SE, can you please make a definitive statement on your stance on parsers?

From what I have gather on the internet, it is okay to parse and check your damage in game, but not okay to talk about it in game. This stance is disingenuous.

It seems to me that you aren't doing anything to inhibit pc players from using parsers while at the same time refusing to put a damage meter in the game for PS4 players.

As a PS4 player, I feel like a second class citizen playing ffxiv. I've looked at many top ranked fcs and nearly every one of them requires parses to merely apply. PS4 players can't monitor their dps output to tighten our rotations. In trying to shield newby players from harassment, you are inhibiting ps4 players from being taken seriously.

Can you please make a definitive statement on where you stand with parsers and what you are doing to stop their use if they are deemed illicit? Because honestly if you were remove every player who used a parser, i'm willing to bet you'd lose all 10 or so of your most bleeding edge raiding fcs.

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Originally Posted by ghostx1984

From what I have gather on the internet, it is okay to parse and check your damage in game, but not okay to talk about it in game. This stance is disingenuous..

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The definitive statement is that unless you speak about it ingame, there is nothing that can be done technologically to detect it without violating user privacy in unethical and possibly illegal ways. How is that disingenuous?

And just to clarify, I have nothing against parsers. I think it's great they have way to gauge their performance.

What I have a problem with is that you have created a double standard by which only pc players have access to this information and your stance seems to be that it is okay that they have these benefits as long as they keep PS4 players ignorant of them which I am totally not okay with.

Because then what you are doing is bascially handing all of your server firsts on a platter to people playing on pc and it isn't about skill. There simply is no way for a ps4 player to compete with having that type of information to make improvements and adjustments.

All i'm asking for is a damage meter in an mmo so that I dont have to be deemed a liability due to my choice of playing on a PS4. I don't think i'm asking for too much here. A damage meter wouldnt even be on the level with a parser which would allow you to pinpoint how much damage each individual did on something like a dark matter bulb for example or any other critical add that needed to die to improve a strategy.

As an mmo vet from WoW who had warglaives pre nerfs and every server first up to Ulduar before stopping to finish my degree I couldn't even get the time of day playing on a PS4 from a few groups who I will keep nameless when I saw they had recruitment posts up a few weeks ago because guess what... I cant put a parse in my application which is a requirement many of them have. Immediately declined by two groups right off the bat due to not having a parse.

I find it very insulting that as a PS4 player, i can't be taken seriously in a game I've been dedicating nearly 16 hours a day to because of your flawed stance on the issue and that you're against having damage meters added to the game at the same time.

Honestly if you aren't even willing to give us a damage meter, i can't see how you want ps4 players to stick with the game longterm. It's a bit aggravating to say the least.

It's coming, but you'll have to wait.
The mod/api tools won't be available until later in the year (Possibly next year). At which time, these things will be available to PC and I believe, PS4 users, too. I don't know about the PS3, as it's already pushed to the very limit when it comes to these things (Memory maxed for UI).

Although...
You honestly don't need a parser.
It's handy, for sure; can give you insight into things you would otherwise ignore, but it's not going to make/break your end game experience, if you're already pushing decent DPS.
Only problem is that you probably don't know what that decent DPS would be, and, well... unless you get someone on PC with the parsing tools to scan you, it'll be impossible at the moment.
Do note, as the other users have stated; it is currently against TOS to use these type of third party apps. You're risking a lot by doing this currently.

So I guess you have that or have to be patient.

It's already been said that parsers aren't allowed but the only way to know if someone is using them is if they talk about and get reported of it. Just because ps4 players can't do it doesn't mean squeenix is giving an unfair advantage to pc players. It's against the rules for everyone, your asking to be allowed to break the rules

It's disingenuous that they have not come out and said what you just said. It's messed up that they haven't done anything to allow PS4 players the same advantages.

Disingenuous is about the nicest word i could come up with for the current situation I find myself in as a PS4 player who wants to do progression raiding and had been instantly turned down twice due to not having a parser. I believe I have found a group I can join now where they'll at least give me a shot but I still find myself very annoyed that they are letting such a huge double standard float.

I play games like this because they create an equal playing field. Everyone starts off on the same foot. It's not like life where some people are born with tremendous advantages. But seems here in ffxiv you need to be playing on a PC if you want to be playing at the highest level and that's just something i will have to accept.

I made the mistake of starting on Jenova and i'd say 90% of the playerbase on ps4s doesn't give a crap about raiding anyways. I think I may have found a group to join on another server who will accept me despite playing on a ps4 but i really wish square would do something about this "haves and have nots" situation.

I'd be at least satisfied with a damage meter.

You stand to lose alot more players who never learn to play their class properly than you do with people quitting because they suck. People can learn to play better if you give them the right tools and the right information. If you keep them ignorant they will never get better and then you will just end up having to design your raids to be cakewalks that the higher end groups find boring and too easy.

I've had PS4 users through T6 and T8 who perform exceptionally well...
I don't know why this affects you so much, TBH.

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Originally Posted by Tashigi

You honestly don't need a parser.

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I think in this case, the issue is that a player is being forced to use what is definitely TOS-breaking software in order to participate with a group, that both has other methods available to them for gauging the player and is managing that requirement in a way that makes them immune to action.

The truth of the matter is that FFXIV is a game designed specifically for the casual player base. Yes there is some higher tier encounters with more complex mechanics and DPS checks, but even they are ultimately tuned to a level that a casual player can overcome in a short period of time. Parsers are not needed at all in FFXIV, even in endgame. They aren't needed because SE designed all content to put both PC and PlayStation users on equal ground. It's common sense, regardless of what these so-called "elite" players/guilds will tell you.

Truth be told, if a player absolutely needs a parser and can not function without one, they aren't a good player. Notice my emphasis on "needs" which is not the same as "wants;" that is another discussion. I admit there are plenty of applications where some kind of parser would be nice (personally can't wait for the striking dummy one).