Curse

Studio Ghibli · May 28, 2005, 05:08 AM // 05:08

.. that makes them behave the way they do?

I'm not sure if it's the randomness of the situation or the fact that no one knows anyone else or what, but I run into the worst sort of parties with PUGs. People charge blindly ahead (and die, usually take at least two other people with them in the process), fail to obey orders (even if spammed by more than one person), and, more often than not, prove less reliable than henchman (who listen to how I direct them).

Earlier this week, I attempted 'Eye for Profit' with a PUG, and we were stumbling all the way, dying repeatedly, everyone refusing to obey the other person. Disgusted with it all, I left and ran the damn thing with henches--and made it as far as the inside lagoon before we ended up dying.

Just about FIVE MINUTES AGO, while doing Thirsty River, my PUG decided it'd be the best idea in the world to CHARGE STRAIGHT INTO THE PRIEST ROOM right after the turn of the clock.

I don't know why. Honestly. We had two minutes. The last group. The last battle. In the damn Thirsty River mission. Against the ones that heal themselves.

I hope people read this and take with them not to be an idiot when it comes to PUGs.

Minwanabi · May 28, 2005, 05:26 AM // 05:26

The PUG is a mystical creation. It takes between 6 and 8 people, mixes them together, and produces an entity of pure stupidity. After having beaten the game twice, I can tell you this. PUGs are never, ever worth it. On my third character now, I do every mission and quest, no exception, with henchies. For missions that can't be done with henchies (they aren't infused, the ether seals, a desert mission or two) I deal exclusively with my guild. I don't have the patience for PUGs, to be honest, and I don't understand how any literate people do. There is never a need to finish a mission or quest right NOW that would justify a PUG. Oh, and about that eye for profit thing, if it's a quest, ALWAYS use henchies. Who cares if you die? Just zerg the damn thing, even if you're all running with 60 DP, it's still going to be a hell of a lot better than a PUG.

Navaros · May 28, 2005, 05:27 AM // 05:27

i think the problem is that the average person tends to be very stupid. that's just human nature.

Guild Wars PVE requires a very high level of skill (compared to most other PC games) and common sense.

tragically, most players simply do not possess that

Tala · May 28, 2005, 05:42 AM // 05:42

Just came out of my first one for the Bloodfen mission. Not too many deaths.

However, there was zero leadership. Zero. I asked who was going to call targets? Silence. From both warriors in the group running pell mell into the fray.

I ended up calling targets just to give the casters something to pick easily. I'm a Ne/Mo.

We did it. Did it fairly fast. But I swear hardly anyone said 3 words.

Minwanabi · May 28, 2005, 05:45 AM // 05:45

Once you're crazy enough, you can hold conversation with your henchies. Besides, I find PUG conversation to be, uh, less than scintillating...

Chance Folly · May 28, 2005, 05:49 AM // 05:49

Uh... I stay away from PUG. I deal exclusively with my Guild and people on by Buddy List for missions, and Henchmen for quests.

Kershent · May 28, 2005, 05:51 AM // 05:51

I generally have good luck with PUGs. Pick your members wisely (never join somebody else's group, that's ASKING for an idiot group), take a balanced group in, and let everyone know the plan before starting the mission. Make sure everyone is ready, and start.

About 1/3 of the time, I get an amazing group that I can usually do the next couple missions with before everyone has to go.

luis cruz99 · May 28, 2005, 06:02 AM // 06:02

any one got a access key used or a player not want or i could play on plz i will do any thing

Gear853 · May 28, 2005, 06:23 AM // 06:23

uh...what's PUG?

*noob*

Goonter · May 28, 2005, 06:27 AM // 06:27

pick up group

luis cruz99 · May 28, 2005, 07:08 AM // 07:08

i am not a noob cuz i do not have a player yet but plz i just want to see how it is plz plz plz i am beging

Axehilt · May 28, 2005, 07:33 AM // 07:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by luis cruz99

any one got a access key used or a player not want or i could play on plz i will do any thing

Okay, I will.

Since you will do 'anything', please send $100 to me. IM me if you need my address.

You will receive your CDKey within 8 hours of my receiving the money.

DismalClown · May 28, 2005, 08:56 AM // 08:56

I find good pick up groups now and then, to say they are all bad and they should be avoided at all costs is a going a little overboard.

Perhaps time a day matters, I play very late at night when the population has died down a bit.

Makkert · May 28, 2005, 09:03 AM // 09:03

after getting myself killed over 5 times in Ring of Fire, I was quite pissed.
luckily, I always add decent players to my friendlist, so i have a list of decent players to call upon. major help, as I know have a small group of friends that I can call upon for some quests.
and I agree, make your own groups.
and let them know that you are the leader of this group. and talk things over before starting mission. take the time to wait for a second monk. if players don't have the patience to wait for that and leave your PUG, then they probably don't have the patience to pick fights in the game either and probably aren't the greatests players alive.

-(Hyper)- · May 28, 2005, 09:48 AM // 09:48

Well, usually the complete opposite of what you say happen to me. I only take henchman if I'm unable to find more people, or if the quest is very hard in which case I take Alesia.

Basically I don't see the logic in playing multiplayer online if you're going to play with computers anyway. In my opinion, dealing with REAL people is much more entertaining. Sure, every once in a while someone does something completely wrong, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're stupid. Maybe they don't understand English or whatever. Hey, shit happens, right? Besides, it's only a game.

I've found that PUGs come in three sorts. The talkative PUG, the not so talkative PUG and the arguing PUG. The talkative PUG is of course the friendliest, people talk to each other and have fun and so on. The not so talkative PUG has a kind of "routine" atmosphere. You know what you have to do to complete the quest, and you just do it. No talking, just slashing. The arguing PUG is usually a PUG which has fallen into disorder. The disorder can be a result of many things, but most of the time it has something to do with the quest. For example, yesterday I found myself in a PUG where one half of the group wanted to go one way and the other half wanted to go another way. Heh, it all resulted in a big argument about who had done the quest before and who hadn't, and while it didn't seem fun at the time, I can now look back at it and laugh. At the end of the day, it was just silly.

I understand how people would rather take henchmen instead of real people, because you're spared the hassle of dealing with personal issues, but I still encourage new people to use PUGs. In my opinion, they make the game much more interesting.

Aetherfukz · May 28, 2005, 10:03 AM // 10:03

I almost only made good experience with PUGs in the game. That's maybe because I only join and make groups which have a grasp at basic language and care to type out the words they want to say. So none "monk LFG" here. Basically when you say like "Experienced healer looking for a nice party to join for this mission and maybe the next" you will only find nice people because the other will just ignore your text because it is more than 10 letters.

At least that's it for me.

Mordread · May 28, 2005, 10:22 AM // 10:22

The number one thing that is driving me nuts about PUG's is the seeming inability of the majority of players to simply follow called targets. It makes all the difference between winning and losing, especially in pvp. They need to add the instructions on how to call and follow targets somewhere in the beginning of the game so I dont have to try to explain it to every retard who runs off and trys to take on the W/Mo when the primary Monk is still alive. /sigh

Mav · May 28, 2005, 10:48 AM // 10:48

It's sadly the nature of the beast.

With any game, especially one with no monthly fee (I tend to notice a regular fee weeds out the riftraff), you are going to just get some of the lower common denominators. People that don't listen, people that just wanna sit there and trash talk, people that can't accept the group's decisions, hell people that don't speak english at times.

Only thing you can do is really, grin and bear it. If you enjoy GW, keep trying. Reform a new party, or join one. Find people who are similarly frustrated as you, stuck on the same mission, usually these parties tend to have more fun cause they've had similar experiences (of past tries at the mission or quest and failing). Or give that character a break, do some PvP or role a new class and give it a try.

Studio Ghibli · May 28, 2005, 11:58 AM // 11:58

Don't get me wrong.

I've met some real swell people from PUGs.

It just blows my mind how.. "dur hur" some people can be.

Storn · May 28, 2005, 12:25 PM // 12:25

I've had pretty good luck with PUGs (didn't know that acronym til now) overall. Sure, I've had a couple of bad groups, they got killed. But I've also had great pick up groups, that covered my ass when I made mistakes and I did the same for them.

Some of those folks are now in my guild because I had so much fun gaming with them. One leader of another guild, last night, was a total hoot and I invited him (not knowing he is a leader) and he invited me (not knowing I was a leader) simutaneously. It was pretty funny. He is on my friends list though. I hope to run into him again.

As for nailing the same target and following target commands. I have trouble getting the command to work sometimes. i have a much easier time followign the command. Often, my monk is so embroiled in keeping everyone alive, targeting is not super important to me at that moment. As the warrior, I often prefer to intercept the monster who is beelining for the monk and I have conciously broken off the targeted monster. I've won many of those fights... so it is a judgement call... just pointing out. I've just started playing the warrior... so I"m a noob there, I admit,.... but I've had good success with him.

I'll play with henchies when I'm not sure if I've got the time to do the mission/quest with other players. That way, if I have to drop out, I'm not abandoning anyone or pissing anyone off.