In this forum post, the WoW GM Issuntril is quoted to confirm that item drops in World of Warcraft are not random. Which items are going to drop is rather determined by „many variables“.
First of all: this is not surprising at all. The „random“ outcome of any roll in a software-based environment must always be calculated with a formula. A computer program is never random, it can only try to simulate randomness.
The interesting thing about drop calculation is another issue, namely the economical one. Since the variables of an item drop can be influenced by the game developer, the playtime of a player can artificially be increased, e.g. by decreasing class item drop chances for the players in an instanced dungeon. Or by increasing drop chances of very rare items the larger the sum of playtime of all players is to enhance „hardcore gaming“.
Economically this would make „sense“: the more time it takes a player to complete a specific goal (e.g. completing an item set), the more subscription fees the player will (have to) pay. One more reason why item boni suck.
First of all: this is not surprising at all. The „random“ outcome of any roll in a software-based environment must always be calculated with a formula. A computer program is never random, it can only try to simulate randomness.
The interesting thing about drop calculation is another issue, namely the economical one. Since the variables of an item drop can be influenced by the game developer, the playtime of a player can artificially be increased, e.g. by decreasing class item drop chances for the players in an instanced dungeon. Or by increasing drop chances of very rare items the larger the sum of playtime of all players is to enhance „hardcore gaming“.
Economically this would make „sense“: the more time it takes a player to complete a specific goal (e.g. completing an item set), the more subscription fees the player will (have to) pay. One more reason why item boni suck.
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