Patch 4.1 Preview -- Dungeon Finder: Call to Arms
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker)
In patch 4.1 we'll be introducing Dungeon Finder: Call to Arms, a new system intended to lower queue times. Call to Arms will automatically detect which class role is currently the least represented in the queue, and offer them additional rewards for entering the Dungeon Finder queue and completing a random level-85 Heroic dungeon.

Any time the Dungeon Finder queue is longer than a few minutes for level-85 Heroics, the Call to Arms system kicks in and determines which role is the least represented. In the case of tanking being the least represented role, the "Call to Arms: Tanks" icon will display in the Dungeon Finder UI menu where class roles are selected, and will also display on the UI when the queue pops and you are selected to enter a dungeon. Regardless of your role, you'll always be able to see which role currently has been Called to Arms, if any.

Call to Arms is meant to lower wait times by offering additional rewards for queuing as the currently least represented role. To be eligible for the additional rewards you must solo queue for a random level-85 Heroic in the role that is currently being Called to Arms, and complete the dungeon by killing the final boss. Every time you hit these requirements (there is no daily limit) you'll receive a goodie bag that will contain some gold, a chance at a rare gem, a chance at a flask/elixir (determined by spec), a good chance of receiving a non-combat pet (including cross faction pets), and a very rare chance at receiving a mount. The pets offered come from a wide variety of sources, and include companions like the Razzashi Hatchling, Cockatiel, and Tiny Sporebat, but the mounts are those specifically only available through dungeons (not raids), like the Reins of the Raven Lord from Sethekk Halls, Swift White Hawkstrider from Magister's Terrace, and Deathcharger's Reins from Stratholme.

This system is meant to address the unacceptable queue times currently being experienced by those that queue for the DPS role at max level. The long queue times are, of course, caused by a very simple lack of representation in the Dungeon Finder by tanks, and to some extent healers. We don't feel the tanking and healing roles have any inherent issues that are causing the representation disparity, except that fulfilling them carries more responsibility. Understandably, players prefer to take on that responsibility in more organized situations than what the Dungeon Finder offers, but perhaps we can bribe them a little. While this system gives tanks and healers something extra, the incentive is being provided so that we can help players in the DPS role get into more dungeons, get better gear, and continue progressing.

While the gold, gems, flasks, and elixirs are OK incentives, we knew we needed something more substantial. We had briefly considered Valor Points and epics, but decided that wouldn't be working toward the goal of helping DPS players progress, and ultimately wouldn't keep tanks and healers in the Dungeon Finder system for very long. We settled on pets and dungeon-found mounts as they’re cosmetic/achievement items that players tend to try to get on their own, so why not change that up and offer them a chance to get some of those elusive pets and mounts in a way that also helps other players? Even if they don't get a pet or mount, or get one they already have, the gold and other goodies still feel rewarding enough that it won't feel like a waste of effort.

We think it's a pretty solid incentive to get tanks and healers queuing, give max-level players another way to collect the pets and mounts they so desire, and above all, to improve wait times for DPS players sitting in queues. In the case of lower level dungeons, it's actually not uncommon for DPS to be the least represented role, and so if this new system works out and we're pleased with the results, we may consider applying this same mechanic to lower level dungeons as well.
This article was originally published in forum thread: Patch 4.1 Preview -- Dungeon Finder: Call to Arms started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 1855 Comments
  1. Skippert's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Bucky Mclachlan View Post
    Again for the 100th time. WHAT THE FUCK IS FREE ABOUT THIS?
    Yes, the chance is probably 1-2% for both dungeon drop and the bag, but why do you get angry? People complain to complain because they're losers/depressed/hypocrits etc. They're not worth your time. Use your adrenaline on something useful man, maybe some sports
  1. Bucky Mclachlan's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by GroudleIOM View Post
    This will NOT shorten queues for DPS. Think about it, a tank who regularly does 5 mans with a guild or friends will not get the bonuses so he will be more likely to break away and queue solo for the rewards. This leaves 3 more DPS likely to queue in the dungeon finder. Whichever way you look at it, this idea is ridiculous. Tanks already get a benefit that they dont have to wait. It just works at the moment. A DPS knows that they have to wait and they accept that. I dont see it as a problem at all.
    Ya cuz people are totally gonna stop doing guild runs over this. You're clueless. My guild wants to do a heroic, it's not going to fly over well for me to tell them off every time so I can get the stupid loot bag.
  1. Pacster's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Floboduck View Post
    Although i know a lot of good DPS i also have come across many that could only be classed as window licking morons. Try dealing with 3 tarded DPS as a tank or healer it's horrible.

    That's how it always is...you only see the mistakes with others. I mean, as a shadow I have seen a darn lot of instances where I had to switch out of the shadow form cause the healer either couldn't keep up with the damage done to the group...or because the healer was dead due to a bad tank who didn't manage to hold aggro vs. the healer.
    And let's not forget: Each group has 3 chances for a bad dd, but only 1 chance for a bad healer or a bad tank... ;-)

    I still won't play a healer with my priest. I always thought that it is pretty boring to only look at the health bars and cast a maximum of 3-5 different spells...especially when you see that as a shadow I'm used to one of the the most difficult priority lists and have among the most options(from damage, to dispell, to cc, to heal support) during a fight.
  1. Valamivan's Avatar
    This is one of the silliest ideas Blizz ever made up, on-par with the infamous Tol Barad "fix". All they do is cover the tanks with free stuff. No other role will ever see any of this. I just can't believe they think more than 2 minutes about these ideas of theirs, it's sooooo... silly.
  1. Bucky Mclachlan's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Skippert View Post
    Yes, the chance is probably 1-2% for both dungeon drop and the bag, but why do you get angry? People complain to complain because they're losers/depressed/hypocrits etc. They're not worth your time. Use your adrenaline on something useful man, maybe some sports
    I'm not angry, I'm typing in caps so people are more likely to read because that's some they don't seem to do before they post, let alone think.

    Take your condescending bullshit somewhere else please.
  1. Kirgresh's Avatar
    plz.... make the bag BoA before it's open.

    I already have those rare items, but it would be fair for other pure DPS who are tanking on their alts.

    Short Q time is not a "so awsome" reward. Tanks, who already have short Qs, will tank for even more rewards, while DPS will get.... a bit faster Qs and nothing else.

    I think making the bag BoA will help even more their goal to lowering DPS Q since ppl WILL go to an alt and tank / learn to tank to get the rewards on their main.... and when they'll have what they wanted, they'll keep running it for other toons.
  1. Daedius's Avatar
    The fuck is this ? Tanks are ALWAYS in demand, so you're telling me Tanks are ALWAYS going to benefit off the perk of getting the goodie bag, where DPS, lets face it, will NEVER get it - and more so annoyingly so as they can get mounts, pets, gems, etc. from said bag !?


    Seriously, W T F ???


    While I can see the intentions of this, this is beyond bloody RETARDED to say the least, as there's numerous classes that don't have a tanking spec, so they're at a severe disadvantage from this that goes BEYOND unfair.


    Tanks already get the fucking benefit of having instant queues, not waiting around an age as a DPS... heck, even my main (A Priest Healer), has to wait 10-20 minutes to get into an instance.
  1. thilicen's Avatar
    This will lead to a lot of undergeared scrubs respeccing tanks and healers just for this. Can't wait.
  1. Idria's Avatar
    Hybrid bias change much?

    I dont see how this is fair towards a mage or hunter who dont have the option to tank/heal ... also tanks have had it easier farming these mounts than a mage for example ...
  1. Skippert's Avatar
    I still won't play a healer with my priest. I always thought that it is pretty boring to only look at the health bars and cast a maximum of 3-5 different spells
    That's the whole problem with WoW. All the new content in the world does not change the core gameplay, which is rather slow, static and passive. In TBC Blizzard already announced they wanted healing to be less about "looking at bars and filling em up". They have not delivered. It's like Obama, big progressive structural changes promised, only marginal changes.

    That's why it's time for a new game. Tera, Titan games with a (in Titan's case - hopefully) more faster paced, action packed and dynamic gameplay.
  1. fierceangel's Avatar
    Many tanks capable of soloing the easy content those mounts drop from will more than probably have them already. Not really a great incentive, they should of done something better than this.
  1. Skippert's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Bucky Mclachlan View Post
    I'm not angry, I'm typing in caps so people are more likely to read because that's some they don't seem to do before they post, let alone think.Take your condescending bullshit somewhere else please.
    For the record: I actually agree with you, but why waste time on losers? You can't convince them man, all they think is "omg tanks get more than me, this change sucks". They're not capable if thinking about the big picture.
  1. jaksan's Avatar
    Why are dps whining? You are not losing a shit, you are insteed getting shorter queues, how is that bad in any way? Sure tanks will get something extra but you will too. It is a fucking win win situation. People are so stupid................
    PS: I am DPS
  1. Idria's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Skippert View Post
    That's the whole problem with WoW. All the new content in the world does not change the core gameplay, which is rather slow, static and passive. In TBC Blizzard already announced they wanted healing to be less about "looking at bars and filling em up". They have not delivered. It's like Obama, big progressive structural changes promised, only marginal changes.

    That's why it's time for a new game. Tera, Titan games with a (in Titan's case - hopefully) more faster paced, action packed and dynamic gameplay.
    Only thing that have changed is now is you have to think and watch or know if a boss is going to do a big hit or not and adjust healing accordingly
  1. mmoc2f0222e775's Avatar
    Mounts...bad call. Very bad call. Doesn't matter how rare they are, farming them is essentially trivialised.
  1. DrahkenKahn's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by wolfieone View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by illindarious View Post
    But it's tanks and healers that get the quick que's already. So they are also going to get more rewards as well? While the dps that wait 30-45 minutes or longer get nothing new?
    You're not screwed- your just not responsible for the group living or dying usually.

    Lol, unless you're a hunter. In which case you get blamed for every wipe regardless of whose fault it actually is. Pally tank fails to hold aggro (because he has Righteous Fury off) on the two groups he pulled at once after the priest says he's ready to heal even though he has no mana and dps gear, while the mage stands in the fire and keeps breaking CC, and the rogue is AFK? Hunter's fault. I've seen it. I can't UN-see it!

    Edit: Just to be clear, I've been the hunter in a situation extremely similar to that, and the mage in situation fairly similar to that. (In my defense, logically, standing in fire should power a fire mage up, shouldn't it? ;p )
  1. Pacster's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by jaksan View Post
    Why are dps whining? You are not losing a shit, you are insteed getting shorter queues, how is that bad in any way? Sure tanks will get something extra but you will too. It is a fucking win win situation. People are so stupid................
    PS: I am DPS
    Cause you don't see the other side: What if tanks and healers don't join anymore unless they are called to arms? How will that shorten the queue?
    I mean, if I was a healer or a tank I definitely wouldn't join anymore unless I was called to arms.
  1. IKT's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by BeerWolf View Post
    While I can see the intentions of this, this is beyond bloody RETARDED to say the least, as there's numerous classes that don't have a tanking spec, so they're at a severe disadvantage from this that goes BEYOND unfair.
    1) You're an idiot, shut up.

    2) You've confused the point of the changes, the goal wasn't "how can we reward tanks for being awesome?" it was "how can we reduce queue times for dps?", once you learn to read and figure that out, then post again.


    Quote Originally Posted by Pacster View Post
    Cause you don't see the other side

    I mean, if I was a healer or a tank I definitely wouldn't join anymore unless I was called to arms.
    Cause YOU can't see it from the other side, so you make shit up. Stop, you look like an idiot.
  1. Idria's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by jaksan View Post
    Why are dps whining? You are not losing a shit, you are insteed getting shorter queues, how is that bad in any way? Sure tanks will get something extra but you will too. It is a fucking win win situation. People are so stupid................
    PS: I am DPS
    I had no problems with queue as I had friends who tanked and I healed or dpsed also sometimes I tanked and they dpsed this change just ruins the play with friends/guild member theme
  1. Tantric's Avatar
    I am not sure this is going to help. I think you will see a few baddies queue as tanks and heals now, and fail utterly. And dps will wait still wait. This doesn't address the real issue, which is tanking and healing should be made more attractive and fun. All Cata did was make both more challenging. Personally, I did not have a problem with it, but that is no way to attract more people in this game. DPS always holds the least responsibility and the easiest time dealing with mechanics. Even the hardest dps rotations are forgiving compared to tanking and healing.

    So, either blizz makes tanking and healing faceroll, or Tanks and healers get some RARE GEMS and dime a dozen dps is still going to wait.


    My suggestion for those dps that are having trouble with queue times? Learn to tank or heal...

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