Gelid said:The primary problem for alb random groups is definitely class distribution. Asif it isnt hard enough to begin with, it's no small secret that RR5 is normally the turning point in the career of most albion fotm classes - they invariably join RvR guilds (/salute to those people who haven't done so yet) and most will then absolutely refuse to join a random group.
Of all the classes in alb I've noticed that this is definitely most apparent with sorcerers; if I port to emain at many times in the day there will be 3/4 FL/PE/etc sorcs hanging round the spot where the 'l337' groups tend to form -and no, this isn't the outcast group, its just sorcs in RvR guilds waiting for a fotm group, even if said groups already have a sorc and 2 others in the waiting list, they'd still prefer to wait than join a random group.
Minstrels are almost as bad, except they join stealther groups rather than guild groups, or prefer to duo etc. I remember the days when almost all minstrels devoted them self to the nonstealth arena but with the explosion of buffbots/stealth zergs this has become a thing of the past.
Clerics are obviously another essential in RvR groups, but they are too damn rare; most are either buffbotted, members of RvR guilds (again, this normally means they'd refuse a random group) or have given up on RvR in frustration (normally the result of them being the only cleric in a random RvR group, and paying for it!)
Obviously Albion's problem with pally's is their overpopularity; there's more of them than RvR groups and as a result you can almost guarantee that in 2 of every 3 random groups you join, there will be two palas.
I'm not criticising people for their style of play - RvR guilds are obviously more fun in RvR and people in them can't be criticised for what they do, in the same way that the warder zerg can't really be criticsed for what it does since zerging is often the only way of killing something (unless its eclipse in which case even a zerg might not work oO) What I do object to is when people in these guilds criticise random groups; its just not possible. Randoms don't have the time or resources to do so. 'Level a fotm class then' I hear you say - but that simply won't work as you can't be guaranteed the other 3/4 essential classes in a random group which would allow you to compete.
:worthy: Wise words and very correct imo.