Who ever wrote the loot scaling algorithm

Kelfer

Kelfer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2008

E/Mo

Needs a good slap !!
I've tried to get the Woe Spreader to drop and 12 times in a row, no success! That really friggin sux
I suspect that I'm being hit unfairly by loot scaling as I was trying this in NM (Woe spreader is a nightmare in HM) and have been doing lots of solo stuff in HM lately.

This is a sad reflection of the present state of the game somehow....

OK 2 min. rant over

Bob Slydell

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2007

I've farmed a whole lot more than that a whole lot more times than that with barely any luck either, you're not alone. Don't worry.

Fay Vert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

R/

lol

Most bosses drop their greens 1 in 20 to 1 in 40 times so 12 runs is NOTHING!
And greens are exempt from the loot nerf
HM does not increase the drop rate.

The only thing that suxs is you! YOU are a sad reflection of the present state of the game.

calamari cruiser

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2007

In the Land Of Great Beer

Rock

W/Mo

Uhm arnt greens supposed to be "difficult" to get?
Imagine if every time u killed a boss it dropped a green :P
Greens are worthless already ^^

Kook~NBK~

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2005

A little chalet outside Drok's

Natural Born Killaz

Only 12 tries? *PFFT* Come back when you've got a legitimate complaint.

Falkin

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2009

Denmark

Brothers of Honour [boh]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kook~NBK~ View Post
Only 12 tries? *PFFT* Come back when you've got a legitimate complaint.
But boy there are many who just don't get it. This guy tried 12 times, i have seen several complain after 5 tries.

Anyway though, they got a pretty low drop rate, come back when you have done 88 more tries and whine if it haven't dropped then

QueenofDeath

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2009

Lol I must be lucky I got it the first try and I had 3 heroes with me. )

On the other hand I've been trying for Ssahrs Channeling staff for awhile now and haven't gotten a thing. Way more than 12 tries though. )

stretchs

stretchs

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2007

Untimely Demise [Err了] - SOHK

I have to agree with most in this thread, I used to farm greens ALOT, and their drop rate can be soooo fickle. Especially if you are doing that same farm OVER AND OVER. My suggestion, dont complain with only 12 runs in, get to about 50 runs, solo with no H/H and maybe you have a case.

Also, switch up what you are doing on occasion, as much as people have said things dont get worse when you work the same zone over and over, its a fib, there is something there with repeated same zone entries and diminishing returns.

To Chicken To Die

To Chicken To Die

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Mo/

You tried 12 times and din't get a green omg this is madness.

Spiritz

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2007

DMFC

Excuse me while i laugh at 12 tries - lol
Anyone will usually tell you its down to luck - ive done before ( pre sf nerf ) around 80 runs for dwaynas grace as i was after 2 of them - i had one drop and that was on last run , i also add out of that total i got 2 elite derv tomes only but lulu`s spear and custows bow i got around 5 of each in total .
All of those runs were solo ( me an zero heros ) and in both hm and nm.
If greens were that easy to get then a huge amount of greens within gw would be 500g on player market and you could probably go into la and get one within 1 min.Low drop rate and chance as mentioned by others is the cause and only advice is keep trying

Eragon Zarroc

Eragon Zarroc

Atra estern?? ono thelduin

Join Date: Jan 2008

Madness Incarnate

[Duo]

W/P

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wiki View Post
Loot scaling was introduced in the April 20, 2007 game update. The amount of drops you get are scaled to your party size and to the speed at which enemies are killed.

The following are affected by loot scaling:

* Common (white) items
* Gold

The following are exempt from loot scaling:

* Skill Tomes
* Scrolls
* Dye
* Rare materials, such as Ectoplasm
* Gemstones from the Domain of Anguish
* All other rare (gold) items
* All unique (green) items
* Special event items
Your complaint about loot scaling is grounded in a misbelief that greens are scaled. They are not. Problem resolved.

Kelfer

Kelfer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2008

E/Mo

Well that's enlightening if greens are exempt, thx for that, v. interesting.

And to Fay Vert for a stinky comment or 2

N.B. I shall keep trying, don't fret

Voodoo Rage

Voodoo Rage

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2008

Sacramento, CA

Geezers

R/

Green drops are really strange. One of these days I really need to so a somewhat decent study to figure out what's going on. As any raptor farmer will tell you, sometimes you will end up back in town with 5-6 greens in your inventory and other times it never drops for a long time. I'm not sure if it's actually coded to have "hot" and "cold" periods or if this is just selection bias (I remember "hot" and "cold" periods).

Otherwise, regardless of what the loot scaling page says, party members clearly reduce your chance of getting a green. What happens is the green DOES drop but it gets assigned and picked up by a random party member (could be a hero or henchie). So your chance of it getting assigned to you is reduced.

Yawgmoth

Yawgmoth

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2005

It's just RANDOM, people!

Random. A fully random chance for a typical boss to drop his green is estimated to be around 1:11 but it doesn't mean you're guaranteed to get 1 in 11 kills or 10 in 110 kills. It's the expected average, so you might get 2 in first 2 kills or may get none in 40 kills and it's all perfectly normal.

highway

highway

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2009

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelfer View Post
Well that's enlightening if greens are exempt, thx for that, v. interesting.

And to Fay Vert for a stinky comment or 2

N.B. I shall keep trying, don't fret
I kinda liked Fay's comment. I guess Fay like many others are tired hearing about the state of the game that sucks. It's not the game that sucks, lots of us still enjoy it. But most people spend their time hanging around guru, Kamadan and Lion's Arch, not playing the game anymore, but keep telling people how it sucks. But when someone quits and hands out stuff they are first in line.

I still love Guild Wars.

Kelfer

Kelfer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2008

E/Mo

You're taking me out of context:
A. I said the ls algo sux (seems, however, that greens aren't involved)
B: I like the game and play actively i.e. not hanging around in towns the whole time making downers
C. I'm still at it after 3 yrs. of changes, nerfs & updates

So, I think the previous comments are somewhat inappropriate !

Anyway I got 1 now after about 30 tries YAY!

Risus

Risus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2007

56min UW HM post-2/25 I win

FDR

A/

I love how he rants on something that doesn't exist. Its called luck. There is no such thing as loot scaling I can prove it to you in-game.

Here is the explanation of how I disprove it without wasting 30 mins -1 hour showing you:
Drops are all listed the moment you enter the zone. The list of drops cycles in huge lists on ANet's servers. Your drop list depends on the time you enter the zone. This is how they seem to "loot scale." They cut down drops during heavy traffic hours.

Here is how I PROVE IT:
1. Repeatedly try to sync zone with someone into an easy area (you are in different parties). Eventually you will zone in close enough to get the EXACT SAME DROP LIST.

How do I know its the exact same drop list?
ALL DROPS WILL HAVE THE SAME DAMAGE, REQUIREMENT, REQUIREMENT ATTRIBUTE, AND MODS (both will have +29HP or Aptitude 19% or +4 Armor).

Note: If you want to test this for yourself I suggest using Spirit Spammer in Jaya Bluffs Normal Mode because there is a loot scale if you kill everything in quick succession.

Kosar The Cruel

Kosar The Cruel

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2010

Ontario, Canada

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fay Vert View Post
lol

Most bosses drop their greens 1 in 20 to 1 in 40 times so 12 runs is NOTHING!
And greens are exempt from the loot nerf
HM does not increase the drop rate.

The only thing that suxs is you! YOU are a sad reflection of the present state of the game.
This.

@OP less Q.Q. Like someone earlier said, probably faster to just farm the gold and buy the item from another player.

Chthon

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Apr 2007

1. Greens are not subject to loot scale.

2. Woespreader is an awful item, except for discordway, which is an awful build...

Fay Vert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

R/

Just for amusement value I thought I'd go and farm one. He dropped it on the second run

Kelfer

Kelfer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2008

E/Mo

1. I quite like Discord, but builds / teams are personal taste

2. Tried again today, dropped first run :P

Phaern Majes

Phaern Majes

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2005

Anywhere but up

The Panserbjorne [ROAR]

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Risus View Post
I love how he rants on something that doesn't exist. Its called luck. There is no such thing as loot scaling I can prove it to you in-game.

Here is the explanation of how I disprove it without wasting 30 mins -1 hour showing you:
Drops are all listed the moment you enter the zone. The list of drops cycles in huge lists on ANet's servers. Your drop list depends on the time you enter the zone. This is how they seem to "loot scale." They cut down drops during heavy traffic hours.

Here is how I PROVE IT:
1. Repeatedly try to sync zone with someone into an easy area (you are in different parties). Eventually you will zone in close enough to get the EXACT SAME DROP LIST.

How do I know its the exact same drop list?
ALL DROPS WILL HAVE THE SAME DAMAGE, REQUIREMENT, REQUIREMENT ATTRIBUTE, AND MODS (both will have +29HP or Aptitude 19% or +4 Armor).

Note: If you want to test this for yourself I suggest using Spirit Spammer in Jaya Bluffs Normal Mode because there is a loot scale if you kill everything in quick succession.
This is mostly correct, however, if you farm the same few mobs over and over and over the Loot Scale will kick in. For example raptor farm, or troll farming outside droks when 55's were still the thing.

It is important to note though that greens, golds, scrolls, dyes, lockpicks, holiday drops, and probably other things are exempt from loot scaling. Your white vendor trash drops will tend to decrease if you farm the same area several times.

Also if you aren't solo'ing it the loot drop may get assigned to a hero or hench which would mean it may have "dropped" you just didn't see it.

But yes overall drops are dependent on the timestamp, there is a big thread about this somewhere on guru.

EDIT: Hmm I went to wiki and looked, they say loot scaling is determined on party size and how long it takes to kill things. No mention about repeated farming. However, it does exist here is the link to the wiki page which includes a list of exemptions. http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Loot_scaling

EDIT #2: What I was thinking of was the anti-farm code which is also discussed on wiki... http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Anti_Farm_Code
This page mentions the timestamp determining the loot as well as time between kills having an effect, and that the first several kills in a map have a reduced chance to drop anything.

Fay Vert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phaern Majes View Post
This is mostly correct
Actually it's partly correrct and mostly misleading and incorrect. Sync entry supports the notion that loot is generated at the time the instance is created, and that the random seed used to create the instance is time based. But the main thing is that this has absolutely nothing to do with loot scaling, which is mainly controlled by rate of kill, not party size.

The worrying thing about sync entry is that nobly has ever been able to reproduce it after the initial post of it. I myself tried a lot.

Voodoo Rage

Voodoo Rage

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2008

Sacramento, CA

Geezers

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phaern Majes View Post
This is mostly correct, however, if you farm the same few mobs over and over and over the Loot Scale will kick in. For example raptor farm, or troll farming outside droks when 55's were still the thing.
That's a myth. I tracked nearly a 1000 raptor farm runs and there is no statistical variance in the quality of the drops over multiple runs.

Phaern Majes

Phaern Majes

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2005

Anywhere but up

The Panserbjorne [ROAR]

R/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage View Post
That's a myth. I tracked nearly a 1000 raptor farm runs and there is no statistical variance in the quality of the drops over multiple runs.
Really? You get the same number of Saurian Bones the 5th, 10th, 15th+ run as you did on your first two? Golds, Greens, Tomes, Scrolls, and Dyes are all exempt from loot scaling, so yes you should get roughly equivalent drops across all 1000; however, the number of white drops and gold coin drops probably decreased. Or so has been my experience raptor farming, that usually after the 2nd or 3rd run the white quality drops/gold coin drops tend to decline at least until I give it a rest for a day or so.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fay Vert View Post
Actually it's partly correrct and mostly misleading and incorrect.
Insofar as loot scaling is concerned yes, you are right it has little if nothing to do with it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fay Vert View Post
The worrying thing about sync entry is that nobody has ever been able to reproduce it after the initial post of it. I myself tried a lot.
There is actually a thread floating around somewhere on guru with several screenshots of it being reproduced. The creator of the thread did this several times with his brother, and I've personally done it with a friend of mine though I didn't bother taking screenies; was more to satisfy our own curiosity than anything else.

If you have trouble doing it, all I can suggest is make sure your pings are both similar and try starting well away from the exit. Use a voice chat to sync and run for the portal at the same time. Starting as far away as possible that still allows for a straight run at the exit, lets you make sure your characters are right on top of each other, and that they will zone out at the exact same time. Also keep in mind that the first several mobs have reduced chance to drop, and that you should both be using similar builds as the time between kills also affects drop rate, which could throw off your results.

I'll search around for the thread, I know its old and I only stumbled across it about a month ago, didn't think to bookmark it though. If I find it I'll link it here.

Found it... http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/drop-rates-soj-vs-sv-t10225077.html?t=10225077&highlight=timestamp+drop s

It's from November 2007 so some of the images are no longer hosted, but enough of them are still there to show the point. Read it and judge for yourself I guess, I've personally had similar results but I've no desire to "prove" it myself, as ultimately I don't think it makes any difference one way or the other how the loot assignment algorithm works.

Synching drops isn't profitable unless you actually happen to get a map that has a lot of good drops in it. If you were farming with a partner it would probably be better to get as many different maps as possible to increase your odds of getting a rare drop.

Just my 2¢ believe what you will

EDIT: I see you actually posted in that thread. I feel I should clarify my experience. My friend and I only did it once to see if it worked, we never repeated it to see if we could keep replicating it nor did we mess with time between kills (both of us ran spirit spam).

Reverend Dr

Reverend Dr

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Super Fans Of Gaile [ban]

W/

Here is what happened in this case

This boss is right next to a zone. There is some sort of code that about 10-15 mobs need to be killed before a boss even has a chance of dropping their green. So if you weren't killing that many, which I imagine you were not, then the boss has zero chance of dropping that green. This isn't part of loot scaling, but part of something they added at some other time for some other reason.

agrios

agrios

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

South America

Naked Stalkers of America[Nude]

W/

Well.. apart from the op matter....

Yes...Loot scaling sux. Its pretty frustrating.

evenfall

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reverend Dr View Post
Here is what happened in this case

This boss is right next to a zone. There is some sort of code that about 10-15 mobs need to be killed before a boss even has a chance of dropping their green. So if you weren't killing that many, which I imagine you were not, then the boss has zero chance of dropping that green. This isn't part of loot scaling, but part of something they added at some other time for some other reason.
This is not true. I farmed Woespreader before with the old E/A Shadowform+Sliver Armor build. The only foe killed is the boss and the green still drops.

snaek

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reverend Dr View Post
Here is what happened in this case

This boss is right next to a zone. There is some sort of code that about 10-15 mobs need to be killed before a boss even has a chance of dropping their green. So if you weren't killing that many, which I imagine you were not, then the boss has zero chance of dropping that green. This isn't part of loot scaling, but part of something they added at some other time for some other reason.
is this a bad troll attempt? numerous bosses are still 55sv farmed im certain, among various other builds which only deal damage against the boss solely.

Skyy High

Skyy High

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: May 2006

R/

I feel like I've gone back in time...

Kelfer

Kelfer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2008

E/Mo

I was going from the north of Woe Spreader & to get to him you have to kill at least 1 if not 2 groups (Oni pops), not including the group surrounding the boss itself.
Oh and solo oc

Hmm, interesting this:
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Game_...#Miscellaneous
Quote for those who can't be bothered to follow the link:
" Loot now scales according to party size.
Repeated map entry no longer reduces loot."
Unquote

So, unless this has since been rescinded, it would still be in force now...
Food for thought indeed.

Voodoo Rage

Voodoo Rage

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2008

Sacramento, CA

Geezers

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phaern Majes View Post
Really? You get the same number of Saurian Bones the 5th, 10th, 15th+ run as you did on your first two? Golds, Greens, Tomes, Scrolls, and Dyes are all exempt from loot scaling, so yes you should get roughly equivalent drops across all 1000; however, the number of white drops and gold coin drops probably decreased. Or so has been my experience raptor farming, that usually after the 2nd or 3rd run the white quality drops/gold coin drops tend to decline at least until I give it a rest for a day or so.
Yeah, there is no statistical variance. Sometimes you will hit a dry stretch but it is just random noise basically, nothing to do with your time farming.

Fay Vert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reverend Dr View Post
Here is what happened in this case

This boss is right next to a zone. There is some sort of code that about 10-15 mobs need to be killed before a boss even has a chance of dropping their green. So if you weren't killing that many, which I imagine you were not, then the boss has zero chance of dropping that green. This isn't part of loot scaling, but part of something they added at some other time for some other reason.
No, this is just not true. There are many farmable greens that you just hit the boss and nothing or little else prior. Thinking off the top of my head - Byzzr Wingmender, Rekoff Broodmother, Eshim Mindclouder, Molotov Rocktail, Reefclaw Ragebound, Cultist Milthuran etc etc.

Reverend Dr

Reverend Dr

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Super Fans Of Gaile [ban]

W/

Been my experience for over 2 years now.

Most recently I did close to a hundred runs for a stupid monk offhand that I'll never use, never dropped when I went straight for the boss. I wasn't even getting regular "Boss" loot nor any type of gold drops while going after just the boss.

I'm not going to try to sit here and argue it any further as I've seen the people that "have to be convinced" concerning how loot drops; no matter how much factual information (which I am not going to sit and farm and try to figure out) is available they stick to whatever they used to believe and dismiss anything else as "just chance." Leave it at what it is, my experience.

Bob Slydell

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fay Vert View Post
No, this is just not true. There are many farmable greens that you just hit the boss and nothing or little else prior. Thinking off the top of my head - Byzzr Wingmender, Rekoff Broodmother, Eshim Mindclouder, Molotov Rocktail, Reefclaw Ragebound, Cultist Milthuran etc etc.
While I believe you, I personally hate Molotov, lol. I farmed HIM and basically him only like 100 straight times not that long back. Long story short after those 100 runs or so I was in major cities saying "WTB Rocktails Stinger".

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

I'm not sure the mechanics are exactly as Rev posted, but there does seem to be an anti-boss-farm-thing separate from loot scaling. I've noticed a cliff boss drops fall off of after you kill 3-4 or so in a row, whether in or between instances. Interestingly the NF/Factions bounties have a similar kind of "protection" by requiring you to kill 25 or so before getting max faction from bosses.

Nerel

Nerel

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2008

Australia, what you want my home address?

[CAT]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reverend Dr View Post
Been my experience for over 2 years now.

Most recently I did close to a hundred runs for a stupid monk offhand that I'll never use, never dropped when I went straight for the boss. I wasn't even getting regular "Boss" loot nor any type of gold drops while going after just the boss.
I used to farm Byzzr Wingmender (Just outside of Lutgardis), for Elite monk tomes not the offhand, unfortunately I amassed over 100 of the offhands during the course of it all... just killing the boss only with a 55 SV necro.

This was a few years back though, things might have changed...

Owik Gall

Owik Gall

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guardians of the Light

W/Mo

I was hunting for amphibian tongue trophies this other day. Mind you, it wasn't anything related to Nicholas gifts, I just needed the tongues to get a collector weapon for one of my heroes. It took about 4 trips to the sparkfly swamp just to get 5 tongues after butchering mobs of frogs. Going through that for a lesser weapon is outrageous!

Nerel

Nerel

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2008

Australia, what you want my home address?

[CAT]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Owik Gall View Post
I was hunting for amphibian tongue trophies this other day. Mind you, it wasn't anything related to Nicholas gifts, I just needed the tongues to get a collector weapon for one of my heroes. It took about 4 trips to the sparkfly swamp just to get 5 tongues after butchering mobs of frogs. Going through that for a lesser weapon is outrageous!
Outrageous? Yeah, I'd feel that way too... if I was one of the Hylek/Hekets.

Owik Gall

Owik Gall

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guardians of the Light

W/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nerel View Post
Outrageous? Yeah, I'd feel that way too... if I was one of the Hylek/Hekets.
You want to do all that work just for a lesser item?