I have been a developer on AAA titles and specifically, MMOs. This article is less about criticizing ANet and more about them making the game more fun.
RNG is bad for MMOs. Here’s why:
1) RNG as implemented fosters player rancor.
I post that I haven’t found an item after opening 100 chest, someone else post they found it in the 2nd chest and they don’t see a problem.
2) RNG as implemented isn’t fair.
Nope, life ain’t fair. GW2 is not life, it is a game. It is entertainment. Frustration is not fun.
3) RNG as implemented isn’t fun.
Putting a desirable item behind RNG is a recipe for making people frustrated. Something that always drops is meaningless; something that never drops causes frustration. A balance must be struck.
4) RNG as implemented is illogical.
People who want the item do not get it. People who don’t want the item do. Since items cannot be sold in the trading post, this again creates frustration.
GW2 would be a better game and more fun if:
1) Allow rare drops to be sold. Remove account binding.
2) Improve the chance of a rare item drop the more a person tries to get it. I suspect ANet will say they can’t do this due to “technical limitations”.
3) Sell rare drops in the trading post for gems. People with money can buy the drop; people who have oodles of time/will can hunt for it. Please don’t hypocritically say rare things should be special, and then let people buy/sell “legendaries”.
RNG is fun and entertaining.
Excessive RNG is bad and frustrates players. Frustrated players don’t recommend the game and don’t spend money in the store.