In regards to drop rates: There was an article brought up in the gw2 subreddit that referenced Wi-Flagging. For those unaware of what it is, it is the idea that your character or account is somehow being targeted by the game via RNG or aggro ( or any really) algorithms. In the Asheron’s Call case, it was true based on the simple fact that the game tracked the CharacterID in such a way that it influenced the aggro ranges improperly.
Article referanced: http://asheron.wikia.com/wiki/Wi_Flag
My husband and I (without know how the code is actually built) have formed these suppositions:
1.) That GW2 does track characters (or accounts) via the DR system.
2.) That certain characters or accounts are either “unlucky” in the fact that a IDhash is made and will NOT reset properly at the end of the duration of the DR. (Cases that result with no alleviation of DR via logging off, switching areas , etc.)
3.) That DR itself is not reset properly until server reset.
These seem to explain why certain characters who always remain unlucky in drops remain that way, and the mid-Nov patch would only exacerbate the issue, highlighting to the “normal” or “lucky” players that something is wrong with the drop rate. It may very well be that Anet increased the drop rates, but a stacking, almost punitive, DR algorithm is screwing the character over. This would also explain why the drop rates return to “normal” for about an hour after server reset.
Feedback?
I can only hope this helps more people!