Edit/prologue: This started as just a small post supporting matchmaking, it has grown into something more at this point. This is the community taking a stand and asking for in-game access to content we purchased, who don't believe they should have to leave the game to play the game. Opposing views are welcome as are suggestions to making the process of teaming up better/easier. Also please consider before calling people lazy or stupid for not just using LFG sites, that not everyone's life experience fits your own. Be it work, family, financial situation, whatever. There are many Guardians who just are not comfortable with playing with strangers. For them, using in game matchmaking is a huge step but one that they can get through. Going to a separate forum and posting for a group is something they will never be able to do and that doesn't make them bad people or any worse at this game than anyone, it just means they are wired differently than you. https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/126184301/0/0 I appreciate all the support for the post and I hope Bungie are still listening ---------------------------OP---------------------------- There's no more guarantee of success through a random group on LFG sites as there would be with in-game matchmaking. By including matchmaking and making it optional, it would have zero impact on the experience of anyone who didn't want to use it. As the game stands now, without friends on that happen to have not run already, the amount of unplayable content without having to leave the game to search for people is just stupid. [b][u]Raids[/u][/b] I initially suggested a matchmaking solution, but after discussing this with a fellow guardian, I believe an in-game lfg would be perfect for raids. I think the approach to take would be like Gears and Perfect Dark ran their multiplayer. An individual could choose to host a raid, search for raids or be randomly placed in a raid. The host would form a lobby and have the ability to select a minimum level requirement, raid difficulty level and number of open spaces for randoms to join (in case they want to save a few spots for friends to join). Those not hosting could again, browse a list of available raid parties or just select to be placed automatically in one (choosing which difficulty to be placed in). There could be modifiers for whether or not in-progress raids are acceptable or not. This is also how Bungie could solve the issue of no private Crucible matches in Destiny, by doing lobbies hosted just like raids. One thing you found in both Perfect Dark and Gears was that when you are in a lobby and going game to game with the same group over and over, even people that don't talk are talking by the third or fourth game. It's such an incredibly social approach and one I've never understood why Bungie never tried in Halo https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/129939506/0/0 [b][u]Prison of Elders[/u][/b] The level 28 is a joke. It's a minimal challenge with 3 randoms whether they're talking or not. Once you've run the level 28, you pretty much know what to do in higher difficulties. -Kill enemies. Disarm mine. Destroy mine. Kill target. Revive dead teammate. I’ve yet to have a group talk in the 28, but I’ve been invited twice to do the 34 after and everyone talked in it. There is no reason to not have matchmaking for the higher difficulties and beyond that, it’s mindboggling that there isn’t a system in place to remain grouped from the 28 if we choose and go right to the next difficulty. Another option could be to open the 34-35 matchmaking when we hit 34. A fellow guardian had the suggestion of matchmaking for the 28 and 32 and in-game LFG for the 34 and 35. Either way, we shouldn't be beholden to leaving the game to run them. [b][u]Trials of Osiris[/u][/b] This one is admittedly the most divisive. Most seem to agree there should be some form of MM for the rest. @Nico802vt made the point for ToO that [quote]If they had matchmaking you're most likely gonna get stomped. I bet you'd at some point run into someone without a mic and that is a KEY factor in being successful.[/quote] My response to that is [quote]That's a possibility, but I'd rather have that option and the chance to get in and play (and potentially run into good teammates to form a steady team) than not play at all. If I'm willing to take that risk, that should be my choice.[/quote] There's just no justifiable reason to release a 5 mission 1 strike expansion and make the endgame expansion 90% unplayable without friends on. If nothing else, there should be some matchmade equivalent to ToO, where we can at least meet others who want to run and possibly find teammates for the regular ToO. [b][u]Nightfalls[/u][/b] While I personally love to solo them, there's no reason to not have the option to search for a group for them either. So if you die, you RTO... You do that with a Fireteam too. Want an easy solution? When the randoms enter, [b]put them in a fireteam.[/b] Then if they wipe, they RTO together and can rerun it. There's a lot that is really great and really fun with this game and yet it's constantly undermined by maddening ancillary decisions. -no matchmaking -lack of vault space -inability to delete consumables to clear what little vault space exists -shipping with virtually no default chat options -shifting, confusing and often useless economies -lack of checkpoint or progress save systems for a game with an entire Zoo full of connection errors -virtually no online forum chat presence. Oh look, a thread with a Bungie reply! [quote]I'm moving this to #feedback yadda yadda.[/quote] -ignoring the actual feedback posts with great ideas for improving the game and instead catering to the nerf crowd. You pretty much pioneered console online matchmaking for the original Xbox, but haven't evolved at all in the last decade. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Edit: I gave DeeJ crap for leaving the discussion and accused him of turtling. I’m not going to back off the belief that as the go-between for us and Bungie, he should be willing to participate in more give and take with the community. I understand that sometimes people push too far and I have gone to bat for him in posts where people have personally attacking him, but it is not unreasonable to expect him to accept and respond to feedback to his statement. There are so many amazing posts and stories in this thread explaining why the current system just doesn't work for some people. I hope Bungie are actually paying attention and understanding there are casualties to their philosophy. The vast majority of posts have been overwhelmingly supportive, but there have been a few anti-matchmaking posts peppered in. Some have led real conversation and idea exchange, but most have come down to the same thought process. FEAR. HATE. MISTRUST. FEAR [quote]You’re going to get grouped with AFKers, trolls and people who suck[/quote] HATE [quote]I’m not gonna carry noobs and squeakers through ToO! I get twice the kills in strikes as my idiot teammates!”[/quote] MISTRUST [quote]Most people probably won’t use mics or won’t know what weapons to use.[/quote] I don't understand the notion that we should restrict content for millions, because someone might be bad or mean. You can’t go through life afraid of what might happen. ------------------------------------------------------------ Edit: Back to DeeJ, if you’re going to weigh in on a topic, it’s fair to expect you not just post and leave. There are too many guardians in this post that have valid concerns, questions, and reasons why LFG just doesn't work for them. They want answers and I believe they deserve to be heard and they deserve a response. I would say to anyone who wants legitimate answers and real change towards what we the players want as opposed to what Bungie feel is best for us... Keep bumping for truth. Thank you to all who've commented and read this far. See you all amongst the stars.