DPS Parser - ToS Violation?

[svann]

Id like to know how parsers can even show dot damage. That is suspicious to me because dots are not reported by the client.

[svann]

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.

Actually I think ffxiv parsers need to create their own logs (I know for a fact that at least one does). This is because the ffxiv logs do not contain timestamps. Without time you cannot calculate dps.

[Darken]

The parsers that exist are not accurate, and should only be used as a source of self improvement. Using a parser does not make people an elitist. It's what people do with the data from parsers, and how they treat others that make them elitist.

There are multiple ways you can use the parser within the TOS. You can always copy and past the combat log into the parser which can then sort the data for you. If that is all you are doing, I cant see how that could be considered mining data. What the ToS refers to as far as data mining is using 3rd party software to identify loot tables, hidden graphic models, ect. Sorting data in a text file is not harmful, and in no way damages the game.

Using the parser to view live combat data could be considered a violation, but I doubt SE is going to ban people for viewing a freaking combat log... I don't know of any recent mainstream MMO that has frowned upon a combat log parser.

[KisaiTenshi]

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.

There is actually a text log the game stores in the savegame directories (along with screenshots) I don't know if the tool is actually reading this or the game memory, but the latter is certainly violating the ToS.

Actually I think ffxiv parsers need to create their own logs (I know for a fact that at least one does). This is because the ffxiv logs do not contain timestamps. Without time you cannot calculate dps.

Actually I'm pretty sure it does have a timestamp, it's just not a clock format

gains the effect of Great Strides.5256D5FB122E::
gains the effect of Innovation.5256D600122E::
gains the effect of Inner Quiet.5256D601122E::
gains the effect of Waste Not.5256D602122E::

Notice the increment hex value if you ignore the last two bytes. 52 56 D6 02 122E, these were 4 consecutive actions in between what I can only guess is markup the game understands. Upon checking a log file from another day I'm pretty certain the format is MM DD mm ss msns or something.

[Yoseph]

My Anti Virus intercepts and collects information about the game also.

It is a 3rd party software product as well.

Is that also a ToS violation?

If not, SE needs to define this issue in depth.

[KisaiTenshi]

My Anti Virus intercepts and collects information about the game also.

It is a 3rd party software product as well.

Is that also a ToS violation?

If not, SE needs to define this issue in depth.

The antivirus software does not hook the program, therefor it does not collect information from the game. If you want to get into the legal sense of what they mean, it means you can't extract or manipulate data that the game uses. The Antivirus does not work at that level, it scans files upon "access" and delays the game from opening the file until it says OK, it doesn't change it. Likewise at the network level the antivirus scans the flash applet they use for the authentication mechanism but doesn't change it.

The software the bots are using on the other hand are directly manipulating the software by hooking. The DPS Parser for all we know may be hooking the text output of the game. As far as what harm can it do... not much really, I'd say it's rather weak to ban someone for using such a tool unless that tool was directly changing the behavior of the player (Eg telling other players they aren't welcome because they do low DPS or whatnot.) In another game I played, players were rather fond of modding the game to get a combat power value that the game server transmitted to the client, but wasn't shown. So the mod changed the game to show it... and enabled a bunch of other cheaty hacks as well. The players that could see the combat power would literately not play with players who displayed "inferior" combat values and likewise would pick "Easy" PvP targets based on the combat power score. Just based on this alone I'd say it's a ToS violation if it can provide any realtime data from hooking the game that isn't readily available.

[Beardfist]

There is actually a text log the game stores in the savegame directories (along with screenshots) I don't know if the tool is actually reading this or the game memory, but the latter is certainly violating the ToS.

Yes I know, that is why I said that it read the text log. I know for sure that several of the parsers I have seen use this method and as you pointed out, there is indeed a timestamp on everything. The only semblance of being live comes from the fact that the log files are updated nonstop.

[Kosmos992k]

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

Wait, hold on, are you (you elite gaming athlete you) saying that you cannot identify when a tank or healer is being a dolt, or when a DPS simply isn't pulling their weight (or for that matter is pulling too much aggro) without an extra tool to tell you? What's next, let your iPhone and Siri do it?

Whatever happened to people using their brains? If you need a DPS parser to see when someone is doing crap damage, or blowing through their MP quickly, you obviously are not paying much attention while you play.

[svann]

Wait, hold on, are you saying that you cannot identify when a DPS simply isn't pulling their weight without an extra tool to tell you? If you need a DPS parser to see when someone is doing crap damage you obviously are not paying much attention while you play.<snipped irrelevant text>

Im interested to know how you determine when someone is "doing crap damage" without using a parser? Could you explain that please?

[AntonIdas]

Wait, hold on, are you (you elite gaming athlete you) saying that you cannot identify when a tank or healer is being a dolt, or when a DPS simply isn't pulling their weight (or for that matter is pulling too much aggro) without an extra tool to tell you? What's next, let your iPhone and Siri do it?

Whatever happened to people using their brains? If you need a DPS parser to see when someone is doing crap damage, or blowing through their MP quickly, you obviously are not paying much attention while you play.

Because the hate meter is a totally inaccurate way to gauge dps, never mind that moves like Quelling Strikes are a cross-class ability. As for tanks and healers, I want to know how strong their peak heals are, how much healing the tank needs, how "spiky" the tank is - maybe they aren't popping cooldowns at the appropriate time and are sponging mp.

I want to quantify it, because gut feeling often has no basis on the parser results.

Unfortunately for some of the above posters, I'm more than happy to remove weak links from the parties when attempting something difficult. Hell, everybody vets gear sets when doing things like Titan HM or Coil - it's a waste of everyone's time to take someone who isn't geared yet, or can't effectively play their job, because there's only room for 8 people and everybody needs to be capable.