The Daily Quest: Gearscore
by Anne Stickney 
Jun 16th 2010 at 2:00PM
Here at WoW.com, we're on a Daily Quest (which we try to do every day, honest) to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere. Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment and you may see it here tomorrow! Take a look at the links below, and be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites.
Gearscore is one of those addons that seems to get everyone talking, one way or another. Some people love it, some people hate it. Personally I'm of the opinion that the player behind the gear is more important than the level of the gear they are toting around, but there are plenty of other people out there that think it's a really good base indicator of a player's skill. Let's check out what the blogosphere has to say about it:
- Noobding has some input on gearscore and you.
- Pugnacious Priest talks about gearscore as a recognized universal measurement.
- TankingTips says gearscore isn't going away, and suggests that maybe it's better this way.
- Qieth's Quips has a few grumbles about gearscore.
- Variant Avatar make the bold statement that gearscore is like a child wielding a loaded gun.
Filed under: The Daily Quest
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
feniks9174 Jun 16th 2010 2:06PM
Dangit, I really didn't want to roll a rogue . . . But that belf looks awesome in Rogue tier . . . . Dangit . . . .
BRB rolling rogue . . .
Hoggersbud Jun 16th 2010 2:07PM
Incoming argument. Put up your shields.
Mike Jun 16th 2010 6:22PM
Actually, I'm not even sure why there are any serious arguments against GS. GS is suppose to be the tool of the elitist hard core crowd. Estimates that I have gathered over the years, put the wow hardcore at around 15% of the total user base. That means there are plenty of non hard core types for people to group with or start there own groups with people who dont meet or like GS requirements.
I think thats why Blizzard hasnt taken any steps against GS, because this really is a player issue that hasnt nothing to with game balance, raid content, difficulty etc.
Orrdeath Jun 17th 2010 1:57AM
Before the whole GS tool came out it used to be LFM 2.7k Dps min. If you were heals or a tank your gear might actualy get checked by someone in the raid. Has anything really changed, one player judging another player simply on there gear or dps output. Your gear can be great, but if you wand, you had better stick to killing boars outside of goldshire.
Eregos ftw! Jun 16th 2010 2:17PM
I agree with tanking tips.
From my view, GS makes the game better. It gives me an idea of the potential of a player, thus allowing me to know whether they are reaching that or not. Now, the people that request 5600gs for ICC 10, that's going a bit far. I request 5.3 when running a PuG, because I plan to go far. I occasionally do alt runs that go as far as they can, which requires a 4700gs
Vladeon Jun 16th 2010 2:31PM
I agree, it's a great tool to quickly evaluate people's potential. The only time that problems occur is when players don't live up to that potential. As an example, I did an icc10 pug the other night and our first tank had a gs of 4800, which is more than enough for the first wing so long as the tank knows the fights and all that, however, after we wiped on Marrowgar, I took a look at his gear and some of it was pvp gear and then I looked at his armory and he only had 523 defense skill. We asked him to leave and then proceeded to go all the way to sindragosa (minus professor putricide and blood queen). But back to the topic, I usually feel more comfortable if everyone was at least 5k gs in 10 man icc, that way, if one person screws up a little bit, you have a small amount of leeway.
Bart Jun 16th 2010 2:19PM
Avatar makes some points which I agree with, GS can be used to tell generally tell how much someone can deal or take damage but people rely too much on a 4 digit number rather than being arsed to right click and choose 'inspect' at the very least, People should say as Avatar put it 'If you don't perform to X standard we will replace you" rather than not giving a guy a chance at all.
NeedsOfTheMany Jun 16th 2010 2:24PM
Everyone focuses on gear score, but it is really, simply, just a gear check...
When we run 25 man raids, never fails, we have to pug a few people (god forbid we have to pug healers)...gear score is just an initial way to check if a potential pugger has grinded heroics/emblems to get them into ICC/VOA.
Gear Score is ONE check...and guess what?, people with 5k+ gear scores still get kicked out of raids for horrible healing and sub-par dps...
As a raid leader, I ask if the pugg'er knows their dps rotation (very well?), I ask if they have flasks & fish feasts to contribut to the raid, I check to see if they at least have 2 pieces of tier gear...things that someone who raids (or wants to raid) would have.
To put the blame all this on an add-on that simply "helps" is silly..
my 2 cents
Mo Jun 16th 2010 5:48PM
I could see asking a pugger to have food and flask for them selves, but asking them to have them to share with your entire raid is a little much. Since you are just pugging to fill out a mostly guild run you should already have the raid wide items covered as a guild.
DragonFireKai Jun 16th 2010 2:24PM
The thing people need to understand is that GS is a tool. It is a tool with many flaws. For example, if you're using an item in each hand, and one is lower than the other, then simply unequipping the lower ilevel item will actually increase your GS. It doesn't take into account gearing choices due to spec, or superior itemization despite a lower ilevel.
In the end, all GS is really good for is weeding out the blatantly undergeared. Using it for any other purpose is doing yourself, and everyone you interact with, a blatant disservice.
jim Jun 16th 2010 3:30PM
Very true - and its good to note that just because an item has a higher gearscore and it looks like it has your stats doesn't mean that it's actually better for you. What good is an i245 wand that has loads of hit when I'm already capped? I'll get more out of my i232 wand with similar stats and more haste - same thing with trinkets.
One thing i'd like to see people back off a little on is when someone who is newer and still gearing up has pvp boots or bracers. Sometimes those PVP boots and bracers are a huge upgrade to anything else they've been able to get up to that point.
photofire1969 Jun 16th 2010 2:31PM
I take Gear Scores as a personal achiement basis only. I work to get my Gear Score up for my personal accomplishments.
Required GS's is anoying as having to Link an achievment to get in a pug. If you can't get in to get the achievment you are SOL, if you can't get in to get the gear to up your GS your sol. I've run with great players in blues or base level epic's who have out perfomed me and everyone in the group in DPS.
Some people take way too much stock in things and lose the aspect that trying your best and learning something new each day is 1/2 the FUN of this game. I play to enjoy myself, and wipes and struggles to complete something is more fun than being carried thru content.
Lets not forget the Farmers who level and sell that full bodied toon to people who don't know what they are doing.
Dreslav Jun 16th 2010 2:40PM
You're missing the point. While I understand that requiring achievements to run certain raids may put solid players in a bind, requiring a minimum level of gear does not. You can get up to 5500 GS using ToC raids. Some people seem to DEMAND that they run before they walk. Running, in this case, is the top-tier raid. Walking is earlier tiers of raiding.
Derrek Jun 16th 2010 2:33PM
People still use that addon?
Tomatketchup Jun 16th 2010 3:15PM
Lucky bastard.
Darky Jun 16th 2010 3:34PM
which server is this?
Mixx Jun 16th 2010 3:46PM
^^ This
Please let me know which server you play as I would love to abandon the GS nightmare that has invaded mine :(
thawedtheorc Jun 16th 2010 2:36PM
Went into ToC Heroic 5man this morning. Within 20 seconds the lazy tank went into a panic and asking how in the world I was going to heal the group.
I told him I had healed it plenty of times just fine.
Someone asked why were we kicking the healer and the tank said I had I barely had a 2.9 GS.
I then had to point out.. "Dude.. I equipped the lance...."
GS is simply for the intermediate and lazy player who either does not want to check gear or does not know how... period. (I know some just have those super busy lives that they only have the time to glance at a number... /rolls eyes
Alden Jun 16th 2010 3:27PM
The example you sited does not support your conclusion that GS is for lazy people.
I agree, in 5 mans, its completely useless. Kick someone if they aren't doing their job, otherwise leave them alone.
However, saying its just for lazy people is a comment only someone who has never tried or succeeded in running a successful 25 man pug would say. With a 10 man, ya, you can inspect gear/specs individually and get a good idea. However, in 25 mans, it simply isn't possible to do so.
If all you do is run random heroics, it is useless, you are correct. If all you do is guild runs, then also, you are correct.
Socialcockroach Jun 17th 2010 12:12AM
@Alden
I NO RIGHT!? Who has the time to evaluate if you are in a 25 man!!! And thawedtheorc OBVIOUSLY never tried a 25 man OR HE WOULD KNOW TOO ~queef~
It is very easy to make assumptions about people, but in general (just to prove a point), Thawedtheorc is right. As of TBC, raid sizes have been 25 man at max which is a DAMNED sight smaller than 40 mans of yesteryear. In fact, 20 mans used to be the "easy" ones to put together. People are just too damned impatient these days with their new-fangled cross-server queues and them fancy epic flying mounts. Why back in my day, we had to actually WALK to our raids and we had to do crazy long attunements. *Splut* Dag-nabbit, there go my dentures.