Looting -- The official thread for discussing the loot system. Updated 18th March, 2013.

(copy/pasted from another thread that digressed into a loot-system discussion-- BECAUSE THE BROKEN LOOT-RESERVATION SYSTEM AFFECTS MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS GAME)

How many people would quit because loot-timers were extended beyond the point where it's possible to ninja-loot?

How many people would (or already have) quit due to casual, fair, friendly group-play not being possible due to the ineffectively-short reservation timers?

If their desire is to create conflict, this is the wrong way to go about it. This is not a competition or a moral dilemma that's being created... rather, it is a punishment for those who are not callous and a reward for assholes.

To create conflict among players, PvP options should be added.. Like, instance invasion, PvP tournaments, PvP wagers, PvP ladders... The very-limited PvP system can be expanded in countless ways.. The reservation timer is ineffective and frustrating, even to those who seek a conflicting and "cutthroat" experience (I am among them, I love PvP in a variety of forms.)

The loot reservation system is ineffective and the type of competition it incites is just uninteresting. (who can click fastest? who is the biggest asshole? really, what value is this type of competition?)
(end-pasting)
There is NO value in the short loot-reservations. They do not effectively grant the majority of the players time to react. FFA does not effectively drive competition or a cutthroat feel to the game. All it does is discourage group-play. I get it, you want a visceral experience.. "Who is the fastest clicker" is not a competition i want to be a part of.

I do not have issues with my loot being stolen.. I have issues with a half-baked and ineffective safeguard.

Extend the loot-timer or allow party-leaders to define the loot timer (just one variable that would be the base-reservation, ie, 0 would be FFA loot, 10 would reserve items for a minimum of 10 seconds). If someone wants an item dropped for someone else, this does not slow the group, just that one player who is more concerned with waiting out a loot-timer than he is following the group. I don't have a problem with someone falling behind because he's greedy.

All the arguments I've seen in favor of FFA looting are self-defeating.

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TremorAcePV wrote:

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Charan wrote:

Spoiler

I really hate this thread. It's pathetic. Sure, it's necessary but it's definitely not doing any good. Do you really think a mod let alone a dev is going to read this much? Not even I would, and that's saying something. We've already made clear that we're locking all loot system threads except this one -- why do you think that is? It's certainly not because this is the one thread GGG is going to take into account when deciding what to do with the loot system. It's because if we close this, another will just be opened.

All you're doing now is venting and eating each other's tails. Which is fine by us, clearly you all wanted a space in which you could do that.

Just a wake up call for everyone STILL talking on this thread. :)

i remember this OLD thread. but since this tread they did update that they where looking at ways to change things. so dont get all cocky just yet ;)

Just a wakeup call to people who are concerned that the system will not change.

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Charan wrote:

Hi guys. So, it's pretty clear that the loot system is considered an issue. Unfortunately, we have so many threads saying the same thing that we have a real flood situation going on.

Allow me to reassure you all that GGG has heard the feedback and are deliberating on ways to try to keep everyone happy with the loot options.

If this were a case of EVERYONE complaining, it'd be much simpler. But we've seen arguments from both sides of the fence, so really, the argument is beyond our hands. It's up to GGG now.

I trust GGG to change the system in a positive way.

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iamstryker wrote:

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bhavv wrote:

Groups are simply a convenience in this game to clear areas or grind XP faster.

I see no reason that this should be the case. That discourages grouping which I feel is bad for the game.

Try not to think of loot for a second. LOOT is the least important thing here.


When leveling with a group, its just easier and faster and also alot safer. This is what encourages group play.


I have 3 builds. A ranged with a bow, a 2 handed melee and a summoner.


My summoner can solo anywhere without any help very easily. I also have a shit ton of magic find on my summoner. I will never, ever bring my summoner to public game because there is no point.


My ranged and 2 hand melee can't just solo anywhere with ease. Certain areas/mobs/monsters can kill me in seconds. And death is a PAIN IN THE ASS.

With my bow build i now have to constantly run away and keep trying to kill them off screen. Which slows things down and slows how much exp i get.


My 2 hand melee build has to avoid alot of mobs because il die in seconds if i get surrounded.


But, in group play everyone just steam rolls through everything. Loot is just a bonus which i could care less about. EXP and staying alive is the most important thing.

FFA loot system only discourages group play if loot is the only thing on that players mind. Its the last thing on my mind. Which is why i don't give a damn.

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Vooodu wrote:

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iamstryker wrote:

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bhavv wrote:

Groups are simply a convenience in this game to clear areas or grind XP faster.

I see no reason that this should be the case. That discourages grouping which I feel is bad for the game.

Try not to think of loot for a second. LOOT is the least important thing here.

LOOT is EVERYTHING in an aRPG game...EVERYTHING

end of story

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killbilly wrote:

LOOT is EVERYTHING in an aRPG game...EVERYTHING

end of story

No, its not.


And this is why myself and lot of people who think like me don't get so bent out of shape when dealing with a FFA loot system.

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Vooodu wrote:

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killbilly wrote:

LOOT is EVERYTHING in an aRPG game...EVERYTHING

end of story

No, its not.


And this is why myself and lot of people who think like me don't get so bent out of shape when dealing with a FFA loot system.

well in the arpgs loot is everything.....even maps are all about loot (higher level mobs.higher ilvl items)

loot is everything, exp is the LEAST important thing

I had an idea about this made in another thread:

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gonzaw wrote:

What if...it is indeed FFA loot, ALL of it.
However, if you pick something up, it doesn't go to YOUR inventory, but instead if goes to the Party Inventory

This would be a very large inventory (like a stash basically) that every member of the party has access to.
At any time, they, somehow, can check this inventory and determine which player gets what item.

Maybe you can have the Party Leader decide who gets what. Maybe there can be a "Designated Inventory Handler" that everybody votes for.
This guy makes sure everybody gets their share part of the inventory. If he does it wrong, then members of the party can boot him as DIH, or straight up kick him from the party.

I mean, it'd be like a bunch of mercenaries picking up everything they see, and then group together, see all the treasures they've got, and share it between them as they please.

This would make each party "closer" (you'd need to actually talk to people to determine who gets what :P ), and it basically solves the "ninja" problem.

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Vooodu wrote:

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killbilly wrote:

LOOT is EVERYTHING in an aRPG game...EVERYTHING

end of story

No, its not.


And this is why myself and lot of people who think like me don't get so bent out of shape when dealing with a FFA loot system.

Well ... i can't say you're right or you're wrong, but let me say this.

If you "don't get so bent out of shape when dealing with a [FFA] loot system" then why do you actualy argue here ...
if you really dont care, then fine let the ones who care do the talking.

[] = optional

I honestly dont like FFA loot system, i kinda had to live with it in D2 but it was so bitchy ... in D3 the loot system is flagged so its a lot easier to get your items. but i have to admit there is no more thrill to get thoses unless they are special (and everybody who played D3 know that ... well they are sometimes special bright orange pilars of light with a really stunning sound on drop. but they are never good).

So what i'm trying to say is that FFA loot system is not what i'm really fond of (very frustrating) but the other loot system i saw until now where not so good either and unfortunatly exept for the D3 loot attribution system i have no clue on how to improve this one :s... maybe a longer timer before untagging items or droping the items near the char its suppose to appear to... cant see anything else for now, sorry, but i'm hoping GGG find something marvelous as they usualy do !

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gonzaw wrote:

I mean, it'd be like a bunch of mercenaries picking up everything they see, and then group together, see all the treasures they've got, and share it between them as they please.

This would make each party "closer" (you'd need to actually talk to people to determine who gets what :P ), and it basically solves the "ninja" problem.

But, there really isn't a ninja problem. Its all mental. Fighting monsters and ransacking random drops off the ground is the whole point of the loot system.


The moment anyone even thinks about using the term ninja.. They should take two steps back from their pc and smack themselves silly for five minutes.

Thats the best way to solve someones ninja problem...XD