Breakfast Topic: Am I a ninja?
Many of us have come across "ninja looting" -- the practice of taking loot that isn't yours, usually through dirty tactics such as rolling need on "bind on pickup" items. While this can be excusable at lower levels, by the time you hit 60 it should be a long-forgotten experience. Sadly, it isn't.
Everyone hates ninja looters, and yet many players are swift to accuse others of ninjaing, to see ninjas where none exist. Recently I was accused of the dreaded N-word; as a feral druid I was acting as off-tank, and rolled on a +defense trinket. The rest of the group agreed I could roll, but the warrior only spoke up after I had rolled, calling me a ninja. He rolled need too, but I won the item. Shortly after that he left the group; I tanked the rest of the instance, and nobody complained.
Of course, stories like this are all too common, with hybrid classes complicating the issues -- even at level 60. Most people I've grouped with acknowledge that if a hybrid class is taking on a particular role then he or she can claim items for that role. However, imagine a druid who switches between forms a lot in an instance. Can she roll on strength, defense, agility, intellect and +healing gear? Technically, yes; but wails of "ninja" would result.
The solution? I've learnt to carefully spell out before entering an instance that I will be taking on role X, and rolling on gear accordingly. A better solution is to group with players you know, and good ones at that, who give you a chance at whatever you can use.
Have you encountered a ninja that wasn't? Do you hate being out-rolled by greedy hybrids?
