Patch 3.3 PTR: New Looking for Raid interface
by Gregg Reece 
Oct 26th 2009 at 8:00PM
Above is the raid panel from the new LFG interface (click for full-sized image). Unfortunately, it isn't actually working at the moment and it isn't readily accessible in the PTR's interface. As you can see, the leader role isn't available at the top, so we currently presume there will be a special interface that the raid leader will get similar to the current "Looking for More" interface on the live realms.
The List button at the bottom isn't clickable at the moment, so we're not sure what pops up after it's been selected. Some of the raids are currently locked. This is a byproduct of the PTR as in previous test patches they had locked down those dungeons for testing prior to their release. From looking at the code, the new system should be able to tell if anyone is currently locked to a specific Raid ID and unable to join your new group. This should also be the case for any heroic dungeons that people run using the new LFG tool.
Unfortunately, we're still not sure if the Looking for Raid system will also be cross-realm. The developers have mentioned in the past that that they really don't want to have raids be under the same cross-realm system and I'd have to say that I agree. With twenty-five people possibly all from their own realms, the probability of having your raid's ID stolen goes up. There is also very little you can do to track down who did this or even talk to them about it later.
As this feature is incomplete, we'll be keeping an eye out for how it is shaping up during the PTR. It's a shame we won't be able to use it for the Icecrown Citadel testing on the PTR this week.
Patch 3.3 is the last major patch of Wrath of the Lich King. With the new Icecrown Citadel 5-man dungeons and 10/25-man raid arriving soon, patch 3.3 will deal the final blow to the Arthas. WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.3 will keep you updated with all the latest patch news.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
JC Oct 26th 2009 8:06PM
Nice! I can't wait for these new LFG's to finally come out. Hopefully these will really simplify the PUG'ing process.
Radiophonic Oct 26th 2009 8:13PM
OMG! Thank you Bilz!
Wild Colors Oct 26th 2009 8:27PM
For raids, I feel like they should let you choose a set of roles for each raid you are interested in. For heroics, it doesn't matter so much, but raids vary a bit more in difficulty. My offset tanking gear is fine for Naxx, but I would hesitate to go too far into Ulduar with it...
nieboh Oct 26th 2009 8:32PM
One potential problem I see with cross-realm looking for raid would be realm-first achievements. I can imagine a scenario where the best of the best from several servers get together and destroy an instance to get a world-first or realm-first take-down. Then what happens? Who gets credit? Although there are much more mundane scenarios where cross-realm-raids would cause drama and issues.
Clydtsdk-Rivendare Oct 26th 2009 8:41PM
Random nature of the new PUG interface ruins that strategy.
Jason Oct 26th 2009 11:13PM
It would work if everyone simoultaneously (sp) logged into the LFG system. That would take some massive coordination tho
pchnts8 Oct 27th 2009 8:37AM
One way to make cross-realm raid work is to change the way raid IDs function. Currently the raid ID is a uniques code shared among the participants and tracks the progress / state of the instance. But what if the raid ID was personalized to each player, such that it would track current progress through the dungeon. So if you started a raid pug and then broke up, each person would have their progress stored to them. If they got another group, and the new people had no raid lock, they would be able to continue through. If they had an incompatible lock, then they would be locked out. If you got back with some of the previous group, you would be able to continue, as you would all have the same progress. There would be no raid ID stealing as each member would have their progress saved to them, no one can go in and steal your instance, the instance state is saved to the individual. I guess getting back with the old group might be tricky, maybe something could be done in the interface to match up saved groups.
Beli Oct 27th 2009 10:15AM
@pchnts8:
It's a nice idea, and probably wouldn't be too hard to implement - every raid ID simply represents a single state of the instance (for example, ID 00001 could mean you've only killed the first boss, while ID 00002 means you've killed the first two, etc). Then even if two people ran in different PUG's, if they stopped at the same point they could get together later to do more.
Of course, there is a downside to this idea... Lets say there are a bunch of guilds on the same server that are sitting at roughly the same point of progress in a 10 man raid - the first X bosses don't drop anything their raid needs, and they really just want to work on the last two or three bosses. Well, they each put up a few people, and you've got a raid that can run through the beginning bosses, and then bring the raid ID's back to the guild to only work on the hard bosses. It seems to defeat the point a little...
(cutaia) Oct 27th 2009 1:01PM
If you're good enough to get a realm first, chances are you're already in a guild that's working towards that.
Besides...getting realm firsts requires you to know not only the instance and fights...but your team as well. Even if a bunch of awesome players from different realms find a way to pug together with this system, they're still not going to get any world firsts.
ToyChristopher Oct 26th 2009 8:35PM
I love the 5man interface. I hope they can work it out so it can be cross realm for raids too and work just as smoothly. I do see what people are saying about cross-realm raiding being a problem but I think the benefits would be worth working those problems out.
Blastenheim Oct 26th 2009 8:51PM
Hmm, interesting. The setup seems to suggest the Raid LFG might allow to queue for older raids, something that we cannot do now but could be really nice (trying to form raids for older content and achievement hunting is rather cumbersome at the moment).
Leviathon Oct 26th 2009 9:10PM
The raids you outlevel will be locked from you just like the dungeons.
(cutaia) Oct 27th 2009 12:35PM
I would absolutely love it if I could queue for cross-realm old-school raids. It would be nice to have a chance of getting into MC quicker. It's bad enough I still have to run it another 20 times for exalted, but having to spend an hour trying to find anyone to come along just sucks.
Plus, on my server, the only people doing old-school raids is a group of 70s who refuse to take anyone lower than 80 so they can masterloot all the gear to themselves*. I'm pretty sure that these idiots have actually managed to damage the old-school raiding scene on my server.
*Please no, "Old gear doesn't matter, Northrend greens are better, yada, yada, yada." I understand this. However, some 80s would still like to collect old tier sets for fun, so ninjaing old gear is still a bunch of crap.
(cutaia) Oct 27th 2009 12:45PM
As for Leviathon:
The coloring system we've seen so far in these screenshots would seem to imply the opposite. Why color the dungeons yellow/green/gray if you're only going to be allowed to choose stuff that's your level?
If you are right, though, and we're still locked out, then it's high time that Blizzard changes this.
urakei Oct 28th 2009 4:40AM
I would be very disappointed if they lock out low level dungeon and raids...
The lock from the pics seems to show that the player does not meet the requirements yet.. it's probably gear...
Skem Oct 26th 2009 9:22PM
I don't agree at all with cross-realm raiding.
1. Raid ID stolen. Who does this really belong to? the leader? Anyone in it that can put a group together tomorrow the fastest?
2. Loot lost to other realms meaning less equiped players on your realm even though the talent and ability to do it might be there.
3. Ninja's it happens- cross realm will just make this worse as when they log, thier gone and forum agruements will become much more posionous.
4. How does it know your equiped enough for the raid? How easy is it to abuse this? Does this mean I can start a raid on my realm with my crappy equiped friends and then let the computer get some suckers to carry us? Could it be used as a free teleport around the world machine (i.e sign up get portaled, in and then walk out the front door)?
5. What if you want to go to raid x but only with your friend (I get this one a lot from tanks and healers)?
6. Good PuG's on guild runs are often invited back and some asked to join. This is an important mechanism for guild to building reputations, friends and enlarging.
These are just a few off the top of my head right now...
Gregg Reece Oct 26th 2009 9:40PM
These are all good points. Which is why Blizzard has said that they don't forsee doing cross-realm raiding. I even mentioned it in the article... next to last paragraph... second sentence... I agree with them in the same sentence... I point out a couple bad things in the next two sentences...
Did you read the article?
Matt Oct 26th 2009 10:01PM
Hello Mr. Black and White. I'd like to introduce you to the world of colors, as nothing is so cut-and-dry:
RE: 1 - Blizzard could find a remedy for this.
RE: 2 - Does it matter if all you're looking to do is pug a raid on an alt and don't want to wait around for 25 other people who can do it at the time you want to do it? If you're worried about that, you should only raid with your guild.
RE: 3 - If someone ninja logs, there will be a queue of people behind them. Cross-realm would open up an easier time replacing people. This would be no different than ninja logging in raids as they function now, only you'd have an easier time replacing.
RE: 4 - Blizzard could find a remedy for this. Hello wowarmory.com. No reason they couldn't implement gear score options. I'd assume raid leaders would be able to pick who they wanted, otherwise there'd be no use for a raid leader. Again, no real change from current, just larger pool to pull form. Besides, I have a highly geared alt that I don't know how to play very well. Gear score is a smoke screen!
RE: 5 - Is that kind of like being in a group with a friend now, and going to LFG to find the rest of your raid and filling spots needed? Again, this is no different than what it is now, only a larger pool.
RE: 6 - Does it matter if all you're looking to do is pug a raid on an alt and don't want to wait around for 25 other people who can do it at the time you want to do it? If you're worried about that, you should only raid with your guild, on your own server (of which I'm sure they'd give you the option to only choose from).
I for one loved the idea of cross-server merely for the fact that I could get into a raid quicker on an alt during an off-time. Or, my guild could bring friends/family who might be on another server. I think it'd be sad if they didn't allow cross-server raiding!
jbodar Oct 27th 2009 12:18AM
@Matt
No, not "ninja logging". He's saying the incidence of loot ninjas will go through the roof with no real damage to reputation in place. At least with in-server PUGs the ninja has to realm-transfer or name-change to avoid blacklisting. People can kinda know who the ninjas on their server are... now, account for the names of ninjas on other servers, and the fact that you can't put them in your friends list. You have no recourse when douchebags are not on your realm.
I also find it suspect that you deflect every problem with, "oh, they'll fix that".
Sinthar Oct 28th 2009 5:54AM
@ Matt
Blizz COULD find a fix is not the same as this IS the fix. Blizz COULD fix the blink bug, but wont as its too much work. Blizz COULD give us all money back, but wont.
Do ya see a pattern yet?
Please dont brush off valid concerns with 'Blizz COULD'.
Personally i think the two are not incompatable. A simple toggle 'cross realm' would do. The RL ticks it if they wanna pug from anywhere, not if they want it on their own realm. That solves both the alts just wanting to go/faster filling of raids, or the more normal solo realm raid