Selecting need for loot

I was holding a rational discussion on the topic. You pop in and tell me to drop the bullcrap and mire or less accuse me of being a selfish greedy bastich even tho I never claimed to have needed for a comp in game regardless of my opinions on it and I'm the jerk?

You know Zion I used to respect you. These days I'm wondering how you so completely pulled the wool over my eyes.

It's not a holier than thou attitude. I'm telling you how it is.

You can discuss this until you're blue in the face, but you're not going to change people's mind. Nothing in my post that you quoted is telling you that you're wrong, or "here's why I'm right". I'm just telling you how the the community works in this game. I'm neither condoning nor supporting your viewpoint. You need to ease up a bit. I'm telling you what will happen whether you're right or not.

General Loot Etiquette when in a group (for the life of me I don't understand why this is still an issue for people unless they just haven't played MMO's before):

Need: Need is when an item is an upgrade for the character you are currently on and will be equipped as soon as possible.

Exceptions: (using need to over-ride greed rolls after asking permission)

1.) The item will be an upgrade in a level or two. Generally considered nice to state that the item will be an upgrade once you obtain level and ask the group if anyone has a problem with you needing it. This is done in case there is someone in your group at level that can equip the item now. They may respond they don't care if you need or not meaning they are willing to roll against you for the item. Or they may say they can use now meaning they would prefer if you can not use the item now then let someone that can get it first. You can still need on it but you risk upsetting the balance or offending someone and could get kicked from group.

2.) You see others have rolled greed for an item that you can use in a level or two or could use for a companion. You first ask the group if anyone would mind if I need that for and give reason. Example: For when I reach level or for my companion. Generally asking the group they will say sure or go for it. If someone contests it by saying I can use that for my companion too but they have already selected greed then Etiquette would dictate that you should greed as well to keep things fair and peaceful. Needing after asking and having someone challenge the item is a good way to tick off others in group and cause extra drama that could get you kicked from group. If the item is for your class in a level or two generally that would be seen as a need over giving it to a companion and people should let you need it since it is for the character you on currently on. (Example a piece of heavy armor drops and no one else in group uses heavy armor but it is 2 levels higher than you. You can need for the item since it will be an upgrade for your current character and should not cause any issues with others in the group even if they are wanting for a companion. Companions are seen as a greed option 99% of the time but asking the group you can sometimes need for a companion as long as the group has no problem with it. Don't assume that the group saying sure no problem for one item gives you the right to need on anything for the same reason the rest of the run. Be fair. )

3.) A Bind on Equip item drops and you do not need for your current character. You can ask the group if you can need on the item for an alt or companion. Group will say either sure or will say no because with it being BoE anyone in the group could use it for an alt or companion or even to sell in which case all should roll greed and let Random chance decide.

4.) An item completes a set. Again good thing to do is to ask the group. Hey can I need on this its a piece of a set I am collecting. Group will say no problem and you can roll need or if they do have any issues will expect you to roll greed and take your chances like everyone else.

**Generally by communicating with your group you can avoid situations where others get upset over drops. Its a social decision. You can either cooperate and have a good time or be a jerk and get booted, called a ninja, or get a bad rep on your server.

Greed: The item is not an upgrade but could be an upgrade for an alt, companion, or just to vendor for coin.

You can ask your group if you can need on a greed item and most times groups will not have a problem as long as you ask. Otherwise most situations if its not an upgrade for the character you are on then you should just greed anything else and take your chances like everyone else. Greed is the easiest choice to avoid any group drama. You are taking a chance like everyone else so it feels more fair and less likely to offend or make others upset. Some will even say even if you can use for an alt or companion you should still greed and if someone else wins ask them privately if you can have or buy the item from them (more so now that even Bind on Pickup items can be traded to eligible group members for 2 hours). Again the biggest key is communication. You will find most people are easy going and as long as you ask they have no problem with you needing in a greed situation. But if you need in a greed situation without communicating with your group you run the risk of offending or ticking someone off which could get you kicked from group, and or a bad reputation.


Pass: Easy one...you have no need in an item, really don't care who gets it, not even interested in vendoring for coin.

Generally people that are already geared out or financially comfortable will pass on most things so that those that could use the item can get it. I often run flash points just to pass time. There is nothing that I need or could even use and maybe I am grouped with new to lvl characters or less financially secure players so will often pass on everything so that others can get the items to use or vendor to help them out. Personal choice and a social choice.


Again the main thing is communication. Most players are pretty laid back and if no one else has a greater need for a drop will have no problem letting you pick up the drop for other use. If someone else has a greater need then you should greed/pass (Say the tank in your group needs an item you should not need roll for your tank companion as well...quick way to tick someone off). If someone has an issue with you needing when they could also claim need then generally both agree to need or everyone just greed's and let fate decide. If you just need willy nilly then you are bound to offend someone and risk getting kicked, or a bad reputation. Some people don't care and only think of themselves and will need every thing because they are in the flash point and feel entitled or just being jerks to be a jerk. These are the loot ninja's people often comment about and the cause why some people are less tolerant of others needing items their character can not use regardless if its for an alt or a companion. Most people will say Need only for the character you are on, greed for alts and companions as a flat rule. But again if you communicate with your group you can need in other situations and not tick anyone off.

TLDR: Need for your current character only if you can equip right away. Greed for anything else (alt, companion, vendor, GTN). Communicate with your group if you want to do something different and abide by the consensus.

I was eased up. Until undeserved crap was hurled my way then I answered in kind. To address your point here civilly I may not change anything by discussing it. But I guarantee that there is no chance of it ever changing if I accept it when people tell me that's just the way it is you'll just have to deal with it.

You want to use the "this is how the community works in this game" argument. This may only be a game, but here's a real life example of how "this is how society works and don't buck it or you can expect consequences" attitude can be wrong, just as that same attitude in game may not always be right.

60 years ago, African Americans weren't allowed to eat at certain establishments, drink from certain fountains and in general had almost all of their rights as human beings taken away from them because that was how society worked. If you chose to buck society's convention, you did so at your own risk. There would be consequences, some of them fatal to the offender. The fact that "everyone does it, that's just how it is" makes it no less wrong.

I know there will be massive amounts of "you can't compare that real life situation with a dumb video game" outcries, but each and everyone who threatens consequences for a person exercising his right to roll on loot he helped to produce in favor of "the social convention" is attempting to take away the rights of another. I know that the vast majority of players will flame me, but that does not change what is. If the players threatening consequences actually took a step back and looked the situation objectively, they might see the forest instead of just the trees.

I did not read all 28 pages, but here's my 2c...

This argument boils down to unwritten rules/conventions and a general lack of communication.

As others have said, the unwritten rule is that you click need if it is an upgrade for your character and greed for upgrades for your companions. Further, if you REALLY want a piece of gear as an upgrade for a companion, you ask the group; all it takes is the question, "may I need this for my companion?" And 99.99999999999999999% of the time when the rest of the group clicks greed or pass the general response will be, "go for it." If another group member has clicked need then you should let them have it because 95% of the time they need it as an upgrade for their character (the other 5% are being jerks/ninjas/etc).

One can also announce at the start of an FP, "I am looking for upgrades for my companion(s). I will be clicking need on any item that is an upgrade for my companion(s)." Most likely, the vast majority of the time, the rest of the group won't care. If one or more do care, then you will get a response asking you not to or to wait until everyone else has clicked greed before clicking need.

In short, TALK TO YOUR GROUP, don't just assume it is OK to click need for companion upgrades.

Wow.

That is way over the top and likely to get this thread closed. The only thing missing is a reference to a certain German leader in the 30's.

Yes it is a game, an mmo to be exact. And in mmo's you do not need on your pet over a team mate who actually needs it. You certainly have the right to do so, just as the team has the right to kick you if you do that. You both have your rights, so why the extreme verbiage?

Okay, but you spewed your venom at me unjustly.

In regards to your second point, sure, change only comes from recognizing a desire of some people to want it to change. But now we're getting into viewpoints of why you think it should change. And this is where I disagree with you. It shouldn't. I'm not going let some sorc take an upgrade for my marauder because their companion can use it. Companions are pets, and thus relegated to 2nd tier. They didn't do the FP with me, and there's no immediate upgrade to the group. It's an upgrade to a person who will use it in solo play. That is why I'll never get behind your viewpoint. That's probably whey the majority won't either.

Comparing the status quo to the Civil Rights movement is pretty much one step away from Godwin'ing this thread. Quite frankly, I agree with an above poster who talked about supermarket rules. Rolling on loot for your companions isn't demanding equality for these virtual entities - it's simply being obnoxious and butting in line simply because the rules aren't written down somewhere.

I am who I am. And I don't give a poop whether you respect me or not.

All I did for starters was point out that you were using a faulty premise. I then spoke in general of my feelings on that.

From there, you got bent out of shape, so yeah, its easy to come to the conclusions I came to.

And for the record, watching you in this and other threads, you come off a bit self-entitled so whether someone who acts that way respects me or not doesn't even show up on my radar of self-worth.