Dungeon Run Scheduler

[Orly]

Hi!  I've been thinking more about my idea of a way to bring players together for dungeon runs by way of some sort of in-game scheduler/sign up device.  I don't know how hard that would be to implement and where it would fall on your priority list,  but I do think it could be helpful for players wanting to run all levels of dungeons, from East Caves to Mona and beyond.  It could help new players who might not know many friends here find help in running lower level dungeons and of course, bring together very experienced players for higher level dungeons.   I have several ideas about this, but to summarize, I could see two parts to it:

1) General - post what you need and when you are available - i.e. I need help running East Caves and I am available 4 pm to 6 pm server time.  This would be helpful for new players, and for others, who like me, may be wondering how to spend their time here on Paw'd.  Do I grind it out here in Argan and advance myself, or do I spend my time wandering around Saliko and HOPE I meet a new friend who could use my help?  Currently, I do a little of both, but if one has limited time, its harder to do.

You could also post what you are available to help with.  i.e. I can run East Caves at 5 pm server time.  Anyone need that dungeon?

2) Actually signing up for a time to run - if you have a couple of friends who would like to run something, set up a run on the scheduler.  There could be several parameters for this, which I would be glad to explore and explain further if indeed you would be interested in implementing an idea like this.   While anyone could post in the General Schedule (#1 above) there would be a level minimum for starting a scheduled run, to keep it from becoming cluttered.  For example, you can only start a schedule for a run if you are the minimum level for that dungeon.   

I realize that Main Chat and these forums can be used for these kinds of things, but it is kind of hit and miss.  Who is online?  Who has the time for a run? Do new players know about Main Chat? How many regularly read the forums?  Generally, you know when the friends you run with most of the time are on, but you may not know the schedule of those you don't run with frequently.  And of course, we know when the most players are running in the evening US time, but that's not a convenient time for everyone.

If you want to discuss, I can flesh the idea more, but for now I'm just wondering what you think of it. 

[Tobias]

Implementing an in-game calender would certainly possible, but it would require dedication to keep that one up, otherwise it will just be an additional tool that doesn't get used. When you have a new player, you'd also have to consider
- whether they find the calendar (somewhat  fixed by prominent placement, but it still requires them to understand the importance of that tool),
- what they associate with "Frigus run, 5pm central by SomePlayer12, still need tank!",
- whether anyone will keep it at least somewhat filled beyond the initial surge it'll get,
- whether it wouldn't just burn out players who feel obligated to put at least something in there,
- whether it wouldn't just put additional pressure on moderators, who have to consider spam entries (someone just putting an entry there for the lulz, someone putting garbage there) and who may feel worn out if they see a ton of "I need help with X!!!" entries that aren't receiving any attention.

Just to do a rough estimate - you would use it, I know that. I wouldn't use it, because there are specific times I'm available, and I generally just see who's on then, and go with them. Who else is there that'd use it?


There are simpler tools to see if there's someone available, such as an online-player list, however -

Do I spend my time wandering around Saliko and HOPE I meet a new friend who could use my help?

such a list also has several problems:
- There's a risk that well-meaning players stalk newbies. To paint another scenario, the moment someone enters Saliko Fields, there's already someone waiting for them. This is not received well.

Specifically, I became aware (since it escalated, resulting in reports) of a situation not long ago, where a level capped player was just wandering a low level area, found a new player, literally flooded them with information ("if you see lint, kill it, you get a pet!", "kill these monsters for a trophy!") and then proceeded to complete quests with for them. From the point of the new player, it looks as if there's a ton of things they should know (which isn't true), while the game itself is laughably easy (Choco's quest looks like a joke when a level 34 completes it, even though it is quite challenging if you do it at its intended level - level 4-5).

- There's the risk that desperate or not-so-well-meaning players get a precise list of who's there to bug.
- When a limited list was available (way in the past), players used it to see there's no new players that need help online, logged out, and missed new players that signed up one minute later.
- When a list of who is queued for TvT was available, players logged out when they didn't see "enough", even though other players queued up later - but they weren't there to see it anymore.

Main Chat and these forums can be used for these kinds of things, but it is kind of hit and miss.  Do new players know about Main Chat?

Actually main chat is not available until they gained a couple of levels, to
- not overwhelm new players with information
- limit the audience of spammers.


In any case, I am not opposed to implementing it, but I want to be sure that it's worthwhile if I am going to sink ~20 hours into doing that, and if there aren't simpler and more effective tools available.

[Caydence]

_{uh hi yes i am here to provide input}

Add something like an auction house for dungeons to the message boards in the villages except all drop down lists and no text input.

So it'd be like select dungeon -> HT, EC, Mona, BFA etc. (selections would be limited to the user's level range?)
select role (for the person starting)-> Healer, damage(melee), damage(ranged), tank
time -> server time list or something 5 PM, 6 PM, yadda yadda
players needed -> number here of the remaining roles to be filled
sign up for this run??? (they'd have to select what role they'd fill too)
when the time for the run is set, maybe it'll automatically group all the players who signed up and warp them to dungeon? or something like that maybe not.

also the list would only show level appropriate dungeon runs

I feel like a calendar wouldn't be as useful as a normal list of runs that people are ready to do.

_{but thats just my opinion}

[Freddi]

<from orly>

[Orly]

Yes, there is a line between making new friends and stalking new players.  I can see the issues with inundating/intimidating new players with too much information.  That is probably a separate post, which I may write:  "How to make new friends without creeping them out".    Certainly the first part of the game is for learning about it and more information is available the higher level they get.  Perhaps a scheduler would be useful only for higher level dungeons, BFA and beyond, which do require specific roles and players who are pretty familiar with the game. 

When I first started the game with my warrior character, I ran by myself pretty much all the way to BFA.  As a matter of fact, I think I did BFA before I did Hollow Tree because I had no one to run it with.  And I only did BFA because you, Toby, found me wandering around Ashaya and invited me.  However, when my priest was coming up, I lucked out to find new players at my level and we were able to come up and run dungeons together.

I like Caydence's idea of a drop down menu.  Again, maybe just an option for BFA or HT level players and above.

I think the first step, as you ask below, is how many would use it?  If you would, or would  not, leave a post here!

[Tobias]

So it'd be like select dungeon -> HT, EC, Mona, BFA etc. (selections would be limited to the user's level range?)
[...]
also the list would only show level appropriate dungeon runs

The funny thing is, this actually was (sort-of) implemented before. If you remember, before we got the new PvP queue window, we had a "party search" window, where you could select dungeons and zones, and it would show you all the other players who were in the same dungeon/zone. It only worked if everyone was online at the same time (so in a way, it was like a limited online list), though no one used it anyway.
Of course, maybe if it were more elaborate, it'd find more acceptance. It's hard to tell though.

I think the first step, as you ask below, is how many would use it?  If you would, or would  not, leave a post here!

Yups, that's a good idea.

[Fresk]

I would use it! I think it makes things alot easier instead of asking everyone if they have time to run the dungeon or not!