WoW: To Roll or Not to Roll, That is the Question

Dice rolling: where does it belong?  Some might say that it’s best suited for the craps table in Las Vegas, immediately followed by a rude and sober awakening in the dumpster behind the Riviera (that’s hopefully more of a one time thing). A place where dice rolling is a relevant and constant issue is in World of Warcraft. In general terms, there are two forms of dice rolling: the looting system and the simple /roll command, both of which are used to generate a random number to designate ranking.  The big issue for some is when should the /roll command take precedence over the built-in Need/Greed system while sharing precious loot?

The conflict of choice involves the /roll command putting more responsibility upon the players themselves to discuss and debate items before rolling for them. While on the other hand, the Need/Greed system allocates items in an unbiased manner, based on which one of two options a player chooses.

In theory, the /roll command is the better candidate for dividing up items: especially so when priceless gear is up for grabs and a decision is needed based on all the factors that go into whether a person really has to have something.  But, even in this case of divvying up priceless gear, there is the looming possibility of group members fighting one another tooth and nail for their right to loot (I think we’ve all known a stubborn Ninja or two).  The problem at hand isn’t so much the conflict itself but rather the group unrest that follows, which every World of Warcraft player knows can put an end to a previously successful Dungeon stint.

Although the Need/Greed system might be faulted for being too simple, or being unconscious of relevant factors (a character’s specialty or fast-approaching armor status), the fact is that Blizzard installed the system for a reason: preventing drama that rivals that on Flavor of Love.  Although arguments will and often do appear with the Need/Greed system, it at least places the authority in the process itself, rather than any individual leading a heated debate.  This doesn’t mean that the /roll command is useless because it does serve an important role, no pun intended, when deciding who gets to loot a chest or when a group as a whole feels more comfortable discussing available options.

What it really comes down to in the end is the party itself and the consensus that the group comes to as a whole.  When playing with a good group of friends or fellow guild members, this is typically a non-issue, as comradery takes precedence over any trivial disagreement.