"Lurting" and how not to do it
by Mike Schramm 
Jan 22nd 2008 at 10:01AM
Lurting, as you can see in the video above, is a made-up term for looting during battle. Sometimes, we can't help it (yes, I'm a sometime lurter, too, I'm sorry to say)-- the thrill of seeing shiny sparkles on a foe is just too much. But while it seems like it won't matter, odds are that that's when things will go wrong-- looting not only distracts you from the fighting, but also can cause exactly what happens in this video. If a loot window pops up while you're trying to keep the main tank healed. And it's a distraction that could cost the whole group.
In short, no looting during combat: no lurting allowed. That loot ain't going anywhere, and it's got your name all over it. Wait until all the sheeps are dead, and all the targets are down, and then right click away and claim your goodies.
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Instances
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Pheefee Jan 23rd 2008 2:23PM
Wow, lotta people getting their panties in a bunch over this.
To the rabid etymologists: the term has its origins in the tongue-tied mispronounciation from a guildie who fairly often goes "tazmanian devil" with his words when he's flustered. Suggesting 'better' terms for the scenario is to miss the point.
The greater reason for the video (I believe) is (besides Nibuca getting to make fun of her brother) the following exchange between the folks on the run:
someone loots in combat, prompting a guildie to call out 'lurter'
voice 1: Goddam sheep. Every fucking time, I swear to god--
voice 2: I think we should have a guild rank of Lurter.
voice 1: but then we wouldn't have any other ranks.
voice 3: Well, there goes the officer class....
Aside from in-combat looting revealing one's magpie/ADHD nature, potentially distracting other group members, and covering up relevant UI configurations... We call out "lurter!" to indicate to the group/raid that there's still mobs that need to be dealt with.
Arboreous Jan 22nd 2008 10:12AM
So what was the bad thing that happened? Looked like they mopped up the moon just fine but it was a little fuzzy.
Ninjit Jan 22nd 2008 10:18AM
First: If you can't handle combat loot rolls. You're real slow.
Second: CC is for the weaK!!!!
-A random Tankadin.
GopherFender Jan 22nd 2008 10:45AM
'CC is for the weak'
Amen to that my brother :P
- Another random Tankadin
Zumwalah Jan 22nd 2008 11:12AM
in a nub 5 man setting, combat loot away, who cares right.. but in a real raid setting Combat looting can cause major porblems, and Wipes. ive seen it happen
for example Your doing TK trash and a Nether vortex or some other epic drops.. right away everyone starts saying why they need, or who should get it.. and can cause wipes.
Pzychotix Jan 22nd 2008 3:21PM
Master Looter? Hello?
samba Jan 22nd 2008 10:23AM
Most boring video ever!
Tridus Jan 22nd 2008 10:25AM
Its real fun when you get to Hyjal and basically have to loot in combat if you want to loot the trash at all. When you first start there, you're likely spending any time between waves drinking.
Tim Jan 22nd 2008 10:26AM
What's the problem? If you are healing someone and have them selected, a loot window does nothing. It won't seize control of your interface; it won't even block your view of the action.
Plus, this video was terribly anticlimactic. And sorry but can you explain how they came up with "lurting"? Looting + Hurting?
Dipstick Jan 22nd 2008 10:28AM
As the tankadin said, if you can't handle looting during combat then you can't multi-task. If you can't do that, you're not really going to go beyond 5 man instances.
I always combat loot (unless it's on a boss encounter), and I see no reason not to since I can do my job at the same time and speed up the run. However I might give it a second thought if everyone else in the group stops what they're doing for 5 seconds and starts typing in party chat whether or not they can need it.
cybershamus Jan 22nd 2008 10:32AM
The problem with "clooting" is that if you are looting during combat, you aren't doing your job!
Clooters get one warning, then a rkick.
Swiss Jan 22nd 2008 10:38AM
Apparently you've not yet experienced the Vashj encounter if you're so against looting in combat...
clozer Jan 22nd 2008 12:01PM
I'm pretty sure this article isn't referencing the vashj fight.
Snide comment aside.
Ktok Jan 22nd 2008 4:16PM
The problem would be a window popping up in combat at just the wrong moment when someone goes to click something and accidentally hits Need when they can’t use the item, due to the loot window popping up right where they were about to click.
That’s the worst case scenario, and I’ve seen it happen once or twice.
Personally, I feel that looting in the middle of a fight (when it isn’t required) just shows that your attention isn’t fully on the fight. Don’t hand me that multitasking line either. You can heal, talk on the phone, chew gum, and pick fuzz out of your navel at the same time too, but you’re still less focused on your primary job than you could be. Don’t slack. Ever. It makes bad habits.
JPN Jan 22nd 2008 10:40AM
Meh. This happens accidentally every so often too, if someone right-clicks to attack a mob, the mob moves, and you loot a corpse. If they don't tab to select, etc.
BillDoor Jan 22nd 2008 10:40AM
I find in-combat looting annoying, but hardly game-breaking.
And yes, Vashj requires in-combat looting.
cybershamus Jan 22nd 2008 10:50AM
I don't see where he mentioned Vashj in his article. Even if he did, it wouldn't make it ok to do in other encounters.
Svenn Jan 22nd 2008 10:44AM
http://cache.bordom.net/images/cb38cb5004473ea6ba5e8f8c2f602940.jpg
(Not a keylogger, lol)
Cailleach Jan 22nd 2008 10:44AM
I'm evil. First combat loot gets a polite request not to. Second gets The Warning: If one insists on looting in combat, I will roll NEED on each and every item. Then I follow through. Now, to be fair, I usually whisper the non-offending party members and tell them we'll roll or otherwise distribute anything I need roll on later, after the jerk has gone. I end up getting thank yous more than mutters this way. Of course, this is for pugging.. my guildies don't pull that sh*t.
JPN Jan 22nd 2008 10:58AM
Sounds like the jerk isn't gone until you leave the group.