Dear Blizz: Here's how to fix LFG
by Mike Schramm 
Dec 11th 2006 at 9:32PM
Last Friday, in answer to Nethaera's comment that players should use the LFG system even if they don't like it to come up with a solution for it, I commented that it wasn't the responsibility of players to fix the system, and that I'd be typing "/join lookingforgroup" to find groups until the LFG system was fixed. Now it's Monday, and over the weekend, Neth continued blaming players for not fixing the LFG system, even going so far as to say that people like me who circumvented it "are the ones making the system not work because it only works if people use it." Instead of creating a system players want to use, Blizzard put a system in place that wasn't as good as a mod (Call to Arms, which a lot of players appreciated before the addon meltdown broke it), and then expected the players to tell them how to fix it.Now, I'm not here to fight with Nethaera. From what I know about her, she's a pretty cool chick. All I really want is a working LFG system. So even while I think it's wrong for Blizzard to ask players to fix their system, if you want advice, Blizzard, I'll give it to you. Compiled from my own thoughts (and our readers' across a few different posts about the LFG system), here's how to fix LFG.
- First things first, the autojoin has to go. Currently, if two people are looking for a group for the same place, they get thrown together, and that's just not how people work (it's one reason almost no one used the meeting stone system in place before the patch). People need that human filter in place-- it's also why more people are using the "Looking for More" option than the LFG option. People want to know what they're getting into before they accept an invite.
- To that end, there needs to be a lot more information in the LFG window. I just recently found out you could hover over names to see who's in the group (a lot of people haven't realized that yet, and that's a sign that it's not intuitive enough). Ideally, I'd love to see everyone in all the groups for an instance at one glance, and choose what group I want to join based on that.
- More options are necessary when setting up a group, both in terms of class and instance choice. Players should be able to specify what classes (or, even better, specs) we want/need. I can see the reasons why Blizzard has limited the instances available to certain players (lowbies shouldn't be in higher level instances), but once you've hit a level minimum, there's no reason why you can't be LFG for it (my 60 Warrior just took up enchanting, so he's always poking around for an Uldaman run).
- And of course there are other tweaks that could be made. Comments could be more prominent-- that would be a solution to the problem of LFG for more than three instances, or looking with your alt. Comments could be searchable, using the same interface as the auction house.
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Add-Ons, Instances, Quests, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Askander Dec 11th 2006 10:27PM
I'll admit the LFG tool needs some work but I think people are being over dramatic without really giving the tool a fair chance. For instance, your first comment about auto join having to go. You can turn off the auto join feature by unselecting the "auto join" or auto add members" at the top of both tabs.
JP Dec 11th 2006 10:34PM
Blizzard should also make a global channel, WoW just feels empty without one.
Shandar Dec 12th 2006 5:25AM
I agree that people have not given the new system a chance. It takes time to transition to a system that requires the populations participation when a fair amount of the population is so cluless that there are still comments in general chat about the fact that "Hey anybody know what that new island on the map is, and how do I get there?".
I do agree the new system is could use improvement. Yes, autojoin sucks.
I'm an not an Xbox Live player but friends tell me they have some nice grouping tools.
I would like not only the ability to Ignore individuals but also the ability to rank individuals. This would be settup to allow me to see what I have ranked my interaction with another character before and also a composite ranking of what other players have ranked the player. Would need some structure araound this to prevent it from becoming a total popularity contest. Maybe something like the ebay feedback rating. May have a positive effect on peoples "Interactive" behaviour. Sorry if a little off topic.
Kevmar Jan 9th 2007 12:51PM
The LookingForGroup channel never dissapeared, people can still join it. Well, except on my server. I put a password on it everytime im the owner.
People need to use it for it to work. Its like email. If you give grandma email, but you never send her anything. She will stop using it. Once you do go to send her something, you wonder why she never responded.
Even if the system was perfect, people have to use it for it to work.
Kyle Dec 11th 2006 11:10PM
You can choose to not be autojoined, so really, that's not much of a problem. The only thing that needs to happen with that, imo, is that it needs to be off by default, instead of on by default.
I will agree it needs tweaking, and I am 100% sure it will be tweaked in time.
olhado Dec 11th 2006 11:20PM
There should be an easier way to say, "I'm interested in doing this instance, but not commited."
Khamikazi Dec 12th 2006 12:55AM
I have some ideas that they should impliment, add, whatever you want to call it.
1) Do away with how you set up what you want to look for. You get put into a static setup where you either look for BRD, Strat, Scholo, etc but you cant say what the specifics are.
2) Have it be just a toggle option. Ever played FFXI? Have it like that, where you toggle it on or off. Simple, straight, to the point.
3) Way it is listed. Name, leve, class, and additional info. Limit the info to certain length. All you'd need is so someone can say what they want specifically. 'Baron Strat', 'Running Low Levels Thru', or whatever. Just something WE can specify what we want rather than boxing us in to certain presets.
From that alone, people can then start just doing /tell to ask people the usual questions and work from there. Not much info needed, not complex, and its straight to the point. Right now you cant ask look for higher level people to help you unless they wnana hop on their alts or /tell them. This is really not something Blizzard has to think about much. Seriously, why not rip off another addon that did it that alot of players liked? They did it with other things, do it again. Jeez.
John Dec 11th 2006 11:30PM
Without a global channel, the only reminder of a booming server population is the crippling queue.
ben allen Dec 11th 2006 11:34PM
have you posted this to the forums? or done something else to get this to Neth? i say the more constructive criticism the better, though who know if and when improvements might be implemented. i imagine that any changes wouldn't be seen til a post-BC patch. but we can always remain optimistic.
freehugz Dec 11th 2006 11:44PM
that would make for a very cluttered LFG menu.
by what i've seen the ones crying about the LFG are a very small minority. most people seem to be getting along with it just fine.
brizly Dec 12th 2006 12:37AM
I like the new LFG, so I'm going to shoot down your suggestions because even though they are mostly good, they seem slightly misinformed to even someone who's only used the thing two or three times so far.
"autojoin has to go" - As has been said, autojoin is optional, as has also been said it should be off by default
"more information in the LFG window" - it already shows class and level with an option for each player to add their own comment (for spec perhaps?) as well as what other instances they are LFGing for. In a game where you mouse over EVERYTHING for more info how is it unintuitive that you would need to in this case?
"More options are necessary" - I don't recall if there is a sort option for the LFG list, but that is the only thing I would ever want. Excluding people by spec/level/anything just lowers the pool of potentials. one of the best healers I know is a balance specced druid who sometimes specs feral. Limiting by upper level seems an odd decision but I don't see it being a problem as most people I know only ever run lowbie instances with people they know or guildies.
"tweaks" - sure everything needs tweaks, the trouble with them is that if you tweak something for one person it is less tweaked for a different person. LFG seems fairly straightforward and appealing to the average WOW user as far as I can tell.
Zeffin Dec 29th 2006 1:34PM
They need to look at what D&D Online did. Their LFG was the best I've seen. You would sepcify what quest you wanted, but also I would be able to look for anyone at any level looking for a group. I could also look for any group doing any quest and ask to join.
Not sure why the Blizard team went with something so restrictive. It seems like it would be easier to create something less restrictive.
Blizzard needs to put more effort into this before Burning Crusades comes out. Right now PvP is king as people try to grab epic gear for leveling so less people are using it. But when Burning Crusades comes out their are going to be a lot more unhappy customers because of this LFG system. So far I've used it for 4 nights and it hasn't found me a group yet, the new player run LookingForGroup channel still seems to work better.
Unregistered Dec 12th 2006 3:05AM
the global channel is now called lookingforgroup
Brim Dec 12th 2006 2:32AM
Seriously though, I got me the best LFG channel ever... It's called guildchat. There is no way in hell I'm ever gonna head into any instance in a PuG.
So basicly the only annoyance I got with the new system is that it took the place of my map button.
Now THAT is something to whine about!
On a more serious note, I'd rather see them work on TBC stuff then on some lame LFG thing peolpe aint gonna use cuzz spamming general will be easier and just as effective
Cavalier Dec 13th 2006 5:54AM
Rankeding your interaction with another character that you have raided with in the past seems to me a great idea. maybe a 1-10 scale an a "never have raided with" tell to let you know of a new raiding partner.
eh? Dec 12th 2006 6:47AM
To me, one of the best and easiest to use tools was from EQ. LFG was turned into a tag you can set by typing /lfg. This would place a very visible next to your name that others around you could see. If you wanted to add a comment that appeared in the LFG window next to your name to say what you were wanting to do you could just type it after the /lfg.
ex.
/lfg looking to do BRD, Strat, Scholo, etc.
then, you could either open the window and actively search by class and level should you choose to find more people for your group, or you could wait and see if anyone invites you.
If you already had a group, then the LFM section of the window you can advertise your group and what classes/levels you were looking for and people could search them.
WoW's current system is very close to what EQ had back in the day (and currently ) all it needs is a few minor tweaks, maybe implementing a couple ideas from EQ's tool, and it will be perfect.
Kick Dec 12th 2006 7:07AM
I agree with 13.
Here is the best way to fix the lfg system (plz excuse my english)
Let's get back to the old school lfg system, i mean, the global one. In order to avoid the flood, blizzard should set up "pre-made" sentences. (I hope U understand the "pre-made sentence" tip, its the key word :p)
first part of the lfg, could be something like : "I'm a hunt" (or another class),
the second part of the lfg, could be something like the lvl : "58"
And finally, the end, the instance : "lfg Uldaman" (or another instance or areas of course)
Except those "pre-made" sentences, everything else would be prohibited :)
No more flood, everything's ok, everyone's happy
the only sentence we could read on the /4 would be :
I'm a hunt 59 lfg Ubrs
I'm a rogue 58 lfg Brd
ps : excuse me again, as U can imagine I come from a European server :) the news are better on wowinsider :p
Camaris Dec 12th 2006 7:14AM
An idea that popped into my head this morning was to combine the old LFG channel and the new tool.
The MAJOR missing feature of the current system, IMO, is the 'discovery' factor. People not actively LFGing might still want to join a group that's looking for their class.
My idea is that you have an 'automatic LFG channel', that just displays a "Player X is looking for a group to Deadmines" message if Player X uses his LFG tool. It might repeat the message every 5 minutes. This will still give you a 'spammy' channel, but that's what's needed to get the attention of the people just idling in IF.
Although the visible flag near your character, as #13 suggests, sounds like a nice idea as well.
multikast Dec 12th 2006 7:55AM
@ #13 and #14:
the main issue with this is that you still have to ACTIVELY and CONTINUALLY look for a group. I have not used the system yet, but I like the fact that you can mark yourself as LFG and groups can find you while you're off questing or whatever. I have an idea for how I had envisioned the LFG tool to look and be used, so when i get time i'll post something on the official forums.
White Rabbit Dec 12th 2006 8:06AM
All I can say is I just wish EVERYBODY would just some time out, and play with the new LFG system. Learn about the comment section, find the details (how did you miss the box to turn off auto-join?!)
I like the system, my only complaint is it doesn't seem like anybody else uses it! I've been questing in the Searing Gorge for awhile now *few days* and now once have I seen anybody besides myself on the LFG system
People just need to give it a chance and not just complain about it (I realize people NEED something to complain about, but come on)