Why people are ending up at high level and not having a clue.

[Kadran]

Heehee! This sounds like something I would do (end up at Running with the Devils part). I do know these quests and know them pretty well. I just have a terrible sense of direction in the wilderness areas. I often have to stop and pull up a map but I certainly prefer to run to the quest with someone else, as I am a squishy cleric. I always get lost trying to get insdie Let Sleeping Dust Lie. That water maze is crazy!!!! Yes, I have ran it at least fifteen times to help guildies get flagged and to get ingredients but still struggle with it!

And that is fine, but not for an LFM that clearly states know the way. If you get lost easily getting TO the quest, I have my doubts about you knowing where to go INSIDE the quest. The water maze in Dust is a good example. If the LFM says "Fast, IP, know the way." I'd expect everyone to be able to navigate the maze quickly, and if someone stayed at the beginning "lost" in the maze, they would quickly go on the do-not-group list.

Now, if this happened in a random PuG I would DD and go help show them the way. I would also recommend (at the end, after completion) using a DD and re-swimming it to get a better feel for it. I've taken new players threw the pit, shown them all the tricks, where to go, where to jump, where NOT to jump, etc. When I have time, and I find someone who is laid-back and wants to learn, I am more than happy to teach. When my LFM says "BYOH." and they ask for heals in party chat...

This is getting slightly off topic. The OP is about how players can get to high level w/o learning how to play their character. W/o knowing their spells, feats, and gear. This is not Turbines responsibility to teach them, and it's certainly not ours. It's their own job to ensure they are an asset, rather than a liability. Some will put in the effort. Others will not.

[Doganpc]

Didn't they try the good gear easier to get with Korthos? I know I suffered a level of equipment shock when I got to the Harbor.. everything got easier and I didn't learn how to play until I got into House Quests.

Dogan
It hurts to make them work for it.

[Emili]

I have found that a good guild will teach you a lot about playing well. A great guild will help you to remember not to go and fall off of things.

A long long time ago I was on the mound the first day the dragon went down on Reidra... was but one of two pug within it. I experienced and noted all we did from every attempt to get there. I was just lucky I knew some very bright and patient friends and aquantances who did not mind me along.

Was but a month later I found myself as a figurehead in a new guild... and when we as a guild attempted Von 6 the first few times I had trouble coordinating and sharing the process to spread the ideas how to create a success of it. Took six or so attempts before the team got their completion. So on every subsequent run I knew it was important that the more people actually involved ... the smoother it all goes - true of every quest. In some ways you may look at it as my bloody selfishness sometimes. Really, I like everyone to feel they had fun and walked away with something... even if it be but a short lived memory.

In your case I tried to provide anything you asked because I did not want guildies to get upset with me for any newb thing you may do.

[Slink]

I have found that good guildmates will teach you a lot about playing well. A great guildmate (Slink) will help you to remember not to go and fall off of things.

Edited for truth.

[stainer]

Edited for truth.

Among the many contagious things that you have, this one spread to a lot of other people. :P

[Zenako]

Sitting on the rocker on the front porch and hearing the wailing and gnashing of teeth 'bout them uppity newcomers is in some way amusing.

For all of us LONG time vets, we need to also keep in mind the simple fact that we were FORCED to level up slowly and master our characters along the way.

The Level CAP was 10 or 12 at first, then 14, 16 and finally 20. So we did not have all the shiny high level toys or quests to play with. We spent months or even years pinned at those caps and were forced to figure out the best choices.

The number of quests in the game has almost doubled since it started, so the opportunites for many players to have never even seen some quests is far larger now. Some of those quests are key to learning about some things in the gameplay. Miss those quests and you never really pick up on those things. At low levels, it is easy to manage, but at higher levels, mistakes are often unforgiving and can fail the quest.

I can assure you that had we had all the toys we have know back in 2006, that the same laments about some clueless types at cap would still have been heard. We all got a clue since we had no other choice. Those without a clue have for the most part long ago departed Eberron.

The act of leveling up is a powerful drug, and very addictive. You get used to leveling up often at low levels and want to maintain that fix. When you hit mid levels, it becomes harder and harder to keep it up, unless you "power level" and many choose to do it, to the detriment of their knowledge of the character.

Now some character classes are more straightforward than others and can be zoomed up with less impact, as long as some core concepts are understood. Other classes are a LOT more complicated and it is very very easy to end up stuck in a rut with a few combat choices and never really expand your knowledge. Just like the Polar Ray comment cited in a comment to the OP showed a player with weak knowledge of casters, it might not be apparent to them if they are routinely playing solo or on casual since most mobs might still be dying from that weak version of the spell. It APPEARS to be an effective choice. Dungeon scaling and Casual settings are largely responsible for weak players, they just do not know any better, since the game has not imposed any consequences on them for that lack of knowledge.

Dang whippersnappers...go rake some sand and dig up a few bloodstones and then come back...

[stainer]

In your case I tried to provide anything you asked because I did not want guildies to get upset with me for any newb thing you may do.

I am sure the newb things I do will continue, and be more spectacular than the last. Although, BONZAI! may be hard to top. You may want to prepare a blanket disclaimer that you can send to other guilds absolving yourself of actions I make take.

[Slink]

Among the many contagious things that you have, this one spread to a lot of other people. :P

Yes, as I also have the priviledge of being reminded I am 'nipple-less' in random pugs now, thnx.

[Belwaar]

But I think that is part of the fun. How exciting is it to open that chest and see the bloodstone or spectral gloves, or firestorm greaves? Very cool. I like the idea of rare items being...rare..

QFT. After 4 years of ransacking basically all Desert chests, I finally pulled a Spell Storing Ring the other day...I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Definitely did the /epic fistpump with excitement.

[Zenako]

QFT. After 4 years of ransacking basically all Desert chests, I finally pulled a Spell Storing Ring the other day...I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Definitely did the /epic fistpump with excitement.

Kinda like the Ring of Feathers that I finally pulled last night...after who knows how many characters have run how many STK runs in search of it over multiple servers...

[stainer]

Yes, as I also have the priviledge of being reminded I am 'nipple-less' in random pugs now, thnx.

There were several names I recognized. Not "entirely" random! I am sure the lag wipe we had erased this from everyone's memory. Anyway, I think it is a testament to your determination that you are able to play this game without nipples. You, Sir, are handy-capable.

edit to add - Oh I get it. People are calling you nippleless even when I am not present. That, my friend, is truly awesome. I am most pleased with myself.

[Slink]

QFT. After 4 years of ransacking basically all Desert chests, I finally pulled a Spell Storing Ring the other day...I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Definitely did the /epic fistpump with excitement.

ooo, congrats are in order.
Those things IMO are among the most rare of items ingame.
I believed almost a fallacy invented by those who claimed to own one.
That is until I finally discovered one on Orien few months back.

[stazer]

How many times will he die per week trying to get the rage to proc, since you have to take hits to do so?

my guess is not much as he will vendor them or put them in his bank as they are a low striding item with potency and 1 clicky of rage...which wont fit his build

and he is COMPLETELY ignorant to itemization and how awesome they are for toons who's job is to take hits and hold agro...and get them to proc.

[Belwaar]

ooo, congrats are in order.
Those things IMO are among the most rare of items ingame.
I believed almost a fallacy invented by those who claimed to own one.
That is until I finally discovered one on Orien few months back.

Ty ty...yeah I had never seen one until I pulled this one. Was running some bloodstone/firestorm greave runs the other day with Hordo and another guildy and up until I had never seen the greaves drop...one dropped for Hordo and one for the other guy...

Back to back runs...

Hordo: "How do you make Belwaar cry? ....you pull two firestorm greaves and he doesn't pull anything..."