Broadsword is introducing a simple character-based counter system to prevent repeated bad luck with randomized loot drops. We’ll explain how the system works, what items it applies to now, and what it will likely apply to in the future.
What is the Bad Luck Prevention System?
The Bad Luck Prevention System keeps track of how many times your toon has not won a piece of loot protected by said system. Once the counter reaches its maximum or you win the item naturally, you are guaranteed to get the drop and the counter resets.
The counter is unique for each character and source of loot, and it does not apply automatically to all loot in the game. It is only applied on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the counter does not affect loot drop chance beyond guaranteeing it after a set number of clears, like a punch card.
How does the Bad Luck Prevention System work?
The Bad Luck Prevention System (henceforth known as BLPS, pronounced blips) is first being deployed for the new augment schematics that drop from Propagator Core XR-53 in the following way:
- In Story Mode players are guaranteed to see an augment schematic drop from Propagator after 12 clears if one has not dropped for them.
- In Veteran Mode, players are guaranteed to see an augment schematic after 7 clears if one has not dropped for them.
The items in the table below benefit from the Bad Luck Prevention System. The BLPS Counter refers to the number of successful clears on that toon before you are guaranteed to get the associated item.
| Icon | Item | Item Type | Source | BLPS Counter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | All Blue Augment Schematic 83s (for blue 296 augs) | Schematic | Propagator Core XR-53 (SM) | 12 |
| All Blue Augment Schematic 86s (for blue 302 augs) | Schematic | Propagator Core XR-53 (VM) | 7 |
I know those clear counts seem high, but keep in mind that the Bad Luck Prevention System is only meant to prevent bad luck, not improve your odds.
Future plans
The Bad Luck Prevention System was introduced with Update 7.6d. The developers plan to apply it to other sources of loot, again, on a case-by-case basis, but they want to make sure the system is working properly before doing so.
We will be monitoring the system and collecting your feedback to make sure it continues to work as intended before we start rolling it out to more loot in SWTOR. Because this additional tracking can have an impact on game performance we won’t be applying it to every source of loot, but will start with a focus on unique drops from Operations and Flashpoints.
Bryant Wood, SWTOR System Designer
These items are prestigious, and a bug could open the floodgates to the point where a previously rare item becomes common, I’d say their caution is reasonable.
They can’t apply BLPS to everything because it can impact game performance, so they’re going to focus on unique drops from Operations and Flashpoints first. There really isn’t too much else that it could apply to anyway because the vast majority of rare drops come from group content.
I expect (and politely demand) all items in the table below to eventually benefit from the BLPS as each has a random, low chance to drop for a single player in a group.
If you are viewing this table on a small screen, scroll to the right to see the full width or turn your device horizontal.
| Icon | Item | Item Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Titan Six Containment Mode | Mount | Scum and Villainy NiM |
 | Avalanche Heavy Tank | Mount | Explosive Conflict NiM (and HM!) |
 | Helix Hyperpod | Mount | Terror from Beyond NiM, Final Boss |
 | Red Sphere | Mount | Xenoanalyst II VM |
 | Symbiote Rakling | Pet | The Eyeless |
 | Karagga’s Unyielding Helm | Armor | Karagga’s Palace VM |
 | Replica Sacrificial Sphere | Deco | Temple of Sacrifice VM, Revan |
 | Covert Gateway | Mount | Colossal Monolith VM |
 | Geonosian Handler License (Lysslo) | Companion | Geonosian Hive Queen VM |
 | Irrigated Garden | Deco | Ossus World Bosses |
 | Withered Tree | Deco | Ossus World Bosses |
 | Mantellian Separatist Hover Turret | Mount | FR3-D0M |
 | Concordian Scout Craft | Mount | Ravagers VM (and SM!), Coratanni |
 | Jury-Rigged Battledroid (Blaster) | Deco | Ravagers VM, Master and Blaster |
 | Statue of the Burning Skull | Deco | Dread Fortress NiM, Brontes |
 | Statue of the Oriconian Warrior | Deco | Dread Palace NiM, Dread Council |
 | Manned Blaster Turret | Deco | Collicoid War Games |
 | Banner: Czerka Sunrise | Deco | Czerka Core Meltdown MM, Last Boss |
 | Czerka Data Core | Deco | Czerka Corporate Labs MM, Last Boss |
 | Copero Resort Rug | Deco | Traitor Among the Chiss, Bonus Boss |
 | Ilumination Probe Crate | Deco | Blood Hunt MM, Shae Vizla |
 | Iknaynid | Pet | Eternal Championship |
 | Tamed Stoneray | Pet | Blood Hunt |
 | Mysterious Egg | Pet | Lost Island MM, Doctor Lorrick |
 | Covert Duster | Mount | Uprising: Done and Dusted |
 | Covert Flame | Mount | Uprising: Inferno |
 | Covert Frost | Mount | Uprising: Firefrost |
 | Covert Neon | Mount | Uprising: Crimson Fang |
It remains to be seen what will happen in with unique drops in content that requires team progression.
I think it would be more prudent to migrate NiM mounts to the Ventures system, or change them to be achievement-based, but perhaps the BLPS can handle such an occasion.
