Guide
How to pick a loot system for your WoW guild
Loot is the number one reason guilds fall apart. Compare MS>OS, soft reserve, DKP, EPGP, TMB and loot council, and pick one for your guild.
Loot is probably the number one reason guilds disband, drama happens and things go south. That's true for every type of guild, not only PvE ones. Casual, PvP and RP guilds run into it too. People care a lot about those purple pixels, and to some extent they're right to. More on that later.
The loot systems, explained
The game gives you rolls. Your guild's system sits on top of them and decides who gets to roll, or who gets the item without a roll. Here are the main ones.
| System | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main spec over off spec (MS > OS) | Players rolling for their main spec beat anyone rolling for an off spec | Casual guilds, simplicity | Luck: the same player can win several items in a row |
| Soft reserve (SR) | Before the raid, each player reserves the item or items they want. If one drops, only the players who reserved it roll. Otherwise it's MS > OS | Casual guilds and groups with pick-ups | Keeping the reserve lists up to date |
| Plus one (+1) | Each time you win an item, you get a +1. Among players who want an item, the lowest +1 gets priority. Combine it with SR or MS > OS | Fairness over time | Tracking it, and handling new members |
| DKP (Dragon Kill Points) | You earn points for attending raids and killing bosses, then spend them bidding on items | Rewarding attendance | Hoarding points, and new players falling behind |
| EPGP (Effort Points and Gear Points) | See below | Guilds that want a self-balancing system | Less control over saving for one item |
| TMB (That's My BiS) | A website where raiders list their wishlists, so officers can see who needs what. Built for loot council guilds | Loot council guilds | It's a tool, not a full system on its own |
| Loot council (LC) | Leadership decides who gets an item | Progression guilds | Bias, or the perception of it |
| Gold DKP (GDKP) | Players bid gold, which is split among the raid | Gold-focused runs | Some guilds run it internally. It's not common, so I won't go deeper here |
EPGP, explained
EPGP means Effort Points and Gear Points. You earn Effort Points (EP) by showing up and killing bosses. You gain Gear Points (GP) when you receive an item. Your priority for loot is your EP divided by your GP.
Here's an example with made-up numbers:
| Player | EP | GP | Priority (EP / GP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ana | 1,000 | 250 | 4.0 |
| Marko | 900 | 150 | 6.0 |
Marko has the higher ratio, so he gets the item. If he takes it, his GP goes up and his priority drops. If Ana skips an item she doesn't need, her priority rises. That's why EPGP is self-balancing. Most guilds also apply decay, which slowly reduces everyone's points so people who were away don't come back with a huge ratio.
Which one is the best?
It's hard to tell, because each one caters to a different audience. Here's how I'd think about it:
| If your guild is... | Consider |
|---|---|
| Casual, with friends | MS > OS, or soft reserve |
| Casual, with lots of new faces or pick-ups | Soft reserve, with +1 |
| Semi-hardcore | Soft reserve, with loot council for big-ticket items, or EPGP |
| Hardcore and progression-focused | Loot council, with wishlists in TMB |
| High member turnover | EPGP or soft reserve, so new players aren't left behind |
One thing is for sure: no matter which one you pick, be as transparent about it as you can.
Be transparent
State the rules clearly, make sure they're visible, and make sure others see them. We always bring them up during the application process, so whoever applies knows the loot rules and accepts them.
Keep a loot history
Something we like to do is run a loot history log that clearly shows who got what. It shows how many items someone has gained compared to others, and whether someone is being gifted far more than others.
It's useful for several reasons. Players who aren't getting many items can use it as proof, and as a way to ask for more if they feel left behind. It's also a great way for leadership to see who may feel left out, even if they don't say anything, and to reward them or do something about it so they stay motivated and keep playing.
| Date | Boss | Item | Player | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [date] | [boss] | [item] | [player] | [SR, roll, council] |
Loot council on top of any system
I forgot to mention one thing: loot council can be used for all items, but it can also be added on top of any of the systems above. For example, you can use SR over main spec over off spec, and also loot council.
For most items, you'd simply use the in-game roll function: players roll on their soft reserved gear, then main spec, then off spec. With loot council, you decide which items are so-called big-ticket items. Those items aren't up for rolls. Your leadership or loot council decides who gets them.
Why that's good
That way you can truly reward players who perform better than others, and who put more time into the game, and show them your appreciation.
Publish a priority list
If you go with loot council, you should most likely have a public list of who is getting what and when. It's like a priority list. Take Thunderfury, a legendary sword. You'd list who gets it on the first drop, who gets it on the second drop, who gets it on the third, and so on.
| Item | First drop | Second drop | Third drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Example item] | [Player A, reason] | [Player B, reason] | [Player C, reason] |
Every name on the list should come with a reason that anyone could understand, like attendance, role or progress for the guild.
Write your rules down
Here's a checklist to copy for your own loot rules:
- Which system you use, and which items are big-ticket (if you use loot council)
- Who runs loot in raids, and who's the backup
- How off spec works, and when someone can roll on it
- How alts and trial members are treated
- What happens to items nobody needs (guild bank, disenchant or trade)
- How disputes are handled
- How the rules can change, and who decides
When someone disagrees
Drama is hard to avoid, but you can handle it well:
- Take it out of public chat and into a private ticket or message.
- Let the loot officer explain the rule and the decision.
- If it's still unsettled, bring it to the rest of leadership.
- Look at the loot history together, and decide if the rule or the call needs to change.
- Don't change the rules in the middle of a raid.
Tools
Most loot systems have a tool or addon behind them. Names to look into: softres.it and LootReserve (soft reserve), RCLootCouncil and Gargul (loot council and rolls), Core Loot Manager (DKP and EPGP), That's My BiS (wishlists), and OXM (a guild manager with signups and, on some versions, soft reserve and loot council). For WoW Forever, there are already loot council and soft reserve addons, such as Arbiter Loot Council. Check which tools support the game version you play.
FAQ
What is the best loot system for a casual guild?
MS > OS or soft reserve. They're simple, and they work with new faces.
What does EPGP stand for?
Effort Points and Gear Points. Your priority is your EP divided by your GP.
What is TMB?
That's My BiS, a website where raiders list their wishlists, built for loot council guilds.
Can I combine loot systems?
Yes. Loot council works on top of almost any system, and +1 works with SR or MS > OS.
What about GDKP?
Some guilds run it internally, but it isn't common. Check Blizzard's current rules before using it.
Should loot rules be public?
Yes. Being transparent about them prevents most arguments.
Sources
Guild Order loot systems guide (opens in a new tab) · That's My BiS FAQ (opens in a new tab) · Method's softres.it guide (opens in a new tab)