We need—critically—the option to open up a LFG search/queue for PvP, WvW and PvE. This, in my opinion, is one of the main things this game needs to push it forward and make it more user-friendly (and fun) for all parties in every venue. The most daunting task for people looking to accomplish things in MMO’s is finding people to accomplish them with. GW2 needs a good LFG queue system that is easy to use and sits in the background while the player is free to do whatever else they choose while they wait for their queue to find them a group, be it hotjoin PvP, WvW, dailies etc. I haven’t had to sit in a zone and /shout LFG since Everquest, why did they bring back such a time-sucking, boring concept when there has already been several successful alternatives?
We all know the state of PvP currently: 8v8 is fun for mindless play with no strategic goals, teamwork, or communication. tPvP is only fun if you already have a team to run with because solo queue functions more and more like 8v8 does (bad profession match ups, no communication, no strategy, players leaving before the match starts). No one wants to sit in HotM shouting for a group, and Anet I’m sure doesn’t want players spending more time trying to find people to play with than actually playing the game.
I would love to see a new window added to the toolbar next to everything else where we can open up a LFG browser to see who is currently looking for a tournament group (or a WvW assault group, or a PvE dungeon, or Story, etc). We could see the player’s profession, level, PvP rank, title, etc and there could be a note option for the player to type any additional information (as in what builds they play, or other alt professions they have access to if needed).
ie: Hanzo – Necromancer – Rank 40 – ‘any build, also have thief alt’
Players would have the option of inviting specific players they see in the queue to their group but the group itself would be managed through this window so any interested players can see the group makeup before joining.
Also aside from just single player queues, a group could queue up looking for a specific profession or build, ie: a bunker, depending on what they need for their group. Groups will have the option to LFG for a specific profession or role.
ie: Queue for condition damage, direct damage, support, bunker, roamer, etc. Groups could look for additional members this way if they don’t have a specific profession requirement in mind and the browser can automatically match these players. Cross server functionality would be nice.
The goal would be to allow players to carry on with their game play to accomplish other goals while still actively queuing for tPvP (or whatever they want) without having to stand around the area hoping to find players. It would be more time playing and less time looking, with more organization.
I’d be extremely surprised if this hasn’t been suggested already, but not as surprised as I am that this option doesn’t already exist in a new-gen MMO, where the whole premise behind it is finding competent players and constructing a cohesive blend of professions in the shortest amount of time so you can get to the action. Maybe if this gets enough positive response it will be considered, or at least we could hear from Anet about a possible alternative/fix to the current disjointed nature of solo-group play.