This game is a sad joke!

[Ltshark1980]

PuG Abbots on Arg go up maybe once every 3 weeks or so. ToD PuGs go up quite a bit more than Abbots.

Most PuG raids go ok. However on Arg had a few issues with PuG groups in Hound run. Have had 8 very nice runs, and 6 failed hound runs. Even when both healers continue to keep dogs alive we get blamed when dogs break. Which I thought auto happened at 50% hence the reason the "bard" is supposed to keep grabbing stones while we heal so that the dogs can be recharmed.

Not sure but anyways just noticed healers get blamed for raids fails even if they do their jobs. Read forums, guides, and watched videos on just about all raids. Still have sp dogs stayed full health, yet vehemently blamed for failed raid when it was the fault of the "bard" forgetting more stones, and dps allowing reavers on the dogs.......

[Fomori]

SO your new to game and level 20. Yup you won't be getting into any good guilds

This statement is so full of fail its amazing.

First off, if you just level for the sake of leveling only then will you be 'new to the game and 20'. If you actually experience the game through those levels then you should either have an understanding or will have picked up some friends along the way.

As to the 'good guild' part, that is totally subjective. What do you define as good guild? Also just because a guild is full of people that have lots of rare equipment, are popular on the forums, run raids and epics constantly, and otherwise spend 20% of their life on DDO... does not mean its a "good guild". You shouldnt care what the popular opinion is of a guild is and play the game.

If you appeal to someones playstyle then they may see that and offer you a place in the guild. Guilds should be about friends and like minded individuals. Only our egos as humans, and geeks, have caused us to quantify our gaming experience.

My suggestion is to decide what your playstyle is then play that way with as many groups as you can. You'll learn soon enough if you actually do mesh with someone (which should lead to a guild invite) or if you simply come off as a poser.

[Srozbun]

PuG Abbots on Arg go up maybe once every 3 weeks or so. ToD PuGs go up quite a bit more than Abbots.

Most PuG raids go ok. However on Arg had a few issues with PuG groups in Hound run. Have had 8 very nice runs, and 6 failed hound runs. Even when both healers continue to keep dogs alive we get blamed when dogs break. Which I thought auto happened at 50% hence the reason the "bard" is supposed to keep grabbing stones while we heal so that the dogs can be recharmed.

Not sure but anyways just noticed healers get blamed for raids fails even if they do their jobs. Read forums, guides, and watched videos on just about all raids. Still have sp dogs stayed full health, yet vehemently blamed for failed raid when it was the fault of the "bard" forgetting more stones, and dps allowing reavers on the dogs.......

Blaming healers for dogs dying is legit. Blaming healers for dogs breaking means you need to learn the raid more before you start putting blame on others. The charm is on a timer. Dogs break after 3 (not 100%) minutes. Nothing you can do about it other than to collect more stones, or make sure the dogs are better buffed so they can take down the main dog before the charm timer runs out.

[Azoralq]

Some quests are notorious for their difficulty to complete in a PuG setting. For instance, elite SoS comes to mind. Not a raid, but good luck filling up an LFM for it unless you're well known on the server or running with well geared friends.

Not sure about the state of the abbot on Arg. On Thelanis there are pugs for this all the time. As long as new players to the raid let the leader know they are new, there is generally no problem. And yes, abbot is hard to fill up a group for if you're an "unknown commodity" as its rate of completion is more based around puzzle ability than dps/gear. My advice, read a guide for the raid, watch some videos, familiarize yourself with the puzzles. If you can get a guild group together, go in on normal, and just practice puzzles without worrying about saving sp or anything for beating down the abbot.

This doesn't help. I know all about the Abbot. I know about the initial fight with him, I know the potential the Quells have to ruin the raid if not ready for it. I know about the Three Dimention Doors that are random, and how best to defeat this by sending 'scouts' in to see which leads to where, before dividing the party.

I know about the Asteroids, and how to set up the group there. I know about the Ice Puzzle, and how to take down the first coffin without too much trouble. I know about the phase puzzle, and it's infamy.

I know about Inferno, and how best to avoid it, or live through it, whichever suits you best. I know about the invisible mobs...I know it all, or **** near it all. But does this really matter?

No. Why? Because no one knows that I know all this stuff, when looking at the LFM. I could put 'I know all this stuff.' But will anyone believe me?

No. Why? Because I'm not when of the known elite that run this all the time, because if I was, I would likely be doing it with the elite that run this all the time behind closed doors. So: Either I rock at the raid, and am 'too cool' to let newbies in. Or, I suck ass at the raid, and to join would just be suicidal...best to go do some other quest.

[Marcus-Hawkeye]

You should find someone to do quests with a lot. I am unsure if you solo'd a lot when you were lower level, but if it was the case then I find you miss the opportunity to "meet and greet" so to speak. It was during my leveling with plenty of random players that I found some that stood out from the crowd as decent players/people. That would always get me to check out their guild. If I liked what I saw I asked them about joining.

I find it's easier to distinguish yourself from others in general low and mid level quests and build up some reputation. I'm sure there are a number of decent guilds out there for you on Argo. Just gotta keep looking. It took me years of going from guild to guild before I found one that suits me. Just keep looking and interacting with people. Ask people about their guilds and check out websites.

The game is very different once you have a set of guildies to quest with all the time. It's like regular D&D I've played, you generally have a set group of characters for most of the campaign. The game is a lot more fun if you have a loose group of players leveling together...

[Srozbun]

This doesn't help. I know all about the Abbot. I know about the initial fight with him, I know the potential the Quells have to ruin the raid if not ready for it. I know about the Three Dimention Doors that are random, and how best to defeat this by sending 'scouts' in to see which leads to where, before dividing the party.

I know about the Asteroids, and how to set up the group there. I know about the Ice Puzzle, and how to take down the first coffin without too much trouble. I know about the phase puzzle, and it's infamy.

I know about Inferno, and how best to avoid it, or live through it, whichever suits you best. I know about the invisible mobs...I know it all, or **** near it all. But does this really matter?

No. Why? Because no one knows that I know all this stuff, when looking at the LFM. I could put 'I know all this stuff.' But will anyone believe me?

No. Why? Because I'm not when of the known elite that run this all the time, because if I was, I would likely be doing it with the elite that run this all the time behind closed doors. So: Either I rock at the raid, and am 'too cool' to let newbies in. Or, I suck ass at the raid, and to join would just be suicidal...best to go do some other quest.

Pug enough abbots then so that you build up a rep. Other people who run with you will recognize your name and join. Not sure about your guild situation. Can you guys not get enough people on at a time to do pure guild runs?

[uhgungawa]

Have a crappy day and enjoy your crummy job ™

[Azoralq]

Pug enough abbots then so that you build up a rep. Other people who run with you will recognize your name and join. Not sure about your guild situation. Can you guys not get enough people on at a time to do pure guild runs?

This is a shaky ground, too. You have to start somewhere, I know...but you fail (Which you are very likely to on the first run), and the people you bring will talk about how they failed. If it was a particularly horrible run to begin with, it's worse...because who get's blamed for a failed raid, no matter who's at fault? The leader. Why? Because that's the first thing someone asks for when talking about a raid, good or bad. "Who lead the raid?"

And we all know the old saying: You do something amazing, and no one really notices. You do something dreadful, and the world will talk about it for months. Goes for this too. I can succeed 5 times in a row, and it won't circulate as fast as one epic failure because Gun-Ho Fighter A decided to blitz after the Abbot, and thus forced the bridge to collapse underneath everyone at the very start of the raid.

[jmonty]

start your own guild

start your own epic groups

/thread

[DevilButcher]

Some of us wait very very long periods of times for groups to form on even simple quests to form like The Prisoner of the Planes.

Then you have a few drop to go do something with their guild. Then you wait another 15 minutes to replace that 1 person, while still waiting on the rare healer lol. Eventually you do get a group if you are patient enough to wait up to an hour at times.
---------------------------------
SO yes we newish people do wait long periods of time to get our 1 quest in. Then it's back to bed for work, school, sports, or whatever it is some of you do in real life.

So let me get this strait you say "some of us wait very very long periods of times for groups to form on even simple quests"
-We all do, why think your the exception.


If you don't want this problem than why not play with your real friends.
And while on it make some DDO friends and add them to your DDO buddy list, that's how the rest of us do it.
When you got a full DDO buddy list than you can fill a party/raid or get invited to a guild quick.

Not tring to burn you too hard but really, you sound like you have not tried to expand much on your online friends in your buddy list. You seem to want good for everybody but your very quick to lash out got to be more smooth with people.

[maddmatt70]

(yes this is my first post)

SO your new to game and level 20. Yup you won't be getting into any good guilds, because they don;t allow new people. Wanna do epics? sorry no your not in a good guild so we don't think your good enough for our PUG. Oh you have never done an epic yet? Nope sorry we cannot take you then. This guild only takes in people who have done all epics and all raids.....blah bloody freakin blah.

Your new guild renown system has created a virtual wall for the "cool kids". They now have a reason to form wicked cliques where new people have no chance at surviving anywhere in this game. Shame on you Turbine for your guild renown.

As a fromer player of Star War Galaxies, Vanguard, Tabula Rasa, World of Warcraft, City of Hereos, EverQuest, and many many other games, as well as a game programmer myself, shame on you.

You have created a place where new people suffer at the expense of the old players, who see no room for new people because as a rule new people don't know the game. Welcome to a time period where a game that forces guilds too late and in fact begind to deter new players and thus buries itself in the downfall of its own game.

(golf claps)

and yes I did play this game during beta, don't let start time fool you.

I do not know how things go on Argo exactly, but guild renown has nothing to do with status on my server, Khyber. The top renown guild on my server is, the Helpers Guild. The Helpers Guild has been in existance about 7 months and does not regularly lead or organize epic raids or quests from what I can discern nor are they noted as particularly strong experienced players.

Guild tags themselves are much more important for determing status and if you know the player or the player in question attempting to join the lfm has a quality reputation when I lead raids or quests I will immediately accept that player's request to join.

One very interesting dynamic that I expected on my server Khyber to occur with the release of update 1 was the eventual prominance of hardcore powergaming guilds entirely composed of newer players from a year ago or newer since. That has not exactly happened. There has been some guilds on Khyber that have shown some marked improvement in terms of quality, one is more composed of newer players and the other is more a former non power gaming guild that recently absorbed significant numbers of power gamers from smaller power gaming guilds, but alas this is not even close to the scale that I was hoping for.

I am surprised by the lack of grouping of newer players. I had visions of 12 new power gamer players meeting each other while leveling, forming a guild, and working hard to compete with the more established guilds. This has just not happened on a large scale so what I think is happening is the players that last longer then 2 weeks are only playing for 6 months (or some similiar time frame) and then quitting. The end game in DDO is just not enticing for the larger public.

To the OP what can be done? Well the obvious thing is form or join a guild, a channel, a group, etc. of like minded individuals who want the same things you do. The newer player guild I mentioned on Khyber is a guild that appears to be mostly warforge and mostly melee, but they appear to play hard, listen, and want to do epics hence they are progressing in terms of reputation, etc. You can do the same.

[Glenalth]

wrong person

So you are not Ltshark1980?

Stop hiding behind anonymity and find out why people aren't letting you into their groups.

[Folonius]

This is the person I meant to quote. Thank you for being rude. +1 negatvie rep.

You can't neg rep.

[Folonius]

+1 rep to you Azoralq..

Sorry, you can't do that either if you have a -rep total.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

In running all the way to 20 you didn't find people you enjoyed grouping with and talk to them about joining their guild?

[Gambill]

(yes this is my first post)

SO your new to game and level 20. Yup you won't be getting into any good guilds, because they don;t allow new people.

This kinda makes me laugh. Our guild happily accepts new members of any levels as long as they are good team players and follow a few simple rules. I think you were just looking in the wrong places.

I also do epics all the time. Our guild is kinda small so I have to do Epic Pugs and have no problem getting into them.

[Sweetpea]

Obviously I have been in a few groups if you MyDDO me, there is 1 piece of Lorrik;s, Dragontouched armor, and a greensteel item.

Make a new char at high level or any level for that matter above 12. You will notice wait times of 30 minutes sometimes more to even feel a group whether you join a PUG or make one.

Also, most of the established guilds no longer leave room for PUGs. They now have close their doors and only do in guild quests/raids, and alliance guilds to fill in the cracks. There is no room for the new people because the big guilds have formed an interesting alliance among themselves, which is barring new people from anything.

you are really irritating me. at first i thought i'd give you some advice. even offer to bring you into one of my guilds so you could have a go at learning the higher content with competent players..... but now i just feel like slapping you upside the head and telling you to wake up.

F2P has made it so many high tiered guilds are sick of failing when we could short man the quests before... so now 'we' prefer to run with ppl we know, ppl who know what they are doing and wont run into a quest without a clue what gear to have etc.

that being said. i pug all the time, whether i start the grp or join one. my guild runs raids and we often fill with pugs. do you know why? cos out there in the mire of F2P hell and what not there are decent, guilded and unguilded players who are worth running with whether they are in a 'good' guild or not.

So instead of coming here and complaining, why not prove you know what you are doing. start a pug and lead the raid to completion. get a reputation for yourself and someone will notice. it might take time but we will notice. keep acting like a spoilt kid who was told no he cant have a new toy just cos he wants it and that will get noticed too... trust me thats not what you want to be noticed for.

[bandyman1]

I could make my own guild...and wait for enough people to get to 20th..and hope they stick around in the guild long enough to give it reputation..and hope more people follow...but...it's a far shot. Not saying it's not possible...just...no.

Or...people with sticks up their wazoo could actually come out of their bubble, risk touching the 'unworthy,' party with them a few times, and maybe...just maybe, you'll find out that someone else DOES know what they are doing after all...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again;

Why do we have to be labeled as " people with sticks up our wazoo " for playing with the people that we already know, and enjoy socializing with???

I'm in three guilds and four channels; I don't have problems joining and/or forming groups without resorting to PuGGing.

I bring this up because most of the raid-heavy players are in the exact same place as me.

So, when it comes to joining an LFM and/or filling a group with a name I don't recognize, or partying will Nate or Mitch, I'm sorry; You're just going to have to feel " left out of the loop ".

[Krag]

Pug enough abbots then so that you build up a rep. Other people who run with you will recognize your name and join. Not sure about your guild situation. Can you guys not get enough people on at a time to do pure guild runs?

Pug abbots on argo are made of fail. Be prepared to spend 2 hours to find the group and give up after 2-3 failed attempts.

[Azoralq]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again;

Why do we have to be labeled as " people with sticks up our wazoo " for playing with the people that we already know, and enjoy socializing with???

I'm in three guilds and four channels; I don't have problems joining and/or forming groups without resorting to PuGGing.

I bring this up because most of the raid-heavy players are in the exact same place as me.

So, when it comes to joining an LFM and/or filling a group with a name I don't recognize, or partying will Nate or Mitch, I'm sorry; You're just going to have to feel " left out of the loop ".

That's all well and good. You won't run with 'other people' because you would rather run with your friends. I applaud that...it's friendship, and the last thing I want to be portrayed here is for me to demand I be in your party/raid, and break up that friendship..it's not what I'm going for here.

But let's talk about when those friends are offline. Or - if you claim that you have so many friends/people to run with, that this is never the case - pretend that hypothetically Not enough people were online to fill a raid:

How do you feel then? If you are running a raid - and for argument's sake, we will say that raid is Accursed Ascension - and you are missing three or four friends, what do you feel more inclined to do? Wait 15-30 minutes until one shows up? Call it quits, for fear of losing? Short man it because you are simply that awesome? Or consider inviting 'other people?' What would your friends vote for?

If the answer is, strangely enough to allow 'other people' That is awesome..but can you say that for other people? Of course not. I applaud you for not being the one with a stick up their wazoo, if this is the case. You are clearly the exception to the rule. The term was used in a general format. The negative side effect to this is, it lumped you into an unwanted group...unfortunate..but ultimately, people that don't fit into that phrase are in the minority.