[Discussion] The mechanics behind lockouts

[Xystic]

I don't think the complaints about lockouts are due to players "not having anything to do". If this were the case, then other non-endgame content would satisfy these players, which it doesn't. In fact CT is a loot lockout, not a character lockout, but the complaints still persist. This tells me that the majority of lockout complaints are not about a lack of content (which there is), but instead about the rate of obtaining endgame gear specifically (coil gear currently). It would be nice if any lockout arguments would just focus on that.

The restriction on loot is not too clear to me atm. I'm not sure as for why they placed the loot restriction to 1.

However, I can share what I have speculated on this topic to you and maybe you and community members can fill it in.

Many people claim that the loot restriction is to extend the duration of the game but many feel its too much. It contradicts itself when your trying to get people to play your game and make money but you place such a harsh loot restriction making some not want to play, how many players feel like this we don't know. However, we know that not everyone gets loot each week in endgame content, so a 1 loot restriction is, when looked at it logically, is not too harsh. The issue arises when you get 2-3 of a classes loot drop which does indeed sometimes happen. In groups with multiples of one class its not a big issue but with groups with just one of each class its an issue. Possibly, gear you you could use is now aliquoted against your groups progression rate.

However, when speculated into future 24 man content, 1 loot restrictions, do not appear to be too bad at all. With more then likely multiples of each class you now have a game feature which guarantees you loot if your FC or PUG isn't really in your favor. For example you have 4 BRDS, you won't have all of one nights loot being aliquoted to the favored bard. Instead its aliquoted out to the rest.

At the same time I don't believe we have master loot in this game, so it prevents one person from taking all the loot by getting a LUCKY ROLL DAY. Also you can't have someone take 2-3 pieces and leave your party as well. At most they should only get 1. The important thing though is we should deter people from leaving period, one of the things that lockouts try to deter.

Also the CT content is to push casuals thru content faster so that the community should be ready by 2.2 for new stuff but the restriction seems to counter that idea.

I have yet to figure out what the whole idea behind the loot restriction is but I know its being placed for possibly something in the future. I've seen it done many times before where partial changes are put into place but won't be apparent to as to why till later on in the game, kind of like, how I was speculating it with 24 man raids earlier.

I will need to look more into the issue but I can't say if this is a good or bad feature for the community but we can see both good and bad things with the feature atm. What we want though, is more good then bad.