Reunited

UNM LOOT SYSTEM - An EP/GP system

GOALS:  The UNM loot system is designed to distribute loot fairly and award raid attendance. It removes point inflation and avoids point hoarding.

OUR LOOT AND EPGP LOGS: Our logs are stored at http://www.epgpweb.com/guild/us/Blackhand/UnderNewManagement/. You can see recent changes, how many points everyone has and what items people have won.

BENEFITS OF EPGP OVER OTHER SYSTEMS: We chose EPGP because we feel it is fairer and easier to administer than other systems. Unlike regular DKP, EPGP does not have the kind of point inflation that makes it impossible for new recruits to ever catch up with older members. Since recruiting is the life of any raiding guild, we need to fairly reward new members once they have proven that they have great attendance. Casual raiders are also treated fairly in EPGP. They won't get loot as often as people with better attendance, but they will get loot in proportion with their attendance. Unlike zero sum DKP or Suicide Kings, EPGP allows us to choose how we reward points. We are able to award people for being on time, staying to the end of the raid, and for the time spent wiping on new content with no loot dropping. Unlike bidding, loot costs the same amount for everyone and no one can collude to make their prices low. Unlike loot council, EPGP avoids officer burnout because it can be administered quickly and efficiently; and because everyone can see in advance where they are on the loot priority list, it reduces drama.

MODS: EP-GP (DKP RELOADED) This is the mod we use for the loot system. It is not required that you download it, but if you want to be able to see where you are on the loot priority, you may want to. LINK: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/epgp-dkp-reloaded.aspx

MODS: EPGPLootmaster This is the mod we use to distribute loot. It gives a nice graphical interface whenever loot drops that you can use, and it speeds up loot distribution. You do not need to have the Masterlooter portion of the mod enabled, you can just enable the smaller Core portion of the mod. It is possible to go in on loot without this mod installed, but it will make life more difficult for you and the master looter so we strongly prefer that you install this mod. LINK: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/epgp_lootmaster.aspx

RANKS

RAIDERS: The definition of this rank is: You log on expecting to raid, the guild expects you to log on to raid. We will frequently be promoting and demoting from this rank based on your recent attendance. Raiders and casual raiders have full loot privileges. Raiders have great attendance and will therefore get loot more frequently than casual raiders. Raiders will also be rewarded with perks such as greater guild bank access, repairs from the guild bank, and occasionally enchants and flasks.

CASUAL RAIDERS: If you raid with us when you are online, but can't attend raids regularly, you are a casual raider. Casual raiders will be allowed to roll against raiders for items that drop, but because casual raiders have much lower attendance, a raider will probably have a higher loot priority unless that raider has won a lot of loot already.

FRIENDS: This rank is for friends and family that are here to hang out with us but do not plan to raid even if they happen to be online during raid times.  Friends can raid with us when they want and when we have room, but they can't win loot that a raider or casual raider would like.

INITIATES: Initiates will be allowed to get loot only if raiders and casual raiders have passed.  If you have great raid attendance, you should only be an initiate for one-two weeks. You will be getting EP the entire time you are an initiate, so you should be high on the loot priority once you are promoted.

ALTS: Alts of raiders and casual raiders are at this rank.

EP / GP

EFFORT POINTS: We award points for every raid, every 15 minutes starting at the start time and ending when the raid is called.  If you are online DURING the raid, you will receive points.  Make sure your alts are connected to your main in EP/GP (ask an officer) so you can be on an alt and still get points. 

GEAR POINTS: Every time you win an item, you get Gear Points. The gear points are different depending on the item level and item slot. Simply, the more loot you have won, the higher your Gear Score will be.

EP/GP RATIO: Also known as priority or PR, this is the number that decides who wins loot if more than one person wants it. It is your Effort Points divided by your Gear Points. The more you spend the lower your ratio is. The more you attend, the higher your ratio is.

LOOT DISTRIBUTION: Download EPGPLootmaster. When items drop, you will see a popup with several buttons: Mainspec, Minor upgrade/sidegrade, Offspec, and Pass. You have approximately a minute to decide whether you would like to go in on the item. Choosing minor upgrade just means that you would prefer the loot to go to someone else if they want it more. You aren't required to select this -- if something is a sidegrade that you really want, just choose Mainspec instead. Loot will go to the raider or casual raider with the highest priority (PR = EP/GP) who wanted the item as Mainspec. We encourage you to choose Mainspec for every upgrade, even if you have already won something that night.

POINT DECAY: At the start of each raid week, we run a 10% decay on everyone's Effort Points and their Gear Points. Decay is used to motivate people not to hoard points. You are not using your points in the most efficient way for you or the guild if you pass on a solid upgrade while you wait for a rare trinket drop or the perfect weapon. Every week you pass on an item is a week that the gear points for that item have not been decayed.

DISCLAIMER:

OFFICER / GUILD LEADER CALL: Basically this rule is here just to avoid any "but you never said..." that could arise with unforseen issues. If an unusual situation comes up, what the officers say will be final.

LOOT DRAMA: Act like an adult. We want the guild to succeed and therefore we've chosen the best system we know of to distribute loot. We recognize that anyone raiding with us is spending their time equally to help us succeed and we are committed to making loot fair for everyone. We are also human and might make mistakes. If something isn't right about loot, please address it calmly and rationally with an officer. Please wait until after the raid unless it can't wait. Hearthing or logging during a raid because you are upset about loot will not be tolerated.

FAQ

Can I get offspec items for free? If an item is an upgrade for you, even if it is an imperfect upgrade and better for a certain spec, you will have to pay points for it if you want it. We don't want to give people upgrades for free because that isn't fair to everyone else who paid for their loot. However, we will give offspec items out for free in limited situations where the item is clearly a sidegrade or downgrade to items you already have and only good for an offspec. We will also designate some items in the zone that are not very useful for raiding and meant for fun to be perma-offspec and free for anyone who wants them. The purpose of this rule is that we'd like items to be used rather than be disenchanted. However, enchanting mats are also useful to the guild to make weapon enchants, so please try to roll offspec only when you have a real purpose for wanting that gear (such as running a different spec in 10-mans or pvp).

Can I go in on an item that is a lower armor class than my main armor class? (For example, a shaman going in on a leather item.) Yes, we allow this. You earned your points and you can decide how to spend them. However, for the sake of your fellow guildmates, please carefully research gear before you decide to do this. We realize that Blizzard's itemization is not perfect and that in some cases you might need items in a lower armor class. You also might be in a situation where the lower armor class item is a fantastic upgrade for you. We strongly encourage people to roll on upgrades instead of hoarding points! But you should also be aware that, in the case of our example, the leather-wearer can't go in on any mail items. If you would like, you can choose "minor upgrade" on an item so it defaults to others who need it first.

Does epgp update points during a raid? Yes, all EP and GP updates happen in real time, exactly when you see them announced to the guild. That means the loot priority list will change during the raid.

Do I still get points if I am asked to sit out for the raid? Yes. In order to qualify for standby points, however, you have to be able to replace someone in the raid at any point with only few moments notice. The easiest way to make sure you get points is to stay logged on as your main or an alt that is in the guild - that way you will get your points automatically. If you are on an alt in a different guild or logged off but reachable through ventrilo, you will have the responsibility to make sure the loot master and the raid leader know that you are available and how to contact you if we need you to replace someone.

What happens if I am asked to bring an alt? These situations will be rare, as we would prefer people to stick to one character so that loot upgrades continue to help the guild when we work on tough content. However we may need some people to play their alts occasionally for healing or tanking or specific raid buffs. While on an alt, the points that you earn will go towards your main character. This means that you are still being rewarded with gear for your main during the entire time you are on your alt. Your alt will only be able to go in on loot if it is necessary for guild progress and if you are willing to spend your main's points for the item.

**SEND US MORE QUESTIONS, WE'LL ADD THEM TO THE LIST**