Curse

Grav · Mar 30, 2011, 07:42 PM // 19:42

I'll pug sometimes if I feel like it, other times I prefer to play alone. Sometimes it depends on what I'm doing in-game (ZMs for example), sometimes it depends on my mood out-of-game (crap day, maybe I'll do a vanquish by myself). Just whatever I feel will give me the most enjoyment on any given day. vOv

MrConsideration · Mar 30, 2011, 09:15 PM // 21:15

Time-constraints and low population prevent me from grouping, and I also find most players to be a strange combination of terrible yet arrogant.

I'll group with guildies - for casual things, casually. No pressure, my MM Necro can bring a level 5 bear if she wants etc...

ShaJiexi · Mar 30, 2011, 10:20 PM // 22:20

It depends on the task- I VQ with 7 heroes, because it takes an hour, and gives me the freedom to answer the phone, take a bathroom break, get a snack, and do all the fun things one might do during a single player game. And I don't need to worry about leavers.

Group: stuff like VSF, Duncan, DoA, Deep, or any PvP. In normal PvE, though, the trouble to get a group isn't worth it, unless it happens to be Zaishen __________ and enough people are there to make it efficient.

Cuilan · Mar 31, 2011, 01:21 AM // 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrConsideration

I also find most players to be a strange combination of terrible yet arrogant.

I'll group with guildies - for casual things, casually. No pressure, my MM Necro can bring a level 5 bear if she wants etc...

Pot calling the kettle black comes to mind.

ogre_jd · Mar 31, 2011, 07:38 AM // 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuilan

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrConsideration

I also find most players to be a strange combination of terrible yet arrogant.

I'll group with guildies - for casual things, casually. No pressure, my MM Necro can bring a level 5 bear if she wants etc...

Pot calling the kettle black comes to mind.

Why? Just because he might want to level the pet, that makes him arrogant or terrible? Might not be optimal, but... *shrug*

(actually, I think I might try that on my own Necro - though I won't be bringing a L5 out since I have all the non-elite pets in the menagerie; it'd be L12. I'm not a good MM, though, so I'll have to bring a primary attack for the pet other than Enranged Lunge so that I can have a Flesh Golem. Be a neat change from the N/Rt Curses/Restoration [Life, a bit of healing, and Parasitic Bond/Necrosis spamming] I currently run)

cataphract · Mar 31, 2011, 09:06 AM // 09:06

The only thing I PUG are DwG DoA runs and I haven't done any in several months. When I do play I tend to play with guildies and/or friends if they're online. Seven-hero update came as a blessing to me because it enables to me start playing from the moment I log on. No LFG, no pinging of retarded builds, no hissy-fits about how their builds are pro, no rage-quitting, no 5-minute AFK's that evolve into 90-minute lunches or dinners.

Also, I'm not a people person.

Aeon221 · Mar 31, 2011, 05:18 PM // 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why?

I stopped pugging in prophecies when idiots started asking people to ping builds. I was that warrior with an earth build using a staff, and i freaking beat prophecies using only henchies with it.

I learned a ton h/h'ing everything. I also died a ton as well.

Now I only run with guildies and alliance mates on Elite Missions, or if one of them wants some help.

I generally don't have the patience for people in this game. Doing anything just takes absolutely forever. So annoying.

You're exactly the kind of person who should be using heroes. A special snowflake build that is unquestionably terrible belongs on a team where no one is capable of caring about beating the game in a reasonable time frame.

So hurray! You've got exactly what you need: an environment where you are physically incapable of negatively impacting the experience of other players!

And hurray for build pinging! It ensures that a minimum level of build quality can be ensured. I'm not a total fascist about builds -- special snowflakes are allowed if they play to a profession's strengths -- but there's absolutely no chance I'm taking a player with a terrible bar into the game with me when it takes seconds to replace that player with a hero who will run a better bar, follow calls and not aggro random things just to show off their solo prowess.

Evolve or play alone, basically.

Voodoo Rage · Mar 31, 2011, 11:01 PM // 23:01

As I mentioned in the FoW/DoA thread, I just never PuG because it's impossible for me to ever be able to commit my time to even a simple mission without worrying about getting interrupted by a kid or a wife at some point. You guys can all thank me for not even trying.

That being said, the few times I did try to PuG were all debacles. I'm really not a build snob but, geez, a lot of people use TERRIBLE builds in this game and rationalize it with the same exact excuse, "Hey, I beat the game with this...". And honestly, I totally understand that mentality because I used to be the same, thinking I was a GW bad ass with my touch ranger, not realizing that my heroes were pretty much carrying my team all the time.

TheGizzy · Mar 31, 2011, 11:24 PM // 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage

not realizing that my heroes were pretty much carrying my team all the time.

I play an elementalist primary, and almost exclusively in HM now. Unless I toss on a rit build, my heroes actually ARE carrying my team all the time. *laughing*

It's just another reason I like using my heroes instead of PuG'ing... there aren't many options for me to play the way I enjoy as an ele in HM. I can't run an AP build to save my life (or anyone else's), and I have zero interest in being an ER ele. Soloing with my heroes means I can play my way, and it doesn't matter if my favorite spells only do 2dmg - my heroes won't ragequit on me, call me a noob or otherwise hassle me. They'll just go in, kick ass, and let me pick up my drops.

Plus, I consider my heroes to be extensions of my toon anyway. I equip them, I rune them, I dictate their builds, and I micromanage them when I need to. They are just more weapons in my arsenal besides my staves, wands, axe of enchanting, etc.

And as long as I get to play where I want, when I want, how I want... then I am "winning" the game. If I PuG, then I'm expected to "win" someone else's way, by their definition... and I have no interest in that.

jray14 · Apr 01, 2011, 12:51 AM // 00:51

I really enjoyed grouping back in the early days when it was actually faster than henching, and before the dawn of pvxwiki. I would typically form my own groups with "GLF misfits" and end up mostly with fun attitudes like TheGizzy's on the team

.

I'm curious, does anyone try that nowadays, and is it fruitful? I took a 4-year hiatus and came back after EOTN was released and was so smitten by H/H'ing that I never really went back to grouping. But every now and then I'm tempted to give it another whirl. I'm too fickle with my Luxon/Kurzick swapping to join a guild, and too lazy to manage one, so for the time being it's H/H or PUG for me.

@TheGizzy, in terms of play style I'm the total opposite of you, running an AP build *everywhere* with all of my chars wielding staves or spears, lol. I suppose that sounds excruciatingly boring, but the flexibility in the 3 leftover skills provides enough variety for me.

Cuilan · Apr 01, 2011, 04:05 AM // 04:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGizzy

It's just another reason I like using my heroes instead of PuG'ing... there aren't many options for me to play the way I enjoy as an ele in HM. I can't run an AP build to save my life (or anyone else's), and I have zero interest in being an ER ele.

There are a lot of options for an elementalist in PUGs as they're commonly found in them since they're are many players who use them. I run whatever the hell I want.

Voodoo Rage · Apr 01, 2011, 05:55 AM // 05:55

Just pinged to me in my Guild Chat:

The guy just kept arguing up and down with me defending his build because "he just walked through a mission with it". I think I've lost all will to live...

wilebill · Apr 01, 2011, 07:03 AM // 07:03

In GW and WoW lone wolf for me. PUGs can be great fun if you enjoy the antics of psychopaths but TBH it has been years!

MrConsideration · Apr 01, 2011, 11:06 AM // 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuilan

Pot calling the kettle black comes to mind.

Yeah, that's the point, I prefer to play casually and RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO around, yet I understand what I'm doing is suboptimal.

When you're abundantly horrible yet think you're playing optimally, that's what I object to.

cataphract · Apr 01, 2011, 11:22 AM // 11:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage

Just pinged to me in my Guild Chat:

The guy just kept arguing up and down with me defending his build because "he just walked through a mission with it". I think I've lost all will to live...

Stuff like this makes me miss alliances.

*cough*cough*
Small luxon guild looking for alliance with people that ping their skillbars in AC.

Aeon221 · Apr 01, 2011, 03:44 PM // 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrConsideration

Yeah, that's the point, I prefer to play casually and RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO around, yet I understand what I'm doing is suboptimal.

When you're abundantly horrible yet think you're playing optimally, that's what I object to.

Yes! This!

I've played hamstorm in groups, but those groups were joke groups and I made no bones about it being a terrible build. And if someone had said plz no, I'd have swapped to a better bar.

It's when I get that one dude who pings the roflcopter bar and starts going NO THIS IS A GOOD BAR SRSLY I BEAT GAME NO CHANGES, that's when it's unbearable.

Everyone has beaten the game with henchmen in normal mode. It's not hard! You can do it naked with no skills! I once beat all the missions in proph (before the addition of a minion cap) with a bunch of naked jihading lowbies, a resmer and me running an MM! Why yes, it was epic and hilarious. But you're not bringing that eight attribute bar into hardmode, bud, or AB or any other situation where I actually care about the outcome. Not when I can boot you and replace you with a hero who can do your job better without giving me grief, anyway.

ensoriki · Apr 02, 2011, 12:06 AM // 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by cataphract

Stuff like this makes me miss alliances.

I agree with this. Alliances were fun.

I can't be bothered to commit to a group of people anymore, and Pugs take too long to set up period. Even if pugs were instantaneous still can't be bothered to commit, I go afk on practically every quest, and mission I do.

fireflyry · Apr 02, 2011, 07:08 AM // 07:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chop it Off

Pugs for me ended the day heros came out.

Have to agree really.

I pugged a lot when the game first came out as the majority of the community was fresh and the gameplay was more about attaining goals while having fun along the way.

The advent of heroes, PvE content, and change of game structure in rewarding grind and repeating content as quickly and efficiently as possible really dictated the state of pugs today.

People wanting speed clears who don't have the heroes.

I still enjoy pugging with newer players who are seemingly devoid of the attitude the current majority have but outside that I rarely venture far from my guildies and contacts.

This seems to be a reoccuring theme for the majority of dated MMO's.It's a pity that paitence and common courtesy seemingly goes out the window after 2-3 years.

I would add this is far more prevelant in the free-to-play format, especially so many years on.

Akimb0 · Apr 02, 2011, 12:06 PM // 12:06

Very rarely play in groups. Most players are terrible.

When I finally tried to join a group for a Zaishen VQ a while back, they were looking for healers, I was on my Rt. Kicked from the group when the second healer (a monk) complained that Rts suck at healing. Never even bothered trying to join a group since.

cellardweller · Apr 02, 2011, 12:29 PM // 12:29

I pugged at the start but they were always yelling about my penis artwork on the map, so now I go with heroes get my phallic artistry completed in peace.