Why we need parsers

[Xyphon]

We need parsers, so we can see that the highest dps isn't from the person 2nd on the threat list. Quelling strike does wonders...

[radioactive_lego]

There are a few options out there that would improve player comprehension of their roles without just throwing data at you and expecting you to understand how you are falling short:

- A trainer
- A quest/line of quests
- (OMG!) Forums
- (PSN) Gameplay Broadcast

There are some options out there that could be added that would improve player performance that would be easier to implement than a parser:

- Macro Swapping Macros
- Macro Cueing
- /Command and /wait timings that don't round to the nearest second
- Manually placeable AOEs centered on current target
- ...tbc

[KikoriL]

There are a few options out there that would improve player comprehension of their roles without just throwing data at you and expecting you to understand how you are falling short...

Because everyone who will say "I'm parsing you at about 300 dps, but at your gear you should be averaging 500" will refuse to offer tips after that statement...?

Don't get me wrong, your other methods are nice for people who have the free time to just sit and explore them. But parsing is on-the-fly data that's easy to confirm, hard to dispute, and if actually implemented as an option in the game, a method for people who don't have access to the Internet / time to search the other options to look said things up. And since almost any DPS value call out will be happening mid-Duty, on-the-fly is pretty useful.

[radioactive_lego]

Because everyone who will say "I'm parsing you at about 300 dps, but at your gear you should be averaging 500" will refuse to offer tips after that statement...?

Don't get me wrong, your other methods are nice for people who have the free time to just sit and explore them. But parsing is on-the-fly data that's easy to confirm, hard to dispute, and if actually implemented as an option in the game, a method for people who don't have access to the Internet / time to search the other options to look said things up. And since almost any DPS value call out will be happening mid-Duty, on-the-fly is pretty useful.

And the problem with parsers is they don't account for actions that are taking place that bring down a characters deeps.

-some bard songs
-summoner rezzing
-healers... uh... healing.

I see folks getting indignant when I conserve a bit of mana by not spamming Aeros/Stones during that 5s window where I might not have to heal someone. Or they just get rude when I let FoF lapse for 10s because i'm trying to keep the NIN from getting killed.

If someone is obviously lacking, it will be obvious. Parsers are just another excuse for people to be *******s when someone goes off recipe by two grains of salt.

[slml320]

i can see pros and cons with it.. i guess why se didn't put anything in is that it would force the elitists to abuse other players for not doing enough dps etc its already a toxic community within the n/a servers as it is why introduce more.. and yes i know some pc users use illegal 3rd party ones but ps4 users can't at all..by that lining them up for abuse already.. while these are cons imo being able to improve your dps and practicing with your rotation etc is not a bad thing and i don't think hitting a striking dummy is sufficient for elitist or ppl that want to improve!! i have no clue what my dps is even to the point of testing between my 110 crafted fully melded with ninja zeta over my full 120 poetic gear stat wise my dex and hp are better but my acc crit and det on my melded shits all over my poetics and i have no solid way of testing whats better!!

so I'm ultimately torn between two things the elitists abuse to some one who just want to have fun and play and the fact that SE has given us an ability to craft and meld gear with no clear or sufficient way to test the difference which also sucks!!

[KikoriL]

And the problem with parsers is they don't account for actions that are taking place that bring down a characters deeps.

Many players are smart enough to know to account for this. There's no hard set line where a healer absolutely HAS to contribute ___ dps to a fight, but there are estimates for what someone should be able to do at their item level. Bards are expected to play their songs, and their DPS drop is equally expected in the estimate. If a Summoner has to revive someone, it's a very justified excuse for why there's a DPS drop. Lack of communication or experience is a far more likely culprit for arguments than the actions themselves here.

If people are getting grumpy over you not using every second of your time to its absolute maximum for dps, dps, dps, that's a brand of elitism that's also present and not really dependent on parsers. I personally don't enjoy when healers do nothing but heal despite knowing the tank isn't in danger of dipping under half health, but if someone gets snippy for that reason, it's a behavioral issue. And not one I condone.

Parses are still just a tool. Harassment is still harassment, regardless of its tools, is reportable, and will still be reportable if an official parser comes out. And elitists' harassment is still harassment, regardless of correctness, and is also reportable.

[Cynfael]

i can see pros and cons with it.. i guess why se didn't put anything in is that it would force the elitists to abuse other players for not doing enough dps etc its already a toxic community within the n/a servers as it is why introduce more..

Again, toxic players will be toxic. Simply providing the tool doesn't "force" anyone to be abusive.

I wish players in general would spend less time being concerned about what some phantom elitist might possibly say about them and more time being concerned with how they could improve their own game experience. I'm going to venture out on a limb here and suggest that most players enjoy clearing content and being confident in their playstyle.

[Roxas_Andrade]

Another way to do it is have a solo battle, at current caps, that allows the player to know how they're doing; that can be re-taken as desired. Warcraft implemented the proving grounds, and you had to achieve silver grading or higher to duty into Cap content. From my friends still playing, they say while its a pain; it's helped alot.

I liked this Idea. We could have a fight where the game evaluates you based on your iLevel and damage output. You would be allowed to enter the hard dungeons/raids when you get a certain score or above. It doesn't even need to be in numbers, could be a bronze/silver/gold rating...
So the people who need improving will get better and everyone who is on the raid is "certified" to be there. There will be no numbers to say if any person better or worse than other, everyone got gold ranked to be there...

[radioactive_lego]

We could have a fight where the game evaluates you based on your iLevel and damage output.

Except Ilv is a joke (or have you not seen casters and healers w/ 130 fending accessories in WOD?). If it were rebalanced, perhaps.

[Roxas_Andrade]

Except Ilv is a joke (or have you not seen casters and healers w/ 130 fending accessories in WOD?). If it were rebalanced, perhaps.

One more reason to have a trial that compares iLv to dmg (or healing capacity). If anyone is using non-optimal gear just to get to the iLv necessary to get to the raid, the trial will prove if the person is able to make up for the lack of needed stats. If the person is able to pass the trial, they automatically deserve to be in the raid, even with 'bad gear'.

The problem is that SE would have to trial everyone once they changed gear and they would use a low threshold to let more people in...