Dungeon Finder Tool Mini-FAQ
by Adam Holisky 
Dec 7th 2009 at 9:07AM
As we talked about last week, patch 3.3 should be coming out tomorrow if there has been no major additional problems.
The entire Mini-FAQ after the break.
From Slorkuz:
Will the random heroic search have the option of excluding certain Heroic instances?
The dungeon finder will not let you exclude a specific instance, however - if you have already run a specific dungeon it is much less likely that the random heroic search will place you in the same dungeon again (on the same day).
Will players still need to purchase keys to queue for TBC heroics?
The tool complies with all standard requirements for entering a heroic dungeon. For example, if you log into the game right after 3.3 is released and queue for a random heroic dungeon, you will not be placed in instances such as Icecrown Citadel - Pit of Saron or Halls of Reflection unless you have cleared all the pre-requisites (previous wings in those cases) to unlock said instance entering (i.e. you must still clear Forge of Souls to enter Pit of Saron, and Pit of Saron to enter Halls of Reflection).
Is it true that players will no longer be saved to heroics? Does this mean players can chain farm heroics for Champion's Seals?
The Heroic lockouts still exist, however the difference is that the random heroic option will ignore any potential lockouts a player might have. This means that even if you run every single WotLK heroic dungeon in a day, you can still choose the random heroic option to continue running WotLK heroics that day. As mentioned above though, the heroic dungeons you have run the most that day will be the least likely to be randomly selected for your continued play by the dungeon finder system.
Does this mean that raid-lockouts are unaffected and you can enter multiple raid instances through the random heroic dungeon finder?
The new dungeon finder is designed only for 5 man dungeons, and the lockouts and accessibility to raid content remains unchanged/unaffected by the "override" in heroic instance lockouts for 5 man dungeons.
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 Arthas. WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.3 will keep you updated with all the latest patch news.Filed under: Patches, News items, Instances
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Brewa Dec 7th 2009 9:18AM
"The Heroic lockouts still exist, however the difference is that the random heroic option will ignore any potential lockouts a player might have."
I keep reading about this and while I'm pretty sure that's what it is saying, I've never seen it come right out and said.
Will the random Heroic lock you out from running the instance without using the tool?
Say I want to run H ToC with friends that night, but want to run a few random heroics, during the day. If the random heroic pops me into H ToC, is it locked, unless my friends and I are lucky enough to get it with the tool?
Randomize Dec 7th 2009 9:50AM
No, the lockout is not activated by using the tool, at least from what I can gather from what Blizzard has already said. So you can run any heroic, even after you may have seen it during the day randomly.
niko Dec 7th 2009 9:53AM
my understanding is that the random LFG does not create raid lockouts at all. So long as you still to the random LFG, doesn't matter if you want to run a heroic with your friends later; you'll still have all of your lockouts to burn.
mbeck Dec 7th 2009 10:51AM
Yeah that has to be one of the most wishy washy, non committal FAQs.
It flat out ignored the question about TBC heroics and rambled on about ICC instead (not that I particularly care, as my one and only char has all the heroic keys, but I know many ppl I would be running with don't have the keys) and then as this poster said the FAQ seems to say the LFG system is less likely to put you into dungeons your locked out of? WTF? if your locked out of them you cant go and it shouldn't put you in them at all, unless it's saying the new system DOES override lockouts?
Confusing to say the least.
Brewa Dec 7th 2009 11:06AM
@mbeck The random dungeon tool apparently does not create lockouts. And if you are locked out, it overrides the lockout. But with the random feature it makes heroics you ran previously that day, less likely to occur again, doesn't mean you can't get it again, just stacks the odds against it.
As for the BC question, I am curious about that myself. Although, I don't think I'm allowed to get it as a random dungeon at level 80, even if I would like to.
Basoiche Dec 7th 2009 1:19PM
Having played on the PTR, yes, if you complete the first boss, just like a normal heroic, it will lock you out just as if you had chose that heroic. However, if you continue to run random heroics, it may thrown you back into one you've done already - so essentially, yes, it activates Raid lockouts, but the lockout doesn't stop you from running a dungeon if the Randomizer throws you into it.
staffan.johansson Dec 7th 2009 11:22AM
I think it's fairly clear from the answer that you won't be random-dungeoned to a place you're not allowed to be in (other than raid lockouts). You're not allowed to be in Pit of Saron before you've done Forge of Souls, so that won't happen. Similarly, you're not allowed to be in Heroic Hellfire Ramparts without having the key, so you won't be put there.
Blackhorn Dec 7th 2009 11:36AM
@mbeck
If you can use your brain to process information properly, he did answer the TBC question by saying that you must meet the requirements of the dungeon in order to be selected for said dungeon.
TIME TO PROCESS INFORMATION! Still with me?
Keys for TBC heroics are a requirement. If you don't have the key, you don't meet the requirements. You can't run TBC heroics without keys. Answer achieved.
Thinking is hard.
Azizrael Dec 7th 2009 1:16PM
"Is it true that players will no longer be saved to heroics? Does this mean players can chain farm heroics for Champion's Seals?
The Heroic lockouts still exist, however the difference is that the random heroic option will ignore any potential lockouts a player might have. This means that even if you run every single WotLK heroic dungeon in a day, you can still choose the random heroic option to continue running WotLK heroics that day. As mentioned above though, the heroic dungeons you have run the most that day will be the least likely to be randomly selected for your continued play by the dungeon finder system. "
People are saying this means that using the LFG does not *create* lockouts. I don't think that's true:
As I understand this, if I was to run TOC HC through the LFG tool I would not be able to form a group outside the tool (a guild run, say) to go back in there on the same day if the item I wanted didn't drop.
You would be able to go back into TOC HC if the LFG tool sent you back there - but they make it pretty clear that this situation won't happen unless you've run every level 80 heroic you can already, as it will weight against putting you back somewhere you've already been.
jbodar Dec 7th 2009 6:25PM
@Azizrael
Did no one actually test this on the PTR? That sounds unlikely to me. Seems like an easy test: run a dungeon with LFG tool, then type /raidinfo to see if you are now locked out or just try to enter the instance normally and see if everything's dead.
Maybe we could get a definitive answer from someone who uses the PTR?
@Blackhorn
YES! *fistpump*
Maybe "The tool complies with all standard requirements for entering a heroic dungeon." could have been expanded on, but it's there in plain English.
potatoboy Dec 7th 2009 9:20AM
"if you have already run a specific dungeon it is much less likely that the random heroic search will place you in the same dungeon again (on the same day)."
Why do I get the feeling that after a short chain The Occulus will keep coming up no matter what?
JediMasterEric Dec 7th 2009 9:29AM
Thats ok. Occulus is getting some nerffage in the patch as well. Hopefully it is enought to make it less of a pain in the rear. *Hopes 3.3 drops tomorrow*
pandaki Dec 7th 2009 9:34AM
I don't understand the problem here.
#1 blizz is already nerfing Oculus for all those who are complaining it was broken
#2 It was never broken IMO all you had to do was know the dungeon and read up on it b4 hand.
AltairAntares Dec 7th 2009 9:35AM
Also, hopefully we'll be in 3.3 gear as well, so theoretically occulus should be easier anyway. ;)
pandaki Dec 7th 2009 9:36AM
Occulus* WTB edit button
Caerus Dec 7th 2009 9:41AM
Did you really add a reply asking for an edit to your CORRECT spelling of "Oculus?"
pandaki Dec 7th 2009 10:05AM
LOL guess i was right after all.. just saw the 2 above me spelling it differently and assumed i was wrong XD
Methuus Dec 7th 2009 10:23AM
Responding to pandaki. For many people, myself included, the issue isn't the difficulty of the instance, or not knowing what to do (I know what to do, on all three drake colors). No, the issue is that we just don't like the mechanics of the drakes. It is simply not fun for many people.
I consider the final fight in Oculus to be the opposite of fun; even though I know exactly what to do and don't find it difficult. And flying about the rest of the instance dealing with the trash drake mobs is simply annoying.
But, gotta get those new emblems. So when the malicious god RNG puts me in Oculus, I'll endure, but I won't enjoy.
Skonged Dec 7th 2009 10:25AM
He just wants an edit button. Like 99% of of other news sites.
Vaulkner Dec 7th 2009 5:47PM
Actually, you're still less likely to get Oculus, because you can queue for specific dungeons as well. So can everyone else.
Unless you get paired with 5 people who hit the "random heroic" option, then your chances of getting oculus are lower than the rest, because it's a very unpopular instance, and few people will specifically ask the tool to enter them into it. Make sense?
If you really wanted, you could go to the specific dungeon tab, and check every single dungeon except oculus (or any others you dislike). Then you have zero chance of getting it.