With things like third party DBMs coming to XIV... when are we getting addon support?

[Risvertasashi]

tl;dr version is the title, but for a little more elaboration:

There's a third party equivalent to WoW's Deadly Bosses Mod that's been out for nearly a month now. I hear it's pretty crude right now, but it's out there... and will likely only get better with time. And before that, there have been other ways to get aural warnings. Usually driven by the same backend that allows things like Radar apps.

Now, we were originally told we'd have official addon support around 6 months after launch. It's been over a year and this is nowhere to be seen.

SE, can we get an update on this? Obviously the release slipped... what's going on, when we can expect it?

I think, if we had official addon support, people could happily have their aural warning systems for raids and such... but when it's not packaged with software that's actually cheating, such as radars, I think we would see tools like those die out or at least become far less popular.

And, of course, simply delivering this feature would bring a ton of QoL improvements. As a healer, I'd really like a party panel that greys out those not in range, for example...which I would have it we had addons. I'm sure there's plenty that could benefit tanks, DPS, crafters, etc too.

So, again, can we get an update on this?

Do we really want a repeat of FFXI, where third party tools become necessary for endgame?

Thank you for reading.

Edit: I think it might be helpful to list a few examples from other games on how addons can improve QoL:

• Auto lot on items you need, or pass on things you don't need/want.
• Improved party bars, giving info such as range of party members.
• Better inventory management and tracking and more sorting options, useful for crafting or just if you have a lot of gear for a lot of different jobs.
• Keep track of YOUR debuffs on that fate boss or hunt mob that has more than the normal target bar can track.
• One-click blacklist/report gilsellers and bots
• Friends lists with notes and "last seen" info.
• Linkshell lists with "last seen" info on members.
• Auto accept or decline invites of various natures.

But really this is something SE already said they'd give us... I'd just like to hear an update on it.

[Sadana]

Not til they can be used on playstations as well. >.>;

[Risvertasashi]

I hate to say it but these things are going to be used one way or another. Playstation users already have to use their phones or computers for TS/Vent/etc and get aural warnings from their party members that way. While it would be awesome if they can have addons on PS4 as well, even a preliminary 'beta' type release on PC would be better than nothing at this point.

[Itseotle]

I am curious what happened to addon support as well, more so for the UI tools. There are some really annoying UI things (I'm looking at you buff bar!) that I would like to change.

[Yshnal]

DBM is crap. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but I'm just being honest and straight.

If a game really needs DBM that means that that game is not well designed, period, and it should be asked for it to be improved instead of getting crappy add-ons. And if the game doesn't need it, then why do you want to make it trivial?

Also, you have to keep in mind that console users can't use them. And you should know already that getting such add-ons would only create segregation between both platforms. That's the reality.

So I'll say this again: beyond more UI customization (that should be implemented by SE anyway), add-ons are NOT necessary here. You DON'T need dps meters, you DON'T need DBM, and you DON'T need many other things (heal bot, etc.). Now, I know that they're just tools and that some of them are useful when properly used, but from my experience they give way more headaches than any positives that they could bring.

So, I'm pretty happy with not having add-ons here.

[Theresa]

People are really serious about being "hardmode" while playing on a console?

[Risvertasashi]

DBM is crap. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but I'm just being honest and straight.

Honestly... to be blunt, I don't really care what anyone thinks about a particular not-addon/third party tool.

As a personal interest, I just want "addons" that make a healer's life easier, like showing when a party member is out of range or, like another poster mentioned, reworking the kinda crap buff/debuff bar.

You're right, of course. We don't need any of this (We don't need any new quests either but they sure are fun!). But it's quality of life and people are making and getting these utilities anyway. By giving what SE already promised, we could cut down substantially on third party tool use.

[Yshnal]

Honestly... to be blunt, I don't really care what anyone thinks about a particular not-addon/third party tool.

I'm sorry if it came out offensive, but that wasn't my intention. I still think that DBM is crap, though, as I see it kinda like cheating. With it, instead of learning the fight you're just following what the add-on tells you.

As a personal interest, I just want "addons" that make a healer's life easier, like showing when a party member is out of range or, like another poster mentioned, reworking the kinda crap buff/debuff bar.

You're right, of course. We don't need any of this (We don't need any new quests either but they sure are fun!). But it's quality of life and people are making and getting these utilities anyway. By giving what SE already promised, we could cut down substantially on third party tool use.

And why don't you ask that they improve it for everyone instead of making them use these same resources to build the API to make add-ons possible? I think that if everyone benefits without having to rely on outside apps, it would be better. And everyone will be playing with the same rules, too (unless they break the ToS, but that's their problem).

[Teirshin]

Honestly... to be blunt, I don't really care what anyone thinks about a particular not-addon/third party tool.

As a personal interest, I just want "addons" that make a healer's life easier, like showing when a party member is out of range or, like another poster mentioned, reworking the kinda crap buff/debuff bar.

You're right, of course. We don't need any of this (We don't need any new quests either but they sure are fun!). But it's quality of life and people are making and getting these utilities anyway. By giving what SE already promised, we could cut down substantially on third party tool use.

You can already tell if someone is out of range for heals if the number with the icon for the spell is red when you select them..... how much more hand holding do we need? Most of the game is already faceroll easy where you can sleep through it. If you dont want to put in a little effort.. why even play?

I dont see SE allowing addons, despite prior claims. They have enough problems managing their own code without others writing stuff to piggyback on it, and anything that gives PC users that sort of advantage, they simply will not allow.

[Shougun]

DBM is crap. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but I'm just being honest and straight.

If a game really needs DBM that means that that game is not well designed, period, and it should be asked for it to be improved instead of getting crappy add-ons. And if the game doesn't need it, then why do you want to make it trivial?

Also, you have to keep in mind that console users can't use them. And you should know already that getting such add-ons would only create segregation between both platforms. That's the reality.

So I'll say this again: beyond more UI customization (that should be implemented by SE anyway), add-ons are NOT necessary here. You DON'T need dps meters, you DON'T need DBM, and you DON'T need many other things (heal bot, etc.). Now, I know that they're just tools and that some of them are useful when properly used, but from my experience they give way more headaches than any positives that they could bring.

So, I'm pretty happy with not having add-ons here.

The problem is that it doesn't matter over time XD - SE is also again putting everyone in a weird position. Yoshida saying something akin to Don't ask Don't tell, but SE has also said not to read memory as it offers an unfair advantage.

As the tool gets better and more popular and SE does nothing SE will see players challenge harder content sooner and more efficiently, then they will affect the balance for non-tool using users (or users not in a group with one using it). I suppose for those who want a notched up fight that is good, but I don't think it is good for SE to cater designs to the users doing something not sanctioned. They should either get strict or properly gear everyone else (imo).

More likely than not though SE will just hide and hope no one asks a straight answer, since that is the easier choice lol. (Watch as Camate comes and proves my statement wrong.. XD)