My take on PUGS as of late.

[Aurora_nyx]

Awww, but I thought you liked getting hit on?

I'm fussy about who gets to hit on me

everybody knows looking cool is the ONLY thing that matters in DDO.

lol... I have to look good... It is a requirement

[Blank_Zero]

I'm fussy about who gets to hit on me

That is fair

[mournbladereigns]

I'd still rather run with a chick than a crusty old dude

[Nysrock]

Different server but I feel your pain.

Running a fast Framework the other day. We weren't going for max xp just a completion. Everything was going smoothly when, after we kill the boss, we try to find out who had the wand to stone the 1 minotaur needed to complete. We finally find out the cleric has it yet he keeps saying he never got it. 25 minutes later we finally convince him to re-log and, lo and behold, as soon as he disconnects the wand drops from his grubby little hands.

So if any of the newbies out there actually read the forums here is an important tip....If you don't know the quest DO NOT talk to any NPCs, pick up any objects, pull any levers or do anything else that might cause the quest to fail. Just ask and I am sure someone will explain it to you in detail.

[Miahoo]

Nice stories Eric, +1

DDO is like real life:
- As a newborn baby u're listening to the olders and learn anything you can.
- Then you grow up a little into a teenager screwing everything in your way.
- Finally you grow up more, learning from your mistakes and willing to listen again to the more experience people.

[Mithran]

It's probably a function of it being the summer months, but some of the play quality has gotten ridiculous. I join a pug for Monastery (I'm the fifth to join) on my Ranger 16/Paladin 2 and a capped Ranger joins. Four go into the circuit for traps/scorpions and I go to solo the doors and the Ranger follows me. Fedaykin is a TR'd character, but even so, she's not capped.

Well, if you're following me, you'd better be able to take care of yourself. I go through the pairs of Wizard/Clerics with their pet scorpions and notice that she isn't healing herself as we make our way between encounters. No wands on a Ranger? Really? Well, it didn't take long for her to eventually run out of health.

This character is in Dragontouched Robes, and he/she still doesn't realize that Rangers can use CSW wands? It's not unusual for me to outkill another character (even two levels higher than me), or even to have higher Saves (that's what my girls are usually built for), but the Shamequit was Fast.

[Nysrock]

It's probably a function of it being the summer months, but some of the play quality has gotten ridiculous. I join a pug for Monastery (I'm the fifth to join) on my Ranger 16/Paladin 2 and a capped Ranger joins. Four go into the circuit for traps/scorpions and I go to solo the doors and the Ranger follows me. Fedaykin is a TR'd character, but even so, she's not capped.

Well, if you're following me, you'd better be able to take care of yourself. I go through the pairs of Wizard/Clerics with their pet scorpions and notice that she isn't healing herself as we make our way between encounters. No wands on a Ranger? Really? Well, it didn't take long for her to eventually run out of health.

This character is in Dragontouched Robes, and he/she still doesn't realize that Rangers can use CSW wands? It's not unusual for me to outkill another character (even two levels higher than me), or even to have higher Saves (that's what my girls are usually built for), but the Shamequit was Fast.

It does seem to be a common trend lately for people in PUGs to carry no CSW wands and/or pots. Beyond just being able to help the cleric out by healing yourself between battles it is always a good idea in case said cleric gets 1 shotted and you have to survive until you can get him to a shrine.

I think too many people are using hirelings and forgetting that players are not their own personal healbot. If you want a healbot then just solo with a hireling and lay off the PUGs.

[jcoffey]

I think a lot of people obviously came from other MMOPG's where each had a role,the clerics healed while the DPS did the DPS,etc.
That is probably why some peeps don't bring healing wands or pots as they shouldn't have too if people are doing thier job/role.
Now common sense tells you to bring pots or wands if you can use them as healing or curing yourself is always a plus or in case of emergency,etc.
But then there are some that just don't get it lol

[Lyzern]

PUGs... The forever doomed way to run dungeons.

People need to understand there's all sorts of different people, not everyone is equal and when you create/join a PUG you MUST understand that it won't run as you want, someone will always cause some trouble and ruin the quest for some reason and it won't change, all you can do is try to help them or laugh at them and just take the penalty like a man, otherwise, you're better off soloing.

[Terebinthia]

I came across a TR in Shroud the other day that I know for a fact has other capped toons who couldn't do a 4 by 4, unlock doors as a rogue (he reluctantly did eventually) and then whined for a poison because they had no pots.

I was just plain embarrassed.

Levelling a FvS again and I'm afraid I'm just booting the "share plz" people.

I don't mind not knowing. I was horribly gimp when I started and only really improved when I met a good player in a PUG who mentored me. I'm an information sponge and a forum junkie and I know for sure there's still lots of the game I don't understand.

But I get incensed with the "won't help myself won't learn carry me through quest plz" crew.

I'm thinking of levelling up my hubby's FTP cleric as far as I can just to prove it can be done at some point.

[NaturalHazard]

What you said about shroud reminds me of a run I had a couple of nights ago. I had seen a shroud lfm up for a long time, I saw that the guy was on his 20th run and **** they dont have bard highlighted so, i would have to make my own lfm, geez not many people interested in running a shroud it seems, so i was expecting it to take forever to fill. We filled in under 2 minutes, i was shocked, apparently this guy had been turning people away in droves and when they saw my lfm they came over, even quite a few people in his group left his to come to mine.

ended up with 4 arcanes and 3 divines and only 1 fighter 1 barberian, I dont really care I just make sure we have 2 divines then take who ever or if we have someone to solo heal not even that. Well the run went pretty fast. We completed in 27 minutes and it prob would of been a lot faster if we didnt stop to loot, shrine and wait for someone who had dced.

And we had a good laugh at that guys lfm, it was still up as we where stepping into part 4.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

Got PUG? I've experienced a lot of good and bad in this game. The bad seems common place and we all have to deal with in some form or another. Still love it.

I am a VIP, started this MMO version of D&D in September of 2009. Have played PnP D&D since 1983 and DMd many many campaigns.

After playing for a month my GF started her VIP account. A couple months later we both joined the Mature Adventurers Club. I enjoyed the non-stop group opportunities and fast pace afforded by experienced players in a larger guild. This didn't fit her playstyle. So...she starts her own guild Pandora's Box. Pandora's is now guild level 56. Our ship is purchased and stocked. My GF had to stop playing for financial reasons and transfered guild leadership to me. I very rarely see any guild mates on. I am the only regular player on nearly every nite. There may be 7 or 8 accounts total in PB.

Guild Leader Thaumat Gyre Lvl 3 2nd Life TR Wizard
Main Alts
Mokune Gane 2nd Life TR 2Ftr/6Pal/10Mnk Helf with FVS dille
Returning 2nd Life TR 1Mnk/18Rgu Horc UA Assassin
Ketzerisch Kindjal 16 Rgu Drow Assassin
Koanoak Soaos Lvl 20 Drow Cleric

Other Alts (Mainly created to run with my GF as she figured out the game and what she wanted to play)
Tosane 14 AM Dwarf Wiz
Tuathynn 13 AA Elf Rngr
Thyrtiaq 10 Horc Ftr
Kratchit 9 Virtuoso Helf Bard

1 Mule
Kornbeef 1Ftr/1Wiz/2FVS Horc

I am still an active member in Mature Adventurers Club too.

Xhiron Rhex 2nd Life capped TR Monk
Iquitz Mokune FVS 20

See you in game!

[BluWaterSeaWitch]

I have learned the wonderful world of pugs, most people that know me know I am lost oh about 80% of the time, no really I have gps on my phone and use it because I have a terrible sense of direction. I decided this time I was going to go slower and try and learn the quests (everyone has them memorized and I usually end up running behind) because of that I rarely have them memorized beyond level the marketplace. I have to say I still don’t know most of the quests, but I try and in a pug group that is really all that matters to me.

On my divine it has been slow and painful, I have soloed or ran with a friend, but once I reached high enough I started joining pugs, some have been great and some well …. But then I take everything as a learning experience.

Eric you have taught me shroud puzzles without an in game solver, it may take me 4 times but I do it every time, I just don’t seem to be able to connect with you enough to learn more.

Cal started “teach me this quest” it was a great tool, harder for me because of the time zone but I did manage to make one, and I would suggest anyone run one if you can.

I was in Dreaming Dark last night with 3 friends the rest pugged, at the end fight the wiz had agro.. Not an issue just run him to a pillar and let the dps have at it when he’s blocked in, but he wouldn’t listen an just ran in circles and more circles .. A fight that should have taken 2 minutes took almost 10..

I read the forums at work most of the time, but how many people really don’t think the forums are a good tool, or even bother to post or read them?

[Battlehawke]

In the Summer there tends to be a lot of new younger players. Not only that, you clearly have a lot of experience. I feel the same way, but you just have to remember that you do have better builds with tweaked out gear that are stocked to the gills. You have done some of these quests hundreds of times. I Bulldoze through those quests, and let everyone in. Sometimes you get a really bad one, you just keep grinding. Don't let it become personal.

[Beer_Dude]

In the Summer there tends to be a lot of new younger players. Not only that, you clearly have a lot of experience. I feel the same way, but you just have to remember that you do have better builds with tweaked out gear that are stocked to the gills. You have done some of these quests hundreds of times. I Bulldoze through those quests, and let everyone in. Sometimes you get a really bad one, you just keep grinding. Don't let it become personal.

I don't take it personal at all. It wasn't personal it's a lack of knowledge on a certain player base that's starting to trend. It was acompliment to the newer players out there more than anything. My pug experience as of late has been grwat when I have the star and put my expectations of someone new to the quest having sound so I can teach them the quest. That way they will know it in the future. My only gripe is the 4-6 month player who thinks he knows everything in the game because they've capped one toon in that 4-6 months. When the fact is they don't know squat. Again this isn't every 4-6 moth player but it sure seems to be the majority of them.

In other words when Mr./Mrs. 4-6 month player has an LFM up for crucible asking for a swimmer and I ask to fill that spot with my non evasion healebot cleric or my 6 dex fighter. Along with the tell asking to fill said spot I let the leader know that I've been playing for 5+ years and can do the swim blindfolded on elite with any of my toons. Said 4-6 month leader should open up his her mind and instead of saying that's impossible justr because you can't do it doesn't mean that those of us who've done it 1000 times can't. Again they know just enough not to know squat.

Again this wan't a gripe but a compliment to the newbies who put their ego in check and want to learn the game. Something the 4-6 month player should learn from the newbies.

This wasn't a slam on you either Battle just clarify my point in case it didn't come accross as intended.

[Eladiun]

Different server but I feel your pain.

Running a fast Framework the other day. We weren't going for max xp just a completion. Everything was going smoothly when, after we kill the boss, we try to find out who had the wand to stone the 1 minotaur needed to complete. We finally find out the cleric has it yet he keeps saying he never got it. 25 minutes later we finally convince him to re-log and, lo and behold, as soon as he disconnects the wand drops from his grubby little hands.

So if any of the newbies out there actually read the forums here is an important tip....If you don't know the quest DO NOT talk to any NPCs, pick up any objects, pull any levers or do anything else that might cause the quest to fail. Just ask and I am sure someone will explain it to you in detail.

I'm having VoN 5 flashbacks and twitching in my chair.

[Beer_Dude]

I have learned the wonderful world of pugs, most people that know me know I am lost oh about 80% of the time, no really I have gps on my phone and use it because I have a terrible sense of direction. I decided this time I was going to go slower and try and learn the quests (everyone has them memorized and I usually end up running behind) because of that I rarely have them memorized beyond level the marketplace. I have to say I still don’t know most of the quests, but I try and in a pug group that is really all that matters to me.

On my divine it has been slow and painful, I have soloed or ran with a friend, but once I reached high enough I started joining pugs, some have been great and some well …. But then I take everything as a learning experience.

Eric you have taught me shroud puzzles without an in game solver, it may take me 4 times but I do it every time, I just don’t seem to be able to connect with you enough to learn more.

Cal started “teach me this quest” it was a great tool, harder for me because of the time zone but I did manage to make one, and I would suggest anyone run one if you can.

I was in Dreaming Dark last night with 3 friends the rest pugged, at the end fight the wiz had agro.. Not an issue just run him to a pillar and let the dps have at it when he’s blocked in, but he wouldn’t listen an just ran in circles and more circles .. A fight that should have taken 2 minutes took almost 10..

I read the forums at work most of the time, but how many people really don’t think the forums are a good tool, or even bother to post or read them?

You probably aren't catching how to do the 3x3's because whenever I'm teaching you it's in the drunken raid runs and we're tanked. So while we have a moment of clarity let's explain it.

Do the 3x3 just like the 4x4. Chase the lights to the bottom just like in the 4x4 if it isn't solved reverse the direction and chase the lights back down again. In other words what was the bottom is now the top and just chase it down again. If it doesn't solve reverse it again and chase the lights down. It will always solve on the 3rd time every time if it didn't do it on the 1st or 2nd try. I can't teach a 5x5 I can only do it in my head. But at least chase down the 5x5 like the 3x3 to the bottom. Most of us that solve it in our heads chase it to the bottom so use get the formula to solve it so you've at least done half the work for us.

Now if it's the circle well that's entirely different. You have to treat it like it's a square buit it's really a circle. Those that don't know this is an inside joke so take it for what it's worth if you don't know what we're talking about.

[Beer_Dude]

Nice stories Eric, +1

DDO is like real life:
- As a newborn baby u're listening to the olders and learn anything you can.
- Then you grow up a little into a teenager screwing everything in your way.
- Finally you grow up more, learning from your mistakes and willing to listen again to the more experience people.

I love the analogy. You couldn't have explained it better +1 back at you.

[Battlehawke]

No, trust me, I feel your pain. For the first year I only played one toon, a cleric, and all I knew how to do was heal, and then I started rolling other toons, and I had NO CLUE, but, hey, I thought I did. I build pretty good healers, TWFs Rogues and Pallies. With the huge nerf to TWF I started building Sword and Board Intims, but a nice change their too. So, I've been playing with THF just for a change. What I'm starting to learn is that I didn't know much about THF builds even though I've played for six years. I'm really starting to learn a lot about THF builds and really enjoying them. Also, as I get older, and listen to my "know it all children" I learn more that people for the most part are all the same. PUGs have changed dramatically over the years..... We all have a hard time admitting that we don't know something..

[BluWaterSeaWitch]

Beer Dude,

I think your already drinking, I said I always get it, it might take a few tries, but I was saying because of how you taught me I do get it and yes I have heard the circle/square story... we all have had some priceless moments in drunk shroud.. wait not me