People prefer to PUG rather than join an FC?

[Redh]

Hey all,

Something that I have found extremely frustrating in this game so far is that so many members of the community, on Cerberus EU at least, seem to prefer to PUG endgame content rather than join an active FC and run with regular groups. I don't understand what these people are getting out of the game longterm, as for me one of the greatest sources of achievement and enjoyment has been the group of players I spend my time with, not just getting a relic weapon with a group of people I've never spoken to or, worse, paid to carry me through.

Where is the sense of progression, or achievement? Does this happen because Duty Finder has made it too easy for people to get far into the game without having to speak to or socialise with anyone at all on your server? Is being in a regular group of people really such an inconvenience? Do people just hate playing to a schedule, knowing that when you log in you will have a full group to raid with, rather than hoping you get lucky with PUGS at any given time?

Is it the same on other servers, or am I just unlucky where I am?

I don't see this situation getting any better with the new content coming in 2.1, which will be easier than Coil and again available on Duty Finder.

Please tell me there are still people out there interested in playing these MMO games WITH other people, and who enjoy the laughs and social aspect of gaming? Playing without voice comms seems soulless to me.

[Animation]

Hey all,

Content coming...

Cannot wait for said content.

Anyway, PUGing adds difficulty to a normally easy fight. All fights are easy if everyone knows what to do, but when you find a PUG group theirs a chance that someone wont know what to do.

[GilbertLapine]

Cannot wait for said content.

Anyway, PUGing adds difficulty to a normally easy fight. All fights are easy if everyone knows what to do, but when you find a PUG group theirs a chance that someone wont know what to do.

Yup. Because sadly there's almost no skill or situational awareness required for any of the major fights in this game, you just need enough gear and to have fought the battle enough to memorize the AOEs. It's kind of depressing, tbh.

[Nikita]

You play a certain way so everyone else has to as well?

How does this frustrate you I don't even understand.

People pay to play the game how they want, not how you want.

[Redh]

Nikita, I accept that people can play how they choose to. What I'm trying to understand is why in this game it's worse than in any others I've experienced.

Are players generally becoming more casual, less committed?

Is it the same on your servers, or maybe this is a specific problem on just my server.

[ToxiqFyre]

Nikita, I accept that people can play how they choose to. What I'm trying to understand is why in this game it's worse than in any others I've experienced.

Are players generally becoming more casual, less committed?

Is it the same on your servers, or maybe this is a specific problem on just my server.

It's the same on my server, our FC leader is barely ever on. It's a real pain trying to organise anything!

[Skullcrusher]

Wanna know why I'm forced to pug.
I'm in the oceanic region and by the time I created a character , All servers with oceanic guilds were full, so I was forced to roll on an American server.

Now, I'm still here and the times I play they are in bed, not to mention I'm just a nobody to these ppl in this fc, I don't know them, every time I say hi And make small talk, I get ignored and they just carry on talkin with each other.

My whole guild of mates I e played with for over 8 years stayed in wow, I'm all alone.

Hoping to change this when serve transfers come thru though, I would like nothing else the to join a raiding oceanic fc

[Laiyenu]

Personally I like an FC, I like getting to know my raid / team members. Makes the game more fun.

[Kyuuen]

Nikita, I accept that people can play how they choose to. What I'm trying to understand is why in this game it's worse than in any others I've experienced.

Are players generally becoming more casual, less committed?

Is it the same on your servers, or maybe this is a specific problem on just my server.

No. It's just that people that consider themselves as "raiders" think there's only one way to clear content. Some people can't stand the impatience of said raiders, others can't stand some of the bs drama that comes with any FC/guild.

As others have said.. how is it that this even frustrates you?

[Nikita]

Nikita, I accept that people can play how they choose to. What I'm trying to understand is why in this game it's worse than in any others I've experienced.

Are players generally becoming more casual, less committed?

Is it the same on your servers, or maybe this is a specific problem on just my server.

I am in a Free Company that's pretty social. Sometimes members within form groups for content but more often than not, they find PUGs. I am currently working on my 6th relic weapon and I have done all of it in PUGs.

My long term goal is to join a free company that specializes in content I am interested in, but I would rather fall in with one than just go out and look. I want it to be a natural process and not an interview. I'm in no rush for this to happen.

There is no reason for me to do content with my Free Company. While I have a mic, I mostly never need to use it.

Also, I find more "sense of accomplishment" completing content with a random group of strangers than an organized, static group.

To answer your question more directly: I don't think it has anything to do with being casual or hardcore. I know people on both ends of the spectrum that like to PUG. Everyone has their own reason for doing it, I just find it convenient. Also, I think it happens across many servers. It happens on mine. I disagree with it being a "problem", it's just a style of play. Being in Mor Dhona reminds me of standing in Whitegate/Jeuno and seeing runs for content. It's nothing new, so I guess I just don't understand why you seem to view this as a recent occurrence in the MMO genre.