DPS Parser - ToS Violation?

There is a DPS parser that can be found online (no I won't name it/them) which hooks the FFXIV process to access the combat logs and parse your dps. Is it a violation of the TOS to use this/these tool(s)?

Hopefully it is a violation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KraggyKor

Hopefully it is a violation.

---

Because you don't like DPS meters?

actually a DPS parser is against the TOS

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Terms of Service

You may not intercept, mine or otherwise collect information from the Game using unauthorized third party software.

---

what a paerser does is hook onto the game process to read memory specific to the chat. this is collecting information from the game using unauthorised third party software. basically the software your talking about (i know what it is and called) was not made by SE and IS against the ToS.

it will be worse as they have plans to collect even more information from the game.

Overall, I have always hated parsers because cause it just stems elitism, idiots and basically people who care about the numbers at the end and not that a person is a better player than the numbers show.

I done a titan run on my BRD and didnt parse higher than the other BRD and was kicked coz I was not doing enough damage, however I never died, a clear example that parsers create idiots

Use parsers at your own risk.

Yes any DPS Parser can be used for elitism purposes. However a large amount of people use it for good purposes. For example, one of our raid groups was doing ADS2 last night, the group was a little melee heavy so normally they would clear left then boss. However the group was used to the mechanics of going right and doing the boss. So one of the members using the parser evaluated DPS on the boss to determine what kind of physical DPS loss they were looking at and if it was possible to even do the right side. When all was said and done going to the right side did affect physical damage but not as much as they had thought and they were still able to do the boss once the numbers were plugged in to the time they had, with time to spare I might add.

I know a large amount of people use parsers for personal improvement which is what they are meant for. Parser or no parser, those elitists will always be who they are and there is nothing you can do to change that. Even without a parser they will still boast about how they can pull threat or how they are the best or whatever the case may be.

Example: Running CM and the other tank who has less hp has one of those Elitists attitudes, did not like how I tanked things and he just tried to wipe us during the rest of the run because "hes the best" and "he knows everything and you have to listen to him". Dude talked down to everyone in the entire group and I ended up solo tanking, which is fine, no problem.

So all you nay-sayers basically say "idiots will be idiots, with or without douchebag aids".

A damage metre is a major help if you keep wiping to stuff like enrage timers, healers going oom due to too much time passing, etc.
With a damage metre you can see which of the dps isn't pulling their weight.
Don't forget, all the good damage metres in other games can also read how much healing output (especially effective healing), how much mitigated and unmitigated damage the tanks take...

If you want to do hardmodes, and be effective in raids (clearing the instance before 5 months have passed), some form of measurement tool is definitely needed.

Are athletes wanting to compete (at any level) also "elitist" if they use stopwatches, measure scores, how fast they run, etc?

It's against ToS IMO seeing how it's a 3rd party program.

I play MMOs to min/max, to test new strategies, be all I can be, etc. I approach my MMO play the same way an athlete approaches a sport - how can I be better? Do it faster? Hit harder? What stats, for example, are more impactful to my DPS? What the hell even is my DPS? Enter the Parser.

They can also show:
-if people aren't pulling their weight
-if the tank/healer is a dolt
-if there are inherent balance issues with the classes as they are now

This type of program exists in every MMO I've played yet. And I'm pretty sure its technically illegal in those games too - but no one really cares.

It is definitely not against the ToS. The line of the ToS that was quoted was referring to data mining, which has nothing at all to do with parsers. Parsers don't hook into anything, they just literally parse the text logs. If you would rather read the logs and do all the math yourself, then go for it, but just know that is exactly what parser does.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Beardfist

It is definitely not against the ToS. The line of the ToS that was quoted was referring to data mining, which has nothing at all to do with parsers. Parsers don't hook into anything, they just literally parse the text logs. If you would rather read the logs and do all the math yourself, then go for it, but just know that is exactly what parser does.

---

This is what I figured anyway. If you had a pen, paper, calculator, and a stopwatch, and could either write really, really fast or took the time after each fight to calculate Damage Dealt divided by Time of Fight in Seconds, you would get an average... your DPS.

FFXIV parsers aren't even fully accurate because the raw log misses important things about DoTs - like critical tics.