Every MMORPG veteran has probably heard of DKP – at least if they’ve ever seen a raid from the inside. Although the ancient system has largely become obsolete, it is still used in games like WoW Classic. But what exactly are DKP? MeinMMO explains.
What does DKP stand for? The abbreviation stands for “Dragon Kill Points” and they indicate a numerical value assigned to players in a raid group. DKP first emerged in the MMORPG Everquest in 1999.
The only raid bosses at that time were the two dragons Lady Vox and Lord Nagafen. The player Thott invented Dragon Kill Points for his guild Afterlife to make the loot distribution somewhat fair.
Where are they used? DKP are one of many different loot systems and they are mainly used in their original form by established guilds in raids. Since the system is quite complex to operate, random groups usually rely on simpler methods.
Accordingly, DKP mainly originate from the core area of MMORPG gamers who deal with the toughest challenges. Today, some guilds still use the system, especially in old-school games or remakes like WoW Classic.
DKP as a loot system for guilds
How do DKP work? DKP are used to bid on loot items. For participating in a raid or a boss kill, players receive DKP with which they can then bid on items.
There are no fixed rules. The guild or guild leader determines how many points each player receives per participation and how many points an item costs. Depending on the approach, there are two common methods:
- Fixed price: The item costs a certain amount of DKP and interested parties can pay that. If there are multiple interested parties, a roll or bid is conducted.
- Bid: An item starts with a base value and players bid on it in chat or via silent bidding. The highest bid wins.
By the way, DKP can also be deducted by the raid leader, for example, in cases of excessive mistakes or bad behavior. This is intended to ensure a certain level of discipline.
What types of DKP are there? The standard system is often referred to as “eqDKP”. Over the years, however, the DKP system has continued to evolve. Nowadays, there are addons and websites for many MMORPGs that deal with exactly such loot systems – for example, Warcraft DKP.
At its core, these methods remain the same, but allow for adjustments such as separate points for attendance, kills, or participation as well as tracking purchases and the current equipment status of raiders.
A relatively new variant is the PerfectDKP or Gold-DKP (or GDKP). In this system, players bid directly with gold or the corresponding in-game currency. Whoever bids the most gold gets the item.
The total amount bid is then equally distributed among all participants, sometimes with a small “tax” for the guild. This system circumvents the excessive hoarding of points and ensures that everyone gains something from a kill – even without loot. It can lead to extremely absurd amounts:
An immature system with many alternatives
What is the downside of DKP? Without a tool, DKP are cumbersome to manage. The guild officers must maintain lists and update them manually. Looking up who got which item or checking one’s own DKP can often be cumbersome.
Since DKP are usually awarded for participation and kills, newcomers to guilds always have a disadvantage. Although there are occasionally things like a “welcome bonus” for newcomers, this is not always the case.
Moreover, in a DKP system, anyone can bid on anything by default. So if you’ve been waiting for a weapon for months as a warrior, but a hunter has more DKP and wants it too or wants to troll you, you’re out of luck.
What systems are used today? DKP have primarily arisen out of the necessity of not having a better loot system available. Today, however, there are plenty of other methods that are often more user-friendly and simpler:
- Priority X: Before the raid, each member lists X items in descending order of priority that they would like. The loot is then distributed according to these priorities. In case of a tie, rolls or similar methods are used to decide.
- Suicide Kings: Players are entitled to loot according to a hierarchical list. If you receive an item, you move to the end of the list.
- Loot Master/Loot Council: A single player or a “council” of officers determines which member receives the loot. The end of the loot master in WoW led to a major controversy.
- Random 100: The loot is rolled. The highest roll wins.
- Need before Greed: Players who urgently need an item are prioritized. In case of a tie, rolls determine the winner.
There are also frequently addons or websites for the more modern methods that manage the loot system. By the way, if you’re wondering which items are particularly worth bidding or rolling on, just look at the color of the name:
