Ni Karma System
The Ni Karma System (NKS) is a system of loot distribution for tracking raids. It solves many of the issues with DKP, Zero-sum DKP, and other roll-bonus systems which do not work well with WoW, such as inflation, differences between class/non-class items, rewards for learning dungeons, DKP deficit which crushes new raiders, etc.
Specifically:
* Loot received is generally proportional to time put in, but is fair to new raiders.
* Little to no inflation. It tends towards zero-sum.
* Bonuses for learning an encounter don't break the zero-sum property.
* Difficult to break/collude, without it being obvious.
* Items do not get disenchanted from point competition between players.
* Separate databases for different dungeons, if desired
* System "feels" fair to the attendees. (see poll results below)
NKS is a roll bonus system, where you gather points for raid attendance which can be added to a /roll 100. It specifically deals with WoW's class items vs non-class items issues, inflation, and different dungeon databases. This system was designed specifically to work with WoW, without too much bookkeeping.
The system can be tracked using pen and paper, but Mavios of Icecrown wrote a plugin which makes it even easier. Included is a php website script to display results, too!
The full description of the system is included, plus an html tutorial, plus an overview of other loot systems which shows why this one was created. Once you understand the system, it's pretty straightforward.
If you have implementation issues or questions, I will try to answer them. But please read the description in the download, carefully, before asking.
--
I polled the raiders in my guild and got these results. The vast majority think it works well, some have minor issues with it, and a couple don't like it at all. That is about the best you can hope for in a loot distribution system, and I've made some tweaks to try to improve issues with fairness.
Q: How do you like the Karma system?
[ 43 ] [56.58%] It works very well, esp when the loot list is updated, and with the karma cutoff of 70/100.
[ 15 ] [19.74%] It works very well, but I don't understand it. I just declare and occasionally get epix.
[ 13 ] [17.11%] It works okay, but I don't like some parts such as the karma cutoff, loot list, fairness, etc.
[ 2 ] [2.63%] I think it's unfair/biased/broken/etc.
[ 3 ] [3.95%] I don't raid, but I really like to vote.
Total Votes: 76
One of the known issues is the database is stored locally on the raid leader's computer (and uploaded to the webserver). When using multiple raid leaders, this becomes an issue of coordination. Although I haven't yet tested it, you might find this merger app useful.
3.0 r04 bugfix. (beta)
3.0 r03 implemented load on demand. (beta)
Install the Ni_Loader and Ni_Karma files in your addons directory. If you use an autoloader, you might get the Documentation and Website Scripts in your addons directory, too. Although harmless, it's better if you install this manually.
Installation Guide
- Exit "World of Warcraft" completely
- Download the mod you want to install
- Make a folder on your desktop called "My Mods"
- Save the .zip/.rar files to this folder.
- If, when you try to download the file, it automatically "opens" it... you need to RIGHT click on the link and "save as..." or "Save Target As".
- Extract the file - commonly known as 'unzipping'
Do this ONE FILE AT A TIME!
- Windows
- Windows XP has a built in ZIP extractor. Double click on the file to open it, inside should be the file or folders needed. Copy these outside to the "My Mods" folder.
- WinRAR: Right click the file, select "Extract Here"
- WinZip: You MUST make sure the option to "Use Folder Names" is CHECKED or it will just extract the files and not make the proper folders how the Authors designed
- Mac Users
- StuffitExpander: Double click the archive to extract it to a folder in the current directory.
- Verify your WoW Installation Path
That is where you are running WoW from and THAT is where you need to install your mods.
- Move to the Addon folder
- Open your World of Warcraft folder. (default is C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\)
- Go into the "Interface" folder.
- Go into the "AddOns" folder.
- In a new window, open the "My Mods" folder.
- The "My Mods" folder should have the "Addonname" folder in it.
- Move the "Addonname" folder into the "AddOns" folder
- Start World of Warcraft
- Make sure AddOns are installed
- Log in
- At the Character Select screen, look in lower left corner for the "addons" button.
- If button is there: make sure all the mods you installed are listed and make sure "load out of date addons" is checked.
- If the button is NOT there: means you did not install the addons properly. Look at the above screenshots. Try repeating the steps or getting someone who knows more about computers than you do to help.
Translations
When you download a mod, please be sure that the mod is compatible with your translation of wow. Some mods only work on the US versions, while some only work on some of the various European versions. These variations are called "Localizations".
TOC Numbers (Out of Date Mods)
When Blizzard patches WoW, they change the Interface number. This means that all mods will be "out of date" unless or until the author releases a new version for that interface. Some people go into the .toc files and update the numbers themselves, but this is STRONGLY advised against as it will cause problems locating possible incompatibilities addons. When you log into WoW after a patch, you DO NOT have to delete your interface directory. All you have to do is simply tell WoW to ignore the interface numbers and load all the mods anyway. All you have to do is, while at the "character select" screen, look in the lower left corner and click on the "addons" button. A window will pop up listing all your installed mods.
If you look in the upper left corner of that window there should be a box that says "Load Out of Date AddOns". You want to CHECK this box. Now simply go into WoW normally and all your mods should load. As of the 1.9 patch, you will have to do this after EVERY patch/update that Blizzard posts! If you encounter any problems with a mod after a patch, please be sure to let the author of the mod know so they can fix it.
See also: About "Out Of Date AddOns"
Mac Support
WoW addons are not platformed based. As such, they can be used on either Mac or PC. You can extract both .zip and .rar files on a Mac using StuffitExpander.
Directory Structure
World of Warcraft
|_ Interface
|_AddOns
|_*AddonName*
|_ *AddonName*.toc
|_ *AddonName*.xml
|_ *AddonName*.lua
|_ (possibly others as well)...
