When doing quests with others, what determines who gets what drops? - Guild Wars Forums

CaptInsano · May 20, 2005, 01:45 PM // 13:45

Just a question here. I noticed that when doing quests with Henchmen, you hardly get any drops at all besides gold but when going out with other players, almost every monster drops something. My question is what determines what drops are assigned to what players? I see several people that I quest with constantly getting blue and yellow drops but I get all the crappy stuff. I am a level 16 W/R and have made it past Lion's Arch so I would think the drops would be good by now.

Terik Stoermshade · May 20, 2005, 01:50 PM // 13:50

From my understanding, when you quest with henchmen, the drops are still randomly distributed amongst the party. However, you do not see drops that are assigned to henchmen. When you party with human players, you see all of the drops.

Drops are randomly distributed. Sometimes you have good luck, sometimes not.

JohnCoke · May 20, 2005, 01:53 PM // 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptInsano

Just a question here. I noticed that when doing quests with Henchmen, you hardly get any drops at all besides gold but when going out with other players, almost every monster drops something. My question is what determines what drops are assigned to what players? I see several people that I quest with constantly getting blue and yellow drops but I get all the crappy stuff. I am a level 16 W/R and have made it past Lion's Arch so I would think the drops would be good by now.

Ok, if you want my "opinion". I think the code is jacked. Try to stay out of "even" group positions. Meaning be the group leader, third to join, or fifth to join. I think their algorithm is using some modulus or something so all the evens are getting screwed on drops. But I HAVE seen the fifth person hardly get anything so maybe it's just paranoia. Someone else notice this or can confirm it?

As for the henchmen, what did you expect? It used to be that all the drops are yours alone.. but that led to farming in a huge sense. Now since henchmen are better at teamwork than most players I've seen. They've taken the drops out of the picture/... i.e. the henchman get drops too but your not allowed to touch them lol.

C-Tzar · May 20, 2005, 01:53 PM // 13:53

It's completely random. Sounds like you've been pretty unlucky so far. =/ I've had streaks like that, then other times get a couple purple items and a black dye all in a row. As for henchmen, they get drops assigned to them just like real players, but you don't see it. They also take the same cut of your gold. It's like grouping with anyone else.

EDIT: Heh, TWO people got posts in while I was typing mine.

Oh and Johncoke, yeah you're paranoid.

Song · May 20, 2005, 02:20 PM // 14:20

The only advantage to goruping with players loot wise is they can agree to give you an item or trade you for something, while henches are just plain greedy

Bone_White_Haze · May 20, 2005, 02:49 PM // 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnCoke

Ok, if you want my "opinion". I think the code is jacked. Try to stay out of "even" group positions. Meaning be the group leader, third to join, or fifth to join. I think their algorithm is using some modulus or something so all the evens are getting screwed on drops. But I HAVE seen the fifth person hardly get anything so maybe it's just paranoia. Someone else notice this or can confirm it?

Observational bias, and gambler's fallacy.

Pandora's box · May 20, 2005, 02:49 PM // 14:49

As far as I know henchmen share only gold and exp, but no drops. Human players see every drop around and the first one who claims takes. If someone knows that this is not right, than please add a link to an official statement about this issue.

Kopus Tol · May 20, 2005, 02:53 PM // 14:53

Join a good guild and party with them. It's a lot less frustrating playing a Ranger and seeing the Elementalist get a gold bow when you know you'll get it. Also, you don't have to hang out in the trade channel trying to sell Fiery Dragon Sword.

Maia · May 20, 2005, 02:53 PM // 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandora's box

As far as I know henchmen share only gold and exp, but no drops.

Your wrong.

All you have to do is get in a group with 5 henchmen and you will notice you dont see drops for long periods. The game puts the henchmen in on the drops and awards them to them. But you dont see the items drop. They just automatically "go" to the henchmen.

Anyone over level 15 or so knows this and has experienced it.

JohnCoke · May 20, 2005, 02:57 PM // 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bone_White_Haze

Observational bias, and gambler's fallacy.

Wow, I said anyone confirm this. Not criticize my ass. Prick. I said it was my opinion, and so far it seems to be working for me. Prick.

thorizdin · May 20, 2005, 03:00 PM // 15:00

Henchmen eat drops, exp, and gold they just do so behind to the scenes to prevent nashing of teeth when a rare armor goes to the healer henchman(person?).

Jana · May 20, 2005, 03:01 PM // 15:01

When doing quests with others, what determines who gets what drops?

Determined randomly by the system.

PERIOD.

Jana

JohnCoke · May 20, 2005, 03:15 PM // 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jana

When doing quests with others, what determines who gets what drops?

Determined randomly by the system.

PERIOD.

Jana

I'd hate to argue with you but there is no random in computers. There are seeds with random numbers, and even random number generators. All predefined by a list of given numbers. BUT for all practical purposes (i.e. drops) it can be seen and calculated as random.

C-Tzar · May 20, 2005, 03:38 PM // 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnCoke

I'd hate to argue with you but there is no random in computers. There are seeds with random numbers, and even random number generators. All predefined by a list of given numbers. BUT for all practical purposes (i.e. drops) it can be seen and calculated as random.

Actually, you wouldn't hate to argue with her, you relish the opportunity to unleash this pedantic drivel. This whole post was devoid of any purpose other than to try to impress somebody with useless trivia. This ridiculous argument can be extended to apply to everything in the universe, who cares. It's random enough.

Cerixus · May 20, 2005, 04:09 PM // 16:09

All I know is, I get way more rares than anyone I ever party with. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Lymix · May 20, 2005, 04:50 PM // 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cerixus

All I know is, I get way more rares than anyone I ever party with. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Maybe you are the chosen one

Regarding hidden drops for henchmen - I actually think the game designers made the drops to be hidden not because they don't want us seeing what the henchies got instead of us, but because they didn't want us having to deal with henchies leaving a fight to run off and pick up their drops.... Imagine having your healer henchie deciding it was better to pick up her shield drop than to fight the battle or keep you buffed..

Snowman · May 20, 2005, 04:52 PM // 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnCoke

I'd hate to argue with you but there is no random in computers. There are seeds with random numbers, and even random number generators. All predefined by a list of given numbers. BUT for all practical purposes (i.e. drops) it can be seen and calculated as random.

I'll second that

randomness is a perception, a perception computers generate with complicated equations.

At the stage of programming the factors of those equations, ie seed numbers, would have been determined by the programmer.. and therefore must have invoked a development discussion about how the perception would be acheived.

If it were me I would definatly use the human player to NPC ratio as a good starting point. Therefore encouraging team play.
(again it maybe just me but I seem to get more/better drops when in a team full of human players.)

But whatever the true answer to this question is, it seems that they want us to beleive it is totally random (though scientifically impossible) so I wouldnt beleive them, even if they insisted.

I like that idea about even/odd number of players affecting the outcome, it has just the right ring of truth to be believable. (if you like the numbers game)

The Snowman.

thorizdin · May 20, 2005, 05:04 PM // 17:04

First off, you are technically correct, producing true randomness is beyond that capacity of computers without help. That help may be include, asking the enduser to tap randomly on their keyboard for X seconds, taking other forms of input like time and doing calculations on it, or other outside factor. However, this is a limitation of how computers currently work, not a specific GW limitation, though I have no idea how good their random number system is.

Having said all of that, the drops in GW are as random as the technology allows. There is no difference in drop rates for full human parties, solo (no henchies), solo with henchies, or any other party combination. Henchman do eat drops behind the scenes which makes people believe the drop has changed, when it hasn't.

Jana · May 20, 2005, 05:12 PM // 17:12

Unfortunetly, the term random may be the issue here, since we have to be careful of what we use it with.

Random is GENERALLY calculated over an INFINITE series of events. Using some calculus and some probability theory, you would have to have an event happen for an infinite number or tries, rolls, etc to get an accurate reading.

For example, it is possible to roll a 7 on a pair of dice 50 times in a row and STILL consider it random IF you consider that over 1 million rolls (or as many as you want approaching infinity) you would say that 7 comes up on 2 die roll once every 6 rolls. The odds are getting 7 on the 51st rolls IS STILL 6 to 1.

Programming random numbers in anything resembling a computer is something that has been done since the invention of the first relay based IBM computers using machine language and punch cards back in the 1940's, so it's not hard to do and simulate using infinite rolls (again, as many as you can stand to wait for, since infinity does not mean anything really) and see that over the long haul, yes... it is random.

Jana

Dreamsmith · May 20, 2005, 05:12 PM // 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnCoke

I'd hate to argue with you but there is no random in computers. There are seeds with random numbers, and even random number generators. All predefined by a list of given numbers.

Aside from being a pedantic and useless observation, it's also false, and has been for some time. Many processors these days have random data sources built into the hardware, specifically for generating true random numbers, and many operating systems take advantage of those or other external sources of random data to maintain an entropy pool for use by programs that actually require true random numbers rather than the traditional, algorithmically generated pseudo-random numbers.

May 20, 2005, 01:45 PM // 13:45	#1
CaptInsano Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	When doing quests with others, what determines who gets what drops? Just a question here. I noticed that when doing quests with Henchmen, you hardly get any drops at all besides gold but when going out with other players, almost every monster drops something. My question is what determines what drops are assigned to what players? I see several people that I quest with constantly getting blue and yellow drops but I get all the crappy stuff. I am a level 16 W/R and have made it past Lion's Arch so I would think the drops would be good by now.

May 20, 2005, 01:50 PM // 13:50	#2
Terik Stoermshade Academy Page Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Guild: Eternal Knights Profession: R/Mo	From my understanding, when you quest with henchmen, the drops are still randomly distributed amongst the party. However, you do not see drops that are assigned to henchmen. When you party with human players, you see all of the drops. Drops are randomly distributed. Sometimes you have good luck, sometimes not.

May 20, 2005, 01:53 PM // 13:53	#4
C-Tzar Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Location: North AL, USA Profession: E/Mo	It's completely random. Sounds like you've been pretty unlucky so far. =/ I've had streaks like that, then other times get a couple purple items and a black dye all in a row. As for henchmen, they get drops assigned to them just like real players, but you don't see it. They also take the same cut of your gold. It's like grouping with anyone else. EDIT: Heh, TWO people got posts in while I was typing mine. Oh and Johncoke, yeah you're paranoid.

May 20, 2005, 02:20 PM // 14:20	#5
Song Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The House of the White Lotus Profession: R/	The only advantage to goruping with players loot wise is they can agree to give you an item or trade you for something, while henches are just plain greedy

May 20, 2005, 02:49 PM // 14:49	#7
Pandora's box Jungle Guide Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Netherlands Profession: Mo/W	As far as I know henchmen share only gold and exp, but no drops. Human players see every drop around and the first one who claims takes. If someone knows that this is not right, than please add a link to an official statement about this issue.

May 20, 2005, 02:53 PM // 14:53	#8
Kopus Tol Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	Join a good guild and party with them. It's a lot less frustrating playing a Ranger and seeing the Elementalist get a gold bow when you know you'll get it. Also, you don't have to hang out in the trade channel trying to sell Fiery Dragon Sword.

May 20, 2005, 03:00 PM // 15:00	#11
thorizdin Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Guild: Lords of the Dead	Henchmen eat drops, exp, and gold they just do so behind to the scenes to prevent nashing of teeth when a rare armor goes to the healer henchman(person?).

May 20, 2005, 03:01 PM // 15:01	#12
Jana Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Guild: Knights of the Silver Flame Profession: Mo/Me	When doing quests with others, what determines who gets what drops? Determined randomly by the system. PERIOD. Jana

May 20, 2005, 04:09 PM // 16:09	#15
Cerixus Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The Kaotic Order Profession: W/Mo	All I know is, I get way more rares than anyone I ever party with. Maybe I'm just lucky.

May 20, 2005, 05:04 PM // 17:04	#18
thorizdin Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Guild: Lords of the Dead	First off, you are technically correct, producing true randomness is beyond that capacity of computers without help. That help may be include, asking the enduser to tap randomly on their keyboard for X seconds, taking other forms of input like time and doing calculations on it, or other outside factor. However, this is a limitation of how computers currently work, not a specific GW limitation, though I have no idea how good their random number system is. Having said all of that, the drops in GW are as random as the technology allows. There is no difference in drop rates for full human parties, solo (no henchies), solo with henchies, or any other party combination. Henchman do eat drops behind the scenes which makes people believe the drop has changed, when it hasn't.

May 20, 2005, 05:12 PM // 17:12	#19
Jana Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Guild: Knights of the Silver Flame Profession: Mo/Me	Unfortunetly, the term random may be the issue here, since we have to be careful of what we use it with. Random is GENERALLY calculated over an INFINITE series of events. Using some calculus and some probability theory, you would have to have an event happen for an infinite number or tries, rolls, etc to get an accurate reading. For example, it is possible to roll a 7 on a pair of dice 50 times in a row and STILL consider it random IF you consider that over 1 million rolls (or as many as you want approaching infinity) you would say that 7 comes up on 2 die roll once every 6 rolls. The odds are getting 7 on the 51st rolls IS STILL 6 to 1. Programming random numbers in anything resembling a computer is something that has been done since the invention of the first relay based IBM computers using machine language and punch cards back in the 1940's, so it's not hard to do and simulate using infinite rolls (again, as many as you can stand to wait for, since infinity does not mean anything really) and see that over the long haul, yes... it is random. Jana