The Real Problem with Parsers

[Merkava]

Not to mention that parsers have other positive uses aside from checking on party overall DPS.

Astrologian just got a Balance card? If they had a parser they will most likely give it to the highest DPS in the party, making the most of it.

Tank having emnity issues because of i-gear gap? Being able to tell who exactly is pulling the big numbers allows you to take better control of the mobs. Party doing bad numbers? Don't bother with a big pull (instead of face rolling into it and learning through your own death [then we blame]).

The positives of using parsers far outweight the negatives. People who are rude about parsing (I agree that people who are in a rush shouldn't be using PF to begin with) do not override everything that is potentially good about it.

Chances are good DPS won't cry over others bad DPS anyway.

Parsers should be allowed or offered ingame

[AniCelestine]

...People who will seek help to do better are already getting advice from skilled players and using parsers themselves...

Players on ps3/4 who might possibly want to get better don't necessarily know anyone who could parse them, or they could be afraid to search for one since they're "illegal"

But yes, it won't miraculous make everyone top tier dps, but gives chances for them who can't parse themselves cause of ps3/4

[RobBull]

I've played MMOs since the late 90s and most of the games I have played have parsers. In non-raid settings, I can count the number of times I have personally witnessed harassment due to low DPS on one hand. The paranoia about how parsers will make the community toxic is unfounded and laughable. It's the MMO equivalent of "Reefer Madness." When I think about it, I wonder if a lot of this is brought on by people's own perception of inadequacy rather than actual run-ins with other players. It's like being a guy with average endowment walking into a locker room and being worried that people will think your junk is small. Most of the time, people aren't even looking

[RussW]

The problem with parsing in this game is that the bosses disappear and reappear or jump or whatever. Someone could lose 50+ dps based on the add placement on oppressor. The first boss in neverreap (people do parse expert roulette) disappears before my wildfire will go off. Monk and dragoon have gap closers that bring them back to the boss faster than ninja who has a ground targeted gap closer instead of an instant one. After studying damage meters for basically 10 years in wow theres a ton of variables involved. A lot of people have no idea about variables due to randomness and periods of inactivity.

Theres a gear disparity as well. Just because I have full eso gear doesnt mean that i should be able to dog someone in 180/190 gear and that doesnt mean someone in 210 gear should be able to dog someone lower than that. On top of this ive seen people use raid food and potions in expert.

This being said I think its passed time for one to be in game because it basically already is.

[RiceisNice]

The problem with parsing in this game is that the bosses disappear and reappear or jump or whatever. Someone could lose 50+ dps based on the add placement on oppressor. The first boss in neverreap (people do parse expert roulette) disappears before my wildfire will go off. Monk and dragoon have gap closers that bring them back to the boss faster than ninja who has a ground targeted gap closer instead of an instant one. After studying damage meters for basically 10 years in wow theres a ton of variables involved. A lot of people have no idea about variables due to randomness and periods of inactivity.

Theres a gear disparity as well. Just because I have full eso gear doesnt mean that i should be able to dog someone in 180/190 gear and that doesnt mean someone in 210 gear should be able to dog someone lower than that. On top of this ive seen people use raid food and potions in expert.

This being said I think its passed time for one to be in game because it basically already is.

But what context are you trying to capture? Parsers aren't just there for competition. Comparing dps between two players is fine as long as they both have the courtesy to keep it in context (unlike myself where I'll bust my friend's MNK for doing less than my warrior).

And even with all those variables, there's a difference between doing less dps because the fight doesn't allow it, and doing less dps because they're doing something outrageously wrong or just not trying at all.

[JackFross]

The problem with parsing in this game is that the bosses disappear and reappear or jump or whatever. Someone could lose 50+ dps based on the add placement on oppressor. The first boss in neverreap (people do parse expert roulette) disappears before my wildfire will go off. Monk and dragoon have gap closers that bring them back to the boss faster than ninja who has a ground targeted gap closer instead of an instant one. After studying damage meters for basically 10 years in wow theres a ton of variables involved. A lot of people have no idea about variables due to randomness and periods of inactivity.

Theres a gear disparity as well. Just because I have full eso gear doesnt mean that i should be able to dog someone in 180/190 gear and that doesnt mean someone in 210 gear should be able to dog someone lower than that. On top of this ive seen people use raid food and potions in expert.

This being said I think its passed time for one to be in game because it basically already is.

The thing is... If you have full esoterics gear and are in the same instance with someone playing your class and rocking 180-190 gear with Law or Hive weapon, and you lose to them, you're bad. The gear difference *is* that great to make up for any minor losses you might pick up here or there. And keep in mind that, if it's the same instance, your friend is also picking up those same issues as you are. Assuming neither of you die and you get an approximately even number of A3 tethers (and you didn't eat every single Quarantine...), there's nothing significant enough to shear that 150-200 dps difference away, unless you are playing strictly worse than the less-geared DPS beside you.

So yeah, while an i200 DRG can't tell that i190 DRG who's pulling 100 less than him to GIT GUD, if that dps is reversed, the i190 guy should be allowed to spit that at the i200 without backlash.

And as far as bosses disappearing, it's all about maximizing the fight. The opening phase of that first boss in Neverreap isn't even enough for two full combos to go off, so why are you popping buffs? The second time he's back, he sticks around for nearly 30s, if not longer, so *THAT* is when you should drop your full opener. I rarely finish that boss sub-800 and most pug dps I get can't seem to crest 400. That to me comes across as them just not caring to do well on the fight, probably because they can't see how poorly they're doing.


Nobody argues about the variables that go into it, but when you're in an instance with someone else, and you can manage a certain threshold of damage while the other person is struggling to do even 1/3 of that, something has to be done. If in-game parsers can raise the average score of DF dps by even 50%, I'd be happy.

I'm a firm believer of everyone should play the way they wanna play and have fun with the game their own way. Some people play casually and aren't gonna push 1400-1500 dps on that first boss in Fractal. Fine. But there's a fine line between "playing my way" and "playing in such a way that I am no better than dead weight." I don't expect every DPS I encounter in DF to beat my 900-950 PLD dps on that same boss. But if I see a dps pulling 300-400, rather than, like, at least 600-700, which is *EASY* with *EVERY DPS CLASS* at i160+, I would really like to be able to kick that person for, simply, not doing their job.

Or, I would at LEAST like to be able to say "look your dps is low you should try and work on your rotation" without running the risk of being reported, banned, or yelled at because "I PLAY HOW I WANT." Harder to say that when I tell them "Bro, the Paladin with less gear than you just did twice your damage."

[NamoNanamo]

So yeah, while an i200 DRG can't tell that i190 DRG who's pulling 100 less than him to GIT GUD, if that dps is reversed, the i190 guy should be allowed to spit that at the i200 without backlash.

No, you still don't have the right to spit at him, even if you are clearly better.
YOu can state the fact he is underperforming but in No way, to be an asshole and spit to him.

Everybody need to respect each other. And if you find someone who's is that bad. You can always kick him. (You don't need parser to explain what's wrong)
Or left the party. You can also play with friends.

[JackFross]

No, you still don't have the right to spit at him, even if you are clearly better.
YOu can state the fact he is underperforming but in No way, to be an asshole and spit to him.

I gave unintended connotations to that comment, by bad. D:

I was merely saying that if you're i190 and out-performing an i200 DRG, you should be able to point it out to him without fear of banning if you prove your statement. I just worded it poorly; I didn't mean spit on him, I meant spit numbers at him to show him he could be better. Without an in-game parser, the only way to definitively PROVE that he's underperforming is with an illegal tool.

[Stupiduglytaru]

All these pages........

As a PS4 player I have had to resort to buying a laptop and making an alt for self parses, well not entirely for that reason. A parser will not make you a better player at all, learning rotations and your job will only do that.

However tweaking rotations to try and improve can only be seen by a parser, (yes you can sit there a work it out with ya pen and paper, be really?) not all rotations guides take into count latency and what not.

If you are really underperforming, a parser isn't required to see your not pulling your weight. Take for instance yesterday, Main story roulette we had a blm whos rotation was the following:

Fire II Fire II Fire II Blizzard III Fire III Blizzard III Fire II Fire II Fire II

I cant run a parser on main but just seeing that screams to me awful dps, was he kicked however? nope.

I've also witnessed parser users who again have incorrect rotations, a DD run where a blm was Fire II Fire II Fire II Fire II transpose blizzard blizzard Fire II Fire II.............

I tried to be as polite as possible in this situation and point out perhaps open with Fire III before your fire II spam, then refresh mp with a blizzard III cast.

"im highest dps here maybe you want to check it before you say something"

The second dps was a ninja, level 30 weapon and no hitting positionals whilst we are fighting 8+ mobs at once.

A parser didn't make this blm better, but what it will show him is when the other dps is a blm and is pumping out double or triple his dps that maybe theres something hes doing wrong.

I just don't understand this crying over peoples figures being shown.

[warren-ragnarok]

to the OP:
parsers DONT really matter that much. often times, you can look at people's hate gauges and get somewhat of an idea of what people are doing damage-wise

second, if you want to see parsers have alot less use? get SE to stop making phases push-able and stop putting in content that have dps checks, until that happens, they will still be there

to anyone else that despises parsers or just want to play to have fun?
avoid any content that has dps checks and you arnt doing yourself or anyone else any favors
use PF to build your own group instead or get a carry group
yes it sucks that it is said, but you can blame yourself and SE for your weakness and the high ceiling on that content

if you really do want to do that content, dont be affraid to ask for assistance to get better, like rotations and tips, and dont be afraid to ask people to parse you
(many people that do have parsers are helpful.....but not all sadly)