What effect does the Dungeon Finder have on smaller servers?
by Allison Robert 
Jan 19th 2010 at 8:00PM
While I go back and forth on that point -- lots of people will just gear a toon for its own sake without necessarily planning to raid on it -- I don't think she's entirely wrong, and I also think the larger point concerning the Dungeon Finder's potential impact on server communities is probably accurate.
It's no secret that I love running 5-mans, and queuing up for the Dungeon Finder has added another layer of fun to the process. But one of the things that's eaten at me lately is that I've spent increasingly less time hanging around Dalaran watching for the players advertising for a tank or healer. I don't need to do it anymore; I can get a 5-man from anywhere without having to watch trade chat. As a player on a low-to-medium pop realm, the odds of my being grouped with anyone from my server through the Dungeon Finder are pretty low. The result has been that I've spent very little time tanking or healing for people from my server who aren't already guildies.
That bothers me. Pre-3.3, If I met a particularly good player in 5-mans, I'd mentally bookmark them for later in the event that they applied to my guild. On the flip side, if someone was a real jerk, I'd also file that away in order to avoid them in the future. Doing 5-mans with other people from your server is a great way to keep your thumb on the latest gossip, trade news about how your guilds are doing, and establish relationships that may resurface later. While you can certainly convene server-only groups with the Dungeon Finder, it's significantly slower, at least for a tank or healer. Queue, boom -- three seconds later you've got a free dungeon port.
I absolutely adore the Dungeon Finder and I wouldn't give it up for anything (seriously, patch 3.3; great patch or greatest patch?), but I do wonder if: a). the sheer convenience of the thing will eventually have some sort of impact on server communities, and: b). if the increasing array of geared toons will spur people to start raid teams on their own servers, or to look farther afield.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Instances
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Sleutel Jan 19th 2010 8:10PM
The response to, "How do you keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Paris?" is not "Erect a giant, impassable wall between the farm and Paris," it's, "Make the farm more attractive."
The cross-server wall that once existed has been lifted; now, if there's a migration problem, Blizzard and/or the players on the less desirable realms need to address what's causing it or learn to live with the new population dynamics.
Rollo Jan 19th 2010 9:24PM
More lag to the hi-pops. New hardware to low-pop servers only. :-)
JS Jan 20th 2010 8:40AM
This comment is perfect. Think about the way Blizz is implementing things. They launched the Finder first because players love shiny new stuff. People are able to gear up and low pop realms don't feel left out (more motivation for toons to xfer during free xfers from high pops). However, there are two things that Blizz still had up its sleeve to address the lack of "community" issue:
1. The weekly raid quest: it is constantly pugged so you can keep up on your realms gossip there.
2. The pending launch of the guild leveling system. This has great potential to create more motivation for tight knit guilds and servers than anything prior to 3.3. We shall see if it works, but it is a huge wildcard for Blizz.
Meatwadz Jan 20th 2010 4:14PM
I moved to the city for the opportunity. I moved back to the farm because the city was filled with greedy, selfish arseholes. I now see this parallel in WoW. I think eventually it will make guilds that much more valuable.
marco Jan 19th 2010 8:19PM
Before the LFD tool came out that's all I was saying in my guild: it's going to kill server socialization.
"Doing 5-mans with other people from your server is a great way to keep your thumb on the latest gossip, trade news about how your guilds are doing, and establish relationships that may resurface later."
I don't even know what the new guilds on my server are doing. Don't get me wrong, I love the tool, but I just don't feel I communicate with anyone anymore. Gone are the days where a friend pst's me to join his pug. I haven't /friended someone in ages (well...since whenever the patch dropped).
If only there were a way to make queues as quick as they are now, while keeping server socialization alive!
Lazyturtle Jan 19th 2010 9:20PM
Perhaps there could be some sort of weight given to people on the same server..for example if 2 people from the same server are queued, LFG could make a point to group them together
Aedilhild Jan 20th 2010 12:11AM
Have you considered inter-guild runs on sub-progression content? They can be a great way to build and maintain rapport.
Allison writes that "I've spent increasingly less time hanging around Dalaran watching for the players advertising for a tank or healer." Yes, but 99% of us lapped the city while chatting with friends over Vent. I'll admit, the first or second time you can get serious airtime on a warbear from a shop ramp is sublime. But thereafter you'd probably rather be running an instance.
Blondies Jan 20th 2010 3:41AM
"Doing 5-mans with other people from your server is a great way to keep your thumb on the latest gossip, trade news about how your guilds are doing"
I didn't do that before the tool. The only thing I did in fivemans what talk a little, sometimes, and that I can do now as well. There are few that discourage talking if someone else starts it. There might have been the rare "Hey, you're not all that bad. Wanna join our guild?", but frankly it was hardly noticeable.
Gareth Jan 20th 2010 7:33AM
I totally see the same problem with the lack of social interaction. It was a hard elite in Aranthi Highlands that got me in a group that found the guild I played in for 2 years, that elite is soloable now.
Then it was in dungeons that I met various people who became good online friends (and even a few I then met in real life), it also was the way the guild recruiting worked most successfully.
Now with cross server grouping I can no longer carry on adventuring with them, or even see them again likely, that's not good for the long term future of the game. Its only the friends I still have in the game that tempt me to go back to it again for a bit.
Angelyne Jan 20th 2010 11:54AM
I agree. While I wouldn't want to go back to the bad old days, I feel that the LFG tool has introduced a whole new level of anonymity to this game. I might as well be grouping with NPC's for all the interactions that I see in 5-man's. Except that with NPC's you get consistent results and no chance of being jerked around. This is supposed to be a social game, yet, I have never played an online game where it's so difficult to make any kind of lasting social contact. Everyone is intent on doing his/her thing, and groups will never last longer that strictly necessary. I started playing online games back in the old Meridian 59 days. I then played, Ultima Online, and Everquest. All of these games appeared truly social to me. I made tons of online friends, seemingly effortlessly. In WoW, it's like pulling teeth.
Maybe it's a small town/big city type of thing.
poissondemer Jan 19th 2010 8:27PM
I play on what I think is the most populated server, and I think it presents a whole different vibe for us on good 'ol laggy Quel'dorei. People seem to be advertising for raids more and more and more. It's amazing how many older raids I've seen too, like Naxx. So I think you are right in thinking that more geared toons means more raiding, and faster.
Then again, I've always liked the idea of being on a less populated server. The large server can be fun for a while, but sometimes you just want to settle down I think. I'd love to set up a raiding guild on a less populated server, perhaps one that helps new raiders get used to the content without having to set up giant groups. No need to apply, just have a test run with more experienced raiders. (Wow, that's actually a cool idea for even my big server... lol). I think I just came up with that idea because that's what I want! WTB Raider School, kthx.
Overall the dungeon tool actually had me doing dungeons. I'm a bit antisocial, and that tool is just what a needed! No set up required, just click and run. (Well, for a dps more like click, farm, farm, farm, and run).
Perhaps the dungeon finder will encourage more raiding guilds on smaller servers?
Xues Jan 20th 2010 3:12AM
I'm on Quel'dori too. I took the summer off, and when I finally came back everyone I knew went to the horde side. Now I just tank the five mans and think if I want to get in a guild. A laid back raid guild would be right up my ally! (pun intended)
VSUReaper Jan 20th 2010 8:28AM
What is a PUG raid? No, really, what is it? BWL (H) is more populated than the Alliance, but we are still extremely low pop server, and you never see PUG raids. Usually the closest you get is 2 10 man guilds will get together, and ask one of the 3 25 man guilds for alts. Thats not a PUG imo, especially since its usually planned.
I remember before TOC and the mass exodus from the server, people would be sitting in LFG and all of a sudden, there would be a 100% random PUG formed, and even though most of us knew each other (its bound to happen on such a small server) its not like it was planned.
I like the new LFG tool, but at the same time I feel like its made my server feel even smaller.
Blightwatr Jan 19th 2010 8:32PM
I imagine a cross-realm raid interface would alleviate some of the (perceived) problem. Blizzard suggested that idea was problematic because of raid IDs and whatnot; cross-realm communication may fix that. (e.g. Just like with the Dungeon Finder tool, a pop-up appears on the screen that notifies the player that the raid instance is continuing, initiated by the raid officers or what have you.) Whatever the answer, I think Blizzard can overcome the technical issues and get a Raid Finder implemented.
Also, I never considered casuals to be raid-hungry. If someone takes time out of their life to attend a scheduled raid, I don't think I'd call them casual. Maybe not hardcore - I hate that word - but certainly not casual either.
lawaryeneth Jan 19th 2010 9:28PM
As someone who considers myself casual, let me say that I much prefer a scheduled raid to waiting around for three hours trying to get people together for a naxx run. I can just log on, get going, and be done in time to do other things with my day.
Sad thing is, I'm not exaggerating about that three hours either. >_
Hoggersbud Jan 19th 2010 8:32PM
The reasons against being on an underpopulated server exceed the reasons to be on one.
vinniedcleaner Jan 19th 2010 8:38PM
@poissondemer
You are my hero :-) It's refreshing to hear of someone who wants to help others ingame rather than be just another haughty elitist.
Acts Jan 19th 2010 9:13PM
Blizz may in time, give extra rewards for still creating 5 man's on your own server if this all becomes some sort of community issue on servers. Otherwise, I still LOVE the Dungeon Finder tool.
KingRalph Jan 19th 2010 8:41PM
They really need to start consolidating these low population servers. It's ridiculous to have dozens of low pop servers when they could be combined into one with a healthy population and economy. The biggest problem would probably be all the people with identical names. Obviously someone would have to be forced to change their name, but there's no way to do that fairly I guess.
How about just giving us free transfers and let us get off these dead realms without paying a fortune to move all our characters. Tell everyone the realm is being closed down and give us all a free destination. They do this for high population servers now and then but those of us stuck in a ghost town have to pay. No fair.
Bob Jan 19th 2010 11:25PM
I can't help but agree. For those of us on a severely underpopulated server (or even a lopsided one), there are all sorts of disadvantages. Now, I'd never advocate putting us all on huge realms with queues and everything, but a little consolidation to bring us up to medium status and perhaps bring a bit of stability to the economies and a bit more activity to /2 would be nice.