item drop protocol

[dbosity_ns3]

Since the very first day I have been playing NS, people have been fighting over items drops and a lot of bad blood has been created over them. Drops are not finite; while it may be time consuming to get some of them, there is no practical limit to how many there can be. Most incidents that I have personally witnessed involve some sort of miscommunication (or simple lack thereof) and can be avoided if everyone on the server understands and agrees to some basic item protocols. The playing environment on North suffers whenever anyone feels that the group did not fairly distribute any special drops. Because I care about keeping the playing quality on North at a high level, I propose the following set of loot rules. I invite all players and guild leaders of North to sign on and agree to these rules in the interest of trying to avoid future conflicts over items. This is not because we are loot mongers. If you are only playing for loot, you are missing the point. In fact, what's important here is simple respect and fairness to your fellow players. Most of the incidents I've been a witness resulted in the players being angry, not because they did not get the loot, but because the players felt a basic lack of respect was shown to them. Right or wrong, the simple fact is that everyone comes out feeling like a nice time was ruined. So let us try to avoid this needless conflict.

The following rules are proposed:

Rule 1: The default loot rule is that any member of the party who has participated in killing the monster is allowed a roll for items. Highest roll gets to pick first item, next highest picks the 2nd item, etc. until all the loot is divided.

Rule 2: No one should pick up any loot until all monsters are killed and everyone is given the opportunity to roll. Some people consider this bad manners and tend to frown on it, especially when it is an item that is not transferrable and cannot be dropped. It is considered extremely bad manners to pick any of these items up before the party has decided who is to receive such item.

Rule 3: Some item runs are done specifically for one person. If a particular item run is being made for someone, it MUST be clear to everyone in the party before the start of the run that this is the case. Everyone in the party must be in agreement that they are in the item run for this particular reason or else the party follows the default loot rule 1.

Rule 4: Use commen sense and simple respect when it comes to these rules. It doesn't hurt to ask first before picking something up.

This is a short list and obviously can be added to and modified. I don't expect them to cover all situations, but if everyone had some commen ground to resolve these issues, all disputes should be easily resolved. Obviously, I'm not referring about the common items or gold that drops from most monsters. I'm talking about the special items that drop rarely from some monsters or a boss.

I welcome any thoughts or comments regarding these rules and look forward to hearing from the leaders of this community regarding this subject.

[Gilradden_ns3]

I agree with most everything you said. The only thing I would change is the part about "rolling" for the gear! I know from personal experience that the DMs on North do not condone rolling for gear. The most important thing we as players can do is communicate! I have the utmost faith that the players on North are fair and willing to share. I know that the core group of players on this server are very good people, and it seems that the influx of new players has brought us some very good folks as well! My suggestion is that we follow the protocol Sorden laid out but simply communicate to decide who gets what, and make another run if need be to get more gear for others who want or need it! The point of this game is to have fun, but it is hard to enjoy yourself if you feel disrespected or disregarded when it comes to the gear drops. I have made many a run where I have recieved no gear at all and I was glad to do it because I was helpiing others get what they needed. By the same token, I have been the recipient of much good gear due to the generosity of the good people who populate this server. If we all respect each other and make our wishes known while playing I am sure we can all have a great gaming experience. I applaud you Sorden for taking the initiative in this matter and hope all players will follow your example. Thanks for bringing this subject up for all to see!

[Aaron315_ns3]

I'll just throw this in because, well I'm me pretty much.

When we regularly played on NS in groups it was very very very very very very very very rare that we would start a gear run without first knowing who was picking it up.
The only time we might do a random one is when someone was bored, or someone soloing an area got into difficulty so someone joins them. Then what normally happens is you get a, 'No I don't want it, you have it' 'No you take it' 'No you need it' 'Yeah but so do you' etc etc. Was generally pretty funny.
Basically my general advice is: Don't go on runs to horde gear, if you don't need it, don't take it (or roll for it) and ideally always always start a run having decided beforehand who gets what.
I know I'm echoing the others but they're virtually spot on (IMHO obviously lol).

[Dr_Fangorn_ns3]

I am in complete agreement with the posts that the three of you have made, except for one point...I have no problems with people rolling for items, as long as it is understood by the party prior to starting the run that a roll will be how the loot is to be divided.

Once again, you have all reflected that the best way to play is to respect your fellow players, and to keep clear lines of communication open. I'm always happy to see this level of professionalism on North.

Game on.

[cherie_pits_ns3]

As someone who is dubbed the "hoover ninja looter" I feel that I should respond to this post. I couldn't agree more with you guys! When I play with my core group we joke that I am the "hoover ninja looter" because I am very quick at getting the drops but it is one of those things that I pick up and then divide it up- it helps us get to the next map quicker on large runs. I have even been designated by the group on occasion to pick up all loot and distribute at the end of a run so the bigger toons can concentrate on the kills and being leroy jenkins....lol. More than anything I think that being respectful of our fellow players is the most important part of this discussion and I am glad you have posted here so that we can discuss this openly.

[DM PHANTASM_ns3]

personally i dont like rolling for gear because most of the time i dont care who gets it OR as grim said we already know who is getting it.i prefer knowing who is going to get it I have personally seen parties & been in parties like grim refered to you take no you take and end up all walks out of G1 lair with nothing. THAT is what it is about the friends IMHO, If you have good friends gear will come.So sit back and enjoy yourself sometimes we all take this game to serious.

[DM Celt_ns3]

Nothing controversial, so I guess I'll be the one to throw the big flies in the ointment.

Here are the rules I propose;

#1. If you are joining a party, ask the party leader beforehand how the drops will be distributed, so your feelings don't get hurt.

#2. If you are not the person the entire quest revolves around automatically assume you will probably get nothing. That way if at the end of the event you actually do not get anything, you won't be surprised or hurt.

#3. Automatically assume you will probably be doing similar 'said' events more than once, and say to yourself 'it's OK, I'll get it another time.'.

#4. If you don't get anything and really expected something, say something, do not pout and run off the server telling people you are never coming back.

Drops and gear are YOUR responsibility, no-one elses. If you feel that you can't get what you want you don't HAVE to party up and go along.

In saying all of that I want to make a couple of very real and serious points.
1. North is a family server, that is to say, all of us who play here care genuinely for each other, and work hard to keep a great famiily relationship with one another. We are also incredibly welcoming to new players and adopting them as part of the family. Since day 1 of becoming a DM here I have been amazed at how nice folks are here, and unlike some other servers I have played, gear is really quite secondary to the community spirit and social atomosphere we all enjoy. Most of the time all someone has to say is, 'Hey, I could really use that, would you mind...." and generally in nearly every situation the typical response is "Sure no problem, I really don't need it anyway." Or, "Well, I really need it too, would you mind doing another run?"

2. Since becoming a DM here I am amazed at the nice-ness of folks in general, besides the occasional idiot who logs and talks smack about Phant's daughter (HEE HEE!), every person on the server is incredibly giving of their time, effort, and personal finance game-wise. I personally feel that an adoption of some set of rules or standards with regard to game play would seriously undermine our ability to play and work together as a family.

The last few points I want to make are these.
1. Signing a bunch of rules is silly and childlike. It means that we cannot act and play as adults.
2. Signing a bunch of rules guarantees NOTHING! People are eventually going to have their feelings hurt, people are eventually not going to get what they expected. That's just life.
3. Rolling for gear is what they do over on more populated servers, because they simply canna' get along, and gear is fought over like a bottle of calamine thrown in a Leper colony. I don't want us to become like them.
4. I don't know of ANY case where people were 'fighting' over gear, unless they were noobies who don't fully understand the family spirit quiet yet.

In short, put your big-boy pants on.

DISCLAIMER:
This is definitely NOT a slam on dbosity. I have partied with dbosity before many times, and consider him a good friend. I think dbosity's request is more on behalf of some OTHER players who refuse to act like a adults and enjoy the game for the games sake.

I respect dbosity greatly, and am always happy to see him log onto the server. If I was not a DM, I would consider becoming a member of HA just so I could party up with dbosity. (apologies to the GoN folks)

[cherie_pits_ns3]

Ok Celt- you have offended us GoN folks completely! LMAO I can't believe you wouldn't want to join with us if you weren't our beloved DM.... I mean the nerve.

[DM Celt_ns3]

I didn't say I WOULDNT join GoN,,I just said that I would be proud to serve HA. LOL.

Of course I would have to create several accounts to join all the guilds I like. I love you all the same.

[Gilradden_ns3]

I have only a few things to say in reply to DM Celt's post.........

#1) ROTFLMAO!

#2) Celt rocks!

#3) dbosity is a very good friend in my opinion!!

#4) Fren rocks too!!!

#5) North is the best server in NS and we have a core group that is second to none. If certain players don't wish to log here anymore it is their loss, but they are always welcome to come back because they were once part of the family too, and family always forgives and is welcome back.

[dbosity_ns3]

First off, I must respond to all of you who have mentioned me in such kind praises. You love me, you really love me!!! (*has something caught in his eye*)

Secondly, I think a lot of good points were made here about the loot rules. Yes, Celt, I agree that most loot runs shouldn't require any type of rolling to decide who gets loot. I'd say about 90% of the loot runs I do is for a specific item for a specific player. In fact, that is what I love best about this server is that the loot is secondary and the fun and enjoyment of each other's company is primary.

Some of you have mentioned the most important point about the rules, communication is really the key. It is the lack of communication that creates the potential for hurt feelings. I think it is an excellent idea that anyone going on a run should ask how the drops will be distributed. The rolling rule is simply for situations where either no particular loot distribution was mentioned or if more than one person wants the same item. Generally, I too have found that most people will let anyone who asks for an item have it.

Also, I agree that we don't want a list of rules for all our play in this game. The loose, friendly social atmosphere of North is worth far too much to ruin it all with too many rules. I only proposed the rules because of the number of times I've seen this particular situation blow out of proportion. And it's true that if you don't have a mature, rational attitude, no set of rules is going to prevent a blow up. While a recent event might have motivated me to post this, it is a situation I've seen come up far too many times between friends of mine in the past that may have contributed to the reason why they have quit the game altogether.

Even if we do not agree on a set of rules to follow, I think the mere fact that we have discussed this topic in the open is beneficial. Anyone reading these posts will now be aware that the DM's and players of our server have a certain attitude towards the subject, which is that playing should be fun, our server is about friendly family-like community, loot is secondary to respect to each other.

And finally, thank you all once more for such kind words to me and my guild. This game is only a joy because there are so many friends of mine (guild mates, or non-guildmates) to run around and get killed with. Celt, I would love to have you join our guild, it would be a real honor, BUT if I let you in then I'd have to let all the other DM's join. Then who would build more zones or randomly nuke us from the sky?

P.S. On a lighter note: Celt said he wants to join my guild first, so eat your heart out GoN