Lower level population?

[XBladeXx]

Just returned to the game after a VERY lengthy break, years at least. Good game, was looking forward to playing it again as a bard.

However, when I rejoined, I realized there was just...no groups. Or very little, at least. I couldn't seem to find any groups at all, although I did find one at one stage during the day...

This on on khyber server, and I AM only level three, but still, back when I used to play I could very easily get groups at this level.

Are there more players at higher levels? Playing with a party is sort of the point of the game...

[Telathin]

Just returned to the game after a VERY lengthy break, years at least. Good game, was looking forward to playing it again as a bard.

However, when I rejoined, I realized there was just...no groups. Or very little, at least. I couldn't seem to find any groups at all, although I did find one at one stage during the day...

This on on khyber server, and I AM only level three, but still, back when I used to play I could very easily get groups at this level.

Are there more players at higher levels? Playing with a party is sort of the point of the game...

usually lots of low-level groups for me during US peak hours on Khyber

[Nickademus42]

Some of the changes has made soloing more viable and less of a headache than pugs. Most people seem to grab a stack of cure pots, craft some good gear and hit the road alone.

[Dawnsblood]

Some of the changes has made soloing more viable and less of a headache than pugs. Most people seem to grab a stack of cure pots, craft some good gear and hit the road alone.

This. I am sorry to say that the way the game is set up these days it is far easier to solo your first 12-14 levels. I run my TRs and such all the time at those levels and I don't bother unless a guildie wants to tag along.

[wildbynature]

I seriously tried to pug some at the lower levels this life. I don't know if my new player tolerance is goin down or the quality of new players is going down or what, but pUtting up groups for lower levels this life was a serious exercise in patience. I don't mind carrying someone's stone if they run off and die, but when they start raising cane about takin them all the way back to the shrine in proof is in the poison when the party is two rooms away from the boss...there's a spot right above my left temple where this throbbing starts, and it just. Doesn't. Go. Away.

Seriously though...glad you're back. Pealea is about half way through level eight right now. Send me a pm in game, and I'll be happy to help get you some leveling gear answer questions, remind or something since I'm not in your level range.

[ddobard1]

I log at different hours and always notice many pugs available.

[AlmGhandi]

On orien Ive never had Problems either finding or forming a group for low Level quests... at whatever time of day I end up getting online.

Of course... when the quest is a L3 quest on Elite and someone... without asking... Pops that L1 WF Barbarian hireling that proceeds to cost us 5%... well I wonder why I bother! But some ancient masochistic curse* keeps me posting Groups!

*that would be my TR-partner

[Esserbe]

Don't be afraid to create your own groups, I'm sure there are other people in your situation that are looking for a group to play with.

[JayDubya]

I'm on Thelanis, and there are always multiple groups at every level when I feel like Pugging.

[Qhualor]

Thats surprising to log on and not see low level lfms. Usually i see a lot of them. Maybe you logged on during non peak times?

With nerf to DS, it is much easier to solo up to the mid levels these days so i know a lot of people, including myself, just solo/shortman as much as possible.

[Bonulino]

Part of the problem with grouping at low levels is that you frequently end up with someone who's play style is vastly different than your own, and you end up having no fun. So, many people just decide to solo it.

[JustWinBaby]

Don't be afraid to create your own groups, I'm sure there are other people in your situation that are looking for a group to play with.

This. I see way too many people all the time complaining about the lack of PUGs. Take the initiative and put one up yourself. Problem solved. Now yes, sometimes it might not get filled, but more often than not, they do.

[bhgiant]

Agreed with the above. MST evenings are really great for me, especially low level groups. Even end level epics there's always a group or 3 doing something. I've been quite pleased. Not sure why your experience is so different unless you're playing at odd hours. That might explain it a little.

[oweieie]

Server pops are down, yes. You aren't going to see 5 shrouds, or any 5 of the same thing, posted at the same time again.

[Luxgolg]

Server pops arent necessarily down. There are just more things to do at higher level and less reasons to TR, keeping more players at higher level.

[Ryiah]

You aren't going to see 5 shrouds, or any 5 of the same thing, posted at the same time again.

The exception to this is a new raid like Fall of Truth that is relatively easy to flag and doesn't take a lot of time (to wipe or succeed). During the early weeks of Epic Gianthold I regularly saw 3 groups at any one time.

[HalfORCastrator]

Just returned to the game after a VERY lengthy break, years at least. Good game, was looking forward to playing it again as a bard.

However, when I rejoined, I realized there was just...no groups. Or very little, at least. I couldn't seem to find any groups at all, although I did find one at one stage during the day...

This on on khyber server, and I AM only level three, but still, back when I used to play I could very easily get groups at this level.

Are there more players at higher levels? Playing with a party is sort of the point of the game...
Another issue with these very low levels is Vet status. Being able to start new chars at 4 or 7 means people don't need to do Korthos or most of Harbor. Another is being able to go from 8 to 16-19 with xp stones.

[brickwall]

A majority of the player base has abandoned Puging entirely only playing with people they know. For the most part I don't even bother posting at low level its not worth the aggravation and I usually solo by way out of the harbor in about 4 hours anyways. even by the time I hit deleras even if I posted a party nobody would even join it anyways so I solo that as well suddenly I find my self at level 9 so I toss up a party for shadowcrypt I might pick up 1 or 2 people at this point an suddenly i'm lvl11 hitting up vons. in the von range I might find 3 people then im lvl12 off to lords march people think i'm crazy and don't join so I solo the entire chain some times both chains then its off to the wiz king. in wiz king I might pick up 1 or 2 people suddenly I find my self in gianthold lvl14. party posted the entire time I take on maybe 1 or 2 people and run every quest on elite + farm. now i'm lvl16 I hit up litany barley anyone joins now I hit 17 do a few upper necro quests off to vale lvl18. I run vale elites an farm with a couple ppl then its off to reavers to cap out and start over again.

[sk3l3t0r]

Some of the changes has made soloing more viable and less of a headache than pugs. Most people seem to grab a stack of cure pots, craft some good gear and hit the road alone.

My prefered way of playing. Why put to chance a quest completion in a PUG when you know full well you can do it all on your own with or without a hire?

I have never pugged since I started playing and only ever been on 1 raid with my guild and was more of a spectator than anything else as I never ran the raid before. I would love to RAID more for team play and gearing up my toon, but PUGs just don't appeal to me for day to day questing and leveling your toon. Not when I can get it done by myself...

I am certain there are more players like me out there that bascialy would rather play than wait around for a group to fill, specialy if completing the quest solo is very do-able and time is limited so you choose to getthe most out of your play time.

[oweieie]

Server pops arent necessarily down.

Okay, they aren't down, there are just fewer people online when I check.

[toaf]

im sure they are down.

[RedHost]

Are there more players at higher levels? Playing with a party is sort of the point of the game...
Seem to be fewer groups at all levels than there was a few years ago. Fewer players since Update 14. And many of those who do play tend to use private channels to form groups, rather than the LFM.

[bartharok]

I usually see lots of lfms for lower levels whenever im on.

[Luxgolg]

Okay, they aren't down, there are just fewer people online when I check.

In your level range, of course.

[Sarnind]

I usually play only with my friends or doing in solo, no sense and no incentive to play with pugs and news players.

[AzB]

It's pretty easy to solo pretty much everything up until 11-12 lvl with the exception of the a couple of quests that require more than 2 bodies.

Pugging adds some adventure. ;)


But yes, the populations that are pugging are way down. The pops are way down all the way up to 20. I've been TR'ing and haven't been playing Epic levels at all so not sure what's going on past 20. But compared to even a year ago, the lfm lists are sparse.