Confession time: I have almost done something creepy but haven’t had the opportunity to test my morals.
I really want the scorpion trinket thing. And after a few more runs I’m going to feel even more entitlement than I already do.
I’ve talked to husband and we’ve gone back and forth about whether, in a pug, he would roll as well to increase my chances of winning it.
Which is terrible! I shouldn’t even be plotting this treacherous conspiracy! And probably would not if it were not for the anonymity of cross-server pugs, where the consequences for being a jackass are virtually nil.
In quasi-justification of abnormally jerkish behavior, there are so many variables you just don’t know about your pug-mates. Is this throwaway alt #4 that you’re rolling against? How many times has the pug-person run this instance to get this item?
In a guild group, you know who “should” get the item. Unlike the Pug group, you’re emotionally invested in your guild mates and you want them to do well.
As Elnia comments in The Porn Star and the Pug, it’s not necessarily a good thing to have a “wham, bam, thank you ma’am” sort of PUG experience, even if you do get everything that you want. Just as you like seeing your guildmates get upgrades they need, is it as awesome to get the upgrade you have been working for so hard without your guildies around to congratulate you? When you’re in a pug and you finally get the thing you’re looking for – don’t you excitedly link it in /gchat with an “OMG OMG OMG” and get “ZOMG grats, you have been WORKING for that” from your guildmates and subdued “grats” from your PUG groupmates, if they say anything at all.
On a pure utility argument, in a guild group, if you don’t get the item, the item will end up benefiting you indirectly, because you will run with your guildies in the future. It’s the “greater good.” In a Pug group, that item is gone, lost in the cross-server abyss, and might as well have been sharded for all the good it’s going to do you in the future.
But this makes me a complete hypocrite. I’ve argued (in response to Tam’s refusal to rez a pug idiot) that behavior from Pugs does carry over. You’re not just acting in a vaccuum in a Pug. Your actions have ripples. If we take the time to “train” an asshat in a pug group, maybe he will behave properly for the next healer. If you show kindness toward a new 80, maybe he will pay it forward in future groups.
We’ll see whether my greedy nature gets the best of me. I’d be interested to see what others have to say on the issue.
My tanking druid friend tried to insist on running with me in POS so he could do exactly that for my nevermelting ice crystal – if someone else needed he was going to as well to increase my chances. He could use it, but didn't want it.
but I did eventually get it on my own. – Maybe I crossed a moral boundry by agreeing, but I never had to actually accept it.
I agreed one run. So feed up that my efforts had not rewarded me with a smile by the Rng gods. It didn't drop that run though
What a great post! I'm normally completely opposed to the idea of doing this sort of thing (having two known players roll on an item to increase the chance of one player getting it), but you at least really did make me think about that.
I guess I'd have to say that in the end it kinda comes down to Karma. If you twisted it around, and had someone and their S.O. come into your pug and do the same to you… would it be okay then? Maybe it would – and if it would, perhaps that's the best answer for you.
For me, my resolve and opinion on the matter does stay the same – but you definitely did make me think about it more, and be a little more forgiving when I see others do it.