I noticed a difference in the qualities of drops on how you kill a boss. I don't know if it's true, so I'm posting here to see if it is. It seems like the quality of item drops depend on how skillfully you play. So the more you die trying to kill a certain boss, the worse the quality of drops are.

i.e, I died about 5 times trying to kill Duriel in single player mode and all he dropped was like 1 rare, and the rest were normal items. Another time, I killed him only dying once and he drops several rares and a set item. It also happens with regular uniques as well. The more swiftly I kill them (not getting hit, not using TP's/Potions), the better the drops.

Does this seem true to anyone else? It's been very true for me so far. I just wanted to see if someone can confirm this.

This may come across as ironic given the subject matter of the game itself, but you might want to try out some critical thinking to replace your magical thinking.

Here's one link to get you started:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200802/magical-thinking

Here's the critical thinking mentioned above applied to original poster:

When you die a lot, you keep thinking that you just HAVE TO KILL Duriel and get those AWESOME items. Your expectations are high.

Think about falling for a girl but not being able to get her.
Then think about the girl you asked out, she said yes, you went out and it was over in a few weeks.

Which one will haunt you for the rest of your life?! Or a long period of time.

Now, because your expectations are high due to the number of times you died and the agony, you'll always feel like sh*t when you get crappy items and remember those times.

On the other hand, when you kill him quickly and you get sh*tty items, you'll simply not remember it cause it's not a big impact on you. It's just a few minutes. Or maybe even seconds lost which doesn't bother you.

One final example is the traffic and red lights. "Oh I got caught at all the red lights I possibly could!" No dummy. You were in a hurry and all you realized was red lights because it was a painful experience for you. You didn't even notice the greens you passed. If you weren't in such a hurry, you wouldn't even mind the reds.




And so on...

Snack-Attack
It can seem that way, getting better items the least times you have died. However I have received crappy items more often than not killing without dying. One scenario that comes to mind is finding my first SOJ on a Champion in Act IV. Damn thing was immuned to everything - it seemed. I died about 4 times (could have been 5) and a unique ring dropped. I figured it was going to be nagel or something, and it was an SOJ.

Anyway http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/basics.shtml if you scroll down to the bottom it should help you understand item and item drops.

4thdimension
Why not post something semi-useful to how item drops work, rather than a meaningless link to magical thinking? Furthermore how is a theory (really should be a hypothesis) magical thinking? Simply noting that something has been happening when he/she dies versus dying less and wanting confirmation does not appear to fit that thinking error - despite the level of wishfulness/rituals that may be apparent.

Laneth
Your examples are interesting. I don't know if I entirely agree on the impact of your insinuation. I have legitimately received all red-lights not being in a hurry. Both girl situations could be haunting, and both are remembered as impactful and have occupied my thoughts from time to time. If the objective is to seek good items and you get crappy regardless you will remember. If you start noticing patterns, you start forming hypothesis (even flawed ones) and will limit your efforts. For example I have yet to receive a decent drop from The Countess.

Luciferus667
Some of my best finds have been with no magic find. In fact I have yet to find a quality unique or high rune with high mf. Although, drops are more frequent the more MF I have.

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4thdimension
Why not post something semi-useful to how item drops work, rather than a meaningless link to magical thinking? Furthermore how is a theory (really should be a hypothesis) magical thinking? Simply noting that something has been happening when he/she dies versus dying less and wanting confirmation does not appear to fit that thinking error - despite the level of wishfulness/rituals that may be apparent.

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I thought my observation was both meaningful and relevant, because magical thinking indeed does ascribe causes where there can be no causal relationship. It manifests itself in myriads of ways, and always finds links between events that cannot have links. A hypothesis has to be based on some set of facts. A theory is far beyond even that basic criteria, being an ordered representation encompassing numerous tested hypotheses. The OP is neither theory nor hypothesis, and no effort has been expended to derive a single fact on which to base any speculation. A simple examination of the game's mechanics, even from a casual observer's level, would show that the game operates with probabilistic functions that have few variables, none of which are something as ephemeral as "skill." (Even if you measure "skill" by number of deaths, it is still ephemeral.) I would have the same reaction to someone who noted that his drops appeared to be better when the moon is full, or when his horoscope said it would be, and "theorized" that there was something going on there. It does indeed fit the definition of magical thinking, and so my post was appropriate and could be regarded as helpful if the OP receives it in the spirit it was given, which was to attempt to inform on a deeper level, rather than the spirit in which you regard it, which is seemingly malicious.

While looking for causal links in places where there are none, one misses many of the causal links that do exist, such as exists between choosing to limit one's investigation of a matter in favor of whipping out a quick summation, and the finding of meaningless meaning in other areas of life that can end up being a true hindrance to one's growth. Essentially, I would have personally liked to hear about the subject of critical versus magical thinking a lot earlier in my life, and so I am treating another the way I would like to have been treated, with some meaty food for thought in response to a relevant particular manifestation of the topic. I don't see anything wrong with that, so I have to completely disagree with your summation.

How is the message, "Hey I noticed to be having this experience; is anyone else," magical thinking? I guess there is associative thinking involved ("I noticed this so..."), which is a form of the magical thinking process. When I think of this thinking error I see it as the causation is not (and not possible to be) correlated to the second event. Even further, the error lacking a question, and making more of a statement suggesting no alternative (but this could just be modifying the definition). However, it is entirely plausible gaming mechanic to reduce item drop rates from repeated deaths. Although, not done in Diablo II. So, ignorance to Diablo II's game mechanics...yes, but not magical (or wishful). Magical thinking of calling it a theory...yes, but that could just be a lack of using a better word for validating their experience.

edit: Way to Overgeneralize and Catastrophize your associations of a full moon and horoscopes to a possible, although unused game mechanic. Way to use Emotional Reasoning (I wanted it done for me, so they must want it too) for justifying an off topic response.

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Q u o t e:
How is the message, "Hey I noticed to be having this experience; is anyone else," magical thinking? I guess there is associative thinking involved ("I noticed this so..."), which is a form of the magical thinking process. When I think of this thinking error I see it as the causation is not (and not possible to be) correlated to the second event. Even further, the error lacking a question, and making more of a statement suggesting no alternative (but this could just be modifying the definition). However, it is entirely plausible gaming mechanic to reduce item drop rates from repeated deaths. Although, not done in Diablo II. So, ignorance to Diablo II's game mechanics...yes, but not magical (or wishful). Magical thinking of calling it a theory...yes, but that could just be a lack of using a better word for validating their experience.

edit: Way to Overgeneralize and Catastrophize your associations of a full moon and horoscopes to a possible, although unused game mechanic. Way to use Emotional Reasoning (I wanted it done for me, so they must want it too) for justifying an off topic response.

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LOL...

I'm not even going to try to debate what is now definitively off-topic. I will continue to maintain, though, that my initial response was on-topic, as I explained, and for which you offered no genuine dispute but only partial disagreement.

I'm curious as to whether or not you're going to make a habit of following me around and commenting on my comments, though. I thought we were past all this.

How is posting a link to magical thinking related to Diablo II or how item finding works? You gave no specification on that only that you believe the ops thinking to be magical. Way to maximize your helpfulness and minimize an off topic response. Additionally, your initial post could be viewed as you insulting the op (regardless of your perceptions of just trying to help). You justify however you want for posting something unrelated.

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Q u o t e:
I'm curious as to whether or not you're going to make a habit of following me around and commenting on my comments, though. I thought we were past all this.

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What? I responded to this thread (in response to many other posters - both times). Are you feeling somehow unique? I haven't responded to any of your other posts since your post in my created thread and I have responded to other posts that you have not posted; grandiose thinking here? Again way to Catastrophize my response to your thread.

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Q u o t e:
How is posting a link to magical thinking related to Diablo II or how item finding works? You gave no specification on that only that you believe the ops thinking to be magical. Way to maximize your helpfulness and minimize an off topic response. Additionally, your initial post could be viewed as you insulting the op (regardless of your perceptions of just trying to help). You justify however you want for posting something unrelated.

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Q u o t e:
I'm curious as to whether or not you're going to make a habit of following me around and commenting on my comments, though. I thought we were past all this.

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What? I responded to this thread (in response to many other posters - both times). Are you feeling somehow unique? I haven't responded to any of your other posts since your post in my created thread and I have responded to other posts that you have not posted; grandiose thinking here? Again way to Catastrophize my response to your thread.

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Wow. You are srs bsns. You are really making an issue about the quality of my comments (based on your perception of the lack thereof). I suppose I can see how you think that fits your criteria of being on topic and helpful. [/sarcasm] I know I'm an easy target for trolling, but this is getting ridiculous.

Funny how the next poster didn't think it so off-topic and provided a helpful example to expand upon my suggestion that perception is the root of the belief. I suppose if we don't meet your criteria for helpfulness, then we are all trolls. Speaking of grandiose thinking.

edit: Please don't take credit for a poster making something relevant. I am taking issue not if the op is critical, but if the op is magical. I don't recall labeling you a troll nor am I claiming mine on topic. My first question was asking why not post something that would help the op understand the gaming mechanics and I have since been asking you to draw how your link correlates (causes) to those mechanics of Diablo II. I am sorry if this is unclear. If somehow, my questions and discussion has prompted putting you on the defense (or to debate), you might want to ask why. Again, although not of Diablo II, COULD be a possible gaming mechanic (so its not exactly magical). This plausibility and the phrasing of a question (suggesting questionability by his/her experience), does not fit the module of a magical thinking error (unlike your earlier examples of the moon and horoscope).

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Q u o t e:
and so I am treating another the way I would like to have been treated, with some meaty food for thought in response to a relevant particular manifestation of the topic.

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I guess my assumption must have been wrong that you critiquing others of their thought processes; you must have also wanted such.