07-18-2006, 07:34 AM
The question is "How is the loot that drops in MC determined?"
It seems to me that a lot of very specific loot for a limited set of classes drops in our MC runs. Some classes are almost completely decked out in tier 1 gear and close to DE epic loot. Others are making slower progress. Is this purely by chance?
There is a theory that the raid leader, master looter, or first person in the instance (etc... many theories here) seeds the loot table. Thus, if it is the same person everytime, then you get the same loot drops. ((<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://forums.curse-gaming.com/archive/index.php/t-8993.html">http://forums.curse-gaming.com/archive/ ... -8993.html</a><!-- m -->))
Then, again Blizzard has stated that the drops are purely random ((<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.goblinworkshop.com/BlizzCon/2005/raid-panel.html">http://www.goblinworkshop.com/BlizzCon/ ... panel.html</a><!-- m -->)).
Ok, now my two cents. Anyone who knows anything about Computer Science knows that there is no such thing as a purely random number generator. All are seeded in some fashion, and if the seed is the same, you get the same sequence of random numbers. In addition, there are a finite number of numbers in the random sequence, which will repeat if enough are generated. Also, handling this random number generation is a common source of errors in programs that require it.
I found this interesting post explaining the process in WoW in a little more detail, for those who have an algorithmic bent ((<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.files.bz/files/397/Blizzard%20Documents/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Blizzard.pdf">http://www.files.bz/files/397/Blizzard% ... izzard.pdf</a><!-- m -->)).
In conclusion, it seems plausible to me that if the random number seeding works as in the preceeding file, that you would get a chance for repeated loot tables based upon start time and character initiating the instance. As this file says, globally, the loot drops look random. For a given run on a given night that is repeated over some time, maybe not.
Other opinions?
-Jaba
Professor of Lootology
It seems to me that a lot of very specific loot for a limited set of classes drops in our MC runs. Some classes are almost completely decked out in tier 1 gear and close to DE epic loot. Others are making slower progress. Is this purely by chance?
There is a theory that the raid leader, master looter, or first person in the instance (etc... many theories here) seeds the loot table. Thus, if it is the same person everytime, then you get the same loot drops. ((<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://forums.curse-gaming.com/archive/index.php/t-8993.html">http://forums.curse-gaming.com/archive/ ... -8993.html</a><!-- m -->))
Then, again Blizzard has stated that the drops are purely random ((<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.goblinworkshop.com/BlizzCon/2005/raid-panel.html">http://www.goblinworkshop.com/BlizzCon/ ... panel.html</a><!-- m -->)).
Ok, now my two cents. Anyone who knows anything about Computer Science knows that there is no such thing as a purely random number generator. All are seeded in some fashion, and if the seed is the same, you get the same sequence of random numbers. In addition, there are a finite number of numbers in the random sequence, which will repeat if enough are generated. Also, handling this random number generation is a common source of errors in programs that require it.
I found this interesting post explaining the process in WoW in a little more detail, for those who have an algorithmic bent ((<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.files.bz/files/397/Blizzard%20Documents/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Blizzard.pdf">http://www.files.bz/files/397/Blizzard% ... izzard.pdf</a><!-- m -->)).
In conclusion, it seems plausible to me that if the random number seeding works as in the preceeding file, that you would get a chance for repeated loot tables based upon start time and character initiating the instance. As this file says, globally, the loot drops look random. For a given run on a given night that is repeated over some time, maybe not.
Other opinions?
-Jaba
Professor of Lootology