Post by Morreion on Sept 15, 2010 10:38:31 GMT -5
The Daily Grind: Bow to the RNG (Massively)
The RNG -- random number generator -- is that tiny unseen subroutine that basically decides whether you're going to get phat lewts or not, whether you're going to hit a mob or miss, and whether the game will have downtime on the one day that week during which you have free to play. Some people swear fealty to the RNG, bowing to it above all. Some curse its very existence, for it has driven lesser people mad from its fickle nature.
Comments:
Worst case was my first time playing WoW.
Was around level 13-15 and doing a Bristleback Boar quest;
I had to farm 3 different common mobs for drops.
Each type dropped a different item.
The first two items dropped almost immediately while it took me literally 2+ hours of grinding to get the last.
In fact I wasn't even the one who got it. I started complaining out loud so much that my friend who was in the room with me, a WoW veteran, took my laptop just so he could show me how easy it was.
He kills one goddamn pig and the item drops.
I later checked the drop-rate on WoWhead, it was 25%.
I probably murdered a good 150-200 of those bastards.
Was around level 13-15 and doing a Bristleback Boar quest;
I had to farm 3 different common mobs for drops.
Each type dropped a different item.
The first two items dropped almost immediately while it took me literally 2+ hours of grinding to get the last.
In fact I wasn't even the one who got it. I started complaining out loud so much that my friend who was in the room with me, a WoW veteran, took my laptop just so he could show me how easy it was.
He kills one goddamn pig and the item drops.
I later checked the drop-rate on WoWhead, it was 25%.
I probably murdered a good 150-200 of those bastards.
Just last night, actually. Doing keep sieges in WAR and I kept getting placed first or second for contribution, then rolling double digits and ending up without anything. Annoying.
Player Perspectives: Roll the Bones
In this week's Player Perspectives column, MMORPG.com writer Jaime Skelton takes on the mythical and unseen beast present in every MMO: The nefarious RNG. Yes, the Random Number Generator has been the bane of many players' existence and Jaime has a lot to say about RNG. Read Player Perspectives and then add yours on our forum.
RNG elements can fall into good or bad categories. A properly designed RNG element can test teamwork, response time, and flexibility of the group members. A poorly designed RNG based ability can slaughter a raid through a chain of uncontrollable events. Each game's design will differ, as will its difficult encounters, but whatever the case, RNG must be used with consideration for – dare I say it? - player's feelings. Players simply don't like being screwed after they did everything flawlessly because of a roll of the dice.
In my experience, it all evens out, though at times you swear you are being cursed with good (or more likely bad) luck. The gambler's fallacy can lead some people to swear that something is wrong!
