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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsPatch 4.1: Blizzard unveils dungeon finder Call to Arms
by Mathew McCurley 
Apr 6th 2011 at 9:30PM
Dungeon Finder: Call to Arms
In patch 4.1 we'll be introducing Dungeon Finder: Call to Arms, a new system intended to lower queue times. Call to Arms will automatically detect which class role is currently the least represented in the queue, and offer them additional rewards for entering the Dungeon Finder queue and completing a random level-85 Heroic dungeon.
Any time the Dungeon Finder queue is longer than a few minutes for level-85 Heroics, the Call to Arms system kicks in and determines which role is the least represented. In the case of tanking being the least represented role, the "Call to Arms: Tanks" icon will display in the Dungeon Finder UI menu where class roles are selected, and will also display on the UI when the queue pops and you are selected to enter a dungeon. Regardless of your role, you'll always be able to see which role currently has been Called to Arms, if any.
Call to Arms is meant to lower wait times by offering additional rewards for queuing as the currently least represented role. To be eligible for the additional rewards you must solo queue for a random level-85 Heroic in the role that is currently being Called to Arms, and complete the dungeon by killing the final boss. Every time you hit these requirements (there is no daily limit) you'll receive a goodie bag that will contain some gold, a chance at a rare gem, a chance at a flask/elixir (determined by spec), a good chance of receiving a non-combat pet (including cross faction pets), and a very rare chance at receiving a mount. The pets offered come from a wide variety of sources, and include companions like the Razzashi Hatchling, Cockatiel, and Tiny Sporebat, but the mounts are those specifically only available through dungeons (not raids), like the Reins of the Raven Lord from Sethekk Halls, Swift White Hawkstrider from Magister's Terrace, and Deathcharger's Reins from Stratholme.
This system is meant to address the unacceptable queue times currently being experienced by those that queue for the DPS role at max level. The long queue times are, of course, caused by a very simple lack of representation in the Dungeon Finder by tanks, and to some extent healers. We don't feel the tanking and healing roles have any inherent issues that are causing the representation disparity, except that fulfilling them carries more responsibility. Understandably, players prefer to take on that responsibility in more organized situations than what the Dungeon Finder offers, but perhaps we can bribe them a little. While this system gives tanks and healers something extra, the incentive is being provided so that we can help players in the DPS role get into more dungeons, get better gear, and continue progressing.
While the gold, gems, flasks, and elixirs are OK incentives, we knew we needed something more substantial. We had briefly considered Valor Points and epics, but decided that wouldn't be working toward the goal of helping DPS players progress, and ultimately wouldn't keep tanks and healers in the Dungeon Finder system for very long. We settled on pets and dungeon-found mounts as they're cosmetic/achievement items that players tend to try to get on their own, so why not change that up and offer them a chance to get some of those elusive pets and mounts in a way that also helps other players? Even if they don't get a pet or mount, or get one they already have, the gold and other goodies still feel rewarding enough that it won't feel like a waste of effort.
We think it's a pretty solid incentive to get tanks and healers queuing, give max-level players another way to collect the pets and mounts they so desire, and above all, to improve wait times for DPS players sitting in queues. In the case of lower level dungeons, it's actually not uncommon for DPS to be the least represented role, and so if this new system works out and we're pleased with the results, we may consider applying this same mechanic to lower level dungeons as well.
Any time the Dungeon Finder queue is longer than a few minutes for level-85 Heroics, the Call to Arms system kicks in and determines which role is the least represented. In the case of tanking being the least represented role, the "Call to Arms: Tanks" icon will display in the Dungeon Finder UI menu where class roles are selected, and will also display on the UI when the queue pops and you are selected to enter a dungeon. Regardless of your role, you'll always be able to see which role currently has been Called to Arms, if any.
Call to Arms is meant to lower wait times by offering additional rewards for queuing as the currently least represented role. To be eligible for the additional rewards you must solo queue for a random level-85 Heroic in the role that is currently being Called to Arms, and complete the dungeon by killing the final boss. Every time you hit these requirements (there is no daily limit) you'll receive a goodie bag that will contain some gold, a chance at a rare gem, a chance at a flask/elixir (determined by spec), a good chance of receiving a non-combat pet (including cross faction pets), and a very rare chance at receiving a mount. The pets offered come from a wide variety of sources, and include companions like the Razzashi Hatchling, Cockatiel, and Tiny Sporebat, but the mounts are those specifically only available through dungeons (not raids), like the Reins of the Raven Lord from Sethekk Halls, Swift White Hawkstrider from Magister's Terrace, and Deathcharger's Reins from Stratholme.
This system is meant to address the unacceptable queue times currently being experienced by those that queue for the DPS role at max level. The long queue times are, of course, caused by a very simple lack of representation in the Dungeon Finder by tanks, and to some extent healers. We don't feel the tanking and healing roles have any inherent issues that are causing the representation disparity, except that fulfilling them carries more responsibility. Understandably, players prefer to take on that responsibility in more organized situations than what the Dungeon Finder offers, but perhaps we can bribe them a little. While this system gives tanks and healers something extra, the incentive is being provided so that we can help players in the DPS role get into more dungeons, get better gear, and continue progressing.
While the gold, gems, flasks, and elixirs are OK incentives, we knew we needed something more substantial. We had briefly considered Valor Points and epics, but decided that wouldn't be working toward the goal of helping DPS players progress, and ultimately wouldn't keep tanks and healers in the Dungeon Finder system for very long. We settled on pets and dungeon-found mounts as they're cosmetic/achievement items that players tend to try to get on their own, so why not change that up and offer them a chance to get some of those elusive pets and mounts in a way that also helps other players? Even if they don't get a pet or mount, or get one they already have, the gold and other goodies still feel rewarding enough that it won't feel like a waste of effort.
We think it's a pretty solid incentive to get tanks and healers queuing, give max-level players another way to collect the pets and mounts they so desire, and above all, to improve wait times for DPS players sitting in queues. In the case of lower level dungeons, it's actually not uncommon for DPS to be the least represented role, and so if this new system works out and we're pleased with the results, we may consider applying this same mechanic to lower level dungeons as well.
I am absolutely ecstatic about this idea, and hopefully, with new incentives to play healing and tanking roles, players will be more apt to take on these roles because of the extra rewards. DPS players are rewarded with faster queues and can always roll a tank or a healer to help the queue times out and get these rewards. Incentivizing playstyles is the best and frankly smoothest way of fixing queue times. Blizzard is going the right direction with this one, and much like how the random bag at the end of the Oculus helped out that dungeon, hopefully this new bag of goodies helps out random heroics in Cataclysm.
WoW Patch 4.1 is on the PTR, and WoW Insider has all the latest news for you -- from previews of the revamped Zul'Aman and Zul'Gurub to new valor point mechanics and new archaeology items.
Filed under: News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 22 of 22)
Hellhammer Apr 12th 2011 5:05AM
Some interesting perspectives in the comments. I think the "bribe" offered by Blizzard is a great idea, but already I've been in a couple pugs with tanks who had no idea what they were doing (a druid and a warrior). I suspect those guys were trying to tank because of the bribes from Blizzard. Although they were probably trying their best, the fact is that it takes time to learn to tank successfully, and some of the nuances, especially regarding positioning, take time to master. I don't care how good a DPS or healer you are, it's quite a different thing thinking you know what a tank should do, and actually doing it. Call it "armchair quarterback" syndrome. Which leads to....
Tanks getting too much criticism. Nobody is perfect. Tanks have to learn each individual instance, and all the unique pulls and different mobs within. Many mistakes are made on the way to mastering an instance, and tanks get lambasted while learning the new difficult heroics in "starter" tank gear. I'm an experienced veteran tank, and have always been considered to be quite a decent tank (but not elite!). I've always loved tanking, but the new heroics are so damned hard that I've been loathe to persist, especially when others in the group are so demanding. But recently, as my gear has improved, I've begun stepping into heroics again. I usually get groups through LFG rather than running guildies. The reason? I use PUGs as a training ground. Yes, I take criticism sometimes after spectacular failures, but I'm upfront about my knowledge of the heroics and find that most people will give some leeway to a learner (although much of the time guys will leave immediately when I disclose that, lol...I don't blame them). But the main reason I tank PUGs isn't for the goody bag, but because I feel less guilt about a PUG wiping. When I'm tanking a guild heroic and there is a wipe I feel guilty as hell, although my guildies are generally very forgiving and supportive. The PUGs are my form of training, and it's the best possible way to train. Inadvertant pulls from DPS, CC breaking, weak heals, DPS opening up before I get threat established are things I never experience in guild runs..but in PUGs those things happen frequently. It helps me grow as a tank to adapt to poor play from the other guys and drag them, kicking and screaming if need be, across the threshold to success. If along the way I die a few times because I'm still learning the dungeon, then so be it. :D
disthis Apr 12th 2011 2:13PM
I am a healer and this doesnt entice me to wanna que up for heroics,I have had enough of fail groups no one cc in groups and pulling stuff the old wotlk way.So maybe this is why there is a tank and heals shortage because the ones that already are tanking or healing are just fed up with all the fails.
Azhe Apr 12th 2011 2:35PM
I am a tank, and have been for a very long time. I am almost full 359, and admit I rarely random que, most of the time I only will go with guildies, there is very little I need there and any randoms I have done are often rude people who do scream FASTER, or PULL THAT etc, and if que random and get the harder runs like GB or SC, forget it I'll check the group and take a 15 minute wait over a repair bill.
One of the BIG issues I still see is people getting into Heroics in PvP gear, or queing DPS in green gear, with the iLevel looking at their Heal or Tank gear, so they come in and do NOTHING, often with 2 or 3 friends in group who wouldn't kick them.
The kick feature is great, but too often it is misused, and those who misuse it have no real repercussions but waiting for a replacement for who they kicked.
jbgurman Apr 12th 2011 4:52PM
Tanks, and healers, too, have plenty of valid complaints about lousy DPSes, but let me turn it around: they never seem to realize that PUGs get stuck with poor tanks sometimes, or even nightmare situations, such as the tank and healer buddy pair that decided any and all DPSes were beneath their contempt and refused to heal any of them, but of course left it to the DPSes to quit (and face longer queues). Whether they really felt we were poor, or were just doing it out of immaturity, the experience should give the good, patient, competent (or better) tanks some perspective. Everybody ends up with dud PUG experiences. Personally, I'd just like to thank the incredibly patient, experienced, and well-geared tank who put up with a couple of really poor healers in a recent PUG I shared. He ran it all the way to the end, and offered only encouragement and gentle hints for improvement to heals and DPS alike. Would that he could be cloned.
I could also list a series of nightmare tank experiences, but what would be the point? All classes need to realize the PUGs by definition mean there will be bad as well as good experiences with every class/role, and the poor or marginal ones will usually outnumber the good ones. If you don't have a guild that can do the heroics often enough, and you have to PUG, you live with it.
AngryDevotedPlayer Apr 19th 2011 3:23AM
I am appalled and hurt that Blizzard would do this. I'm sad to say i cannot go through all these comments and hear the rest of the complaints, but my goodness thanks for the slap in the face blizz. I'm tired of playing WoW and working my butt off trying to get the things I have on my main, while others get a free ride, put no true effort into getting these special things. Bribery? Shame blizzard. why take the mounts away from the mount hunters, why take the non-combat pets away from the dedicated grinders. I hope Blizzard comes to their senses, or this is one player that will not be playing when i come home from Afghanistan.
1001100 Apr 26th 2011 11:20AM
I would like to point out 3 things.
1. Tanks already get "Insta-cue" for dungeons (
kjensen9 Apr 27th 2011 6:43PM
I've enjoyed being a tank throughout the years, and while I do run into the group with the bad dps, or the dps that can't be bothered to run an instance at a normal pace, I've also run with amazing groups that were calm, and the run went very smoothly. To those dps and healers that are just terrible in a group, I place them on my ignore list, and hope that keeps me away from ever having to run with them again. While I've usually lost the need to run randoms after raiding (T4-T6 or T7-T9 content), I'll still do it to help gear friends, or to collect badges/points to gear alt specs and characters with BoA gear.
To those dps who feel the need to rush a tank through an instance. Try it yourself sometime, instead of acting the role of a 12 yr old. When I dps, I hate the queue times as much as everyone else, but I'm grateful for when I do get a good tank, and try to stay patient with bad tanks. Some are simply inexperienced, that's life.
To a healer complaining to pull more. The tank sets the pace of the instance. I don't need help pulling mobs, or having you threaten to not heal because we're not going your pace. If you want to set the pace, roll a tank.