This would really help. Public GRs are a hell of a time waste to set up. 
We need that lobby feature that D2 has. So players can make a game with titles so you know what to expect going into the game. I’ve brought this up a few times, few others posted similar things, but Blizzard seems to be throwing these suggestions to improve the game straight into their trash, so sad.
I agree 100%, the game selector for public GR’s is a disgrace. I recently had a stream of 13 games in a row already underway, sometimes the same game I just left! Utter, utter nonsense.
When that happens…
But then you don’t know whether the people want rifts, GR’s or bounties. Why not just fix the problem at source instead of looking for a work around? Just go back to the old system would do!
It’s not hard to fix public GR.
Only need 3 not over complicated things
A) allow switch characters without leaving game. This make composition of a team easier. If there are 3 sos, I can bring my support build char.
B) group people with similar paragon range
C) have a drop box for players to select a range of GR they wanted to do.
Under 70
71-85
86-100
101- 110
111-120
121- 130
130+
If there isn’t a game within your selection, the game set you an alternative range which you can pick okay or not.
When you open your private game to the public, you’re asked to specify if your game will be for Rifts, Bounties or GRs.
I agree that it would be better if Blizzard revoked the ability to join a GR game in process but until and unless they do, this is an easy workaround.
So I just tried this and no one joined, not rift or GR.
Look, just fix the problem!!!
All public games were created by someone in the first place so it should work.
Probably the game tries to fill 3 and 2 player games first so everybody still gets directed to the bad games rather.
Anyway, a fix to this would be most welcome.
This^^.
Man was D2 right about how to communicate what you wanted with a pub game.
-People used it to trade gear.
-People used it to find help in fulfilling a quest.
-People used it to invite others to their runs. Very specific and helpful.
Join any of the many GR communities if your looking for GR. Pubs are just that, pubs and you don’t know what your going to get. It was asked for to join games in progress as no one was finding games before or when 1 person left the first GR clear, it would never get a 4th player. So they added the join in progress so you can join into the next game.
As stated, if you want fresh games, start your own public game. You said no one joins, well thats why it was changed was becasue it took forever to get 4 people to start a GR public group and the reason it was changed to join games in progress. Its also because NOT many people use the public games option to join GR groups, they use the communities and get a group from there at the level they want.
You can get a 4th player easily while rift is closed. Joining while rift is open makes no sense. Nobody waits until it is finished. Especially when none is even left playing it.
The thing is, people didn’t want to wait “when the rift is closed” for a 4th person, they wanted to start right up into another and it can sometimes take a bit to get that 4th person. People are impatient, they don’t want to wait. This is true in the old way and in the current new way. That said, if your really wanting to do GR’s, communities are the superior option as they get going pretty quick and you get the level range your looking for and a group that tends to stay together longer then 1 run.