The Real Problem with Parsers

[Whiteroom]

I think, generally, offering up a personal parser as a solution is seen as sort of a compromise. Personally as a console player, I'd much rather have a parser that shows me everything like ACT does for PC players, but rather than asking for one like that I'd be fine asking for a personal one. It would show me what I need to see and the people who are afraid of parsers wouldn't really have a good argument to not include one.

I'll still be able to research what my numbers should be at on the forums and reddit and I'll still be able to compare numbers in my static group.

The problem here is, if they introduce a half measure like that, then that is what you are stuck with for the rest of the game. At best an expansion or two. If you are going to put something in, do the proper one. With half of one there, it is unlikely they will justify using the resources to flesh out a new one.


Obviously you, or I, or anyone who has bothered to come to the forums would probably look with a personal parser. But we are already here, so that's kind of preaching to the choir. Its people who don't bother, and are unable to reference what that number actually means that won't, and most likely need that info for improvement the most.

Having the full parser in DCUO was so handy. You could see how well you were doing, what people of similar class and gear were doing. And yeah, if some one was putting out 1/4 of the damage they should be. You could also see healing out, damage in etc.

[Soko90]

I understand the toxicity that parsers can create, but at the same time, especially in a game like this, people don't need parsers to tell if someone is bad or not. It's easy to spot the dragoon whose not using heavy thrust or the blm whose rotation is blizzard spamming.

This game doesn't allow for much freedom, classes are designed in a way that there is very few variables in the way a rotation can be done. You wanna just cast blizzard on blm? Too bad, your losing hundreds of dps, burdening the whole group, and gonna get flamed for it, and it's not even the parsers fault.

In a game where the goal is to essentially never stop improving, SOMETHING is needed to give you feedback on what your doing in combat and whether it's good or bad, and no, wiping in content is not proper feedback. I'd rather see a system like parsing added to promote players always striving to at least see THEIR personal numbers improve. This is an RPG for crying out loud, numbers are everything in them.

[Kimky]

The think that make me sad is that there is already one parser in the game. I remember seeing a video of the dev fighting something and you could see the dps number in chat.

I can understand some people dont like parser but you gotta understand how this game works, it's based on dps, not on surviving mechanics.

[Clarkamite]

The problem here is, if they introduce a half measure like that, then that is what you are stuck with for the rest of the game. At best an expansion or two. If you are going to put something in, do the proper one. With half of one there, it is unlikely they will justify using the resources to flesh out a new one.

I guess my point is, if you're choosing between not having one or having one that only shows your numbers, what are you going to take? Yes, I'd much rather have access to a full meter but lets be honest, do you really think the chances of them making one that does the full measurements and tells you everyone's numbers are good? I don't think SE would want to risk that. This game definitely caters to both crowds and the casual crowd wouldn't like a full parser being available, obviously, they cry enough as is.

[Havenchild]

Funny thing is, if parsers had been introduced much early on when, SE was questioned about it during Beta, we wouldn't even be talking about the cause and effect that some people are trying to latch off of. In hindsight, SE made a bad move then as the eventual movement of content into a more DPS punishing trend is becoming mainstream now. Now we just have people that don't understand the usefulness of parsers only focused on DPS harassment as if that's the single only thing it does, show DPS.

I find it extremely hard to believe most of the community whose even against parsers has actually used one. I'm also fairly sure this entire debate should go to vote from the in-game community and if it did, a full parser would win over any half assed or no parser option.

[ecastle2]

Oh yeah, well, there was this one group who I was with and they were like "Oh man noob, you totally should have been eating HQ Tailor-Made Eel Pie instead of your noobish HQ Lalafell Pot Pie" and then kicked me.

So there. >.>

I'm surprised no one said anything to this but I'm going to call BS here. Lalafell Pot Pie isn't a food in game you just made that up. Also Tailor-Made Eel Pie isn't meant to be eaten it's a turn-in for the Zodiac portion of the relic quest. If you ate it you wouldn't get any stats from it.

[Shirobi]

It's a confirmation tool: one watches you play your job badly, calls you out on it, and can also back it up with parse results. Most people who parse aren't going to advertise it publicly. They will kick people regardless of the result.

Issue is that nobody can take a lick of criticism.

And therein the problem resides. Its not anyone's place to criticize others in that way or kick them from groups. Its why "Low DPS" isnt on the valid list of reasons to kick someone with vote kick, and why you can report people for citing it as Abuse of Vote Kick.

Its the elitests attitude that they somehow "own" the game and have the authority to decides who plays and who doesnt based on numbers that is the problem and parsers are big enablers of this.

[alphamax112]

Try to look from different angle. End game raid like alexander savage requires everyone at the peak of their job.
If we think our number is high enough, but we saw many many ppl with higher number out there, our number is simply not high enough. But practice makes perfect everywhere. You can't simply compare a semi-hardcore to a hardcore raider.
If you think your number is satisfying then it's ok. But if you don't, you can keep practicing until reach that number. Isn't it a good thing? We can learn how to play our job effectively that way.

Even the parser isn't officially released, ppl will keep using 3rd party parser. And you can't tell them to not doing that.

[randysquirrel]

Its the elitests attitude that they somehow "own" the game and have the authority to decides who plays and who doesnt based on numbers that is the problem and parsers are big enablers of this.

Dam those elitists expecting me to do things, thinking they own the game *shakes fist*

[Samsta]

I'm surprised no one said anything to this but I'm going to call BS here. Lalafell Pot Pie isn't a food in game you just made that up. Also Tailor-Made Eel Pie isn't meant to be eaten it's a turn-in for the Zodiac portion of the relic quest. If you ate it you wouldn't get any stats from it.

Yeah, even if those food were real/meant to be eaten the story would still sound very fishy, definitely a bs story. You lose a lot of credibility by lying like that.