In-Game Parser.

[Sir_Woe]

So, instead of giving you an active read-out, why not encourage proper rotations via Striking Dummies and the Gold Saucer?

Here's what I imagine:

[Sir_Woe]

Striking Dummies:

Implement a quest about an aspiring mathematician needing vast amounts of data to complete a "Theory of Quantified Everything!" Upon completion of the quest you recieve a calculator minion (think solar powered calculator with legs) and the ability to engage "phantom recollection."

"Phantom Recollection" is an option while using a striking dummy that does three things.

1) it records data such as damage, dot overlap, and GCD use for a set period of time (you can specify 1 min, 3 min, 8 min, 16 min).

2) it allows you to save this data for previous attempts and recall it for comparison. Perhaps it gives you a Key Item or item that contains the data for viewing upon use.

3) it allows you to run "Phantom Recall" which displays your character, doing your abilities, based on the saved record.

[Sir_Woe]

Think of it as "ghost mode" in MarioKart time trials. You see your character performing as normal WITH a slightly transparent version of yourself doing the actions at timings saved to your "phantom record."

This would allow you to arrive at the optimal rotation w/o a parser through efforts not so dissimilar.

[Sir_Woe]

Gold Saucer:

(Knights of the Round)

Implement a basic trial which has a Zodiac Brave doing, essentially, a pre-set version of a "Phantom Recall." Your first objective is to out-perform the zodiac brave. His stats are set to be the same as yours, but his rotation is 90% of the optimal. He appears while you do your run and you must out perform him in order to unlock the next component.

Once you've completed this trial, you're allowed to participate in a weekly ladder challenging the "phantom" of whomever is #1 on the ladder. If you can beat them, you become the new phantom AND there's a purse to be had. This could be tied to a coliseum.




These systems don't require active read-outs so reading of virtual memory is unnecessary. Furthermore, the data can be sewn into your character data/inventory, and accessed w/o requiring server interactions.


What do you think? It's not modeled to be a raid panacea, but it wouldn't hurt right?

[Slappah]

Pro-tip

You can submit your message then edit it to add more and get by the character limit, rather than posting 4 messages in a row

[Hayward]

This idea has a lot going for it. For one, it sounds like a lot of fun. For another, it seems like an advanced tutorial disguised as a challenge game that we've needed in the game for a while. I'd hope Team Yoshi considers something like this. It might be a bit tardy for Gold Saucer but I hope it's implemented somewhere (Ishgard, perhaps?).

[Zeful]

If you don't understand basic rotation - you'll perform awfull regardless of encounter. Because basic rotation is a first step, further you'll need to know how to restart/continue it after breaks and how to tailor it to specific encounter, but basis stays the same.

I know that given this line from a later post:

It's easy though. The rotation shows how a Job's abilities synergize, and how each one affects the other positively to use the whole potential the class provides. It's a concrete example of the value of each move.

So I have to wonder why you're quoting that line specifically as some sort of sweeping rebuttal. Hell one of the next sentences in the post you quote points out the very same thing you're responding to me about.

So, instead of giving you an active read-out, why not encourage proper rotations via Striking Dummies and the Gold Saucer?

Why not just gate endgame upgrade mats to performance? Hit par get a fragment that you can trade in for the whole item after getting enough. Hit above par, get more proportionally to how much you've beaten the par. Attain near optimum get the item outright.

[Viridiana]

I saw as many tank that sucks at proper damage mitigation (some of them even forget completely about their defensive cooldowns) and healers that are very bad at conserving mana and those overheal% are abyssal as possible as crappy dps, and those numbers are not visible anywhere.

Except that they are. How do I know? Because you noticed them without using a parser.

Know how many times I've had healer friends complain about tanks not using CDs at all? Or how many times as a BRD I looked at the WHM and asked "Why do you need ballad? You haven't had to res anyone." So, yes, your mystical non-transparent examples are still perfectly visible.

[AlexionSkylark]

OMG, this again?

*sigh*

[Brahma]

I'm glad there is no official parser and looks like there will never be one. Although I agree that it would prevent annoying misinformation, I will also say that most of my experiences with users who use 3rd party parsers have been annoying. I think such a device is mostly useful to hardcore players but can really be detrimental to casual players. So, while I wouldn't say parsers are inherently dangerous, the people who them can get carried away with the information they provide...