Quote Originally Posted by Conundrum View Post
So the first time you are forced to group with other players will be...2.1 Thornmarch
I'm not sure you were paying attention. The eventual goal is that the first time you are forced to group with other players will be ... never. The situation you're describing is temporary. Basically, the community is now sowing what it reaped. Players complained and complained about being forced to do content with players who are just playing a game for recreational purposes as opposed to playing it as if they were training for the latest and greatest entry to the Summer 2024 Olympic Games. Now they're getting their wish. Those of us who don't want to cope with big pulls will now have the option of sticking with the NPCs and leaving the elitists to their game. I can already see how this will ultimately play out. Once the work for this is complete, players will be whining about how the game seems dead, queues for grouped content take forever, and the only remaining option is to participate in scheduled statics. All because players refuse to believe that this forum in any way represents the gaming population as a whole. Ironically, the OP's complaint is the very reason that SE decided to go this direction.