SWAPS
Q. What is Swaps?
A. Swaps is point based loot system that makes the
distribution of raiding items both fun and fair to all
members attending the raid.
Q. How does
Swaps work?
A. It's really pretty simple. You'll be assigned a set
point value of 200 General Points for your first run. After
a few more runs, your points will continue to grow to a
maximum of 1000. These points will be "unlocked" over the
course of a few raids to ensure new members get a fair
chance at receiving loot as well. When an item that you
want drops, a public auction will begin and members can bid
for an item. If another member outbids them, you then have
the option to bid again or you can simply congratulate your
fellow guildy on their new gear.
Example: You're first run you'll receive 200 points. The
following day you might get an additional 200 points. Once
you've received a maximum of 1000 points for attending,
you'll never receive those points again, and the only way
to accumulate more is by attending raids where other
members bid on an item.
Q. So Swaps
is basically DKP?
A. Not quite... DKP is a form of receiving points based on
several factors. Such as killing bosses, showing up on time
for raids, etc. Most forms of DKP also focus on punishing
members for not doing what their supposed to be doing. This
is a much softer approach as it's entire purpose is to
reward members who invest time into the guild and it's
progression.
Q. Is that
the only way to get points? Where do my points go after I
spend them?
A. This is what makes Swaps both fantastic and motivating!
Let's say an item drops in Karazhan that you want, so you
bid 90 points and win the item. Instead of those 90 points
disappearing, those 90 points get evenly distributed to all
other members in a raid. So even if you lose the bid, or
don't roll on an item you're still winning something (10
points)!! This is particularly beneficial to members of the
guild who continue to pass on items for other members, or
go on long "dry spells" without receiving loot. Just for
being in the raid, they're earning more points! If you've
ever been on a Karazhan run and have had bad luck on drops
or rolls, this is right up your alley!
Q. So how
much is each drop worth?
A. Items themselves aren't assigned a point value. It's
only as valuable as someone else makes it out to be. So if
the minimum bid for an item is 50 points, you bid 50
points, and nobody else wants it, that item was worth 50
points. But if another piece drops that 5 or 6 people
continue to bid on, it could be worth 2000+ points. Now if
someone were to bid 2000 points on an item they really
want, then everyone wins! The winning bidder get's the item
they really
wanted, and the
other members in the raid get assigned a higher amount of
those points (Think 2000 divided by 9 or 24).
Q. Why does
it look like there is more than one kind of point?
A. Because there is. You have General Points and Class
Points. Class Points are currently used for pieces that are
used as an alternative set as long as no primary classes
need the item. A Protection warrior bidding on a DPS item
for example. Or a Feral druid building a resto set. All
other items, including Tier pieces, will come out of your
general point pool.
Q. What
happens if there are left over points after being
distributed?
A. They go to what is called the Ghost Raider, or 41st
Member. This Ghost will continue to accumulate points and
those points can then be distributed at a later time or
given to a player who has shown above and beyond
performance, cooperation and attitude at the end of a raid.
Just another way to make raiding more enjoyable.
Q. What raids
and instances qualify for Swaps?
A. Primarily Burning Crusade 10+ person raids. Examples
include Karazhan, Gruul's, Mag, SSC, The Eye, Mount Hyjal,
and BT. In order for this system to work however, each run
will have to have at least one designated Raid Leader who
can properly handle using the system.
(We're thinking about including Heroic Deadmines to be
eligible for Swaps as well.)
Q. Is there
any form of bonus system?
A. Actually, yes there is. Freespins. Freespins will be
given out to members for various reasons. Things such as
prizes given out from special guild events and contests,
and many other scenarios. Let's say you have an alternate
character that is a healer and that toon is necessary to
help a raid. You're main character might earn a "Freespin"
for the next time they're in a raid. All these are
scenarios are just examples of how Freespins
might
be distributed.
Q. How does a
Freespin work?
A. In the case of a 10 man raid, Let's say an item drops
and the winning bidder ended up bidding a total of 1000
points. Now as you read above, those 1000 points would be
distributed between all the 9, non-winning members in the
raid. Now if I decided to use my Freespin, instead of the
1000 points splitting up amongst 9 people, it would be
split between 10 people and I would get 2 shares.
1000 point bid divided by 9 members without Freespin = 111
points per member.
1000 point bid dived by 9 members with
Freespin = 100
points per member and 200 points for the Freespin user.
So basically, when you see a large bidding war happening,
it may be in your best interest to use your Freespin there.
For a super duper long but detailed write up on how Swaps
works, please click here for more
details
Summary From the Swaps Site:
1. The guild grants
all raiders a fixed balance of points.
2. When an item drops, raiders offer to pay some or all of
their points to the other raiders for looting rights to the
item.
3. The raider who offers to pay the most points shares them
evenly among all other raiders and wins the item.