Does getting more eligible games increase your booster drop rate?

[Chara the Explorer]

I have been looking for an answer to this question for a VERY long time, and it's more than a little frustrating when people constantly answer other people asking the same question with the old 'herp derp moar levels = moar boosters' line. I get it guys, I read the FAQ too.

The fact is, being the rich snobbish prick that I am, I have about 35 games that are currently eligible for booster drops, and I've 'only' got two booster packs in about two months.

Levels aside, I would have thought that being eligible for multiple 'pools' of Eligible games would have increased my chances somewhat, e.g someone with ten eligible games would be around 5x more likely to get a drop than someone with two eligilbe games (disregarding the fact that drop rates for individual games vary depending on the badge craft rate).

I guess what I'm asking for is, can anyone confirm or deny if there's some sort of 'cap' to stop people with more eligible games having an advantage over those with less games, or that people who haven't got a drop in a while get extra priority?

I'll be waiting

[Mims]

As per the official Steam Community page on Trading Cards , "Booster packs are granted randomly to eligible users as more badges are crafted by members of the community." (Eligible meaning "people who have received all their possible card drops for that game".)

So, they are not from achievements or game purchases, they are somewhat random, and there is no way to know for certain how often they will drop, since that will vary as more/less people craft badges.

The only real way you can directly influence their rate is to level up: every ten Steam levels you gain will increase your chances of getting a booster pack by 20% of their normal chance; get to something really high like level 50, and you have twice the chance you otherwise would.


- Billy Mailman [gaming.stackexchange.com]

[Elderberries]

I've had the same question for quite a while and i always get the same (badges = larger percentage answer). But it makes sense that someone with 2 eligible games should be twice as eligible for a booster pack than a person with 1 eligible game.

But we need an answer!

[Keeper Of Monsters]

the problem as I see it - there is no definishion for _what is_ that basic normal chance. If it's like 1:10^100, then even getting twice as much chance isn't that much... and taking into account the sheer size of the pool of eligible players... It's like winning a lottery...

[Chara the Explorer]

Originally posted by Mims:

As per the official Steam Community page on Trading Cards, "Booster packs are granted randomly to eligible users as more badges are crafted by members of the community." (Eligible meaning "people who have received all their possible card drops for that game".)

So, they are not from achievements or game purchases, they are somewhat random, and there is no way to know for certain how often they will drop, since that will vary as more/less people craft badges.

The only real way you can directly influence their rate is to level up: every ten Steam levels you gain will increase your chances of getting a booster pack by 20% of their normal chance; get to something really high like level 50, and you have twice the chance you otherwise would.


- Billy Mailman [gaming.stackexchange.com]

Unfortunately that doesn't exactly answer my question.

The whole 'drop chance' thing is a too vague for my tastes. Is that my drop rate for each individual game, or the drop chance for my entire steam user account? If the latter is the case, then fine... but if it's the former, then buying games SHOULD STILL increase my chances.

Basically, when they say 'more badges = more boosters', I would have thought that the boosters would be from the same game, e.g. Bioshock badges will give out Bioshock boosters, but nothing else, so ONLY Bioshock owners will benefit from Bioshock crafts. If this isn't the case, e.g. crafting a TF2 badge could earn someone a L4D2 Booster, well... I'll accept that too.

Essentially, I get that they are randomly dropped, but one would have thought entering multiple raffles would increase your chances of winning something, if you get my meaning.

[Ceohai]

Based on Valve comments on booster packs:
Having more eligible games = higher chance of getting a booster pack.
Not getting a booster pack in a while = higher chance of getting a booster.

There's no information on how big the increases are, or what the initial chance of getting a booster pack is.

[Chara the Explorer]

Originally posted by Ceohai:

Based on Valve comments on booster packs:
Having more eligible games = higher chance of getting a booster pack.
Not getting a booster pack in a while = higher chance of getting a booster.

There's no information on how big the increases are, or what the initial chance of getting a booster pack is.

Any chance you could cite that information? Thanks!

[Ceohai]

Originally posted by The Milkman Conspiracy:

Originally posted by Ceohai:

Based on Valve comments on booster packs:
Having more eligible games = higher chance of getting a booster pack.
Not getting a booster pack in a while = higher chance of getting a booster.

There's no information on how big the increases are, or what the initial chance of getting a booster pack is.

Any chance you could cite that information? Thanks!

http://steamcommunity.com/groups/tradingcards/discussions/1/864971287458420101/#c864971287458869735
is the only link I can recall. I'm sure there are other Valve posts on the subject, but searching the community boards is a pain in the ass.

edit: found the other link,
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/tradingcards/discussions/1/864971139095692072/#c864971139097867903

[Elderberries]

Nice find Ceohai!

[Chara the Explorer]

Alright, I think that explains everything.

So, you can raise your drop rate by:

1. Having more eligible games

2. Having a higher steam level (i.e. an increase of 20% every ten levels)

Plus, the likelyhood of getting a card drop is also effected by how recently you've got a drop, so some people don't get swamped by drops (namely rich ♥♥♥♥♥ like me XD) and others don't stay unlucky forever.

Thanks to Ceohai for the information, I'm very grateful!

[NachTeur]

salut

[ptK]

your chances of getting booster packs will raise if you be "active" on steam
doing things like playing, trading, using the market, crafting badges, use coupons, etc
once i already done all of that things in the same day and the next day 3 booster packs at once ^^
if you dont do all this things you can receive booster packs anyway but you just will receive them 2 weeks later, for example i got a surgeon simulator booster packs a yesterday (04/08/2013) and the last time i played was on 19/07/2013, and this already happened to me in other games like portal 2, zombie driver, monster loves you! , etc...

so even if you have the games if you dont play them you will not received booster packs...

of course that having a higher level will "help" you getting booster packs, after all steam needs you to spend money on the market ^^

[Larsiak]

This is hardly more than anecdotal evidence.

[Zombie]

Originally posted by The Milkman Conspiracy:

Alright, I think that explains everything.

So, you can raise your drop rate by:

1. Having more eligible games

2. Having a higher steam level (i.e. an increase of 20% every ten levels)

Plus, the likelyhood of getting a card drop is also effected by how recently you've got a drop, so some people don't get swamped by drops (namely rich ♥♥♥♥♥ like me XD) and others don't stay unlucky forever.

Thanks to Ceohai for the information, I'm very grateful!

No. Having more eligible games does "NOT" raise your drop rate. Only thing about getting eligible games is getting a booster pack for those games when you get a drop. "Meaning" If you had TF2 and Portal 2. You will get a drop for one of those games campared to a game you didnt own. Only thing that raises your drop rate is leveling up your steam ranking. Getting more games just means different options for boosters and getting more cards. Every 10th level you reach. Raises your chances by 20% on getting a booster every week.

[Ceohai]

Originally posted by Zombieland:

Originally posted by The Milkman Conspiracy:

Alright, I think that explains everything.

So, you can raise your drop rate by:

1. Having more eligible games

2. Having a higher steam level (i.e. an increase of 20% every ten levels)

Plus, the likelyhood of getting a card drop is also effected by how recently you've got a drop, so some people don't get swamped by drops (namely rich ♥♥♥♥♥ like me XD) and others don't stay unlucky forever.

Thanks to Ceohai for the information, I'm very grateful!

No. Having more eligible games does "NOT" raise your drop rate. Only thing about getting eligible games is getting a booster pack for those games when you get a drop. "Meaning" If you had TF2 and Portal 2. You will get a drop for one of those games campared to a game you didnt own. Only thing that raises your drop rate is leveling up your steam ranking. Getting more games just means different options for boosters and getting more cards. Every 10th level you reach. Raises your chances by 20% on getting a booster every week.

That directly contradicts something a Valve employee said.

[Dæmon]

Meh, you are all inferior. What REALLY increases your chances of getting more boosterpacks, is sending all your game to me and wrapping them all up real nice and neatlike! :-P