Blizzard to revamp the Dungeon Finder System in 3.3
Posted on November 29th, 2009 by Gustava under Addons, Heroics, Instances, Low Level, Mods, PVE, Patch, Raiding, World of Warcraft, WotLKHello, Gustava here, bringing you an important update straight from the PTR 3.3 test servers. In this patch, Blizzard is introducing their brand new Dungeon Finder System. It will revolutionize the way we PuG in World of Warcraft. Here is the breakdown of the new LFG in the coming patch.

(source)
New Dungeon Finder System In the upcoming content patch there are many new additions and improvements. Perhaps one of the largest changes is the introduction of the new dungeon finder system. This new system will be available for all dungeons. A “Dungeons” button will replace the Looking For Group feature currently available in-game, and provides additional benefits to those who use it.
Join as a Group or Solo
Much like the current Looking For Group system, players will be able to join the dungeon system and choose the role they would like to fill within groups: Healing, DPS, or Tank. In addition, once roles have been identified, they will be applied to all dungeons chosen. Players will now be able to choose multiple dungeons and will no longer be limited to three. The system has also improved group creation and matchmaking capabilities and will create more balanced groups when assessing the selected roles of players. The LFG channel has been disconnected from the dungeon tool and can be used by anyone in a major city,much like the trade channel currently available.
Cross Realm Instances
When joining the dungeon system as a solo player or with a partial group, additional random players can be found within the same Battlegroup via cross-realm instancing. While the new system offers the ability to group with player from other realms within your Battlegroup, you won’t be able to use this to manually invite specific players to groups.
Instance Teleporting
When you use the dungeon tool to find a dungeon, you’ll get ported to the inside of the dungeon, much like the current Battleground system. When you leave the instance, you will be returned to your previous location. If you need to leave temporarily, such asfor repairs or to purchase reagents, you can teleport back to the dungeon again. This feature can be used both by groups looking for other players and by premade groups of five who use the dungeon tool.
Smarter Group Matching
The new system will now work to match at least one experienced player for the assigned dungeon with less experienced players in the group. It will more carefully match class types, and will more consistently match players of equal levels for the dungeon chosen. The interface will also allow players to see how many players are looking for groups as well as the average wait time of groups that the tool has formed.
Daily Random Dungeons
Players or groups can choose specific dungeons or they can instead take their chances with a random Heroic or random normal dungeon. Picking randomly conveys some additional benefits. If you defeat the final boss in a dungeon, you receive 2 Emblems of Frost for Heroic dungeons and 2 Emblems of Triumph for normal dungeons. In addition, after players have received 2 Emblems of Frost for the first Heroic dungeon they do in a day, they will earn 2 Emblems of Triumph for each additional random Heroic
dungeons in that day. These random rewards replace the current daily dungeon and daily Heroic dungeon quests. The current NPCs who offer those quests will offer weekly repeatable raid quests instead. You can also earn level-appropriate rewards for running random pre-Wrath of the Lich King dungeons while you are leveling up.
Lovin’ the PUG
Players who take part in groups with one or more members who have been matched with them randomly from within the dungeon system will receive extra rewards, including the coveted Perky Pug non-combat pet. The more random players you group with, the faster you could get your new pet!
Vote Kick
Players who use the system to find additional random members for their party will be afforded a couple of extra conveniences to help them perform well. The loot option is fixed to the updated Need Before Greed option (and unalterable by any member) and players can vote to remove another party member from the group. It will take four votes in order to remove someone, however, so consider this newfound power carefully.
Looking for Raid
There will be a new option available to players that can be accessed via the raid information screen in the interface or by typing /lfr. Players will also be able to take part in raid-specific weekly quests and will be able to browse the system manually for any other players looking for a raid dungeon group.
Need Before Greed Updated
Need Before Greed will now recognize gear appropriate for a class in three ways: the class must be able to equip the item, pure melee will be unable to roll on spellpower items, and classes are limited to their dominant armor type (for example, plate for paladins). All items will still be available via greed rolls should no member be able to use the item as well as the new disenchant option will be available for all parties.
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This move is yet another great idea from Blizzard to update the LFG option.
To try this out, I leveled a toon to level 23 and I wanted to run Shadowfang Keep. Even today, if I wanted to find a group to do that, I would probably still be in the queue for days. With this new system, I can queue a group for it. This system will pool all the players from your server’s whole battlegroup, much like the current BGs.This would theoretically allow you to find a group to do Occulus at 3 am … if you were so inclined for whatever reason. When your group is complete, you will be prompted to enter the instance, exactly the same way that BGs work now.
The Looking for Raid interface is just as Good as the LFG interface, only better for guilds who don’t have enough to run their own full 10-man raid or need a few more to fill a 25 man raid. This is also good for people who run VoA, or OS, or Onyxia since most pug it anyway. It works almost the same as LFG works now but with a little more detail. And I am sure it will be a big help with many smaller guilds that don’t raid often at all.
If nothing else it will entice the newer player to actually experience end-game content. This can lead to other issues such as groups ending up with well-geared “n00bs” that don’t know the fights and cause wipes. This is inevitable and WILL occur, hopefully those who are motivated enough to get geared will also learn the fights.
Now, there will be no more daily heroic quests. I’ve seen many people forget to get the quest or loot the boss after we finsh the dungeon. When 3.3 goes live, if you kill the final boss you automatically get your two Frost Emblems and gold, no muss no fuss. I also like how the new Need Before Greed works so ninjas will not be able to loot-steal gear that’s not their armor type or spec type. Blizzard does it again taking a system no-one really uses now and making it better. I have tried it on the PTR and I am quite impressed by how well it works and I think you will too.
Bottom line: we will ALL be using this new and improved LFG/LFR a lot in the near future and we’ll all Dominate even more because of it.
















This is definitely going to help those people who can’t find a guild that only raids mornings/nights/weekends etc… or even for the casual raider! I love the fact that Blizzard is doing this. Wewt!
I guess a lock’s summoning ability is really no longer needed in game
All good, except for when a shaman wants a leather item but someone else gets a shard instead.
I really like this change. I think it will help on getting into different instances and at least getting your foot into a raid here and there. There are alot of different ways that you will get a bit more for useing the LFG/LFR channel now. I also like the idea that it does work toward class gear. Looks like blizzard is trying to get people to go and experience what everyone else is and offering that chance to see content.
Phil I understand that and yea it is a bit crappy but from what I understand is that the shard is an option and if you needed the gear all ya gotta do is tell everyone and they could pass and you can roll greed on it and recieve it. It still allows you to get a piece of gear but I believe that blizzard wants to put the best items into players hands, of course mail is better than cloth but if it is an upgrade then tell everyone that it is and roll greed on it and they should at least care enough to help ya out on that.
Hope to see everyone in the new groups and raids. And as always go and Dominate
I can’t wait for this to take effect. Seems on my realm its impossible to ever find a raid for Ulduar, maybe this will make it a bit easier. OH you forgot to mention the new Excited Pug pet you can earn if you do enough random groups. I can’t wait to get that little guy.
World of Weirdcraft.net your source or all things WOW
He did mention it, under the “Loving the PUG” header/paragraph.
This is pretty cool. I need gear and this will be the way to get it!
That’s is good change. I can’t believe it took 5 years for blizz to revamp that outdated/awkward LFG interface. I almost quit the game after 4 years last spring because I was slightly undergeared for Naxx and nobody ran Heroics.
Having to wait for hours, fishing, chatting, wandering around, while waiting for a group was soooo boring. Argent tournament helped. This new interface should help even more.
Also very anxious about the in-game quest addon.
Now when are they gonna bring back low level battleground without leveling.
also, on my todo list;
– easier management of mats for leveling professions
– a in-game guide of where u can buy specific items (it took me 9 months to find out about Honir enchant)
– have all NPC sell usefull stuff (which level 80 wants to buy a no stat axe at 30g in Dalaran)
– remove +resilience so we don’t need a third set of gear to do battleground from time to time.
tks for keeping us up to date DYS team.
btw, i loved ur recent DK articles, really helped me dominate…
…lol missed two wanted features
- in-game dungeon maps
- less world drop when leveling, so gear made by professions would actually sell above cost.
Where did you read about the lowered world drop while leveling part
I can’t believe I actually missed somehting that big in the patch notes
I think he’s just saying that he would like to see that, not that he did see that.
What Phil said actually happened to me earlier today – the shaman wanted leather pants (they were an upgrade, and we didn’t have any rogue/druid in the group). He was just lucky that we had no enchanter, because everyone else rolled greed before he even had time to type that he wanted it and the system wouldn’t let him roll (I won the greed roll, and traded to him; but he could easily have lost the item to sharding or simply a greedy player not wanting to trade).
I really like the dungeon lfg – used it from 4am to noon today, with very short wait times (just doing random dungeons to get badges on my new 80).
I’m not such a fan of the raid lfg though. It seems that many people on my server don’t use it, and I don’t like having to hang around idly in a city while waiting for a group (there’s always dailies or alts to work on), so I can’t be in the channel either. So while dungeons are easier to find, raids are harder.. and I’d much rather raid.