Parsing unfair but okay?

[Rein_eon_Osborne]

That's weird, I see some data from your character on the big bad scary parsing website...

It’s not unusual to see your own log in that website despite not uploading any parsed files yourself.

For every DF/PF contents we participated with another player, all it takes is just 1 (ONE) player from each party to do the parsing and uploads it to that website for your performance to be logged.

[Dracosavarian]

That's weird, I see some data from your character on the big bad scary parsing website...

I have zero control over whether players I have grouped with use parsers or not.

[Akiudo]

It’s not unusual to see your own log in that website despite not uploading any parsed files yourself.

For every DF/PF contents we participated with another player, all it takes is just 1 (ONE) player from each party to do the parsing and uploads it to that website for your performance to be logged.

which is exactly why having "experience" but zero logs is a giant red flag.

[HyoMinPark]

I’m aware of what happened with Arthars. I’m also aware of what happened with others as well. SE has also said that if they so choose, they can suddenly start banning people left and right for it. This has been openly stated.

All of the arguments for and against, none of that changes the fact that it is against the Terms of Service.

I don’t use parsers. I don’t need to, nor do I have a desire to. If I wish to test myself, I have other methods of doing so that don’t break the Terms of Service.

No matter how much people try to hand wave that it is “ OK “ because SE does not currently enforce it according to their argument, will not change the fact that it is still against the TOS.

In essence, SE has not said it is ok. Rather, they have stated openly it is against TOS and that any use of such tools is at the users own risk.

Unfortunately, this is impossible in this game—since it gives no indication of personal skill or personal damage dealt outside of sitting down with an Excel spreadsheet, a calculator, and a vast amount of time on one’s hands. If you ever wish to know your true performance, that is only possible with a parser. You are mistaken if you believe anything else in this game will inform you of whether or not you’re doing an adequate, below adequate, or above adequate job.

If SE were going to ban parser users, then they would. But they know that doing so kills their raid scene. So they allow it “unofficially”. You can wave around the ToS as much as you want, but it’s meaningless if it isn’t enforced.

[Dracosavarian]

which is exactly why having "experience" but zero logs is a giant red flag.

Or…

It could just mean that the group I have run weekend events with for quite a long time now to get mounts and run end game content does not use parsers either.

Food for thought, and all that.

[HyoMinPark]

Or…

It could just mean that the group I have run weekend events with for quite a long time now to get mounts and run end game content does not use parsers either.

Food for thought, and all that.

Fairly certain they’re referring to people like the OP who do not run with a set group. If you run with randoms, you are at the mercy of any one of them uploading logs. It’s highly improbable that anyone with any decent amount of raiding experience in PF would also have zero logs to reflect said experience.

[Rolder50]

Unfortunately, this is impossible in this game—since it gives no indication of personal skill or personal damage dealt outside of sitting down with an Excel spreadsheet, a calculator, and a vast amount of time on one’s hands. If you ever wish to know your true performance, that is only possible with a parser. You are mistaken if you believe anything else in this game will inform you of whether or not you’re doing an adequate, below adequate, or above adequate job.

If SE were going to ban parser users, then they would. But they know that doing so kills their raid scene. So they allow it “unofficially”. You can wave around the ToS as much as you want, but it’s meaningless if it isn’t enforced.

Not to mention that actually implementing the ability to track whose parsing would likely take a ton of dev time, if it's even possible in the first place. I'd imagine the large majority of players would rather have that dev time spent on new content.

[Dracosavarian]

Unfortunately, this is impossible in this game—since it gives no indication of personal skill or personal damage dealt outside of sitting down with an Excel spreadsheet, a calculator, and a vast amount of time on one’s hands. If you ever wish to know your true performance, that is only possible with a parser. You are mistaken if you believe anything else in this game will inform you of whether or not you’re doing an adequate, below adequate, or above adequate job.

If SE were going to ban parser users, then they would. But they know that doing so kills their raid scene. So they allow it “unofficially”. You can wave around the ToS as much as you want, but it’s meaningless if it isn’t enforced.

I’m not sure why you think improvement without a parser is not possible, when it is. There are ways in game of measuring your general capabilities and dps against a boss without a parser. And from those, I have derived ways to improve.



As for the latter bit, we are repeating ourselves. And our opinions on that matter are clearly not going to change. That having been said, I wish you no ill will. I don’t care whether folks parse or not. That’s their business, and a risk they take unto themselves.

It is their choice.

It does not change the fact that it is against TOS.

[HyoMinPark]

Not to mention that actually implementing the ability to track whose parsing would likely take a ton of dev time, if it's even possible in the first place. I'd imagine the large majority of players would rather have that dev time spent on new content.

Well it would involve installing their own software on a player’s computer to scan files in search for anything reading the game’s memory—anti-cheat software, in other words. Which is illegal in a lot of countries, including Japan last I checked. With a global game, it would be impossible for SE to enforce this anti-cheating software.

[Dracosavarian]

Fairly certain they’re referring to people like the OP who do not run with a set group. If you run with randoms, you are at the mercy of any one of them uploading logs. It’s highly improbable that anyone with any decent amount of raiding experience in PF would also have zero logs to reflect said experience.

Ah, gotcha. It’s possible that I misinterpreted then, and If I did, my apologies. Been a long night running boring maintenance on vital systems.