Breakfast Topic: How do you distribute 5-man loot?
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Mar 16th 2008 at 8:00AM
I've noticed something a bit unexpected and confusing over the last few months: apparently, the way my server generally deals with loot in 5-mans is strange. Rather than rely on the in-game roller, we pass on all loot, and let people call need on a piece. Then we all roll need or greed on the stuff. If there's an enchanter in group, they can disenchant the loot for the winner on a greed roll and hand over a shard. Lately, though, since Blizzard started allowing server transfers, it seems a lot of the new 70s have come in and told us that this method is a bit weird. Why don't we just use the in-game rolling system? Why should enchanters be expected to automatically be willing to shard gear for non-enchanters without compensation? These are questions that are really alien to most of our server community, but there they are.
So, I thought I'd ask you, dear readers. How do you deal with 5-man loot on your servers or groups? Do you just use the built in roll system? Do you use Master loot? Do you pass and discuss? Is it generally expected that an Enchanter will gladly shard loot for everyone in the group, or is it expected that an Enchanter only need shard his own loot?
Filed under: Enchanting, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics, Instances
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
MakoExist Mar 16th 2008 8:08AM
I play on two servers, Alliance Khaz'Goroth (Oceanic) and Horde Tichondrius (US). On Khaz'Goroth, it is the pass and discuss and on Tichondrius we use the in game looting system.
Xtazey Mar 16th 2008 8:08AM
In the beginning of the run, we ask if there's an enchanter or "sharder" as we call them. If there is one, everybody passes loot they don't need and need what they need, and the sharder greeds. In the end of the run we share the shards either rolling for 3/4/5 best rolls get one shard or winner takes it all.
enkafiles Mar 16th 2008 9:00AM
EU-Ysera, same here. If there is an enchanter, need rolls need, enchanter rolls greed, everyone else passes and we roll on shards directly or at the end of the run.
It saves a lot of time on discussions and makes money, since Large Prismatic Shards are worth 25g each on the AH.
Not every group I've pugged with has done it, though - if more than one person doesn't get the concept of pass-so-it-is-sharded, the run is usually doomed...
Moketronics Mar 16th 2008 2:50PM
ditto...
I'm an enchanter, and I insist on DEing throughout the instance then distributing based on highest roll down at the end.
Aigarius Mar 17th 2008 12:03AM
On Blackhand-US it is basically the same, except enchanter rarely bother to greed and just pass by reflex, so then we have a quick question if anyone want that for an off-spec.
BoE blues, epics and patterns are passed and rolled on. BoP patterns are rolled by people who can craft them now and as a secondary for people that will be able to craft them sometime. Primal Nethers are needed by crafters who can use them.
Ariya Mar 16th 2008 8:11AM
On Ravencrest EU the most common thing to do is: Need for mainspecc, greed for offspecc and pass if you dont need at all, if the loot is passed all around it is either disenchanted (never heard anyone asking for compensation for de'ing, I sure never would) or we do a random roll if no enchanter is present. This is the way we do in Kara and ZA as well.
Everyone passing and then distributing is only used in dkp raids, when the rl forgets master loot :)
Ariya 70 priest Ravencrest EU
Jamie Mar 16th 2008 8:26AM
Don't see the problem here. If you need an item, roll need. What is the point in passing and then rolling again?
If no-one can use an item to improve one of their gear sets at all then you roll on a shard, you just treat it like the boss dropped a shard.
Disenchantment is a last resort though, I'd far prefer someone gets an item of loot, even if they only use it now and then in their damage gear or whatever.
Jack Spicer Mar 16th 2008 11:17AM
The point is the "discussion". If everyone just used the need/greed buttons, then locks and mages can't be discouraged from grabbing a cloak that is heavy on spirit and favors +healing - which they want for the +damage, for example.
Or maybe someone would point out, "hey you already won two pieces of gear it would be nice if you could pass on one".
I guess for players who have been playing this longer, using the default ui to roll need on something kinda feels like ninja'ing it.
Jamie Mar 16th 2008 1:16PM
Fair enough, in my experience though the 'discussion' takes place and then we click Need/Greed/Pass. I suppose it might be different on a particuarly contentious piece of loot, but usually in a 5-man it's obvious who the loot is best fit for.
Tekkub Mar 16th 2008 5:15PM
Discussion then roll with the built-in is what I experience (and encourage) too. People who do all-pass are generally over-paraniod and stuck in the habbit from way back when the roll system didn't work well (like what, 2 years ago).
It's really quite simple, you just say "hey can I need?" 90% of the time, you're the only one who has use for the item anyway. If two people have equal claim, they both roll. If one person has already got an item, most of the time they politely give the item to someone else. Frankly the last time I ever had someone ninja an item from me was before BC came out...
Hell, even if the group is an all-pass group, waiting, asking and rolling need has never failed me. If you want the item, never be in a rush to pass just cause the group thinks that's how it should be done... you're only encouraging someone to ninja it from you. But also, never EVER roll on an item without asking.
GrumblyStuff Mar 16th 2008 5:18PM
Also it filters out the ninjas early.
winterimute Mar 16th 2008 8:29AM
Back on my old server, Silver Hand, we did the same thing. Everyone passed, then we would discuss who could use it most. If nobody needed it, those who wanted it would roll.
I haven't had a chance to do a 5 man on my new server, Farstriders, so I can't confirm if it's a server by server thing.
Lios Mar 16th 2008 8:39AM
We all pass on bop and then discuss need. This is to prevent people needing that don't really need it, as in, it would be a major upgrade for someone and just a minor upgrade for another. If we'd use the ingame system, they'd both need and the one for which it is a minor upgrade could win. While if we'd discuss it, the one with the minor upgrade might decide to pass in favor of the other and everyone is happy.
Never had an enchanter unwilling to shard loot for others btw.
Khanmora Mar 16th 2008 11:23AM
Coming from one of the older servers, we do the pass and discuss method for just that reason. I think it has a lot to do with how long you've been playing the game and how ingrained it is on the server.
It used to be there was no need just pass and greed so the system evolved back then to pass on BOP and figure it out afterward when everyone is a little less twitchy. Generally people who were playing back then have just gotten in the habit and the new buttons are mainly just ignored.
Mute Mar 16th 2008 8:36AM
In my server we generally use the in game roll system in pugs but guilds generally use the master loot system and then discuss who needs what.
Theserene Mar 16th 2008 8:43AM
If you need, you roll need.
If there is an enchanter in the group he rolls greed
If there is not an enchanter in the group you roll greed (unless you need it)
Passing and then using the /roll function seems odd.
Trowa Mar 16th 2008 8:46AM
On Draenor (US) I've seen it both ways, it seems to depend on the group. I personally find the pass before looting system strange. If you need it, need it. If something is left DE it, roll on shard.
Though we're talking 5-mans here I then think to kara+ and it's the same deal pass on everything (when master loot is forgotten)
olbaido Mar 16th 2008 9:01AM
I think the real thing to ask people is: "how long have you been playing WoW?" I've had a bit of both on my server; it seems that the players of the mind that the writer (and myself) are the people that have been playing for some time. The ones that immediately use the in game system are somewhat more green. That's just an opinion, not a blanket statement.
The old-school way seems so much more personable than the roller in game. The groups I go with, be them friends or PuGs, nearly always ask "mind if I take those?". That just seems to be the general response.
If I recall correctly, the in game roller was put in place to prevent ninjas. Either way, I'm glad the roller is there; but I'll only purely use it when it's unavoidable. Communication is king!
Smurrf Mar 16th 2008 9:03AM
Passing, then rolling off is common on servers that were around before the ingame loot roller was changed up. As I understand it, when it first came out, it was just need or pass. Those realms decided that it caused too much heartache to use the auto roller, especially when you can't take it back. So, most realms that were around then started passing, and now it's a server wide rule.
Just make damn sure you know what your server's rules are BEFORE you go on a run, and hit need...especially if you're a transfer. I had a healing trinket (the one from BF...go look at it) on my priest alt get taken from me by a ret pally because 'it increases damage'...even though he was told at least twice to pass on all blues during the run. Needless to say, his actions and the following discussion, where he pretty much had a bad attitude about being called out, placed him on my own personal blacklist.
Salifriey Mar 16th 2008 9:11AM
I'm on Turalyon server. we roll exactly how you described in to post. anyways, if no one can use the loot, and there is an enchanter, everyone should get to be able to roll it for a shard. I payed for 1/4 my enchants that way. my guild help fund another 1/4 (10 voids crystals for soulfrost, hells yes) and I either bought or grinded the remain material, also I send all the green boe items that I make/find to the enchanters in my guild, they disenchant for me and I got around 100+ arcane dust, a busload of Greater Planar essence, and a bushle of Large Prismatic Shards.