Because ambiguities in loot rules can lead to hurt feelings, we’ll specify a few things here. You don’t need to have these rules memorized, but we write them down in advance so you don’t feel like they’re just being made up to favor one person over another.

For the most part, it’s MS>OS. Guild members may spend more time playing an offspec than a mainspec, but that’s ok. Pugs and others can and should declare their MS at the start of the raid, and are allowed to roll in that spec even if they play their off-spec the entire time.

The first roll always counts

YOUR FIRST ROLL IS YOUR ROLL, NO MATTER WHAT. This can happen in a variety of circumstances.

Example: The raid leader forgets to turn on master looter, and a piece of cloth gear drops. One warlock hits the need button, and the computer rolls for them, say a 92.

The two mages in the raid hit “pass”, because that’s often what everyone does when the raid leader forgets to turn on master looter.

The two mages will then roll manually. One rolls a 50–that loses to the warlock’s 92. The second mage rolls a 95. The second mage then wins the item, and the warlock trades it. The warlock does not get to roll again by manually typing out “/roll”.

And just to make this crystal clear, say the warlock, unaware of this rule, types “/roll” to roll on the item. The manual roll, because it came second, is disregarded. It’s thrown out, whether it’s 1 or 100.

Second example: Boss drops one cloth piece, one shield, and one piece of leather. The Master Looter announces a roll for the shield. Before the rolls on the shield are finished, a rogue hits /roll (perhaps not noticing that the roll was for the shield, or maybe just as a joke). That rogue’s roll sticks, and will be used once the leather piece is announced.

Sharing is caring

When rolling against pugs, you are expected to roll and claim loot ruthlessly, taking even minor upgrades; they can and are expected to do the same.

Among regular guildies, it’s polite, but not required, to take notice of how much of an upgrade something would be for you as opposed to the other person.

It’s also polite, but not required, to pass on items when you’ve already won something the same day. The reason it isn’t required is that often the most desirable loot is coming off of the progression boss at the end–but remember, you can always gift your previously won item within two hours, so if you win the super amazing last-boss trinket, it’s certainly goodhearted to trade off your previous +5 ilevel upgrade.

In a group of ten to fifteen people, you can use your own judgment as to whether it makes sense to give the loot to someone else. For the most part, when passing on loot, it’ll be because you know the other person and because you legitimately want to, not out of a begrudging sense of guild etiquette.

In short, if you want it, roll it.

What to do if the Raid Leader forgets to turn on Master Looter

Roll need on it, even if you can’t equip it. This is to prevent the item from getting sharded on accident. Trade the item to the master looter if you win it.

Know Your Secondary Stats To Roll on Sidegrades

You are expected to know what secondary stats (e.g. haste, multistrike, critical strike, mastery) are beneficial and which are “meh.” You should also be able to explain why.

In short, if you can do that, then you are allowed to roll on items of a similar item level which trade bad secondary stats for good ones.

Example: I have a level 670 trinket with haste and critical strike and find these relatively passable, but certainly not great. A level 670 trinket with stamina and bonus armor appears. I should be able to explain, “these stats are way better for tanking,” and then I can roll on the item.

As you can see from a quick trip to Mr. Robot, ilevel 630 items are often superior to ilevel 650 ones–hence why we allow the rolls. Given that the secondary stats are the only relevant ones for rings and trinkets, be aware that people can roll freely on these items.

Nonetheless, you should explain the roll so people don’t think you’re a jerk.

The Overwhelming Presumption is that People Can Roll

It may be your best in slot.

it may seem like a sidegrade to the other person.

You may not agree with their opinion of what their ideal secondary stat is.

Whatever the case, there will be no whining. If the Randon Number God is not in your favor, they will favor you another day. There will be a new tier of content in a few weeks that will replace everything. So get over it.

When Warforged Items Drop Alongside Regular Ones, Or Socketed Ones, Or Two of the Same Drop, or Whatevs

The highest roll takes the better version, the second highest takes the next one down. You don’t have two rounds of rolling. For example, The Shoes of Glamorous Pwnage drop, and the first Shoes of Glamorous Pwnage is ilevel 676, and the other Shoes of Glamorous Pwnage is ilevel 670, with a socket! What to do? The highest roller takes their pick. The second highest roller goes next.

Again, no two rounds of rolling.

MS>OS: What is your main spec?

Your main spec is, we hope, known to the guild by now.

But for anyone who doesn’t, or if you’re ambivalent, you can DECLARE your spec at the beginning of the raid. Try to make sure as many people know as possible to prevent loot drama.

It’s possible, AND IN FACT FREQUENT, for people to OS most or all of the raid (e.g. tanks that DPS the whole time). They still get priority on the tank rolls. They still get short stick against the DPS main spec rollers.

The main spec of pugs is assumed to be whatever role they’re brought in to fill, but they can certainly negotiate/declare a different rolling spec. Example: the LFG ad says “LF Heals” and “Healerchamp” comes in to heal. Healerchamp is assumed to be MS healer. If a DPS item drops, she’s S.O.L. (shit outta luck).

If, however, she announces when she’s brought in, “my main spec is actually DPS, and I’ll be rolling on DPS gear” then that means she’s a DPS roller first, healer second. It doesn’t matter if she heals the entire raid duration.

No Benefits to Being a Guild Member in Rolling

Guild members/officers are never favored over pugs or new guild members when rolling. DKP systems, if introduced, must be optional.

When BOE’s drop

If it’s an upgrade, take it and equip it. If it’s not, it will be auctioned off and the money put in the guild bank for repairs. If no one in the raid can equip it (say a BOE bow drops with no hunter) and 9 guild members are in the raid and 1 pug is in the raid, every single person in the raid rolls.

If any pug wins it, they get it.

If any guild member wins the roll, the item is auctioned by the loot master later and the proceeds put in the bank for raid repairs.