I've locked myself at home all weekend to put some serious time into moving our site to its new format. Here's some code:

https://github.com/illepic/Downfall-Migration/commits/master

Everything is migrating over to the new format just fine except raid groups and Images. Those are the last, big things.

Anything we particularly need on the new site? Video will be in by default, as well as better image handling. I'm also working on supplying "toons-per-site-account" system.

Anyhoo, just thought you all would like to see that there is real progress on this.

Edit: Also, the MMO-Champion feed is working in the bottom-right of the site again (after a year and half of not working).

When tasked with finidng an apropiate loot system for our new 25 man raid in MoP I found myself returning to something I knew from my time before <Downfall>: EPGP

EPGP is a loot system in which both your effort and the loot you take are taken into account when rolling on an item. Here's how it works:

1. EP = Effort Points = What points you have accrued from your time with the raid via showing up on time, killing bosses, first kills, or even sitting on standby waiting for a spot in raid.
2. GP = Gear Points = A value assigned to each epic item that drops and you recieve. An addon determines this automatically based off of item ilevel.
3. PR = Priority Ratio = A ratio of EP to GP that determines who gets priority for loot.

The basic math structure is quite simple: EP/GP = PR

EPGP IN ACTION

Say I have 10000 EP from raiding for the last week and Atar has 20000 because I missed the previous raid week (made up numbers may not be true to a weeks raiding). Let's say we both have 1500 gp.

• Elapsed's PR: 10000/1500 = 6.67PR
• Atar's PR: 20000/1500 = 13.34pr

Then we kill Gara'jal and Circuit of the Frail Soul (worth 415GP) drops and we both roll. Because of Atar actually raided on the wipe nights to kill Gara'jal he has a much higher EP and therefore a much higher PR. He wins that easily. My PR stays the same but let us see what Atar's PR is at now

• Atar's PR: 20000/1915 = 10.44 PR

Next we kill The Spirit Kings and each get 1000 EP for the kill and on the drop is a Mindshard Drape (worth 415 gp) and we both want it again.

• Elapsed's PR: 11000/1500 = 7.34 PR
• Atar's PR: 21000/1915 = 10.96PR

Notice how Elapsed's PR went up more than Atar's due to the kill. And again Atar wins the item!

• Atar's new PR: 21000/2330 = 9.01

Now Elegon dies, its our first kill so we each get 2000 EP for it. On the drop is a Light of the Cosmos (worth a whoping 1037 GP)

• Elapsed's PR: 13000/1500 = 8.67PR
• Atar's PR: 23000/2330 = 9.87PR

Atar this time just barely wins, but see what happens to his PR vs Elapsed's on this set:

• Atar's PR: 23000/3367 = 6.87PR

Quite the hit there, now the next item that drops is clearly a win for Elapsed, and showing that being there for raid on time and prepared can make a difference for loot every night.

You can see how in just a few loots and kills someone who missed a week in raid wont be completely behind the curve when it comes to gear.

DECAY

Every week both EP and GP numbers will be reduced by 10% (on Tuesdays) so that all PRs will remain the same but will help with keeping numbers down to reasonable levels. 

So some basic things to know for raid (real numbers now):

1. First kills = 2000 EP
2. Farm Kills (anything after the first kill unless deemed so by officers) = 1000 EP
3. Wipe Night (aka no kills just working on progression) = 4000 EP
4. The mininum EP you need to be considered for a roll is 10000EP (Updated for 5.2)

Standby raiders are considered and are granted 50% of EP granted to raiders (as long as they are online and ready to fill in instantly when needed). Other EP numbers may be considered as needed and will be anounced to the raid when it happens

GP VALUES

All items right now are determined by EPGP and numbers can be given on a case by case basis.

Also if an item goes to offspec the GP cost of said item will be waived for the winner of a 1-100 roll. SHOULD a person be using their offspec to help the raid on a certain fight (aka a healer or tank going DPS for a specific fight every week) then they will have priority on getting offspec items. once again that is at officers discretion and can be openly discussed with me on a cast by case basis.

I hope this sheds some light on the loot system, I will be on as much as I can over the next week should someone have any questions.

Check out your points over at EPGP <Downfall> and even look at your gear history (first night gear history is a little wonky

Hello!

I noticed that I was given three giftable copies of the DOTA 2 beta on Steam. It requires a Steam account to play, of course, as well as for me to gift. (They are free if you do not have one.) Anyone interested can drop me a message on Steam. My username on Steam is d1srupta.

I would just post the keys here but it apparently "requires" that I trade/gift them.

I know many of you have not heard from me for quite some time, I played with some of you during the release of SWtoR. However, with the release of Guild Wars 2 fond memories have came back and I felt all you Downers should know the kind of impression and great community leaves.

With this new release I have been struggling to find a guild that fits me. Some guilds think they're high and mighty while others keep sending you random invites in-game. Some of the things that are important to me is a tight and active community. While people may be on VOIP and in-game, I need an active forum where we can talk in details about stats, theory-crafting, and our lives.

Downfall, and TKO before my joining at the release of Burning Crusade, have been able to offer that. As I browse through guild after guild I realize how much was offered to me being a Downer. We were always able to remain an elite status on Gorgonnash without ever being stressed or taking the fun away from the game. The guild leaders all knew we bought a GAME to enjoy ourselves, not to be yelled at or do homework. Everyone in Downfall made it easy, and enjoyable to be a strong player. We NEVER had 99 rules and fun wasn't one. There was always that realization that if the game becomes unfun, something is wrong.

There was always so much on the table that we provided ourselves. We never had to grovel at the feet of guild leaders in fear of being /gkicked. We also never logged on and thought 'wow, does anyone here know how to play?'. There was also so much information and tools available on the website we took for granted. There was also a friendly community that was very active without having the need of a Zerg behind it.

As I look for Guild Wars 2 guilds, I want something that has all of this. I enjoy playing the PvP the game has to offer but I want people with similar interests to play it with. I browse through these guilds, many claim to be so much but I check their VOIP, and no one is on. I check their forums and there have been no posts for 4 days. Other guilds have 60 people in one VOIP channel and 50 new posts a day. The first guild had no one to gain a bond with while the other is a glorified Zerg. What saddens me even more are some of the rules I've seen in these guilds. Many want to restrict or have you bend over. When a guild makes a game unfun, it is not a good guild no matter what their track record is, or how many people they have in it.

Without wasting any more of anyone's time, I just want to say thankyou to everyone I have played with in this community. This community has offered so much to me in the past: personal relationships, enjoyable gaming, and accomplishments I'm proud of, virtual or not. So wherever you are now, friends of past and present, keep on doing what you do best and make gaming enjoyable!

-Ewiges (BigBiker05)

Always hard to get on the same servers when a new game comes out, but was just trying to figure out whose playing.  I plan on pre-ordering so i can do the head start thing.

Hey folks. It's been about 2 years or so since I've quit WoW. Lazy sunday before my last round of midterms and I just wanted to see how everything has been since I've left. Who is still around, who caused crazy drama, and how much the game has changed.