Feldon From EverQuest2.com:
You asked for it – we delivered! The Dungeon Finder matchmaking system for EverQuest II is finally here! No longer will you have to scour the Looking for Group, Trade, or Auction channels to find a dungeon group. We’ve developed an amazing tool that does the work for you. All you need is to come prepared with your best adventuring outfit and rations.
Now to get started using this feature, click on the Dungeon Finder button on the experience bar (this can also be accessed by typing /dungeonfinder, /dungeon, or /df). The Dungeon Finder window will open. The options are to choose a random dungeon or to select a specific one. If a random dungeon is chosen, a 25% experience bonus will be applied while in that zone. Clicking “queue” starts the matchmaking system.
More Information about Dungeon Finder:
- Players must be level 20 or higher to use this feature.
- Mentoring cannot be used with the Dungeon Finder.
- If a group finishes a Dungeon Finder dungeon, the group leader can queue for another dungeon using the “queue group” button.
- If a player’s critical mitigation value is lower than the dungeon’s recommended value, the dungeon will be grayed out and they will not be able to queue for that dungeon.
- If a player has a lockout timer on a dungeon, that dungeon will also be grayed out and they will not be able to queue for that dungeon.
- Lock out timers are only enforced for content from the current expansion. Dungeon Finder will ignore lock out timers from previous expansions’ dungeons.
- If a player is already in a group, only the group leader can queue the entire group for Dungeon Finder, although individual players can still queue separately.
- Loot options are defaulted to “Need Before Greed.” This cannot be changed when using Dungeon Finder.
- Dungeon Finder is server-wide only. It will not pull payers from other servers.
- Wait times may vary.
- If a player is manually /invited to a Dungeon Finder group, they will need to make their own way to the dungeon and cannot automatically teleport in.
- If a player needs to step out of the dungeon finder zone to grab a quest or run an errand, they can return immediately to the group by using the “return” button on the Dungeon Finder window. (Note: PvP Groups – If a player zones out of a DF instance and their alignment doesn’t match that of the leader, they will be disbanded from the group.)
The developers worked really hard to make this feature awesome. It’s definitely going to open up an exciting new chapter in game play for users. So go forth and try it out – it’s time to queue for a dungeon! Discuss this on the EQ2 Forums
For players using third-party interfaces:
Third-party user interfaces may not work properly with Dungeon Finder. If you run into problems, please be sure to turn them off and use the default UI until the third party interface is updated.
I’m calling it being disabled within a week or two because of exploits
I tend to agree with yOOAu.
Is that screenshot current? No drunder/eow? No torz/spire challenge mode?
Temple of Rallos Zek challenge isn’t a separate instance. It’s the same one triggered by a condition. I wouldn’t want to queue up for it with randoms anyway.
Give it a shot, no sense in being negative immediately. I think this will be a great feature, especially for those under level 80. Perhaps it will need to be hotfixed, likely yes. But give it a shot. It’s something the game needs.
Interesting. I do not like PUGs so I’m not going to use this. Now, if it had a button for “Guild Only” I would check that and give it a shot.
It would also be neat if it showed stats and/or news on that interface, like “most popular dungeons” or “today’s hot zones.”
YMMV when I pug I often bump into people I know. It’s a small world. Looking forward to it. I could have waited more but to their credit it seems there isn’t enough people on test for that particular feature.
More time wasted to me a feature that’ll not be used after a month or two
My Thoughts and questions
– I form groups where I choose best option from about 5 alts alot less flexible picking class before joining a group. Wish it was flexible in allowing alts.
– If you are 90 and pick random are you forced to do SF content. No 90’s will do random – good thing its only an xp bonus my 90’s are currently max aa
– Are you given the shard quest on zone in or does someone have to zone outside to get it? Missions should be offered on instance start in DF if its not already.
Whats the point when shards will no longer be required?
The choices in the list are appalling. Queuing for random at 90 includes Shard of Love as a possibility. But its not possible at all to queue for VD Cella (but the other 2 Vasty Deep zones are there) even though people might benefit from forming Myth upgrade update groups there.
I hereby predict no one will use random at 90.
Update that prediction I see it failing at 90. Maybe if it was cross server it’d get use – better off forming in channel.
I was really looking forward to this. Actually planning to come back to the game, at least for a while. I was excited about being able to easily revisit some old dungeons and help out some lower level players, while knowing that those players didn’t show up just to be powerleveled.
Then I read “Mentoring cannot be used with the Dungeon Finder.” I’m a sad sarnak.
Why would I need a dungeon let alone a dungeon finder now that Rygorr armor isn’t going to cost shards?
Cool, all that bonus XP will be awesome for all my max level/AA toons. Hold me back.
All I can say is I sat 3 hours in a que for kael zones all 3 of them, 3 hours. DF is already dead as nobody is using it on guk.
This thing either needs a player rating feature or at LEAST blacklist (using your ignore list perhaps).
Maybe I should try it with my gimp alts? That’ll be fun for all! *lol*
well from what I have seen its not to good 🙁 Puts like 3 wiz, 2 tanks and a sin in a group rofl… wheres the HEALS? and what the heck kinda group is that? I didnt take my main, as didnt want to chance any bugs with her… thus the group set up was fail… a dungon finder that cant set a group is fail imo. And a nice bug that eats up all your fame too on pvp servers… ouch! lol the zones dont drop alot of needed alt gear tbh loot tables dont make it worth doing them and now no need for shards wonder if anyone will even bother to run them other than for gems…
Oh so looking forward to this tomorrow on Splitpaw. /sarcasm mode OFF.
are there no AA checks? I see dozens of newb-90/120-twinks queue for zones where they won’t be doing any dps
IMO, missing two vital checks since critically kit is no longer required for most DoV zones, there should be an AA check, and at least a Crit Chance check. It’s not that hard to get a player up to Crit Mit anymore, but it is still hard getting a toon up to say the 240 Crit Chance required for Drunder zones, and even the 220 required for Zek. I think Crit chance is every bit as crucial as crit mit when doing checks for groups. what’s the point of queueing up for a group and meeting crit mit requirements when you don’t have the DPS to finish the zone anyway.
As a casual player, short on gear and AA, this is already working out great for me, though it feels like an “exploit.” Before DF I did not find my way into many parties. The first obstacle was that I didn’t have a very long friends list, and it’s human nature that you don’t want to invite random strangers. The second obstacle is that I probably couldn’t pass the group’s (reasonable) entrance requirements, such as CM, CC, AA, etc. I probably couldn’t contribute much, or even stay alive much.
Now with dungeon finder and selecting “random” I have access to all groups that are forming. Last night I got into two new zones; places I didn’t expect to see very soon. However, I spent a lot of the time lost or dead, and I apologize to the group. I don’t mean to be a flake, but I’m not totally up to speed (though isn’t it fair to give noobs some OJT?)
It wasn’t just me either. Half the members didn’t know the zones and died a lot as well. We also didn’t have mez, nor did we have much in the way of dps, so we had to throw in the towel. Learning experience.
Anyway, my opinion here is that “experienced” groups should still form up outside of the df system, just as before, with strict entrance requirements. If you join up for random mode, be aware of what you’re getting yourself into, and bring extra repair kits. I think this is a great opportunity for players behind the curve to catch up. In the future I would like to see and AA check and a “blacklist” though.