With 3 chapters and a total of 58 missions, 121 map areas, 8 challenge missions, 2 competitive missions, 7 elite missions, and the UW/FoW areas as well as normal mode / hard mode and Sorrows Furnace, sometimes it is very difficult to find a group for PvE.
We have been thinking about methods to help you finding something nice to do in PvE while you are in the game and are considering to prepare a schedule to set active areas.
The two main options that seem reasonable are
(1a) a rotating schedule of different activities every 3 hours - This would spread activities in all 3 chapters evenly in order to give players many opportunities to join activities they are interested in. Think of it as one event every 3 hours.
(1b) a rotating schedule of different activities every 3 hours - This would spread activities in each individual chapter evenly in order to give players many opportunities to join activities they are interested in. This setup results in three events per 3 hours (one per chapter).
(2a) Just one activity per 24 hour period - This would basically result in one day action in one place and would be rather slow.
(2b) One activity in each chapter per 24 hour period - This would basically result in one day action in three places (one per chapter) and would be rather slow.
This inevitably leads to the question for this poll:
What do you think about such a schedule?
New GWG feature: PvE schedule
Dralspire
Taurucis
*Scratches head* I don't understand it very well, but here is what I make of it... Can't read your handwriting (?) too :P
It sounds like something out of a communism/socialism. "If you want to have fun, you will log in at this time until this time, no exceptions."
Think you could explain a little more?
It sounds like something out of a communism/socialism. "If you want to have fun, you will log in at this time until this time, no exceptions."
Think you could explain a little more?
Ouchie
Too confusing for me and Keeping schedules seems like work.
Isn't it easier to put together a list of people interested in hitching up and add each other to friends lists that way when you are on and they are you can get together.....
Isn't it easier to put together a list of people interested in hitching up and add each other to friends lists that way when you are on and they are you can get together.....
Lauryn
I quite like the idea of having a scheduled event as it can be hard to do some things with heroes/henchmen and so even if it takes a while to get to what event you want at least you'll have a larger pool of people to do it with
*also I miss-voted lol I wanted the 1 event per-day per-chapter as the 3 hour schedule would disadvantage people in different time zones (e.g No good me trying to get a good HM group for mission X at 4am
)
*also I miss-voted lol I wanted the 1 event per-day per-chapter as the 3 hour schedule would disadvantage people in different time zones (e.g No good me trying to get a good HM group for mission X at 4am
)
Series
I chose 2b. 3 hour schedules are kind of strict. This will allow everyone to get a chance, and wont lead to boredom either- if you finished that day's event, move on to another chapter's! Maybe even have it so every day, each chapter gets 1 mission event and 1 vanquish event. That would be fun as well!
Lydz
I like 2b. It will give a person enough time to approach the events on each continent in a relaxed manner, instead of "OMG! I need to hurry!" or "OMG! there's way too much time."
Sir Skullcrasher
I think one even every 3 hours for all three chapters would be great. This give players something else to do other than grinding away in HM or farming somewhere.
Krispy
I almost picked 5, just because it's funny. 
If I were to choose a schedule, it would have to be the #2 for 3 reasons:
1. I only get to play 2 or 3 evenings a week and often for only 2 or 3 hours at a time. It's impossible for me to schedule anything definite, but if I know there's going to be something going on when I'm on, I can at least plan for it.
2. As far as time zones are concerned, my guild has to deal with this all the time. We (the founding folks) are in the MST time zone (-2hrs EST). As our guild has grown, we've gotten folks from New Jersey (EST), Oklahoma (-1hr EST) and singapore (+12hrs!). We just have to schedule things for our own TZ and the other folks have to work around that. We try to be reasonable, but it's hard to schedule things early enough for the eastern folks, since it's too early for most of the MST folks to be on and the singapore folks would have to get up at 5am to play with us! By having multiple events at multiple times, it allows folks from all over to participate without inconveniencing them too badly.
3. Personally, I hate factions. I finished it only out of obligation. I'm going for titles there only out of necessity. I play it as little as possible and leave it at that. If there were only one event going on and it was in Cantha. I wouldn't participate.
There. that's my 85 cents.
If I were to choose a schedule, it would have to be the #2 for 3 reasons:
1. I only get to play 2 or 3 evenings a week and often for only 2 or 3 hours at a time. It's impossible for me to schedule anything definite, but if I know there's going to be something going on when I'm on, I can at least plan for it.
2. As far as time zones are concerned, my guild has to deal with this all the time. We (the founding folks) are in the MST time zone (-2hrs EST). As our guild has grown, we've gotten folks from New Jersey (EST), Oklahoma (-1hr EST) and singapore (+12hrs!). We just have to schedule things for our own TZ and the other folks have to work around that. We try to be reasonable, but it's hard to schedule things early enough for the eastern folks, since it's too early for most of the MST folks to be on and the singapore folks would have to get up at 5am to play with us! By having multiple events at multiple times, it allows folks from all over to participate without inconveniencing them too badly.
3. Personally, I hate factions. I finished it only out of obligation. I'm going for titles there only out of necessity. I play it as little as possible and leave it at that. If there were only one event going on and it was in Cantha. I wouldn't participate.
There. that's my 85 cents.
Feminist Terrorist
I'd like to see a schedule. It'd probably bring some fun back to my game, at least. I'm at the point where I just don't feel like playing much due to boredom. The heros and henchmen are nice, but sometimes I want to play with people, as well.
Anyway...I thought 1a would be good during the week, then switch to 1b for the weekend.
Anyway...I thought 1a would be good during the week, then switch to 1b for the weekend.
Hikan Trilear
I picked 1b because I don't want to have to wait a week or even a month just for them to do something that I want to do... I think a faster turnover would be better.
TheRaven
I love this idea. It's horrible trying to find people to do hard mode stuff with. I'd like company vanquishing some of the Shing Jea areas, but if you ask for a group in the monastery you get funny looks.
I voted for 2b. How about something like this for the first week.....
Sunday: Regular mission day. Events for the day are:
Complete Sanctum Cay in Normal Mode
Complete The Eternal Grove in Normal Mode
Complete Venta Cemetery in Normal Mode
Monday: Challenge Mission night. Events for the day are:
Set a new record in Dragon's Throat
Tuesday: Vanquisher night. Events for the day are:
Vanquish Diessa Lowlands (see separate gripe thread)
Vanquish Jaya Bluffs
Vanquish Plains of Jarin
Wednesday: Hard Mode Missions Starter Kit. Events for the day are:
Complete The Great Northern Wall mission in Hard Mode
Complete Minister's Cho Estate in Hard Mode
Complete Jokonur's Diggings in Hard Mode
Thursday: Elite Night. Events for the day are:
Gather in Urgoz's Warren for trips into the Warren.
or team up for Fissure of Woe Forgemaster groups.
Friday: Vanquisher night Part 2. Events for the day are:
Vanquish Perdition Rock
Vanquish Melandru's Hope
Vanquish Issnur Isles
Saturday: Underworld Night. Events for the day are:
Underworld farming teams
Tombs runs
After the first week, poll the regulars that showed up for these events and see what they are interested in doing before making more schedules. Perhaps the 11am regulars would like help with missions for the most part, but the 8pm folk need more vanquishing events. Once you see how many are truly interested and will show up the events will become easier to schedule.
I think this is one of the best ideas I've seen on the forum in awhile. I love my guild, but it's hard to ever do stuff with them. They schedule most events to start late at night after I'm in bed.
I voted for 2b. How about something like this for the first week.....
Sunday: Regular mission day. Events for the day are:
Complete Sanctum Cay in Normal Mode
Complete The Eternal Grove in Normal Mode
Complete Venta Cemetery in Normal Mode
Monday: Challenge Mission night. Events for the day are:
Set a new record in Dragon's Throat
Tuesday: Vanquisher night. Events for the day are:
Vanquish Diessa Lowlands (see separate gripe thread)
Vanquish Jaya Bluffs
Vanquish Plains of Jarin
Wednesday: Hard Mode Missions Starter Kit. Events for the day are:
Complete The Great Northern Wall mission in Hard Mode
Complete Minister's Cho Estate in Hard Mode
Complete Jokonur's Diggings in Hard Mode
Thursday: Elite Night. Events for the day are:
Gather in Urgoz's Warren for trips into the Warren.
or team up for Fissure of Woe Forgemaster groups.
Friday: Vanquisher night Part 2. Events for the day are:
Vanquish Perdition Rock
Vanquish Melandru's Hope
Vanquish Issnur Isles
Saturday: Underworld Night. Events for the day are:
Underworld farming teams
Tombs runs
After the first week, poll the regulars that showed up for these events and see what they are interested in doing before making more schedules. Perhaps the 11am regulars would like help with missions for the most part, but the 8pm folk need more vanquishing events. Once you see how many are truly interested and will show up the events will become easier to schedule.
I think this is one of the best ideas I've seen on the forum in awhile. I love my guild, but it's hard to ever do stuff with them. They schedule most events to start late at night after I'm in bed.
Series
I think once every 3 hours is a bad idea also because everything will be constantly changing. With 2B, you can just check the list that morning and not have to bother checking every few hours.
Kook~NBK~
I opted for 1b. The main reason is that every 3 hours you've got 3 opportunities instead of just one. Which means players who've already done some stuff will have a better chance of having something available that they haven't already done. And if there isn't anything scheduled that they haven't done, they won't have to wait a day for the next scheduled event.
As for UW/ FoW, Challenge missions & Tombs, etc. I don't think they need to be included because there are always plenty of people around partying up to do those, so they're not affected by the problem. Throw in the favor system for FoW / UW and you may end up with an event scheduled that many people won't be able to participate in.
As for UW/ FoW, Challenge missions & Tombs, etc. I don't think they need to be included because there are always plenty of people around partying up to do those, so they're not affected by the problem. Throw in the favor system for FoW / UW and you may end up with an event scheduled that many people won't be able to participate in.
I MP I
The last one! lol They do seem like good options from a pve stance.
Zinger314
While the concept of a PvE schedule is a very good idea, Dralspire, it'll likely backfire.
There will either be bad players or not enough players of a certain class (which might be the case in Hard Mode) at an organized event. If both are combined, the PvE schedule will be useless.
There will either be bad players or not enough players of a certain class (which might be the case in Hard Mode) at an organized event. If both are combined, the PvE schedule will be useless.
Quantum Duck
If someone was willing to administer such a thing, it's a service I'd try now and then. If it works, it would be very helpful.
Dr Strangelove
I'd go option 2b, with the hopes of just shotgunning enough people into an area to get groups forming. Every 3 hours wouldn't get enough people into the areas, considering that people have to check guru, decide when they can play, form groups, complete the mission.. etc.
Jetdoc
I like the daily event for one chapter idea. I believe that Zinger's concerns will be alleviated if several towns are effectively flooded with GWGuru people, all seeking their own Normal/Hard Mode/Vanquishing aspirations. Chances are the mix of a mob of people will allow enough groups to form to meet all the objectives for that town.
Doing something every three hours really can limit those restricted to playtimes in certain timezones.
Doing something every three hours really can limit those restricted to playtimes in certain timezones.
VitisVinifera
it would be really nice if a schedule was integrated into the game - like some panel where it shows which missions/vanquising/etc are happening, where and when, with a timer countdown
Feminist Terrorist
While getting enough people in one spot to do something is a concern, there just might be enough people who are bored or already have finished an area that may come in to help out. I would be up for that if it's not an area I hate.
Knightsaber Sith
I think I like the way 1A is.
Darcy
I had to go with 2b although a combo of 1b/2b might attract more people.
With 2b, it could take months to get to a mission or HM area you need. But with 1b the schedule might not work for too many players. So something that alternates 2b and 1b might work better, giving a player more chances to fit his playtime into the schedule.
Example: (changing the mission from normal to HM and back each time)
Day 1 - all day (every 3 hours) one mission/HM area in each chapter
Day 2 - every 3 hours a different mission/HM area in each chapter
With 2b, it could take months to get to a mission or HM area you need. But with 1b the schedule might not work for too many players. So something that alternates 2b and 1b might work better, giving a player more chances to fit his playtime into the schedule.
Example: (changing the mission from normal to HM and back each time)
Day 1 - all day (every 3 hours) one mission/HM area in each chapter
Day 2 - every 3 hours a different mission/HM area in each chapter
Buzzer
2b sounds good, though perhaps you could schedule one mission AND one explorable per day per chapter.
Theus
2A/2B would be best.Especially for those who attend school or go to work.It won't be a kick in the testicles that the 3 hour time where everyone does the mission is during schoolhours or work.
DeaconSune
personally, I think that 2b is the most sensible. With all of the time zones, and people that might not have all 3 chapters. But I think that it would make sense to double up on the weekends. For instance: Monday - Thursday is one mission/area for each campaign, and Friday - Sunday is TWO missions/areas for each campaign.
Most people play during the weekends, so you scale the schedule accordingly.
Most people play during the weekends, so you scale the schedule accordingly.
Sir Skullcrasher
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Zinger314
While the concept of a PvE schedule is a very good idea, Dralspire, it'll likely backfire.
There will either be bad players or not enough players of a certain class (which might be the case in Hard Mode) at an organized event. If both are combined, the PvE schedule will be useless. |
I know it would totally defeat the purpose of this event but sometime peoples perfer using artifical AI instead of bad players who get on your nerves.
JoeKnowMo
I'm partial to 2b.
What do you guys think about the viability of a #gwpickup type channel for HM or PvE in general? It might be handy way to have a meeting place outside of the game.
The idea has much more potential to succeed than backfire. Considering that we're going to be dealing with gwg players mostly I'd say there's a good chance of finding decent players. Probably all the posters in this thread are good players, for instance.
Besides, in my experience, if you are capable of checking builds, planning a little in advance, and guiding players who are making mistakes you will very likely succeed... even in HM.
What do you guys think about the viability of a #gwpickup type channel for HM or PvE in general? It might be handy way to have a meeting place outside of the game.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Zinger314
While the concept of a PvE schedule is a very good idea, Dralspire, it'll likely backfire.
There will either be bad players or not enough players of a certain class (which might be the case in Hard Mode) at an organized event. If both are combined, the PvE schedule will be useless. |
Besides, in my experience, if you are capable of checking builds, planning a little in advance, and guiding players who are making mistakes you will very likely succeed... even in HM.
xarchitect
Of the options noted, I would pick 1b.
But I think an even better idea is to create a PvE hub town (a rarely used town in each chapter). Every hour, on the hour, People who want to gather a PuG for various missions / quests / vanquishing / whatever meet. Post your group request in the search function. So if you want to do some remote deserted mission, you can go to this town at 2:00 (or 3 or 4... ) and post your desire and see if can fill a group. Then you take that group to the starting town of that mission / quest / whatever and fill the remaining slots (if any). So many people have completed everything and are essentially just looking for things to do / people to help.
It would work even better if GWO and any other major fansite coordinated this. The only reason I say remote town is to avoid a bit of the WTS spam in the major port towns.
But I think an even better idea is to create a PvE hub town (a rarely used town in each chapter). Every hour, on the hour, People who want to gather a PuG for various missions / quests / vanquishing / whatever meet. Post your group request in the search function. So if you want to do some remote deserted mission, you can go to this town at 2:00 (or 3 or 4... ) and post your desire and see if can fill a group. Then you take that group to the starting town of that mission / quest / whatever and fill the remaining slots (if any). So many people have completed everything and are essentially just looking for things to do / people to help.
It would work even better if GWO and any other major fansite coordinated this. The only reason I say remote town is to avoid a bit of the WTS spam in the major port towns.
Personette
Quote:
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Originally Posted by DeaconSune
personally, I think that 2b is the most sensible. With all of the time zones, and people that might not have all 3 chapters. But I think that it would make sense to double up on the weekends. For instance: Monday - Thursday is one mission/area for each campaign, and Friday - Sunday is TWO missions/areas for each campaign.
Most people play during the weekends, so you scale the schedule accordingly. |
l Batman l
An IRC chat like the GW GvG Pickup thing would be cool.
Nuclear Eclipse
Wow this is one of the best ideas involving guildwars I have ever seen!
Feminist Terrorist
I disagree with the IRC idea. Why complicate things by introducing yet another program into the mix when it could be done here, at Guru.
countesscorpula
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Series
I think once every 3 hours is a bad idea also because everything will be constantly changing. With 2B, you can just check the list that morning and not have to bother checking every few hours.
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ayame ftw
U don’t really need this event system
If u add a new chat channel that’s is global on the entire server where everyone can advertise for groups u can always find people that want to do the same thing as u.
Example:
U stand in the dragons lair outpost and u type in the “Global server chat”:
LFG Dragons laire mission hard mode
An other person standing in “the ring of fire” has his “Global server chat” open and sees this message and need that mission to in HM. So he pm’s that person he wants to join the group.
This way u can find people not only in the current district but also over the entire server.
An other idea I had was using the current “find group screen” the same way as the “global chat feature” would work, making it possible to advertise for a group over the entire server and not only the outpost u are currently located.
The big downside to this system is that, WTB / WTS will flood the server with spam that will make this feature useless for the people that actually want to use it.
These features are already working in WoW, but that is probably because they have a auction house that doesn’t need people to spam WTB / WTS in chat channels.
If u add a new chat channel that’s is global on the entire server where everyone can advertise for groups u can always find people that want to do the same thing as u.
Example:
U stand in the dragons lair outpost and u type in the “Global server chat”:
LFG Dragons laire mission hard mode
An other person standing in “the ring of fire” has his “Global server chat” open and sees this message and need that mission to in HM. So he pm’s that person he wants to join the group.
This way u can find people not only in the current district but also over the entire server.
An other idea I had was using the current “find group screen” the same way as the “global chat feature” would work, making it possible to advertise for a group over the entire server and not only the outpost u are currently located.
The big downside to this system is that, WTB / WTS will flood the server with spam that will make this feature useless for the people that actually want to use it.
These features are already working in WoW, but that is probably because they have a auction house that doesn’t need people to spam WTB / WTS in chat channels.
SotiCoto
If you go with either of the "Option 1" choices... you're going to be overstretching yourself...
2b is the only viable option that will get things done for everyone without taking away anyone's free time entirely...
2b is the only viable option that will get things done for everyone without taking away anyone's free time entirely...
JoeKnowMo
Quote:
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Originally Posted by ayame ftw
U don’t really need this event system
If u add a new chat channel that’s is global on the entire server where everyone can advertise for groups u can always find people that want to do the same thing as u. <snip> The big downside to this system is that, WTB / WTS will flood the server with spam that will make this feature useless for the people that actually want to use it. |
That's why some of us are suggesting the use of an IRC channel in addition to the event schedule. The IRC would act as a limited global chat channel.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Feminist Terrorist
I disagree with the IRC idea. Why complicate things by introducing yet another program into the mix when it could be done here, at Guru.
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Also, if I wanted to do all of the 3 activities scheduled for that day, I'd have to actively rotate my char through each of the towns every few mins to see if groups were forming. During my rotation, it's possible that I could miss someone who shows up in one of those towns, spams lfg for a couple of mins and then goes elsewhere.
We might even get some bored pvp'ers deciding to get on the IRC channel and help groups out.
Dralspire
Thank you all for your thoughts so far, they are really insightful (+5 ), so keep them coming. 
), so keep them coming.
lyra_song
when do you wanna try this out?
Navaros
1b is by far the best option because with the other options, it would take a really long time for a hard mission one needs done to roll around. Which means the schedule can't be relied upon for getting anything done. Which therefore defeats the entire purpose of having the schedule.
Some people are acting like they need to show up to every event "just for the sake of showing up" and hence they do not like 1b for that reason. But if the purpose of the schedule is to actually get missions done as opposed to "getting together aimlessly just for the sake of getting together" --- those people should not be catered to, and 1b should be the choice used.
Some people are acting like they need to show up to every event "just for the sake of showing up" and hence they do not like 1b for that reason. But if the purpose of the schedule is to actually get missions done as opposed to "getting together aimlessly just for the sake of getting together" --- those people should not be catered to, and 1b should be the choice used.
Dralspire
Quote:
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Originally Posted by lyra_song
when do you wanna try this out?
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