RNG Killed My Dog

#0 - March 6, 2009, 9:37 p.m.
Blizzard Post
The ignorance around this mechanic is astounding. By which I mean the ignorance of the players. Nearly every time you use an ability there is RNG involved; hit, crit, miss, partial resist, parry, dodge, proc, etc. All decided by RNG.

RNG is only a problem as it relates to very small chances (making it less random and more an anomaly which we've all seen on the giving and receiving end), this is what makes it infuriating for players. I've never heard anyone flip out in vent over a spell not critting. I have (like most) heard people flip out over a mass dispel resist, imp hamspring, mace spec, stormherald chain procs, TNT, etc.

It has to do with expectation not random numbers. When you cast a spell with 97% chance to hit you expect it to hit. A proc with a 10% chance is balanced around not happening often (10% is not very often after all). But when that skill procs twice in 5 seconds along with a 15% proc the stars have aligned and someone will probably die because the other player got lucky.

No one likes being "RNGed to death" which is really the only part of RNG Blizzard is trying to be rid of. So next time you want to whine about something that has RNG think "could this RNG me to death?" if not, shut your cry hole and move on.
#1 - March 6, 2009, 10:01 p.m.
Blizzard Post
We agree with this for the most part. We don't want to remove random numbers in PvP (even though I understand many players would, given the choice).

An ability that hits 1% of the time for 20,000 damage on paper is perfectly balanced with an ability that hits 10% of the time for 2000 damage. However in PvP especially the first ability would be really frustrating for both the attacker and the victim.