[Request] Do Not Update “Dungeon Finder” Tool for TBC

WoW Classic Cataclysm Classic Discussion
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For those unaware, TBC saw the introduction of a rudimentary version of the “Looking for Dungeon” tool introduced in WotLK, and the “Looking for Group” tool found in today’s retail Shadowlands. By rudimentary, I mean entering in basic information into a window around your character, level, objective to complete, etc, and would then be listed for others to see within this panel. Think of it like retail’s “Looking for Group” interface, where you can see people listing groups for various activities.

During the Q&A session for TBC Classic, the engineering team mentioned they were exploring “refreshing” the TBC version of this tool, to match that of the retail version, as it is far more efficient.

As a player of this game for 16 years, one who has made many, and lost many friends through this journey, I ask you Blizzard, please do not do this.

The problem with retail WoW, for many, is the accessibility. Everybody has access to everything. Everyone has epic armor. Everyone can raid the current tier. And thus, the feeling of “epicness” is diminished. Now this is not about elitism or being a special snowflake. This is about looking at the state of the game in 2007/2008 compared to now. Objectively observing declining player-base and subscription numbers. Much of this can be attributed to a more casual-catered development model. For me, and for many, the aspects that made Vanilla/Classic and TBC so great, were the challenge involved, and the lack of accessibility in certain instances. This may sound counterintuitive… “why would we want to reduce accessibility to content?” The answer is simple… it drives player interaction and preserves the epic feeling of clearing content. This may have been an issue in Vanilla TBC, where a large portion of the playerbase did not experience BT/Sunwell. However, with Classic TBC, the audience is more hardcore, and wants an experience that feels epic. Not easier.

So how does this tie in to the dungeon finder tool? Many attribute the downfall of WoW to the introduction of “Looking for _____” systems. Systems that strip away player interaction, and player resourcefulness, in exchange for highly convenient and diminishing experiences. Want to find a group? Don’t worry - toss it in the dungeon finder tool and AFK until a group is filled. This philosophy may be the theme of Shadowlands, but it is not appropriate in Classic/TBC.

The aspects that make Classic/TBC so great largely revolve around player interaction and “challenge to accessibility”. By “refreshing” the Looking for Group tool to “modernize” it, Blizzard is essentially enabling the breakdown of player interaction through one of the laziest tools implemented in this game’s history. Please do not do this.

TL;DR - Addition of retail-version “Looking for Group” tool into TBC Classic will ruin the experience, by reducing player interaction and increasing accessibility.

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One important distinction: as far as I know, they are not considering adding in a “Looking for Dungeon” or “Looking for Raid” system, that allows you to queue and auto-join a dungeon/raid. They are considering adding in the current version of the Group Finder tool. The one rampant with advertisements, gold selling, cash purchasing runs. The one that renders trade chat/LFG chat completely useless.

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I will absolutely agree that the auto-creating dungeon finder tool is a disaster and has no purpose.

But I feel you misunderstood as there were two versions introduced in Wrath.

The latter version introduced near the end (and when WoW itself very much changed when they shifted around the dev team) was the Retail LFG we know today.

The first one introduced did not create the group for you.

Example, it would give you a list of dungeons you could check to be interested in. People making groups could look at the dungeon list to see who wanted to go. It would have their name, level, class, etc, and if the person added a little note.

You still had to whisper them, you still had to invite them and you both still had to journey to the stone to summon the rest.

That first version I see no harm as it still requires communication and effort, but I believe it would increase communications, as you would meet more people easily, form more groups for more experiences.

Again, I agree, the Retal LFD tool needs to never come to Classic.

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But yes, I can see the downside of abusing the LFG tool to flood the notes with garbage. You cannot avoid it, they always find a way to sneak around the system. I really wish they would crack down on it quicker.

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This is the one that was added in BC. Most people just didn’t know where to find it. (I remember it getting “discovered” near the end of MoP for the world bosses on Timeless Isle.)

I think what people are talking about is whether they should upgrade that one to the premade group finder that got added in WoD.

I’m not sure the fear of the “new” version getting spammed with selling groups is a good reason not to. I suspect without it, those people will just spam the old style BC one. (Since now people actually know about it.) Personally, it’s one of those things that I’m okay with either way. Just make sure that if they do use the upgraded system stuff like auto-invite is disabled.

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https://wowwiki-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Dungeon_Finder

Patch 3.3.0, last patch of Wrath and the beginning of the end :x

If you’re meaning the list one, then I get you. I still need my coffee.

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TBH anything beats spamming the LFG channel to form a group.

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Yup. List version was BC. LFD (where you could queue) was late Wrath. Premade group finder (replacing addons like OQueue and the old list version) was added in WoD.

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There’s a reason the Classic community grew so large during MoP/WoD/Legion. People were tired of the systems and gameplay Blizzard subjected them to. They wanted to play the game as it was, prior to convenient implementations.

The idea of adding a current version of the Group Finder goes against the very reason Classic servers were recreated in the first place. If convenience is important to you, Shadowlands exists. Classic servers should not be subjected to the same convenience features retail has.

I understand the difference is probably just a reskin of the UI and few added functionality. That’s not the point. The point is stuff like this is what ended up ruining the game for many. We don’t need more convenient features. We need AUTHENTIC features.

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100%

I know this is just a tool to help make a group like the group finder is in retail but anything coming before wrath scares me. And TBH, I think that the random dungeon finder should not be a part of Wrath of the Lichking classic.

I remember orgrimar trade chat the day before the patch 3.3 random dungeon finder went live.

Excerpt.
/2 trade LFG this. LFG that. WTS this wts that. LW looking for work have such and such pattern now!!! tips not required!..

And after 3.3 dropped,
/2 trade crickets…he he he anal (retribution) hehehehe. crickets Hey guys LW looking for work got such and such…shut up noob hehehehe nobody wants your garbo

It was really sad and imo the community has never recovered from the unaccountable trolling that was allowed to grow and flourish as imo a direct result of the 3.3 dungeon finder.

On classic we have bad players but you cant get bad to the point of insanity and get away with it forever on a server locked community.

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Please by the goddess, please do not have them add LFG cross realm crap. It would ruin the classic experience and just make it like retail. I seriously hope they do not even bring it back at all.

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If they were adding Dungeon Finder, they would have announced that as a major feature.

What they were referring to was the group finder, where you find your M+ runs in retail.

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Kinda like Classic.

Kinda like Classic.

Players find groups on Discord now. Players also find groups by spamming in trade chat with generic messages. I don’t see the problem with a tool that does what Discord does but does so in game. It doesn’t teleport you, it doesn’t automatically type things out for you; all it does is list your trade chat spam in a window and lets people have some manner of sorting through the garbage they don’t want to see.

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No its not. Its not even in the top 20 why SL sucks.

SO what?

ANd this upsets you why?

So youre sayin everyone who pays cant raid? IUnreal

Only for you

Yes it is. Its exactly whats wrong with SL and modern WOW> People like you.

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You do realize… that this can be said about classic right, but replace AFK with spamming the LookingForGroup channel for 2-3 hours instead… it isn’t that interactive.

People just wanted to blame something else instead of themselves. As Blizzard has said about faction balance. It is a social issue and it requires a social solution.

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Would this be cross realm? God I hope not.

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As long as the group finder is server only, I’d welcome it.

Making it easier to form groups is good, as long as it’s not automated.

Lol. It’s all about you being an elitist and trying to keep others down.

Let people play and have fun. Get over yourself.

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The LFG tool has no effect on chats. That is delusional at best and you are severely stretching and reaching here.

What is the difference between spamming LFG channel or posting your group or activity in a tool that allows others to join you in your endeavors? There is no difference other than UI elements.

You all are stretching this to suit your own agenda for no reason other than selfishness.

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Fixed it for you.

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This is what a LFG tool will do. No negative impact on the game.

  1. Groups form faster
  2. Reduces chat spam
  3. The TBC version was server only so it has no negative impact on community

Honestly, there is no reason to fight so adamantly against it.
Now if they added dungeon teleporting and auto group forming then you’d have a leg to stand on. Otherwise your argument is baseless and hollow.

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