Quote Originally Posted by Hayward View Post
I'm sorry, but this trope has to go. Again, this talking point functions on a false dichotomy that fails to take into consideration people who know their job, execute their rotations when the situation allows them to do so, and use abilities in a timely fashion, but have no desire to focus on their numbers more than necessary. It also fails to take into account those of us who have no objection (let me repeat that: No Objection) to parsers that show one's own numbers in an accurate fashion (i.e. no slurring over DoT numbers, pet damage, etc.). Something like that would certainly help those of us who wouldn't mind tinkering with our rotations or finding ways to work around anti-mage mechanics (but that's a different subject altogether).
Parsers are something I dislike because a) an annoying minority ofplayers use their parser data to justify verbally abusing others over their performance; b)because it takes something that should be learned and mastered and turns it into paint by numbers; c) some players develope tunnel vision focuse on their parsed dps, and little else resulting in poor situational awareness; and d) in the case of some players/parser users, it extracts the fun of the game and replaces it with a cold mathematical exercise in achieving a certain number, itseems to my like it ceases to be a game and becomes more work-like with specific performance levels.

The current meta that people often talk about in the tank forum is the "moar dps" meta. In my opinion parser use feeds into that because it creates targets and expectation that show up third hand when some on demands a tank should wear STR accessories in 4-man DF content. I feel like the only target in a dungeon run is a successful run, preferrably without wipes. That's kind of the expectation implicit in the game and so long as players are not griefing by deliberately plaing poorly to interfere with other players, and are putting out damage sufficient to kill trashpacks and bosses, they are meeting the only targets and expectations that matter.

But, I fear that a standard parser included in game will legitamize someof the milder parser user to tell others their numbers are poor, because after all if the parser is included, it' ok to use it right?

Please note I am not saying that the majority of parser users abuse the tool or infromation it provides. Although for a player on the receiving end, what is meant as constructive advice based on parser data can come across as critical and mildly bullying simply because the player giving the advice is frustrated and more curt than intended.

I'd prefer it (parser use) be left in a grey area of 'ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies'; where those who use parsers privately can do so to their heart's delight, but those using parser data improperly are subject to potential discipline if reported.

This issue that nobody wants to address, topic seemed to start by talking about the speed with which DF dungeons are run, but seems to have become centered around the use, or not, of parsers...presumably to improve dps performance by all to speed up runs?

It kind of seems like we are looking at the difference between amateur athletes that run, jump, whatever else because they enjoy it, but are not competitive versus competitive athletes who treat every practice run as a competition the must win, and think they are helping by demanding more performance from the fun runners to 'help them improve'. Despite the fun runners being quite happy with their pace and being able to participate in and complete races with others. The well intentioned demand to improve could esily result in the happy, fun, comfortable feeling the fun runner has tobe lost, andthat runner quitting. The fun runners are not stopping the competitive athletes from competing, and would never impose themself into a relay race team, because they know they are unable to performat the same level as the competitive team. Because duty finder randomly groups players together, ther is a good chance that fun runners and competitive runners get put into the same group. The competitive runners really just need to accept the other runners and make the best of it, if competitive runners don't want to do that, then perhaps they should preselect their 4-man relay team from amoung competitive runners?

In short if you expect a fast 4-man 'relay' then pre-form the group from competitive players, when using DF be prepared to accept the fun runners.