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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsWoW Rookie: Grouping 101
by Lisa Poisso 
May 13th 2010 at 2:00PM
Everyone's nervous the first time. It's a principle that's so, so true for so many endeavors -- and your first WoW instance is no exception. It's easy to feel bashful about dipping a toe into the dungeon pool, but there are so many good reasons to give it a try. Instances are fun. They're challenging, calling for new and different ways to play your character. They serve up eye-popping monsters and intricate lore. They offer great XP and loot. They're great ways to meet other players.
The thing is, getting started can seem like an impossible hurdle. How will you know what to do? What if your group wipes? What if you screw up? What if your groupmates kick you out of the group? Relax. WoW Rookie's here to nudge you past those first, intimidating moments. Before you know it, that first instance becomes another, and another -- and suddenly, you're popping off an instance or two every evening, in between questing and leveling your craft, and you're loving every moment of it! Let's queue up and get started.
Assemble your group - Ask the guild. If you already belong to a guild, that's probably the best place to set up a group for a first-timer. However, think twice before accepting help from high-level guildmates or friends; yes, you'll finish the instance quickly and efficiently, but you won't get a chance to stretch your wings or experience the challenge of beating the content yourself.
- Try your own realm. If you've started meeting other players on your realm or you have a fairly active player community, you can probably put together a group using the LFG (Looking For Group) channel or even the general zone chat. (Most realms use Trade chat for forming groups and raids. While this off-list use is common practice, it's not the "right" way to do it, and you could get flamed for it on some realms.) Common shorthand that helps: LFM means Looking for Members/More, LFG is Looking for Group. Finding players from your own realm is probably a good idea if you're looking for a group that's interested in a longer dungeon project, such as running all three sections of Maraudon or doing a complete dungeon crawl through Blackrock Depths.
- Use the dungeon finder. The simplest way to put together a group is to use the dungeon finder. Here's how.
- Don't be surprised if you get whispers for instance groups. If you're not interested, politely decline with a "No thanks -- good luck!"
Get there. If you use the dungeon finder, you'll be transported directly into the instance once everyone has indicated they're ready. (If you've never seen the dungeon entrance, you may find yourself mystified if you die and have to run back from the graveyard. It may be simpler to get the whole group to teleport out and back again, so that you'll all be together at the front of the dungeon to work your way back in again.) If you don't use the dungeon finder, two or more group members can summon other players at a summoning stone; look for one near the dungeon entrance. Target the player you'd like to transport in, click on the summoning stone and have another group member click on the portal as well.
Mind your basics
- Who's on first? Especially in the very early levels, before many classes have developed much of a specialty in anything at all, it's not always clear who's the best choice for what roles. Who's tanking, who's healing and who's DPS? Even if you've come in through the dungeon finder with pre-determined roles, it's a good idea to talk over who's best suited for what.
- Play smart. Experienced players wearing heirloom items may set a rapid-fire pace (and a sloppy example); as a first-time player, you can't afford to cut corners (yet). Don't be guilty of the most classic n00b moves.
- Let the tank control the pulling. Don't advance ahead of the tank, don't pull additional mobs and don't try to "help" by off-tanking.
- Protect your healer. Don't assume that a healer can deal with hits and aggro from loose mobs; help out.
- Get oriented. Catch up with current wisdom of lowbie dungeon runners.
- Know your class. Read the class columns here at WoW.com. Search out the leading class-specific blogs. Start sniffing out all the ins and outs of what your character can do.
- Know the instance -- or ask. True rookies are in the minority at this point in WoW. If you're unfamiliar with a particular instance, throw up a flag and tell your group. Let them know you'd appreciate a heads up on any need-to-know details and tricky spots. If you prefer to be ultra-prepared, try looking up bosses on WoWWiki.com, read through the comments tab of boss entries at Wowhead.com, or Google for strat videos on YouTube.
- Learn more. Find more tips in the WoW Rookie Guide's section on grouping with others.
Play well with others- Roll like a pro. Dungeon runs can shower players with loot drops. Here's the etiquette of rolling for them.
- Be open to advice. Some players have all the tact of a Ferengi intent on enumerating the Rules of Acquisition -- but even so, sometimes they're right. Accept new ideas with good grace, regardless of the manner in which they're offered.
- Don't get demoralized by group kicks. Unfortunately, some groups may unceremoniously boot you from instances simply based on your relative lack of experience. It's frustrating, since you can't magically learn how to group without actually grouping. Still, don't waste emotional energy on a boot. Hop back into the queue and have at it again.
- Don't be a quitter. WoW's gameplay has become reasonably bite-sized -- so don't get caught virtually chewing with your mouth open by dropping out of groups early.
And finally, if you've somehow made it all the way to level 80 without setting foot inside an instance ... Well, what are you waiting for? Check over our guide to getting started in level 80 5-mans, and let the emblems roll!
Recent posts for fresh level 80s
- Gearing a new cat druid at 80
- Gearing for a new level 80 DPS death knight
- Emblem upgrades for warlocks
- The basic mechanics of roleplay
- Emblem upgrades for shadow priests
Visit the WoW Rookie Guide for links to all our tips, tricks and how-to's. WoW Rookie walks you through all sort of new-player concerns, from game lingo for the beginner to joining your first guild as a mid-level player and on to what to do when you finally hit level 80.Filed under: WoW Rookie
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
nieboh May 13th 2010 3:48PM
Time to get the wife reading these. After nearly 5 years of playing (I think) she finally reached max level on a toon. Most of that time has been spent on solo endeavors.
I recently went with her to Nexus on my 71 druid (cat durid is 4 fite!), she on her lvl 80 shammy. At the start someone said "oh boy, a 80"....no, no, no my friend. Don't get so excited, there is to be no carrying today.
She's been solo playing, dinking around with jewelcrafting dailies, generally putting along at her own pace for years. Grouping is a totally new experience for her, and while her dps is sufficient in that it gets things dead, she's not very well geared at the moment (but working on it) and doesn't know optimal rotations...dropped totems back where we were all standing before the fight, not way up yonder where the tank is going to be pulling the boss, forgot she even had heroism...was interesting.
But she's learning, and articles like this will definitely help.
Thanks!
nieboh May 13th 2010 4:02PM
@Quid
Insecure people often look for scapegoats for their own shortcomings. If I had been in the raid with you, I would not have voted along to kick you (disconnects are about the only thing that I ever vote to kick someone). Some of those pulls are tricky, especially the first ones because there isn't a lot of leeway, you just have to be ready to pick up the adds if someone gets feared into the next group. Once you've cleared some room, the tank should hold them where fear-running won't be likely to pull others. Sounds like the tank was somewhat new and inexperienced, but didn't want to come off as a noob so blamed you. I wonder what the others did in your absence. I probably would have dropped group.
Szass May 13th 2010 4:48PM
The articles DO make you smarter,just about any reading will make you smarter.
These articles DO teach you to play better, and some people take that very seriously.
There IS a surprising amount of Science going on in the theorycrafting on sites like WOW.com and elitist jerks.
People DO pay REAL MONEY for sparkly ponies.
Some people play this game professionally and get PAID from SPONSORS to do so.
I like a good rant as much as anyone , but at least have a leg to stand on and some idea about what you are talking about before you spout off.
Szass May 13th 2010 4:52PM
Got bit by the response system!
First time.
This of course was intended for Hunika_sp.
Irem May 13th 2010 7:12PM
This level 80 who has played for two-ish years thanks you for this article. I've always leveled all my characters solo, because I was so terrified of random groups...but now I've gotten to the point where I actually care about gearing my max level characters and I've found that I can't set foot in a random group without friends there to hold my hand. It's horribly frustrating. So I've started a hunter (my main's class) and I'm leveling her just through the dungeon finder, to get myself used to grouping. These tips were really encouraging and helped remind me that dungeon running is not something that's supposed to be horrifically hard or require perfection to pull off.
rkaliski May 13th 2010 11:32PM
It would help if people who are running lower level instances just chilled and stop to think that there may be a number of people out there who are only running an instance for the first few times. They may not know about agro and figure that their mage is gonna get chased all around the instance because when leveling all the mobs always came after them. A warrior or lock may not know that popping a fear in most dungeons is a very bad thing.
I had the advantage of "growing up in WoW in the vanilla world when a lot of people were still just starting out and we all really ignorant about things we take for granted now. Hell my first guild raided Molten Core in gear that would be useless against the barmaid in the typical Stormwind Tavern. I was lucky and my guild was lucky to get patient people to teach us.
Remember, if you just mock someone as a noob they may never raid again or quit. You show them how to do it right, they may become a regular and be an asset to a guild.
Sarabande May 14th 2010 5:02AM
"However, think twice before accepting help from high-level guildmates or friends;"
This.
It's all too easy to do. People mean well, but I think the best thing they can do for you is either offer some good advice on grouping, on class basic, stats, recommending sites or maybe bringing along an alt. close to your level so that they can play with you, but not be overgeared / over-leveled for the instances.
And it's too easy to see the high level helpers as an easy solution, rather than finding a new group (or ANY group), trying reagents, foods, maybe new gear, or even going up one level - or trying skills and spells you don't usually use, that might come in handy at certain situations.
I know it seems backwards that I tend to offer instance/quest runs to friends who have not only mastered their mains' class but have a good overall understanding of the game mechanics, but also seem to have a grasp of classes that may not seem as familiar to them (that way, I'm not really crippling them for later) but that's what I do.
As you become more familiar with group play, and want to accept a run now and then for specific gear (and they are offering), then it's not so bad. I just see too many people become too dependent on that kind of help anytime a challenge crosses their path. Or not even a challenge . . they seem to want to have someone play FOR them. To which I say, what's the point?
It is easy to let people get you down - it happens to even seasoned players. If you can get a group of good friends / guildies / questing partners who can go into the instances together, all the better. You won't feel quite so alone in there with a bunch of strangers who may seem (or actually BE) hostile, elitist, condescending, etc. Even just having one supportive friend can really make the difference.
And I used to be instance phobic. (Now, I'm just sort of Raid-phobic) but as you learn your class and get your rotation down, you'll feel more confident in the groups.
Asaron May 14th 2010 5:47AM
I recently introduced my wife to the game (she'd dabbled in LotRO before, but always been intimidated by WoW). She was nervous of dungeons, and didn't want to mess up in a group of hostile WoW nerds. I assured her that they were a vocal minority, and usually you get friendly groups. Soo one day she felt brave and we queued for a random. Gnomeregan, OK. Most of the group have their heirloom sets, and everything we look at blows up in seconds.
Anyway we're working through gnomeregan, and my warlock wife is trying her best to dot things up and such in line with the basic mechanics or a warlock. Everything is dying too quickly for dots to be effective, but I figure it is good practice for her and we're clearly getting through the instance without issue. Then all of a sudden the priest starts swearing at her because her DPS isn't good enough.
I had kept her shielded from the knowledge that people can monitor her performance, she didn't know about damage metres. It took about a month before she was willing to try another instance. We've had no similar problems since.
As an aside, it is quite interesting watching a genuine noob trying to figure out the game. It really highlights elements of the game that aren't intuitive. Blizzard are right in their ascertation that stats need a revamp.
Chrissie May 14th 2010 11:21AM
That last part. I leveled up my druid and kept a set "with intellect on it" for healing, but the concept of caster DPS gear as opposed to healing gear didn't reveal itself to me until my guild reached Leotheras in SSC and suggested healers equip some of said caster DPS gear to ensure they would be able to take down their demons.
For that reason, I quested and soloed as feral until that point (or as cat even when resto specced), because the times I tried moonkin spec I did absolutely awful damage... in my "intellect" gear. (This was before the spell power change obviously).
Chrissie May 14th 2010 11:17AM
I can only encourage articles like this because to me, instances are the best thing since sliced bread and they are definitely a large part of what keeps me compelled about WoW.
When I was leveling my first char, a druid (I had gotten started in the game by my boyfriend who had played up to level 40 or so so I had some basic addons and got some general info like what professions were etc., but apart from that was completely clueless), it took a while until I did instance runs because, well, it seemed a pain to get one together and when I asked the guild, I'd end up having someone high level run me through (which is nice of them but boring. It does get you loot, though, like the staff from Deadmines that I used for the next 15 levels because I thought the concept of a "Rare" implied that you wouldn't get an upgrade for a looooooooong time).
However once I actually tried a proper run with a group of appropriate level, I got totally hooked. (Despite my first trip to Sunken Temple taking six hours in total.) Got a lot of my XP via instances with random people I grouped up with via Trade or via the zone's General. And to be truthful, in early instances, while it'd be good to start learning to do things properly, they are still pretty forgiving. No, you can't pull whole rooms like in heroics you're overgeared for, but I find Deadmines to usually be general hilarity of people randomly hitting things and running off in four different directions, and it usually still works as long as the healer isn't too low level (and is given a chance to drink).
I find myself now with the dungeon finder I have the opposite problem. I cannot motivate myself to go quest if I can just drop into a dungeon, and even when I'm playing one of my Hordies to take a break from the usual and see the other side of the game- I end up going into a dungeon and doing the same thing as usual.
Lightfall May 14th 2010 4:11PM
With the soon to be sudden influx of older players rolling brand spanking new toons, there is going to be floods of people in the older instances (Thank god for the instance finder). That being said, it IS unfortunate that their going to stay with their old ways and try to nuke the whole thing.
Also, the new instances... how many people are just going to see packs of mobs and grab them all, and hope the blizzard, hurricane and bladestorm drops em fast. Are they going to even pay attention to the new locales, or just trudge through looking for the next loot drop.
To the people with their fingers on the red button, the aoe dps, the "Lets pull this whole room" tanks and the "PULL MOAR!" healers... Slow down. Not everyone is in ICC purps, or as 1337 as you. And some people who are, just don't like to rush.
And think twice before you kick the low dps... if their standing around, great, get rid of them. If their spells are flying or their blade is swinging, they may just need a pointer.