Pick Up Groups are the name given to parties that form without a previous agreed-upon roster or schedule, in order to take on content that can't be handled solo at that level.
I've written a lot about them here in my blog, because over the years of playing, I've come to recognize the high value of them for any player who likes to experience the depth of the game in all of its aspects, and the social value that PUGging has given me when it comes to holding my own with new friends I make while playing the game.
Why PUG?
Lots of answers spring to mind, but some of the main ones for me, are this:
Why I PUG:
- I like the concentrated encounters that dungeon runs offer (versus questing) - less running around, more playing
- I like the quietness of a small guild of introverts for my general hangout - that chat window isn't big enough to have real conversations going on very often
- My friends aren't always available for what I want to do, or there aren't enough of us
- I like my toons and love to practice all of their skills. Playing with different classes in a familiar encounter adds spice
- As I PUG, I meet other players who are solid in skill and attitude and we become friends, and I begin to meet their friends
- As my experience in PUGs grow, I'm invited to other parties with people I know play well more - and good players tend to gather together.
- As a writer, PUGs also inspire me in compiling educational information for those who, like me, have a competitive edge to do well in whatever they do, even if they don't have raiding aspirations :)
Why I Want My Friends To PUG
- So that when you decide to join in on a dungeon run I advertise on chat in the Outland (or at level 70), you're not making all of the cardinal sins that PUG-experienced players learned while PUGging in Azeroth. I don't want to have to say %26#8220;dude, you stink%26#8221;.
- So you have a basic clue of what you need to do to handle heroics and I don't have to ask you each time whether you're heroics geared when you say you'd like to come along
- I want friends who will invite me into their dungeon group, without any type of reliance on me to help fill out the rest of the group.
- I want to share experiences with my friends, as it's much more fun that way - as long as it's not my friend who is committing cardinal dungeon party sins out of lack of experience (and thus looking like they're way younger than they are)
Now, that having been said, let me say this as well:
My Hunter was my first one up, and she really didn't do a LOT of PUGs. I did some, and killed a lot of people until I figured out how to control my pet and use it as a tank, and negotiate tight areas with difficulty getting Ranged to be able to sling arrows.
When I hit Outland the day of the expansion release, I didn't PUG at ALL with that toon, just did quests until I hit 70. I still rarely PUG with her as my Mage came up and that's where I got comfortable with PUGging and my role in it.
My second and subsequent toons have all PUGged a lot. In fact, my Healing Priest who just hit 69 in her second run of Shadow Labs, has been PUGging since level 38 almost exclusively for experience and leveling (52-58 I gave up, went Shadow and ground my way to Outland then went back holy and back into LFG). The toons lower than her are also on the same trek, with a few more traded run-throughs with friends added in there.
So, I understand getting familiar with the game, making a few friends and doing quests with another person or two, and only having larger parties on rare occasions to take down some group quest outside an instance... but once someone has any aspiration to get some gear from dungeons or experience the whole dungeon thing, I think PUGging is important and a respectful way to show your friends you want to do your part to be a solid contributor in the group.
So, maybe you don't PUG with this main toon for a bit, maybe you PUG with a lowbie where others are just as inexperienced as you. The skills transfer to your higher level toon as many are basic dungeon etiquette and dungeon processes more than class skills.
And of course, if you're on a 14.4k modem or simply don't have the time to even consider dungeon instances, no need to PUG.
But please, when I ask if any DPS wants to join in on a run that's forming in the Outland (Azeroth is way more forgiving and quite okay - it's where everyone is still learning the ropes), don't decide that now is the day you're going to %26#8220;try dungeons%26#8221;. Jumping in to the deep end will be stressful for both of us ;)
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