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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsAre cross-realm dungeons necessary?
by Matthew Rossi 
Oct 9th 2007 at 2:00PM
Prolific MMO commentator Tobold writes about a possible problem with Blizzard's plan to speed up the level grind in 2.3: it could make getting a dungeon group together even harder. His solution would be to institute cross-realm dungeons that would resemble the current cross-realm battleground system. He also mentions some improvements to the LFG system (setting aside slots for dedicated roles, so that if you need a tank you don't end up in a group with three mages and two priests, for example) and the commenters come up with some good points, including worrying about how to deal with cross-realm ninjaloots.Generally, the cross realm BG's worked out and I'm a fan of the much reduced waiting times for an AV run. Even with the anti-AFK measures it still only takes a few minutes as opposed to the upwards of an hour it could take before. But I do see some logistical problems in setting up a similar system for instance runs: no more summoning stones since everyone is on a different server, for example. Everyone would have to make their way to the dungeon themselves like they used to in the dim, barbaric past when cavemen first played WoW.
What do you think? Would we need 'Instance Groups' similar to Battlegroups, or would you just extend the Battlegroup to also be the pool your cross-realm LFG pulled from? Is this even an issue or are folks overestimating how much faster level will effect instancing?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Instances, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Todd Oct 9th 2007 3:37PM
I feel the LFG tool is horrible. I had better luck using the old LookingForGroup channel, which is no longer available unless you are queued in something. Not many people /join the LFG channel, either.
Todd Oct 9th 2007 3:47PM
I feel the LFG tool is horrible. I had better luck using the old LookingForGroup channel, which is no longer available unless you are queued in something. Not many people /join the LFG channel, either.
Tylenol Oct 9th 2007 3:50PM
I say do it implement it yes, it would give another option. If you want to spam "LFG X instance" all day long good for you, do it. If I want to quickly get in on an instance I ll join the cross realm dungeon queue. It gives you another option you did not have before, and more options is always good. Its not like adding one is going to get rid of the other. Where do I sign.
Paul Oct 9th 2007 4:03PM
Yes, there would be more ninja looting than there is now. Certain people are kept honest because they know it is in their best interest to not screw people over, and risk getting screwed over later in the game if it turns out one of them is influential in a guild or in some other way.
But you make the pool of people larger, and the fear of that happening becomes much smaller if you know you'll probably never see that person again.
ladyshiva Oct 9th 2007 4:24PM
I have the answer to all the problems with the lfg interface. It should allow players to set up a profile for themselves. Even something as simple as a series of check boxes where a druid could check "DPS preferred", "Off spec healer", so the system could more intelligently match up groups. That way a dps warrior or a holy paladin won't ever get flagged as a tank if they don't want to tank. Brilliant if I do say so myself!
Chay Oct 9th 2007 4:29PM
I think that Blizzard should implement the old LookingForGroup channel as it was before the stupid LFG system came. I don't understand why they removed the channel in the first place. It was way easier getting a group back then than it is now...:(
Liel Oct 9th 2007 5:04PM
@8 15 percent buff to XP is not going to be zomg im 60 one day after I created a toon.
Ockhamsrazor Oct 9th 2007 7:40PM
Well, I see it as both good and bad.
It will speed up finding a pug for a run, thats good. But, I think it may also open up a whole can of worms no one wants to see opened.
what I am worried about is how players will treat each other in these groups. There is allot of opportunity to simply take or do what you will and treat people badly with little to no consequences for the offender. And were there is opportunity, well such behavior will no doubt thrive.
To a large degree this behavior comes back to bite you on your virtual behind, as those you screw over on your own server will no doubt tell others and before long your group less/guild less or forced to group/guild with your own kind and your reputation is trash. Sure one can move severs, but the cost of that is a pretty good deterrent in most cases.
we will not have that kind of element to curb that behavior in cross realm groups. So what would simply stop someone from abusing the group and the system as they felt like it?
The griefers out there must be hopping with glee at the opportunity this will provide for them.
For those who think there are not a good number of griefers playing WOW, go level a toon on a PVP server, LOL.
to be honest I can not conceive of a easy way to police things such that it will work as good as BG's do. It will solely rely on the good will of your fellow gamers.
I am either a pessimist or a realist, but thats how I see this.
my2cents Oct 9th 2007 8:23PM
As many people before me have stated, I think cross-realm instancing would lead to wipespread ninja-looting. I'd rather see significantly buffed xp from mobs like others have mentioned.
On a side not, another thing I would love to see added to lowbie instances is repeatably/daily timed quests like the 45-min baron run but something not as challenging that would award extra xp (and/or loot or money) by simply getting through the instance quickly or without wipes. For example SM cath can easily be done in 20-25 minutes with a decent group, but slacking and afkers can stretch it to over an hour. If the whole group knew they could get amazing xp and a few gold toward their upcoming lvl 40 mount by completing it in 20 mins or less, perhaps they would...or at least the group would make a stronger effort.
Wolfstalker Oct 9th 2007 10:00PM
I think the first idea (dedicated spots to LFG) is a great idea.
You can't use the LFG tool at all really, because it doesn't discriminate. You always end up with 16 DPSers in the queue and no tanks or healers.
Being able to specify that you are looking for "tank", "healer", or "DPS" would make the process a lot simpler.
As for the second idea, cross-realm instance groups would make it a hell of a lot easier to get a group. On my my server, horde is ooutnumbered 2-1 by alliance. Being able to accept horde players from other realms would make it a lot easier.
I'm not really that concerned about Ninja looting. You've got to be pretty retarded to loot a BoP item that vendors for 2g when you can't or won't use it. The majority of people that do this are little kids who never make it to 70. I personally have seen 1 obvious "ninja loot" in the process of levelling 2 characters to 70.
I have seen a few noobs who didnt know any better roll need on stuff they can't use and then wonder why people get angry, but that sort of thing really only ever happens at low levels (under level 30 or so).
A simple fix would be to just use master looter.
Nessie Oct 10th 2007 12:43AM
I personally don't want to see much more retooling of the current LFG system -- I think it went from bad, to worse, to less bad. The only reason the global LFG chat failed was because everyone decided to ruin it by filling it up with idiotic "forum chat." Regardless, I still found most of my groups in LFG channel far quicker than the LFG tool.
I think cross-realm partying would be great -- especially for people who play at odd times or just can't find groups. Take the epic Warlock quest, pugs do NOT run Scholomance or Dire Maul anymore. So getting your epic mount, if you don't have a guild to help you, can take weeks and weeks of just waiting to find a group -- at which point you'll get to 61 and technically can't even queue for those instances anymore.
Up side to X-realm instances -- more groups, more loot, less time going solo. Down side to X-realm instance -- more instance server instability, probably some extra ninja looting -- which I doubt would be much different from regular ninja looting, just post a typical ninja screenshot on the Battlegroup forum (or your's and their realm forums), which would get a lot more use if this were opened up. But I just have more faith -- feeling that people would rather have more chances to get their own loot and quests done than having the chance to steal others' and then disappear. Chances are you WILL see that person again if you're all in the same level range for the next month or so.
Maybe it wouldn't work -- but my problem is I spend too much time waiting for an instance group to materialize. It'd be nice to just have a check box for "xrealm" or "home realm." So if you want to risk the supposed troubles of xrealm, it's your choice.
Chee42 Oct 10th 2007 11:45AM
At this point in WoW's life I don't see a real need for separate realms at all. I've seen some interesting things done in GuildWars and D&D Online with instanced cities, it would take some work on Blizz's side, but I think it would greatly enhance the community to have a single world, so that you can play with ANYONE else who plays WoW. This would be a lot of work for Blizz bit it's not like they don't have the money to do it.
Neboz Oct 14th 2007 2:38AM
I think cross-realm instances would make the game much more enjoyable for those players that are playing for content and quality gameplay.
Verit Oct 11th 2007 4:10PM
In Cross Realm BG's - you can't trade anything with someone on another realm except conjured items (mage water/food). I heard this was primarily to avoid namespace issues between realms.