Hello everyone,

I hope that you're having a good day. Recently, I've been grinding Dehkia Oluns a lot. It's a group of three endgame grinding zone that is pretty fun. In fact, time seems to fly by when playing there. I wish Pearl Abyss made more group grinding zones, MMOs shouldn't just be single player. Sometimes I form a group ithrough the Party Finder option, however this begs the question... How is loot distributed?

There are four looting options: Free Looting, Ordered Looting, Randomized Looting, and Party-Leader Only Looting. Since the last two options are a no-go in equal parties, I'll discuss the options of Free Looting verses Orderd Looting.

Free Looting is the standard loot generation when playing outside of a party. Loot is genrated upon the defeat of the monster. You can try it yourself:

1) Put pets away

2) Turn on Lv2 item collection gauge

3) Kill some monsters

4) Turn off the item collection gauge

5) Pick up the loot, it will be the same loot as if the gauge was turned on

Free Looting is bad for parties. The item drop rate and item collection rate (agris) are based off whoever defeated the monster. Therefore the only buffs that matter are based off the player who defeated the monster. In general, not every party member have the same buffs. Some members could be running a Scroll of the Old Moon, having 10000 ecology knowledge, using certain crystals, certain pets, et cetra. None of these will drop rates will apply unless that member defeated the monster. This will cause an inbalence in group looting. Suppose you are using a Lv2 gauge and a party member is using a Lv0 gauge, then with Free Looting it is possible for them to recieve your Lv2 gauge loot (and you to recieve their Lv0 gauge). Not to mention is someone is using a Tier 3 Pet or a Long Range Pet.

Ordered Looting is a much better option for parties. Loot is distrubted in an order, that is if Monster A is defeated, then Player A gets the loot; if Monster B is defeated, then Player B gets the loot; if Monster C is defeated, then Player C gets the loot. Since it does not matter which player defeated the monster, Ordered Looting loot is generated upon pick-up (collection). If you're running a Lv2 gauge, only you will benefit from the Lv2 gauge. Therefore, your party members cannot steal upon your Lv2 gauge or Agris Fever (and vice versa). As for increased item drop rate effects such as Scroll of the Old Moon, more data will be required to make a conclusion. Although, I assume that it will be the same, that is, if you have 170% item drop rate, then any loot you aquire will have the 170% item drop rate. If you have 320% item drop rate, then any loot you aquire will have the 320% item drop rate (this is not true in the Free Looting option).

Temporary-conclusion: Only use Ordered Looting in parties. Do not use Free Looting in parties. (Unless you want to use a Lv0 gauge and leech off your teammates drop rates.)

Ordered Looting in parties is ideal because some of us only grind with their friend or friends. Once it was removed without notice, many players lost their motivation to grind. Quit making this game a solo-player experience when it's suppose to be an MMO. Just give us any form of party grinding or RIOT!

I just wanted to grind with a friend and noticed that the group looting options got removed. PA please bring these options back and strengthen group content!

The looting option got abused, for example of some stupid streamers which were "carried" by their devotees.

just turn off leader only mode thats stupid anyway selfish people shouldnt be in a prty anyway