Step 13: Building Groups & Playing with Peeps & Operations

This game is a MMORPG - hence there is incentive to play with multiple players and there are ways to be efficient about it.  I like to think that I'm not the best player but dammit Jim I can put a group together.   Here are notions what you need to know and tips to make things efficient:

  1. Be nice, douchebaggery will bring you nothing but kicked out of a group.  I have an itchy finger to boot idjits.
  2. In this theme, especially for operations, ninjalooting is the best way to get on raiders' ignore lists.  If the raid leader sets loot as 1-1-1-1 (a classic which means one unassembled gear token, one purple crafting material, one blue crafting material & one schematic) respect that rule.  Overloot and you'll get on ignore & replaced.   Just not worth it.  If you set the operation on Master Looter that means that you the raid leader will manage who gets who gets what typically by "/roll".  If you hoard on master looter you'll need to roll a new toon as no one will want to participate with you.
    1. I've even seen people reach out to ninjalooters' guild leadership to complain, reputable guilds are sensitive to this to maintain their reputation in the community.  And yes they'll de-guild these players.
    2. Some players will even report ninjalooters to Bioware.
  3. Admit that you don't know something.  Say you go into a Flashpoint and you've never done it, say so, odds are someone will coach you.
  4. For operations if you're not joining with friends and/or guildies, go to www.dulfy.net and read the guide.  In "easy" mode it's not that bad usually but be aware of mechanics.  Hard mode is called hard because.. it's hard.
Types of group fun thingies to do:

  • Flashpoints: 4-man group, expect 25-40 minutes based on level of difficulty and well, players.  Some are longer than others, like False Emperor is quite long.
  • Uprisings: 4-man "miniflashpoints" so about half the time, and you need to be level 70.
  • Operations: 8 or 16 man groups, the good stuff.  Most have 3 levels of difficulty and when they mean hard, they mean hard.  Read up, trust me.  Dulfy's your friend.

Now how to join & form groups:
  • Use the groupfinder on your map for flashpoints, operations, uprisings:
  • At level 70 you get access to the command interface with CTRL+G
  • Ask on fleet & in chat:
    • Use the cryptic tongue of SWTOR to say what you want with acronyms (EV = Eternity Vault, etc.) with the LF stuff, example: "LF 1 Tank 2 DPS 2 Heals for KP 8 SM GF".  Translation: looking for 1 tank, 2 dps & 1 healer for Karaga's Palace Story Mode Group Finder.
    • I like to add a bit of spice to get attention, like adding "no Gungans"
    • Be nice, polite & concise.
    • Chat channels you should join: "/allies" and "/thehub" so you can reach people outside of your location like fleet.  The syntax to join is "/cjoin allies" and "/cjoin thehub".  Try it, make friends, be merry.
Operations:
  • Before joining an operation READ THE F */&! MANUAL at www.dulfy.com, welcome to the world of mechanics and coordination.
    • It's not hard but don't expect a PUG to carry you (unless they tell you), it's good sportsmanship not to be dead weight!
  • No ninjalooting as described above or in any other form.  Be nice.  We',re watching! (muhahaha)
  • Odds are you'll need audio to converse so expect to use TeamSpeak, some groups/guild also use Mumble or the up and coming Discord. Have not personally used Mumble in a while, the the Jedi Covenant right now TeamSeak is the main one used.
  • Make sure you have 110% accuracy as the bosses have a 10% accuracy debuff.  If not you'll hit like wet pasta and that's not fun and cold pasta is not too tasty either.
  • The 1st time in an operation (8 man story is where you need to start, don't be greedy) and start with something non-threatning like a remote dps (commando/merc is a good choice).  Please try not to tank, many fights are so you need to have seen them once
  • There is a daily 8-man group finder operation, run that, odds are you'll be with seasoned players who grind for CXP.  The schedule is here for the operations so you can read in advance.
  • If you're the raid leader, define the terms of the raid such as loot rules, main tank, etc. 
  • Also set frames properly and let people know who does what.  In an 8-man raid I use row 1 for tanks, 2 & 3 for DPS & 4 for healers like most groups.  No science here just basic coordination & expectation management.

5 comments:

  1. Qui-Ji'dan (ingame SWTOR)October 28, 2020 at 11:03 AM

    Does this also works for World Bosses? Initiate a group by asking ppl in chat and then create a group by right clicking a character willing to join you? And how do you join an excisting group that's already battleing a WB or how do you join a group when asked/called upon in the (general) chat? Thanks for al the hard work.

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    1. What you want to do is ask in gen chat or the /allies channel (or both!) for peeps to join - proper syntax could be "LFM (location) worldboss (name) - pst/role, will summon" - if you summon ppl will come. Also link the weekly WB mission :)

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    2. Qui-Ji'dan (ingame SWTOR)October 28, 2020 at 12:33 PM

      Great! Thanks for the explanation, will give it a try this evening :)

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