Curse

lightblade · Jul 14, 2006, 08:17 PM // 20:17

Cheer up! Don't let a few jerks in the game ruin your fun.

JoeKnowMo · Jul 14, 2006, 08:20 PM // 20:20

Maybe I've been lucky, but I pugged my way to both Protector titles without too much trouble. Some of it is just the luck of the draw. I've gotten master's on missions that other players cry about, but I've had trouble getting master's on other missions that many players have had no trouble with. There are plenty of good players who use pugs, it's just a matter of finding them.

With regards to getting the bonus or master's on missions, you may want to wait on those until you've capped some nice elites. Then come back. Although, I've gotten master's on several missions the first time through with pugs.

Things I look for or try to establish in a pug:
1. What build is everyone running? Needn't be cookie cutter, but they should be able to tell me what the build does. They needn't list all skills either. But this is a good time to make sure the Ele isn't bringing Firestorm. Personally, I've found when people are asked to list all their skills, the group is much more organized and patient. People run some awful builds at times, and catching it early on is crucial since you can't do anything once you're in the mission.
2. Patience and the ability to pull. I usually say that if they can't get along with others and be patient they should leave before we start the mission/quest.
3. A leader. Usually there will be one knowledgable person in the pug who is vocal. Otherwise, I like to ask who has done this before and is willing to lead. Designate a caller and another to draw or ping on the map.
4. Problem solving. I like to track others skills a little (easier if I'm the healer, but I still try when playing other profs). If the monk is using Healing Breeze too much (and running low on energy), for example, I'll tell them to limit it's use. If a caster isn't kiting when taking melee dmg, I will usually ask them to move. I know this sounds real simple, but you get players who don't know the basics and they won't hurt your team if you help them out early on. Telling the group to take out the Spirit of Restoration before they kill anything else is another example.
5. Humor and a sense of fun. People play the game for fun and telling jokes and having fun will help people tolerate deaths and mistakes better.
6. Don't have high expectations. Expect some tough spots and certainly do not expect certain success.
7. Weed out the annoying types early on. They will likely quit early or annoy others into quitting. Spamming WTS in teamchat or not telling you their build or being highly opinionated are all bad signs.
8. Advise others to suit their builds to the mission. For example, when fighting the afflicted, I will ask the tanks to bring Watch Yourself and maybe Dolyak's signet, so they don't take too much dmg from the afflicted explosions.

And if the group fails, you will usually learn things about why you failed, so you can organize the group better for the next time. Adhering to some of these points has been instrumental in finding/organizing good pugs. I've had the good fortune of passing THK on my first try on 3 chars with pugs.

I've seen players from pretty good PvE guilds pugging stuff, so even joining a guild doesn't mean you'll have guildies available everytime you need to get a mission done. Of course, I'll try to join them or other guild groups cuz I know they're unlikely to quit and they're probably well organized.

Also, even if I'm doing a mission for the first time I'll try to join a bonus/master's group because they're usually more organized and knowledgable about the mission.

felinette · Jul 14, 2006, 08:41 PM // 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeKnowMo

I've seen players from pretty good PvE guilds pugging stuff, so even joining a guild doesn't mean you'll have guildies available everytime you need to get a mission done.

This is true, and it's why I have several characters on the go. I hench whenever possible. I join guildies when we want the same mission, when I know taking henchies won't cut it (like some bonuses), or when someone wants help. If I want to do a mission with real people and no guildies are available, I just switch to another character for a while. There's always something I can do with one of my characters.

Recently I took about a month's break from GW. I'd become bored, or perhaps burned out, with the game, and I found PUGs more obnoxious than usual. With the release of Factions, there seemed to be more rude behaviour, more rushing, and more ragequitters. Like the OP, I didn't feel like grouping anymore. Playing in PUGs was ruining the game for me, but never grouping seemed to defeat the purpose of playing online. So I stopped playing. When I fired up GW again, I decided to avoid PUGging at all costs. I've become a much more active player in my guilds. As a result, I've actually grouped more (with guildies and guests) than I did before. I'm enjoying the game a lot more that way.

vaxmor · Jul 15, 2006, 01:10 AM // 01:10

The average standard of gameplay of PvE PUGs is somewhere between appalling and abysmal.

Dont cry about it, just deal with it.