Need before greed

Need before greed is a video game mechanic used for assigning loot during locally-organised instances, often dungeons where players need a quick resolution on how loot is distributed.

There are two sets of roll priorities; "Need" and "Greed". The recipient of the item is determined by luck; the computer randomly picks a number (called a roll), usually either in the range of 100 or 1000. If at least one player rolls "Need", any rolls for "Greed" become void, and do not count. If two or more players roll "Need", the highest roll wins the item. If there is a tie, an additional roll takes place. If nobody rolls "Need", these rules then apply to the players that chose "Greed".

There may be an additional gating factor in play, with only the classes that can actually equip the gear or the classes that can make the best use of the gear, being able to roll "Need".

World of Warcraft includes an additional roll called "Disenchant"; this shares the "Greed" roll priority, and can usually only be invoked if the group includes someone with the Enchanting profession. If the player wins an item with "Disenchant", the game simulates a disenchanting action as if the player were an Enchanter (even if they do not have that profession), and the player receives the materials obtained from the disenchantment.