Patch 3.3: LFG Overhaul Detailed

The supposed final content patch for Wrath of the Lich King is bringing us a lot more than just content.  Alongside Icecrown Citadel and its instances are a ton of convenience changes, items that have been sought after by players for years, and new ideas that were announced at BlizzCon 2009.  Blizzard gave us the first concrete details on one of those BlizzCon promises the other day, theLFG overhaul.

You can read the full breakdown from Blizzard itself here.  Here’s my forumesque recap:

Join as a Group or Solo: Eh, not really worth the bullet point.  We can already search for members of the current system as a group, or enter it as solo.  I guess it’ll be nice to join the pool as a group, rather than simply being a destination in the scan.

Cross-Realm Instances/Grouping: Quite possibly the smartest move since cross-realm PvP was created (WoW incarnation of sliced bread).  I believe that the feature could indirectly cause a consolidation of raiding talent on certainBattlegroups .  Think about it, if you run a few instances with a small group of off-realm players and things go smoothly every time, wouldn’t you try to get them to transfer to join your guild?  It’s not a bad thing though.

Instance Teleporting: The less Meeting Stone ganking the better.

Smarter Group Matching: It looks good on paper, but I think it’ll be more of the same setup in practice.  Blizzard’s talent isn’t an issue, it’s the pool of players the system is selecting from.  It is just too hard to form good groups when only a few dozen people are available.  I do hope I am wrong.  I hope the cross-realm feature makes the time spent designing this new system work perfectly, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Daily Random Dungeons: You can still select a specific dungeon, but going random rewards party members with additional badges, a perfect treat.  There’s actually a few changes nestled under this category.  The Daily Random Dungeon replaces the former Daily Dungeon/Heroic, and those quest givers will now give out weekly raid tasks, another sweet morsel.  The system even applies topre-WotLK dungeons, handing out level appropriate rewards for leveling instance runs.  Another reason to see the old world before Cataclysm.

Repeat Random Dungeons: Yes, you can repeat the Daily Random Dungeon task if you so chose.  If you do, you’ll only receive two Emblems of Triumph, instead of a pair of Frost badges.  The more things I can tempt people with the better (Guildies always run things before I get home).

Choose Multiple Dungeons: Meh, we can already chose three.  If you are badge farming being able to select all should minimize your queue time.  That’s pretty nice.

Vote Kick system: Awesome for PUG raids when you realize that member X isn’t nearly as geared as expected, or is being a giant (insert explicit).  On the downside, I can see some people getting upset and /wrists when they’re singled out and kicked for such things.  Incoming drama.

Lovin’ the PUG Bonuses: A chance at a non-combat pet for PUGing?  Looks like I know what I am doing come Patch 3.3!  The other “extra rewards” are not detailed, but the more random folks you kill beside, the better.

Looking For Raid: This should clear up Trade and General Chat in the main cities.  Assuming people actually bother using the channel extensively - doubtful.

Need Before Greed Updated: “Classes are limited to their dominant armor type (for example, plate for paladins).”  There’s some flamebait if I ever saw it.  Don’t worry, if the item is passed over by everyone, then it goes to standard greed, but first dibs goes to the class it was designed for.

Group Disenchanting: Enchanters need not worry, one of you has to be present for this tool to be available.  It simply saves you the time of disenchanting and then handing out the materials to the winning rolling.  It also eliminates the ability for you to “forget” to let people roll on the shards.

Even though many features are long overdue, I applaud the changes as a whole.  I honestly believe these changes will usher in a rebirth to instancing, at level cap and low-levels. How do you like the changes and what’s your favorite feature?  Which do you see having the most impact?