I met some of my greatest "online friends" in WOW *before* they implemented dungeon queues. Several of these "online friends" are people I still keep in touch with - one of which had a kid and doesn't even game anymore... another who I had drinks with regularly before I moved out of state. I had so many memorable experiences meeting people on my own server, getting to be known as a dependable tank, getting guild invites, etc...

After dungeon queues, I met nobody in a dungeon that I kept in touch with for more than the 20 minutes it took to rush through the crap. I don't have a single memory (good OR bad) of my times post-dungeon-queue in WOW.

In SWTOR, I'm tanking again and I'm having fun. I'm watching a server community develop around us. I recognize the helpful players as well as the trolls. I've been asked to join two guilds just today alone. I turned both down because I'm sticking with a IRL buddy and he wasn't online to talk about it. My friends list has healers and DPS on it, and I know I'm on others' friend lists as well - just today I got asked to tank flashpoints by several people I've run with before! It's a great deal of fun. This is what puts the "MM" in "MMORPG". If making connections isn't something you do in MMOs, try it sometime.

Now if you're really having trouble finding groups, here's a few tips:

1. Open your "who" box, type in "LFG", and click search. What do we have here? People flagged LFG - not just in your area, but all over the universe! Read their comments, check their level/planet. They know they're marked LFG, go ahead and whisper them!

2. Mark your self LFG and make sure to put a comment! For example, "Tank, Cademimu". Or, "DPS, Mand. Raiders".

3. General is your friend! Looking for a heroic/area quest? Keep questing, use ctrl-c to copy your LFG message, and occasionally paste (ctrl-v) it into general. That wasn't hard now was it? Some of these world group quests are a lot of fun - CC, proper tanking, healing, and cooperation required!

4. Friends list is great for tracking people you've enjoyed running with! Did you put up a good tanking performance in front of that healer? Vice  verse? Friend that person and seek their assistance later on.

5. Start the group YOURSELF! :O Think about this: if you're sitting there thinking "I'm too lazy to put a group together  right now!"... just imagine how many others are thinking the exact same thing! Even PRE-WOW (gasp!) I found that when I got the ball rolling, things could happened quicker! Plus you can think of it as an opportunity to make sure you get a group with nobody to roll on that blaster you've been wanting! >:D

6. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think Trade chat is global. :-) It's not as if it's being used for trade, so take a tip from WOW and use it :P

7. WOW trained us to be antisocial gogo-maniacs. It's time to put on some manners and do a little networking.

Looking for a group isn't hard. Don't be lazy. There's a lot of fun to be had. This is new community of players. Enjoy.

+1

+2

Good ideas.

I have to admit, I've skipped running some instances because there's no LFG tool. But I have had fun doing pickup world bosses and there are some cool people willing to help out.

Still, I have noticed the rule on my server is roll NEED every time.  I guess with a solid friends list, that will be worked out.

Nice post m8 totally agree.

Originally posted by TROLL_HARD

Good ideas.

 

I have to admit, I've skipped running some instances because there's no LFG tool. But I have had fun doing pickup world bosses and there are some cool people willing to help out.

 

Still, I have noticed the rule on my server is roll NEED every time.  I guess with a solid friends list, that will be worked out.

Hmm, the few FP's I've done everyone roll greed, if they need for companion they have asked before rolling.

My server is actually quite good, there's always the occasional odd one, or troll, but that's to be expected, overall, good experience.

Originally posted by Beazt

Hmm, the few FP's I've done everyone roll greed, if they need for companion they have asked before rolling.

My server is actually quite good, there's always the occasional odd one, or troll, but that's to be expected, overall, good experience.

I've been pretty lucky as well. Also since I'm often the group "leader" I point out loot "rules" when we start. I realize words aren't binding but it puts a clue in peoples' heads that we're here to gear player characters over companions.

Also, SKIFREE! (<3 your avatar hehe)

Nothing but good advice here. SWTOR community would be wise to follow it before the community implodes on itself à la RIFT. 

Thank you.

Originally posted by ktanner3
Well said. These WOW kiddies need to either learm to socialize or go back to WOW. Let's not dumb down another game because the vocal minority doesn't want to socialize in a mmorpg.

There's nothing "dumbed down" about a LFD tool... it's a convenience thing.  I never really understood the the reason for hating them. The game lets you flag LFG... you can put notes... what's the difference other than having a system that automatically groups you with compatible ppl? There isn't any. If there's anything that's dumbed down the game it's the lower player requirement for dungeons and allowing companions to act as players. That, and the homogenization of classes due to less people required by said groups and raids.

Originally posted by tkoreaper

Originally posted by ktanner3
Well said. These WOW kiddies need to either learm to socialize or go back to WOW. Let's not dumb down another game because the vocal minority doesn't want to socialize in a mmorpg.

There's nothing "dumbed down" about a LFD tool... it's a convenience thing.  I never really understood the the reason for hating them. The game lets you flag LFG... you can put notes... what's the difference other than having a system that automatically groups you with compatible ppl? There isn't any. If there's anything that's dumbed down the game it's the lower player requirement for dungeons and allowing companions to act as players. That, and the homogenization of classes due to less people required by said groups and raids.

The LFD isn't dumbed down itself. It dumbs down the community. Over time it makes people lazy and it breeds morons who need on everything just to piss off people. It breeds gogogo Free EPIX NOAW kido's etc etc.

How many times can you wipe on content before half the people leave nowadays? Pre-LFD tools people realized it would take them a long time to find a new group for the content and just sticked with the people to work out diffrent strategies etc. Now it's just /leave, /requeue.

Also having companions instead of players is way harder in the later flashpoints, and I doubt its viable in operations.

I totally agree with the OP. I remember in WoW pre-LFD, my friend list was FULL, I got whispers every time I logged in to run heroics. After the LFD tool, it all imploded. Server communities crashed, friend lists where near empty....

-1

I don't play MMOs because I want to make friends! That's what RL is all about! I play MMOs because I like playing WITH people! That doesn't mean I wanna talk to them all the time. Even if it's just the usual 'hi', 'that was fun, thanks for helping' etc. chatter. That's ok, as long as it's fun. If I want to socialize I go to a bar or club or to friends...

Originally posted by tkoreaper

Originally posted by ktanner3
Well said. These WOW kiddies need to either learm to socialize or go back to WOW. Let's not dumb down another game because the vocal minority doesn't want to socialize in a mmorpg.

There's nothing "dumbed down" about a LFD tool... it's a convenience thing.  I never really understood the the reason for hating them. The game lets you flag LFG... you can put notes... what's the difference other than having a system that automatically groups you with compatible ppl? There isn't any. If there's anything that's dumbed down the game it's the lower player requirement for dungeons and allowing companions to act as players. That, and the homogenization of classes due to less people required by said groups and raids.

Yes, we fully understand that most people who want an LFD tool find socializing with other people to be inconvenient for them.  If they weren't being anti-social, they would already have friends and guilds and wouldn't be spamming a general channel.

I am truly grateful that Bioware has decided not to make this game a random lobby experience with anonymous asshats that do stupid things just because they never have to see you again.

Originally posted by SideTraKd

Yes, we fully understand that most people who want an LFD tool find socializing with other people to be inconvenient for them.  If they weren't being anti-social, they would already have friends and guilds and wouldn't be spamming a general channel.

I am truly grateful that Bioware has decided not to make this game a random lobby experience with anonymous asshats that do stupid things just because they never have to see you again.

Ok, please tell me one thing: what has socializing to do with LFG? How do you socialize? Is it the time you spend spamming the /1 channel while talking to the other DPS, waiting for tanks/healers to answer you call?

Originally posted by kartana

-1

I don't play MMOs because I want to make friends! That's what RL is all about! I play MMOs because I like playing WITH people! That doesn't mean I wanna talk to them all the time. Even if it's just the usual 'hi', 'that was fun, thanks for helping' etc. chatter. That's ok, as long as it's fun. If I want to socialize I go to a bar or club or to friends...

Originally posted by SpidaFly

5. Start the group YOURSELF! :O Think about this: if you're sitting there thinking "I'm too lazy to put a group together  right now!"... just imagine how many others are thinking the exact same thing! Even PRE-WOW (gasp!) I found that when I got the ball rolling, things could happened quicker! Plus you can think of it as an opportunity to make sure you get a group with nobody to roll on that blaster you've been wanting! >:D

Only one small caveat here, you should probably have run the instance at least once yourself before accepting the driver seat.

No, not essential, but the other players tend to appreciate some experience.

Originally posted by Icewhite

Originally posted by SpidaFly

5. Start the group YOURSELF! :O Think about this: if you're sitting there thinking "I'm too lazy to put a group together  right now!"... just imagine how many others are thinking the exact same thing! Even PRE-WOW (gasp!) I found that when I got the ball rolling, things could happened quicker! Plus you can think of it as an opportunity to make sure you get a group with nobody to roll on that blaster you've been wanting! >:D

Only one small caveat here, you should probably have run the instance at least once yourself before accepting the driver seat.

No, not essential, but the other players tend to appreciate some experience.

Originally posted by joeri123

Originally posted by tkoreaper

Originally posted by ktanner3
Well said. These WOW kiddies need to either learm to socialize or go back to WOW. Let's not dumb down another game because the vocal minority doesn't want to socialize in a mmorpg.

There's nothing "dumbed down" about a LFD tool... it's a convenience thing.  I never really understood the the reason for hating them. The game lets you flag LFG... you can put notes... what's the difference other than having a system that automatically groups you with compatible ppl? There isn't any. If there's anything that's dumbed down the game it's the lower player requirement for dungeons and allowing companions to act as players. That, and the homogenization of classes due to less people required by said groups and raids.

The LFD isn't dumbed down itself. It dumbs down the community. Over time it makes people lazy and it breeds morons who need on everything just to piss off people. It breeds gogogo Free EPIX NOAW kido's etc etc.

How many times can you wipe on content before half the people leave nowadays? Pre-LFD tools people realized it would take them a long time to find a new group for the content and just sticked with the people to work out diffrent strategies etc. Now it's just /leave, /requeue.

Also having companions instead of players is way harder in the later flashpoints, and I doubt its viable in operations.

 

I totally agree with the OP. I remember in WoW pre-LFD, my friend list was FULL, I got whispers every time I logged in to run heroics. After the LFD tool, it all imploded. Server communities crashed, friend lists where near empty....

You're right... it is the community. There's really no difference between having a LFD tool and looking for people. cool you made some friends... all it did was make it easier. But it's really the community's fault for expecting everyone to be the same... know fights... ect. People need to grow up and understand not everyone learns at the same pace or has access to the wealth of knowledge that you act like you have... Elitism at it's purist form.