Curse

Dralspire · May 09, 2007, 02:34 PM // 14:34

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?

Taurucis · May 09, 2007, 02:40 PM // 14:40

*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?

Ouchie · May 09, 2007, 02:44 PM // 14:44

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.....

Lauryn · May 09, 2007, 03:46 PM // 15:46

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

)

Series · May 09, 2007, 03:53 PM // 15:53

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 · May 09, 2007, 04:14 PM // 16:14

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 · May 09, 2007, 04:22 PM // 16:22

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 · May 09, 2007, 04:32 PM // 16:32

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.

Feminist Terrorist · May 09, 2007, 05:16 PM // 17:16

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.

Hikan Trilear · May 09, 2007, 06:24 PM // 18:24

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 · May 09, 2007, 06:57 PM // 18:57

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.

Series · May 09, 2007, 07:19 PM // 19:19

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~ · May 09, 2007, 07:20 PM // 19:20

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.

I MP I · May 09, 2007, 09:03 PM // 21:03

The last one! lol They do seem like good options from a pve stance.

Zinger314 · May 09, 2007, 09:26 PM // 21:26

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.

Quantum Duck · May 09, 2007, 09:35 PM // 21:35

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 · May 09, 2007, 09:43 PM // 21:43

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 · May 09, 2007, 09:51 PM // 21:51

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.

VitisVinifera · May 09, 2007, 11:17 PM // 23:17

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 · May 09, 2007, 11:46 PM // 23:46

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.