Concerning recent developments of third party addons, and SE's DADT stance

[Risvertasashi]

Over time, addons have become increasingly capable. While I realize that there's a crowd, probably a fair few who lurk on these forums especially, that would be all to happy to let SE drop the ban hammer, that's not a realistic option when the game client lacks certain basic functionalities that are needed for certain content.

Nonetheless, very recently an addon was developed that - even by the standards of people who regularly use parsers and so on - I think most would consider to be outright cheating. Nothing is needed to run some of these other than the basic framework/access that parsers provide.

I mention this particularly because this particular addon is powerful enough it might actually get an official response from SE. I'm hoping that response will be wise, and not knee jerk.

SE, once - well over half a decade ago now - you promised us addon support directly in the ARR client. Providing us this means you can also draw the line on just how capable they are, and prevent stuff like that has come out in recent developments. Both turning a blind eye to recent capabilities of addons, but also strongly enforcing a ban of all addons, both would - at least in my opinion - be grave mistakes for the game long term. I hope you will, once more, consider adding official addon support so these can exist without becoming too powerful.

Please consider this before pandora's box can't be closed again.

[TitanMen]

Can you please name the add-on so everyone knows what you're talking about

[Iscah]

Can you please name the add-on so everyone knows what you're talking about

I'm pretty sure there are rules against naming add-on programs, whether consistently applied or not.

[SDaemon]

What "wise response" are you hoping for OP? If it's a declaration of some newly decided support for addons I wouldnt get my hopes up.

[Risvertasashi]

Can you please name the add-on so everyone knows what you're talking about

I can describe what it does.

It shows hidden telegraphs. There's a fair chance SE can't do anything about it, as the client probably needs to have oncoming AOEs in the client to prevent the latency issues notorious in the game's early life. This means, for example, in ultimate content (which was demo'd), and probably savage and ex as well, you can see where attacks are going to hit well in advance of when the client intended to show them to you.

There's gifs that have been passed around on twitter and discord and there's one on reddit right now too.

[Yshtola]

"Let me pretend to be concerned about content I don't even engage with"

[Kleeya]

Nonetheless, very recently an addon was developed that - even by the standards of people who regularly use parsers and so on - I think most would consider to be outright cheating.

Where do you take this statement from ? When i see that there is tons of people, since a very long time, thinking that in advance automatic infallible call outs are fine, because "it is the same as having a human raid leader spelling them for you" or "it is the same as having memorized the fight", i dont doubt that they will also think that what is in these gifs is fine too, because let's see... Let's just take the same argument : "it is the same as having memorized the fight".

This is, step after step, what you get when many people are twisting words to say that other things of the same kind is totally not cheating, and that people not using them are totally not disavantaged at all compared to you.

I dont even think this will stir up a drama long enough to last all the week-end XD

[Risvertasashi]

Where do you take this statement from ? When i see that there is tons of people, since a very long time, thinking that in advance automatic infallible call outs are fine, because "it is the same as having a human raid leader spelling them for you" or "it is the same as having memorized the fight", i dont doubt that they will also think that what is in these gifs is fine too, because let's see... Let's just take the same argument : "it is the same as having memorized the fight".

This is, step after step, what you get when many people are twisting words to say that other things of the same kind is totally not cheating, and that people not using them are totally not disavantaged at all compared to you.

I dont even think this will stir up a drama long enough to last all the week-end XD

I can't deny there is a possibility you are correct. Maybe everyone (or near enough) will see it as no big deal. But as someone myself who doesn't think auto callouts are a big deal, pixel-perfect displays of exactly where each element to a mechanic are going to hit is quite a step up from callouts. The difference of "hey don't forget that a mechanic is coming" (but you still need to know what to do) and "here's exactly where you can and can't stand, rendered directly onto the arena"... at least in my mind, it's pretty significant. Am I the only one that thinks so?

[VirusOnline]

SE ever adding addon support for an in game parser is out of the question. Yoshi himself stated he would never as it would ruin the prime rib. Uh, I mean, the stock in trade. No. What I meant to say is the money. Yes teh monies and teh feelings. You see, it'd offend and hurt the population of casuals, cause potential others to scare off, therefore slippery slope the game would become labeled WoW #2 Elites Only Mode Don't @ Me. Or something. FFXIV is like oprah show, our presence warrants a prize.

It's sorta laughable. SE wants to coddle the casuals while allowing the savage and up raiders to do what they want amongst themselves. You know, as long as little Bobby doesn't get upset. Because when Bobby wants to get in on the sweet sweet raiding and gets his feelings hurt then people start getting banned. Regardless, SE is comfortable with the current scene I'd venture a guess. Even if they weren't it'd be unwise on their part to announce it if they want to stay comfortable. Sorta like everything else they stay quiet on.

It's my personal opinion there is a clear line between what is ok and not ok.
To compare: Parsing is pure feedback. When one parses, they take an exam. Then we ask the teacher (the game system) how we did and it tells us a number. On the other hand, we find that we have the ability instead to query the proctor who has the answer sheet (communicate with the API that then queries the system) as we're taking the exam. The proctor tells us the answers as we go from one question to the next. One might even ask what is the point of an exam if proctors just shows you all the answers ?

A solution to the addon situation is simple, but it is a catch-all. Any trace software in the game files or communicating with the game or attempt to access or communicate with the API would brick the client, send a message report to SE, and consequences pending. This would take down the addon being mentioned, but also take parsers, mods, etc down with it. This would be upsetting much more people that to just let be what is happening and thus we have laissez-faire.

[linay]

While I'm all for more features (in general, would have to judge specific features), I would rather it be officially part of the game and fully supported by SE rather than letting it be provided via third party addons that may or may not be kept up to the date with the game.

the game client lacks certain basic functionalities that are needed for certain content.

I think you need to give support for that claim instead of taking it as a given. In fact, I wouldn't want SE to design this game in a way that presupposes that players will install certain "optional" addons.