I play duo all the time but the problem is that you get penalized for it and the quest system is so broken that some of my quests are permanently broken and impossible to complete even when cancelling and starting the quest alone again. This game was not designed with two players in mind or a party for that fact. I appreciate that more co-op content be it party or duo is being added and considered for the future although playing with a friend makes the game a lot more fun and encouraging to play. I would imagine a lot less players would stop playing if this game weren't so focused on encouraging solo or large party content.

If you learn a new language on your own, you will likely stop after a few weeks because you're not doing it with a friend. This concept can also be used in games. Even though that games lean more solo these days, I believe that playing optionally with a friend is a great idea moving forward. The penalty for playing with a friend is too high IMO. Unfortunately this would mean less competition in an open world because why grind alone when you can grind with a stranger? I think this would go against PA's vision of an open contested world. A tricky conundum!

As much as more interactive group content is needed, PA have continued to have a very limited stance on this since launch.

I'm not entirely sure why PA (amongst other things) are soo allergic to the idea of meaningful player to player interaction, but there definitely needs to be some real effort put into future content itself, rather than half-baked ideas that sound good announcement-wise, but hold no viability or weight behind them.

Most group spots have failed, as they were never trully viable progression spots, other than miru, which eventually died out due to high char levels not being important anymore & better exp spots existing.

Turos was kind of a forced approach to this, as it was a REQUIREMENT to obtain the BiS armor gear, but this took away the option for people to solo it, which was another failed design choice around group content interacting with gear progress.

There needs to be more flexbility around group content as a whole, rather than just pve.
PA put in far too many restrictions (sandbox game btw), in fear of exploitation, but this is mostly due to PA regularly making poor design decisions in my honest opinion.

It's not question of party/solo than implement an auto adapting system to the zone/loot/monsters and the number of player in group.

The more the player are, the more the monsters are stronger and then loot adapted.

Something like "two player or more" until 5 (because this is the actual limit of the party), then get a real auto adaptative algorythm where players could really enjoy their time and not dispute each other about loot and then go back playing solo.

The system is already partly in place it would be only an enhancement.

With a system like this, door could be opened to more thing like "raids" in platoon in some kind of special event.

I'd realy like to have some day something splash on the screen like  "Monster attack Calpheon ! Defends it at all cost !!"; then everyone running to  a special NPC in town to be automaticaly group to a giant raid party to defends the city. The event ending when the monster would be push back to a red line arround the city.

Dreaming.

Unfortunately i think your vision on how the new players play your game is not accurate.

Waragon/Basilik > it is sad to reduce these spots only for "New Players/Season", as they won't even waste their time here, or veteran player will tell them to not go there, cause these zone are not profitable.

Shultz Guard Monster Zone > Again "New Players/Season" will be PowerLeveled at Gyfin underground or will go solo at Desert Naga or else, just make it profitable to bring in some players/ veteran players

New bosses with Land of the Morning Light > it's a good thing to have new content, but you may want to update ALL the group spot that are just not worth to grind.

Black Desert in a marathon if you want people go to group spot other than Gyfin Upper, just make the worth on the long-run.

they should try to create new grind zones which consist out of both a solo and a group grind spot, where it can balance itself sonewhat out where group and solo trash loot are equally rewarding, which would mean that group spot can sell for less silver/each but evens out because of the clear speed in /h time (it doesn't have to be this way, group grind should be more rewarding) , they can even add a difficulty option like in the snow area to make even more rewarding. so much potential. it's an mmorpg so make enough content for both type of players, also grind spot mechanics are a must, it is super awesome.

how many group spots do we have now?

After liking everyones post in favor of more party content its safe to say we can all agree this is what as players not just want but need.

For upcoming content : dedicated group play I rather it not be soloable at all.

For current content: Make an algorithim that makes the bosses/mobs increasingly/decreasingly harder depending on the number of players and adjust loot accordingly. For example {-Attoraxxion-}  has a nice concept, but the amount of puzzles makes it honestly annoying and not really that satisfying to play,(after first time completion no real need to go through it again) literally no one queues for it(at least in my experience ive sat in queue using the Attoraxion Party Finder and left after about 10 hours with not being able to get a full group), but I do like the fact theres a solo mode so you can learn the mechanics i.e before hopping to a more challenging version with other players.

A nice change would be for example,

Vaha dungeon for farming cron stones (every completion can net you 10-50 crons depending on certain factors((# of deaths in party, clear speed, damage dealt)).

Syca dungeon for artisian memories(1-10x) 

Yolu for silver(300-500m per completion(again depending on factors said previously)).

All in all repatable content that we can farm for specific materials that will help in our gear/char progression but is at the same time somewhat enjoyable.

An implemented hunt system for the new region sort of like monster hunter world where we have to go on expeditions(follow tracks, gain knowledge etc) while partied up with other players and take on the respective bosses would be nice to see as well. 

Just my 2 cents, we don't simply need more grindspots as "group content", but I agree that at least every new region should bring one group spot, even if it works like murrowak labyrinth (We would go around on groups trying to spawn multiple bosses in different channels every hour, keeping track of the spawn times on like 10 or so channels)

The group content that should be pushed should be more fun and creative though
Dungeons were a great addition, let's work on similar weekly content for starters:
- Bring back altar of blood with meaningful rewards and more waves.

- Update altar of valtarra rewards to be relevant to current game state.

I agree. I believe the community has been asking for better/more group content for countless year's. 

Please start investing time within PearlAbyss to start coming up and implementing good group content idea's. The best idea's would be something everyone in a guild, no matter their gearscore could potentially do.

As, almost all group content is gatekept by some restriction's. Whether it be , lacking of gearscore,boat,xyz skill/life skill level etc etc.

It was also a shame that the arena of solace doesn't even have a group option. (for ranked at least) 

....

signed,

for a better bdo

I totally agree and with the Season being an awesome catch up mechanic, they could rework a couple of old spots which basically nobody grinds, like Fadus, into Group content. Make them stronger and a group spot to grind. That's just an idea, because i think that with Elvia there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to group spots.

I am also very curious how they are going to implement the new "Boss Grind" System in the new region, they were talking about, which should be different to what we are used to. This is a great chance to start thinking about more complex group grinding zones, because i personally really enjoy small mechanics at grind spots and having the chance to grind with your buddies is awesome.

But i also think that the focus shouldn't be on group spots necessarily, because from my personal point of view BDO is also a very good game BECAUSE you can basically play on your own 24/7. So i guess my point is that they should just come up with a smart solution from which you can grind as a single person but also in a group from let's say lvl 50/60 or whatever to endgame gear, so people can pick whatever they want to do.