How to Improve Your Dungeon Finder Experience
Since the time I started this blog, a lot has changed in the World of Warcraft. Gone are the days of spending an hour assembling a 5-man dungeon group. Instead, you can just click a button and queue up with people across many realms. This has definitely changed the way we experience 5-man dungeons. The following are a few ways to get the most out of Dungeon Finder, with respect to leveling, obtaining gear upgrades, and your overall game experience.
1. Be Able to Fill Multiple Roles
This rule of thumb hasn’t changed. Even though the dungeon finder queue makes the process simpler and gets you a group faster, it still favors those who can tank or heal. DPS are still a dime a dozen. If you are capable of tanking or healing, you will be rewarded with a faster queue time. Being a tank usually reduces the queue time to close to zero. Healers might wait a minute or two. DPS will need to wait anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. If you absolutely abhor tanking or healing, go to step 2:
2. Work Around the Queue Timer
If you’re a DPS role, take the time to complete a couple of quests while waiting for your dungeon, but be ready to join the group when your queue is ready. This is far more productive than sitting around Dalaran complaining about the woes of being a DPS. Alternatively, your time waiting in the queue is also good for finishing a couple of quick chores around the house! The main point is that it’s an opportunity to use your time productively.
3. Don’t Anger The Tank (or Healer!)
Some tanks require rage to use their abilities (warriors and druids, I’m looking at you!) You want your tank to generate rage from the mobs they are fighting – not from berating them in party chat! Unless you want to wait another ten minutes for a new tank, it’s a good idea from a political standpoint to be nice to your tank. If they’re going slower than you’d like, ask them nicely if they can move faster, but don’t demand it. If they aren’t waiting for the healer to mana up, point it out nicely rather than being hostile. Of course, if they are a “rockstar tank” and don’t care about any of this, there’s no reason to let them take away your enjoyment of the game. Vote kick away!
4. The Little Green Button
See that little green button on your mini-map? It lets you zone in and out of the instance. If your tank drops group, you can zone out and continue questing while you await a replacement. Similarly, it can also be used as a short cut to return to the front of the instance, by zoning out and zoning in again (if you are not in combat). This teleport feature can come in handy in many situations.
5. Solving the DPS Dilemma
Yes, it’s still true – DPS are still a dime a dozen. Most people simply don’t want to tank or heal. Of course, “good” DPS are not a dime a dozen. For most dungeons, average DPS will do, though. If you prefer the damage dealing aspect of the game, you can insta-queue for another dungeon by staying in party with your tank. Always ask your tank if he’s interested in running another dungeon afterward, before dropping party. They won’t always say yes, but if they do, you just saved a bunch of time waiting for your next queue.