Anyone else notice a slowly increasing number of people joining groups just to solo?

[Seed22]

21 hours ago, Voltak said:

EVen if I am not team leader and I see some team member doing this stuff like going on their own to solo groups of mobs , split away from the team, I tell them straight up that whatever they think they can do solo, they will do it faster if they do it with the team.  Taking on a mob will be faster with the team, not solo.  
It's also screaming for the question -- why did you join the team?  

Also, if the game is too easy for you, come talk to me:  I got stuff in game that if I put you through it, it will  adjust your attitude a bit. 

You still rely on your team for speed instead of situational safety. You're lying. You don't have any difficult content, and we already know about 801. whatever in AE. Also you're lying about it being faster w/a team. Can you be faster than 2x dead mobs from my one 50? No. No you can't.

[Seed22]

21 hours ago, Ukase said:

When I was in college, I attended the same university my father taught at. I did this primarily because if I made a 3.0 GPA or better, I'd get half my tuition reimbursed due to my father being employed there. When he asked who was teaching my economics class (he was the chair of the finance dept.) he about had a stroke because I took the guy whose rep was an easier grade. I asked him what the difference was. He told me that the better professors would know how to approach the same problem from a different angle and explain things to different students in different ways if they needed a different perspective. 

So, while I'm not a PhD in any category at all, I'll do my best to explain this from a different perspective - I think, I hope. 

We're all different people, presumably alive (except maybe for Snarky who claims to be undead, as opposed to alive) and we all certainly have our own thoughts and behaviors. So, I completely agree with the part of your post I've cited. 

As we're all different, it stands to reason (doesn't it?) that we'll all have somewhat different ideas of what's fun, or amusing, or engaging - whatever the term is that answers the reason or reasons why you play this game. So, when we gather for a team up, or a league, if nobody knows who anyone else is, the odds of all players being on the same page, with the same agenda are quite poor. 

One player may want XP. 
Another may just want a Notice of the Well. 
Another may want the incarnate reward table. 
And another may just want to team up with other players because they ...like it? Or their build isn't that great, or their AT is a support character and it makes sense to them to buff/debuff as the need arises. 
Yet another may want all those things. 

The mission objectives in our Nav bar - Barring communication from the leader to the contrary - is the one thing that all players should be in agreement on. 
We all know the drill. 

Whether it's "Defeat X" or "Destroy Y", or "Escort XYZ", there are ways to accomplish these tasks quickly. There are ways to accomplish them efficiently. There are ways to enter the map, clear all the NPCs on the map. Some prefer this is done as fast as possible. Others don't see the logic behind that - as there's just another mission to follow this one, and we may as well get as much reward as we can while we're in here. I mean, we are having fun in here, right? (or are we interested, engaged - whatever the term may be for you) 

Some folks have different goals. As a result of having different goals, the methods for completing various tasks are likely to be different. The only way to accomplish these tasks with any harmony at all is to communicate how you'd like to do these tasks. As a wise man once said, "You have not because you ask not!" 

We're not mind readers. If some of us play the same game in a different fashion, there's nothing wrong with that. Until my "fun" ruins your fun. Then it's wrong. But - if you didn't tell me what's fun for you - is that my fault? Or is it yours? Or do we just blame the HC devs for bringing the game back? NCSoft was smart enough to recognize how stupid this game is sometimes - that's why they shut it down, because of all the complaining, right? 

For those that couldn't tell, that last bit was intended to be sarcastic! (and rhetorical!!!) 

Anyway, I hope you all will enjoy the game as best as you're able. Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. If I can be helpful, ask me politely. 

 

I like this, I really do! Pretty great summary

[Ukase]

On 10/28/2021 at 1:00 PM, kelika2 said:

Also please note that the gattagofast types are generally the squatters who wait for the group to be almost full so they dont have to wait long to get started

I will state emphatically and enthusiastically that this is me, almost every time - unless I have some crafting/converting to do while I wait. It's the one reason I'm able to stomach an MSR from time to time - because on Excelsior, Doc Proteus (I think that's his global - maybe it's just Proteus) will broadcast in lfg "X/48" so folks like me will know how much time we have to wrap up whatever it is we're doing. 

The question is - why do you state this like it's some sort of negative characteristic? I suppose impatience could be perceived negatively by some. I prefer to think of it as simply being smarter than the folks that joined before I did. I got some other things done while they stood around and did ToT or whatever. (Which I have already done on 6 characters this season and that's quite enough, thanks) 

[Dazl]

15 hours ago, Glacier Peak said:

Yeah I couldn't find one on Excelsior's sub forums either, but Torchbearer had this:

 

8 Player All Stalker Hami Raid. Looks like a lot of pets in the video down the page, still impressive IMO.

Very impressive for sure, and only a 2 bloom clear. Of course that wasn’t because the game is so easy any 8 man stalker team can take down the hami. That would have to be well planned and executed.

[Songseven]

1 hour ago, Ukase said:

I prefer to think of it as simply being smarter than the folks that joined before I did.

 

 

wow....

[Ukase]

2 minutes ago, Songseven said:

wow....

Hey, I never said I was smarter. I just said I prefer to think of it like that! 

[Dona Eis Requiem]

SO much overcompensation about what you can do in a leisure activity like it's some sort of life affirming accomplishment. By the gods, just how small is it man?

 

[InvaderStych]

14 minutes ago, Ukase said:

I just said I prefer to think of it like that! 

 

I prefer to think that this thread is now Officially About All Things Toast.

 

To wit:

 

[ZemX]

That's not toast!  And I'm prepared to argue for another 14 pages about it!!

[Seed22]

On 10/30/2021 at 1:06 PM, InvaderStych said:

 

I prefer to think that this thread is now Officially About All Things Toast.

 

To wit:

 

Now THAT's some good toast. Great, now I'm hungry :T

[DZKFire]

Yeah it's annoying honestly. Almost everything needs to be toned down a lot however it will feel really REALLY awful for a decent chunk of the player base (me included)

 

Coincidentally, there are also decently harsh content but no one plays them.

Levels 20-40 have the potential to be incredibly harsh on teams, Praetoria Maps being one of the harshest I've played (and funnest!) It's quite hard fighting something simple as Warriors in Talos at +2, let alone +4 at this level. Villains and the aforementioned Praetorian really have it harsher. Did you know the Mayhem missions (bank missions for villains) feature insanely difficult PPD with psi powers while also being constantly bombarded by Longbow ambushes? And btw, Longbow are certainly not pushovers at high difficulty, same with Arachnos but most people play blue side and already know how difficult they can be when unprepared.

 

Even a lot of the 50+ missions in places like DA can be steamrolly solely because incarnate shifts makes the difficulty lvl invalid. I have seen some mobs completely annihilate incarnate players though, those are always fun imo.

[Aurora_Girl]

The funniest thing about this thread is that there's 14 pages of replies that @Bob_Loblawhas NEVER EVEN SEEN (Last online 9/26).

[ForeverLaxx]

6 hours ago, Aurora_Girl said:

The funniest thing about this thread is that there's 14 pages of replies that @Bob_Loblawhas NEVER EVEN SEEN (Last online 9/26).

Ah, the classic drive-by Thread OP. Drops a thread topic they know will stir something up, hangs around just long enough to give it a few good swirls, then disappears into the night while the cauldron rages on.

 

I already posted in here once, but honestly, I don't know why anyone is so upset over who is doing what on which team. If you don't like how the team is functioning, then leave and find another one. If you're "stuck" because it's a TF, then I guess just deal with certain players who play differently than you and don't attribute your own biases to their actions in order to demonize them to feel better about yourself.

 

I'm the kind of player who goes with the flow on a team because I'm usually there just for some minor social interaction and merits (because I almost only ever team for TFs and other coordinated content like GMs and the like). I attack stuff, take the alpha if that's my team role, and let everyone else do their thing. It's just not worth being upset at the one guy charging off on his own with SS trying to out-defeat everyone else on the team combined. If he's being a sod about it and bemoaning how slow everyone else is, and you're the leader, then kick him out and move on. If it's a normal mission it won't really change anything that matters and if it's a TF, the TF should adjust for the next mission anyway. At worst, if you don't have the star but don't want to miss out on the merits/badge, put that person on ignore (temporarily, since I never perma-ignore someone unless they're spamming me to hell and back) so you don't have to see their words, finish the TF, and part ways. Maybe stick a note on their global reminding you who they are so you're aware of what may happen in future teams with that person.

 

If you want, you can just ask if the "offending" player would mind sticking with the team. In my book, everyone gets one chance to "follow the rules" and the team lead makes the rules. If they refuse or ignore, then they forfeit their spot. It's as simple as that. Making a thread about it and getting into huge arguments about who has the best philosophical or moral pillar to stand upon just seems like a waste of time.

 

And yes, I'm aware of the potential hypocrisy in saying that considering I've written this diatribe myself decrying people who write their own diatribes about why they're correct and everyone else is wrong. To that end, I bring toast to the thread because I like toasted bread. I wouldn't be caught dead without that having been said.

[Bionic_Flea]

I LIKE BIG BUNS, and I cannot lie.

 

[Coyotedancer]

I don't even want to know how many thousand calories that thing represents....

[Ukase]

3 hours ago, Coyotedancer said:

I don't even want to know how many thousand calories that thing represents....

Probably less than you think. It's just bread and sugar. Maybe 900 calories. Fine for once a week, but I'd try to eat in the morning, and maybe walk a little extra on the lunch break - if I ate such things. But, I do not. A large abdomen impedes the rowing stroke. I'd hate to have to splay my knees at the catch. 

[Coyotedancer]

Still way more than I would want to eat in doughball form. XP

[Black Zot]

Why settle for plain toast when you can have french toast?

 

[BengalBilly]

On 10/31/2021 at 10:07 PM, Aurora_Girl said:

The funniest thing about this thread is that there's 14 pages of replies that @Bob_Loblawhas NEVER EVEN SEEN (Last online 9/26).

Aurora Snow would not have been a corrupter.

 

[Aurora_Girl]

4 hours ago, BengalBilly said:

Aurora Snow would not have been a corrupter.

 

 

What?

[Voltak]

On 10/30/2021 at 10:12 AM, Excraft said:

 

Sorry to be blunt, but this is utter horse shit. 

 

 

This ignores what several people have already pointed out - depending on the content, it is far faster to complete the mission objectives by splitting up.  See the Shadow Shard TFs that were brought up as an example.  Maybe you have 4 or 5 hours to waste on a play session, but not everyone does.  Splitting off into separate groups to complete objectives faster is helping the team, no matter how much you want to deny it.  The same lie can be repeated over and over again as many times as you want, it will never make it true.

 

This statement is also purposefully disingenuous in that it doesn't take into consideration any number of possibilities with team makeup with regard to level, slots, enhancements, AT makeup etc.  If I'm on a team of lowbies with minimal slots and enhancements (if any at all) running a Positron TF and I'm on my fully decked out level 50, believe me, I'm doing more damage than they are at a faster rate than they are.  This can happen all the way through the game.

 

 

And what happens when that mob is defeated so fast I didn't even get a chance to fire a shot or apply a mez?  How is that me helping the team?  Because we're arm and arm?  It's not helping at that point, it's leeching and isn't fun.

 

 

I'm guessing you missed the last part of my post?  If you did, please go back and re-read it.  And being considerate of others goes both ways.  So long as someone isn't running off and doing stuff to intentionally grief others, there's nothing wrong with what they are doing.  This thread and others like it are very superficial, thinly veiled attempts to define the "right way to play."  They're getting old to be honest.  

 

1. It is irrelevant
Because 
The OP is addressing the following

A. People who join groups and are, on purpose, going off on their own.

B. And questioning -  Why will you join groups if you are going to solo ?

C. Why not go do the same content on your own ?  ( it will be better xp as well )

Nah, you are not being blunt. 

D.  It would be better to get a consent from team leader, at the very least, to see if this is cool.

_________________________________________________

You are being extremely rude and you are using profanity to insult the other person or what the other person is saying. 

_____________________________________________________

 

[Voltak]

On 10/30/2021 at 11:39 AM, Seed22 said:

You still rely on your team for speed instead of situational safety. You're lying. You don't have any difficult content, and we already know about 801. whatever in AE. Also you're lying about it being faster w/a team. Can you be faster than 2x dead mobs from my one 50? No. No you can't.

The only one lying here is you. 

I do have AE content that is difficult content indeed.  Who are you to state that's a lie?  You are nobody to say I am lying about that.  
You have not even tried it or checked.  
801 is not my content but it is an additional challenging content. 
 
TO clear maps, whatever one player can do, it can be done faster with additional players who will contribute meaningfully. 

[arcane]

I have def done one of Voltak’s AE missions on one of his teams once. Or I think it was his and not 801. Was somethin else.

 

There were a buttload of Controller pets and some Ninjas being spawned by all the baddies, for one thing. In a warehouse. Sound right?

 

I recall I came on a Time, we got rekt, then me and the other Time switched to Elec Affinities and we won 🙂

Edited November 15, 2021 by arcane

[bodenee]

If no one has specified,  I'll usually ask... "We ghosting? Kill all? Kill most?" but that may be just me...

[Aeroprism]

Reading this topic has been as entertaining as it has been depressing.  I just can't understand why people take everything so personally on the internet, or in general.

 

Guys, chill, it's just life, none of us gets out of it alive.

 

Anyways.

 

At first, I was with OP. Splits are wrong and annoying. But then I started reading what was said here and you know what?  I changed my mind. 

 

I almost never join high-level, steamroll groups because:  1- I am not a skilled player so I feel useless and 2- ... well, there's just "1", really.  Now, after reading this topic, I realize that group soloers and group spliters are the antidote.  The content is too easy?  Spread. Raise the difficulty artificially, do more content, quicker.

 

As for everything else: communication.  It kept my marriage going for 25 years, surely it can keep my team up for an hour or two.