it off until I needed to find a group.
The new solution would probably work if you could specify what classes and/or levels you wanted in your group rather than a simple auto-join where you could end up with three warriors in a 5 man dungeon group. They just need to refine the options a little and I guarantee folks will start using it once they get a piece or two of epic PvP armor and the battlegrounds get old and monotonous.
Darkwarder Dec 10th 2006 9:52PM
When the LFG channel went global, most players turned it off. It no longer had the intended function. People should create their own channels, to replace the LFG channel. You could have the "Calling Everyone a Newb" channel, "Making Racist or Sexist Remarks" channel, or the "Making Cruel Steve Irwin Joke" channel. That's all that happened on the LFG channel anyway.
Prauche Dec 8th 2006 4:10PM
Other than the fact that you can't get a group below or above a certain level, I don't know what all the whining is about. I don't "auto-join." Rather, I look at the LFM section and see what groups have formed to this point. If I see one that looks appropriate, I /w the leader and see about getting in. If I see several folks who are loners currently, but by adding them all together would be good, I start /w all of them. It ain't hard folks. It's just different. Change is good.
(I can give testimony to the difficulties of change. One of my two bosses in a small office setting refuses to let go of her 1986 word processing DOS-based program meaning every once in a while I have to work with it....ugh, Samna.)
Kahja Dec 8th 2006 4:20PM
I just want my world map button back on my actual menu... /sob
Silvertusk Dec 8th 2006 4:54PM
The main reason why the new Looking For Group tool isn't working is because, simply, no one is using it. This was mainly a PVP patch - and no one wants to do any instances anymore, since all the good gear is (somewhat) easily obtainable in the new PVP Honour system.
Everyone's PVPing; when the expansion is released, give the LFG tool another chance, because everyone will be gearing up, leveling, and looking for group members in the new instances.
Freehugz Dec 8th 2006 5:15PM
The biggest problem with the new LFG system (as well as most other changes) is that too many WoW players like to be rebelious just for the sake of being rebelious.
Auto-join is just dumb. LFG and LFM should both be brought into the same window. I don't see a problem with having 3 pools of players shown in a panel that want to do 3 different instances. Players can much take it from there.
Chuck Norris's Illegitimate Child Dec 8th 2006 4:58PM
We need a global Chuck Norris channel!!
Chuck Norris FTW!
Lori Dec 8th 2006 5:14PM
I guess, Mike (11), that we will be forced into whatever system Blizz provides of find a workaround.
Many, many people complained about the global LFG channel when it was implemented and some predicted it wouldn't be around long. Guess what, it wasn't. I turned that channel off after a few days because the volume of chat overhelmed my chat window.
I agree with the others that say give the new system a chance. And I don't understand the complaints about Blizz asking for suggestions. Normally people are so full of suggestions on how to improve the game, but when Blizz asks for them, people complain about being asked to design the game.
John Dec 8th 2006 9:28PM
I'd say a good first step would be getting a LFG system that WORKS. I clicked onto looking for group for Quest (Elite) and was stymied. What do I do from there? Nothing appeared in the drop-down quest list for me to even look for and you can't type in whatever you want. So lame. Not to mention there is no good way to report problems with the LFG system to a GM; they don't care and can't change it.
White Rabbit Dec 8th 2006 8:27PM
I don't want the lfg channel to come back, because then it'll be even RARER when you find somebody using the new LFG system since about half of the people won't even EVER open it
Supamunky Dec 8th 2006 5:43PM
I am finding both LFG channel and the new system a pain in the arse really. LFG channel worked eventually. The LFG system says you can do only so much. If you have a quest that is elite but isn't in a zone listed under zones that you got the quest from, it won't work. As I have a elite quest from some one in Hillsbrad. But the quest is in another zone, but I can't select it because of what I stated earlier.
I would like to see the LFG system accomodate all quests as some quests are just a pain in the arse to complete on yer own. So you have to specify that you aim to complete X, y and Z quests in a zone, but I don't know if that will catch on as nothing is picked up to begin with.
Oldbear Dec 8th 2006 6:19PM
To #4 - I play a hunter, Ringo. I don't see a problem with them. I've grouped with all the different classes and haven't found it to be a problem. The real problem is people who think that their class is the greatest and all others suck... or that we need a certain group to do anything... or some other lame reason for the wipe they just had. It could be a lack of ability or even just a simple mistake.
I say, "Learn to play the game! If you can't go back to your game cube."
I'm afraid if I grouped with "Ringo" I would have to stone out right before the big fight and leave his conceited, self-righteous ass to be pwned.
But, that's mostly because I'm just a hunter with a tank for a pet - We hunters are all jerks and bad players who can't do anything right...
Bigtimeagitator Dec 8th 2006 8:45PM
I don't see what the big deal is about with the new interface. Lets face it, the old way was broken and needs to be adressed. LFG won't be perfect because everbody has a differing opinion on what works and doesn't. At least they're trying to make an effort. I don't see how trying it for a little while and working with them would be a bad thing. There will always be intransigent people who won't do this or that because it doesn't suit their needs. Well, this game was meant to serve a lot of needs and a lot of people, so I can
be a little forgiving while they adress it.