People advertising they're running Parsers

[Medura]

Parsers is fully legit to use as they doesnt affect the game in any way. What IS bannable though is harrashment of other players, which telling them they are bad due to low dps etc. on parsers is.

Basically, use them to better oneself, not to try to ridicule others.

[Xaruko_Nexume]

Parsers is fully legit to use as they doesnt affect the game in any way. What IS bannable though is harrashment of other players, which telling them they are bad due to low dps etc. on parsers is.

Basically, use them to better oneself, not to try to ridicule others.

Actually the TOS prohibits software that modifies the games code, so it isn't "legit." They just choose not to enforce it...for now.

[Jennah]

Actually the TOS prohibits software that modifies the games code, so it isn't "legit." They just choose not to enforce it...for now.

Parsers - unlike mods that change gear appearance or whatever - DON'T modify the game code; they just read the data being sent to the client and tabulate it.

Still technically a TOS violation, but as far as anyone can tell, nobody's been banned ONLY for parsing.

[Penthea]

Parsers - unlike mods that change gear appearance or whatever - DON'T modify the game code; they just read the data being sent to the client and tabulate it.

Still technically a TOS violation, but as far as anyone can tell, nobody's been banned ONLY for parsing.

It's not a technicality, it is a violation. Yoshida has personally said in live letters to not use them.

But it's unofficially in a grey area because SE know how useful they are as tools. So as long as you keep quiet about it they won't do anything. If they catch you using them to gatekeep or criticise people then the ban hammer comes out. As far as I'm aware the punishment for harassment is more robust if you do it with third party tools because that's considered two violations, not just one.

[Pintsized]

Parsers - unlike mods that change gear appearance or whatever - DON'T modify the game code; they just read the data being sent to the client and tabulate it.

Still technically a TOS violation, but as far as anyone can tell, nobody's been banned ONLY for parsing.

So, they're breaking into the internet connection between the game client and the server?

How is that any different in effect than changing the game code?

[Menriq]

So, they're breaking into the internet connection between the game client and the server?

How is that any different in effect than changing the game code?

They aren't breaking any internet connection. The data comes from the client / server, and is in memory. This memory is read, interpreted, and then written out to a log. This log is what is used for the parser, uploading, etc. So, to answer your question, it's not changing anything; it's just reading what is already in memory.

[BaconBits]

Please explain to me how a glorified calculator does anything other than calculate numbers and spit them back out at you in an easily discernible format that let's you understand exactly how much damage you're doing and areas you need to improve in.

I hate parse junkies that will force a wipe in what should be a farm party and talks down to others as much as the next guy, but y'all try your hardest to demonize parsers as a whole.

Fatherless behavior imo.

[Velnora]

Actually the TOS prohibits software that modifies the games code, so it isn't "legit." They just choose not to enforce it...for now.

The parser does not modify game code.

[Ransu]

Actually the TOS prohibits software that modifies the games code, so it isn't "legit." They just choose not to enforce it...for now.

Parsers do not modify anything. They literally just read the text logs from the game and calculate the numbers to give you a total dps. Even if SE wanted to enforce it, there is no way they could because there's no code being injected into the game for them to detect.

and it really sucks. Coming from WoW, I was so happy to hear (what was now obviously a lie) this game had no addons. Oh well.

Technically it doesn't. There is no official support or open API like WoW and none of them are required to do content. Only the super hardcore/world first groups go out of their way to mandate any kind of raid overlays. The large majority of the playerbase doesn't care, especially considering a lot of raiders are on console where they have no access to mods anyways. I don't use any mods and I have yet found a reason to ever use them.