Loot will always be a sensitive matter to handle and a complex thing to manage in a raiding guild. Mismanagement of it will always result to having unsatisfied and unhappy players. I need not emphasize how much guild drama happens because of loot based on Eraption’s own experience.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to loot distribution. Various systems can be used and they have their own merits and disadvantages. However, a mature guild will always try to employ a system that is transparent, fair, and equitable when distributing loots to its members. Our loot system is still evolving and is in no way a perfect and flawless system. But the general idea and goal of our scheme is to be as fair as possible to all members of the guild. For that I wish to list down the official rules that we are presently using and shed a light to those who are still confused and have queries regarding this matter.

Here we go:

1. Tanks and Healers get priority over DPS.

The core members of the raid are the tanks and healers. Tanks bear the brunt of the bosses and so they should be able to outlive boss attacks with the help of a good gear otherwise raid will just wipe. Healers should be able to keep the tank up and the rest of the raid or it will mean a clean death to all. Tanks and healers roles are so important that their death would mean a meager 5% or less of surviving in a given fight. Hence, priority is given to them because of such pivotal roles they play.

2. Main Spec has priority over Off spec. Off spec is prioritized over Alts.
   

With the 3.1 changes, we already have dual spec abilities. But still, the declared main spec is more important to be geared than the off spec even if switching will only mean pushing 1 button.

Alts if ever brought in the raids will only be entitled to emblems and not gear. With the proliferation of death knights as alts in the guild and ability of others to level different alts, the guild cannot simply gear everyone at the same time. This is to discourage people from bringing their alts for the sake of gearing the alt because the main has acquired substantial gear already. If all the guild member’s mains have all the Best-In-Slot items then we can afford to this. But presently, we are still too far from this state. If everyone has passed for the loot (after main spec and off spec rolls), alts can have a chance to roll for the loot.

However, the case is different if the alt was specifically asked by the raid leader to bring it instead of the main. For example: Baddazzk was asked to tank Naxxramas 10 because of lack of tank and there are already enough healers around. Baddazzk is an alt by Pookemon but he should have equal chances of rolling similar to mains because he was requested to bring this DK toon and not his Shaman. It’s only fair that Baddazzk gets equal chance since without him supporting the raid as tank, the raid will not happen.

3. 1 Loot per Wing Policy
   

It is intended that loots are distributed to as many as raiders as possible thereby making more people happier.

This is most applicable to Naxxramas and Ulduar raids in both normal and heroic difficulty. Main Spec is only given a chance to loot once for each wing. Note that Naxxramas and Ulduar have both 5 wings (Spider, Plague, Military, Construct, and Frostwyrm) and Ulduar (Siege, Antechamber, Keepers, Descent into Madness, and Supermassive).

Off spec and mob drops are not counted and are considered bonuses.

Eye of Eternity, Obsidian Sanctum, Vault of Archavon and Emalon are all composed of 1 “wing” so it’s only 1 loot per boss. Dragon hide bag is not counted and considered a bonus.

In situations where due to RNG favoring one spec and raid composition, a person may be able to obtain more than 1 item per wing for as long as no other person can get the item as main spec item. For example: Leather items keep on dropping in every boss in just 1 wing and there is only one rogue and the rest are plate DPS in the raid. The main spec will still have the priority over the off spec and will be given the items unless the rogue passes on the item. This is most specially true to least played classes in the guild such as leather and mail wearing classes as well as casters. Our guild is a melee-heavy guild with paladins and DKs as favored toons so that means loot for these classes will be fought tightly whereas other classes may have the golden opportunity to get more loot per wing.

4. Druid, Pries, and Shaman healers will get priority on Items with MP5 and Spirit
   

These 3 healing classes benefit in these two stats and they are prioritized to loot these items before other caster DPS if it’s needed by them. Casters will only obtain the loot should the healers pass on it.

5. Holy Paladins will get priority on items with crit rating
   

Holy paladins’ vital stats are different from the other healers in one aspect: Spirit and mp5 are not good stats for them to pursue since spirit does not scale with their talent and they get more mana regeneration through intellect than mp5. Items with crit rating will be given first to holy paladins provided it’s an upgrade before caster DPS.

6. DPS casters will get priority on items with hit rating
   

Hit rating is an important stat for the casters hence they are given priority on this over healers.

7. Roll for items when they are called for by the Master Looter.

This is a simple rule that does not need much elaboration. Your roll is the official act of needing the item. Joke rolls are highly discouraged, nay, prohibited as it can confuse the Master Looter.

8. Tier Items will be given to those who do not have such gear.

The idea is to spread tier gears to as many guild members as possible. This rule applies more to tier 7.5 actually.

For example, you already have a tier 7 shoulder and a tier 7.5 shoulder drops from Loatheb. Should there be other qualified classes who can loot the token and do not have yet the tier 7 shoulder, they will be prioritized over you since you already have a tier 7 shoulder. Apart from this scenario, tanks and healers still get priority in upgrades and main spec over off spec.

9. At least 5 raid lock out participation is needed for rolling on Tier gear.

As much as we want to spread tier gears, we also want to prioritize those who had participated in the raid for several sessions over to those who just newly joined the raid. We want to reward the token to the raider who has been wanting to loot that tier gear 5 weeks ago over to a newly joined level 80 raider even if both players do not have yet that tier gear.

10. Binds when equipped (BOE) items are to be equipped immediately during the raid.

BOE item is given to the person who needs the upgrade and not in any way given for him or her to sell. There is no more appalling act than for a person to roll for a BOE item and pretend to need it but instead sell it for gold. This type of action will not be tolerated in Eraption and will merit severe penalty. Hence, if you roll for a BOE item, you must equip it immediately. If no one needs it, the guild reserves the right to keep it in the bank or sell it for guild funds.

11. Maturity is highly encouraged in rolling for loots.

This is not really a rule but something that we still would like to add in here as if it a rule. This is perhaps the “rule” that is the most important aspect of raiding with Eraption - and this is what can make a roll system a better system over DKP or EPGP system. DKP or EPGP system promotes individualism and every-man-for-himself attitude, the roll system fosters camaraderie and care for other guild members.

Just be mature enough and know when to pass so others can get the upgrade. Mature passing of loot is rewarded with something that is more important than pixels, instead you gain the respect and admiration of your guild mates.

Rules are there to ensure that loots are accorded to the person deserving of it with as little as arbitration possible. Should you need to clarify on any of the things mentioned here, feel free to post your comments here or approach the officers in-game. I welcome any suggestions and ideas for improvements.