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Game Deficiencies: Loot

NAPrice
NAPrice
✭✭
To whom it may concern,

Throughout my time as a gamer, I have come across many different styles of loot mechanics. Often times, either you must fight over loot, or you can relax and get your 'fair share'. In The Elder Scrolls Online, it is a combination of both. The reason behind this is because: you fight over mobs, not loot; you must, in general, pull your weight to get a chance at having any loot. Many times, have I come across people KSing, controlling spawns, and camping bosses; leaving nothing to those who truly need it (whether it be their first time in the area, or it be for a quest).

I will not act as if I know exactly how the loot is truly distributed, however, this is how it appears to me -- in general, that is. First off, one must do a significant amount of damage to gain a chance at any loot that is more than just a spare coin. Secondly, in areas that are group instances, damage is no longer a prominent factor in loot distribution. Finally, it is easier to have a drop -- even without damaging the enemy-- if you are in a group, and they get the kill.

This may be completely wrong, but one must see it from everyone's perspective until the system can be truly debunked. My most recent perspective, in ESO, is the healer. As a Breton Templar using a bow (solo) and a restoration staff (group), I find my chances of even getting loot quite... unstable, to say the least. While soloing, my DPS build is by far enough to kite a boss and its ADDs, and in doing so I can aquire vast amounts of loot in a short, and painless, time. This is not the case while I am helping my friends, and the community. Because I am not doing damage, I am not given the drops of which I, most graciously, deserve. My most recent experience with this was helping a group of DPS archers at the Maormer Camp (located on the North Western coast of Greenshade). It was my first time there, and I realized that they would not be able to survive without a healer. I made an executive decision and put away my bow to make sure we would have no casualties. In doing this, I gained an achievement, recognition of beating the boss, but no loot whatsoever, not even a gold piece. I was left with nothing, asking to do it again so I could perhaps do a couple heavy attacks to have a chance at the loot, but the group was disbanded and I was left alone. Perhaps, my goal of helping others as much as possible, is nothing more than childish aspiration in a world such as today?

First and foremost, I am a templar; I take pride in my restoration abilities and try to help out as much as I possibly can. Throughout many games, I choose to play as a healer to help give the group survivability. In ESO, this is very difficult. Healers lack any direct healing abilities, wasting magicka on AOE heals and instant heals, that have a chance to go to the right person. We go through magicka potions like a Khajiit trying to get its fix. When we go through such troubles, just to help our group, isn't that deserving of some new gear, or possibly a couple coins? I believe that damage is a good way to determine whether or not you get loot. However, I feel strongly that helping people, is even more so important. Healing someone should be just as much as a consideration for loot, as damage.

Yours Truly,
NAPrice
  • kellman78_ESO
    Bump!

    I am a full time healer in this game (Sorc lvl 40 - Resto lvl 36) and I have gotten 1 blue and 1 purple in my last 35 - 40 group-dungeon-boss kills. This seems absurdly low. And you were so on point, burning through mana potions like gasoline in a hummer. Buff our loot quotient!
    Edited by kellman78_ESO on 14 April 2014 20:59
  • WhiteQueen
    WhiteQueen
    ✭✭✭
    I agree. This mechanic must be looked at.
  • serson
    serson
    I am a healer as well and I am worried about this issue. Yesterday, I did all three level 35 dungeons and only received a total of two blues whereas a friend of mine who plays a damage dealer received two epics (and various blues). This may just be a coincidence, however, I am worried that it is part of how the system works.

    Lots of encounter in ESO are very magica-intensive and, as a healer, I usually conserve my magica to ensure that I have enough of it for when the boss encounter becomes more tricky. I still use the healing staff to do some damage when there is nothing to do (and the tank has a healing buff up). However, I started thinking whether this safety-first attitude might have an effect on the loot I get. If this was the case, ESO would force healers into playing a specific role instead of allowing everyone to decide the play-style according to his preferences.

    I would love to have some devs comment on the details of loot distribution in ESO.
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