Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsPro Tip: Don't exploit loot rules in LFR's Dragon Soul
by Adam Holisky 
Dec 2nd 2011 at 1:20PM
Dragon Soul loot exploit
If you are getting loot off of a boss twice then it is an exploit. This has always been the case in World of Warcraft, and we expect players to know better.
We're in the process of implementing a hotfix to fix the exploit, and are deciding what steps we'll be taking for the gear that was already obtained.
We're in the process of implementing a hotfix to fix the exploit, and are deciding what steps we'll be taking for the gear that was already obtained.
We're not going to post about what people are doing (we never have and never will post exactly how the serious exploits are done), but there is a clear and intentional way people are getting a lot of loot out of the Dragon Soul raid using the Raid Finder.
This method they're using gets around the "one shot at loot per week" rule, and it's something that Blizzard clearly from the get-go didn't want to happen. Bashiok is absolutely right as well -- it's well known amongst WoW's experienced playerbase that such exploits are never to be done.
There are reports that some people who've exploited the system are getting the exploited gear stripped from them in the EU; however there is no official announcement yet as to what's happening.
Once that's announced, we'll let you know.
Filed under: Cheats, News items
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 6)
Pyromelter Dec 3rd 2011 9:10AM
I understand why they would be motivated to do it, what I don't understand is why they went through with it knowing that blizzard has consistently thrown down the banhammer on obvious exploits like this, along with rolling back gear gains and achievements and things like that.
Vaniya Dec 2nd 2011 1:33PM
I really hope they are not super harsh to people who may have been unaware of the rules. I'm not sure how complicated this exploit is, but if it's fairly simple, I could see hapless people doing it.
Scenario:
clueless raider: Ooh! Shiny new lewts! Working as intended, I'm sure!
:D
Succulent Dec 2nd 2011 2:24PM
It's something you have to initiate, it's not something someone just using the LFR with no knowledge of the exploit could come across really.
Poor show from the top end guilds.
noel mcleod Dec 2nd 2011 2:44PM
@succulent
Poor show from the top end guilds? There is at least one PvP-intensive Horde guild from Area52 where the guild, and in particular the GM, encourage a lot of exploits, usually in BG and RBGs. And there is a downside to it in game, when someone can generate HP at a rate of 3000 per hour that allows for some very serious farming that I'm pretty sure is not intended by Blizz.
These guys wouldn't hesitate to use an exploit like this.
And they KNOW who they are.
Kuro Dec 2nd 2011 2:51PM
It's conceivable but highly unlikely that it could happen to someone in a random group in LFR because it requires a delay in looting the boss to work.
Khirsah Dec 2nd 2011 3:10PM
@ Vaniya...
If it is something that an otherwise well intentioned player could accidentally stumble upon, I believe Blizz would describe it as a "bug".
The use of the word "exploit" in Bashiok's post, to me, implies something far more sinister is going on. I, for one, hope Blizz throws the book at the offenders.
The loot rules have been laid out from the beginning, and it is not ok for people to take advantage when players like you and I are grinding our way through honestly.
I think a 3 month ban for all offending players, and disband their guilds so that they have to start over from level 1. It'll give the honest players a chance to gear up before them, and they can be the ones sitting on the bench during raid night because their gear is not quite good enough.
But to be fair, I am having sort of a bad day today. I'll check in tomorrow and see if I'm a little more sympathetic.
zargrim Dec 2nd 2011 1:36PM
The exploit involved getting 24 people that cant get loot for doing it once already to uber gear the 25 th. Since everyone passes i think it follows standard pass the loot rules
Nopunin10did Dec 2nd 2011 1:41PM
Unless those soulbound items still follow the tradable-for-two-hours rules.
Joey Dec 2nd 2011 1:40PM
So... pretty much the people involved KNEW they cheated
Edge00 Dec 2nd 2011 1:41PM
I'm not going to say exactly what the exploit was (as per wow insider's wishes)... but this isn't what people were/are doing. Its more devious than this and requires the users to do extra non-normal steps that allow them to actually circumvent the LFR loot system. People were/are actually running the LFR 15+ times until they get the drops they want.
kingoomieiii Dec 2nd 2011 1:54PM
Yeah, the actual method allows people who have already looted to continue to gear up the same characters. Basically, they found a way to "trick" the lockout on looting.
Oh, and since it's VERY VERY EASY to tell if players got loot from the same LFR boss twice in a week, trying this is a TERRIBLE IDEA. I mean, tracking this is SO EASY, it already shows up in your guild newsfeed.
Dawn Moore Dec 3rd 2011 5:40AM
The suggestion here is not actually an exploit, since the one person who picks up all the gear will still get locked out from picking up gear if they run an LFR boss a second time. That's a totally legitimate, although time consuming, way that -some- top end guilds have used (vodka, Blood Legion, and a probably a few others I don't know of) so they have the best possible advantage for their first week of heroics.
The exploit Blizz comments on involves overriding that lockout so a player can get gear from an LFR boss more than once, which is obviously not how it's supposed to work.
Jon Dec 2nd 2011 1:36PM
As much as it's deplorable that people would exploit this, I don't think it's fair for Blizz to ban anyone for simply taking advantage of what amounts to a poor job by the devs on loot lockouts. Why not ban the devs who messed it up in the first place? :P
Adam Holisky Dec 2nd 2011 1:40PM
The problem with that is it gives players a blank check to behave as badly and unethically as possible. It's sort of like placing the cookie jar high up on the shelves, and then the kids get a ladder and say "well you shouldn't have left this ladder around, it's your fault."
No... it's the kids' fault for behaving badly.
It's the raiders'/exploiters' fault for behaving badly.
John Dec 2nd 2011 1:48PM
As much as it's terrible that my cellphone was stolen, I did leave it on the counter at the shop where I set it down while paying.
See?
As much as it's terrible that ______ was done by someone with ill intent, ______ left the opportunity for that person to indulge their amorality.
Grokmar Dec 2nd 2011 1:52PM
Even if someone leaves their car alone while running with the door open for an hour, it is still illegal for you to hop in and drive off. No matter how you try and justify it, a wrong action is still wrong.
Amaxe Dec 2nd 2011 1:56PM
Well, on one hand, if it is a known exploit and if it isn't something which could be done by accident, then of course banning people who do it is justified.
On the other hand, leaving the code in place and merely saying "Don't use it or I'll ban you" is negligent behavior.
To use the cookie example. If the parent puts the cookie jar on a shelf and the kids get a ladder, the parent can't be blamed for not thinking of the ladder and then the punishment is just.
However, once the parents know about the ladder, they will make sure the ladder is no longer useable, and they share some of the blame if some other children make use of the ladder because the parents did not secure it.
I don't condone cheating (if they're guilty, let them face the consequences), but it seems to me that Blizz might be well served to get these exploiters into the playtest program given how often this crap seems to happen.
droknar Dec 2nd 2011 1:56PM
Yeah, sorry, there is never an excuse for bad ethical behavior. Doesn't matter what is there to take advantage of, the person that allows themselves to take advantage of it is at fault.
The devs take fairly good care to test and code things well enough to limit the number of bugs and exploits, and one got through. People saw this, realized they could get more gear than intended, and still clicked the roll button. Some other people also realized this, but also realized this was not intended, and passed the other pieces to the people they should have gone to.
Some people find exploits and report them to get them fixed. Some people find exploits to get an edge, and continue to use them without reporting them. This is plainly against the rules. Regardless of what you or I think, they should be banned for breaking the rules, as that is the precedent Blizzard has set.
Cephas Dec 2nd 2011 2:01PM
I don't think it's fair for the police to arrest me for simply taking advantage of what amounts to a poor job by the locksmith on my neighbor's front door.
Task Dec 2nd 2011 2:02PM
@Jon
Are you saying that the devs should be ar fault for this when it may have already been coded properly prior to the live launch and this still happens?
I'm in agreement with Adam, John and Grokmar, the players should be held accountable for the actions, and for ruining the fun for the other raiders in their group.