[The Bog]

Time to talk alternatives - the fabled loot council environment.

Not to felate the Foghorn too much, one of the most successful loot systems I've seen was Avarice's. A loot council type thing can really, really work if you find the most stoney-faced, cold-hearted individual to handle it - not saying that Fog is the spawn of Satan - but he crushes drama with his iron fist of doom.

That works. You can't have someone who will crumble when a clique of people decides that Jimmy McAsswipe is deserving the loot he didn't raid for. You want someone who will tell the truth and make them shut up.

Another good example of this was Karadin's Noble Blade, back on the Rathe. One man and his loot decisions. I can't guarantee there was NO drama, but Karadin was a balanced, verbose character. He wasn't cruel, he just said "this is final. No dice" to those who argued against things. Cold, calm, composed. No room for argument.

That's how a loot council environment has to start. Then comes nepotism.

I won't name the guild, but I've seen some pretty fucking despicable examples of this. Families quite obvious manipulating the guild system to their advantage, awarding loot to family members who had just (as in literally 10 minutes prior) joined the guild over those who desperately needed the loot and had raided constantly.

In general, huge loot councils don't work. Make two, AT MOST THREE people. Anymore and it can be corrupted. Families are generally not a good idea - two brothers, maybe, a husband and wife, yes. A mother, father, and their sons? No. No no no. Do not join guilds who do that, as they will fuck you over.

Well that was rantastic.