Addons in heavensward?

[Callinon]

snip

Well SE stated before 2.0 launched that an addon API would be made available. So it's coming, even if some people don't like it.


Some specific points:

DAMAGE METERS!!!!!

A damage meter or combat parser is a tool. Like any other tool it can be misused. I would submit though that a person who's going to be a jerk about damage meters, is probably going to find a way to be a jerk without damage meters. So given that jerks are impossible to avoid entirely, I'd like the easy information. Also as I'm sure you're aware, this is a technology we already have, albeit in an unsanctioned form.

BOSS MODS!!!!!

I, for one, don't enjoy memorizing long boss attack patterns. All a boss mod is in the entire world is an on-screen stopwatch.

Did encounters in WoW have to be designed around the assumption that people would have them? Sure. Did it make more complex and interesting encounters? Absolutely yes.

SE creating them

I'd rather SE's development time was spent on game systems and content. Not spent on letting me turn my hotbars into 3x4 squares (or 4x3, or 2x6...) or letting me re-skin the UI windows so they look like they came from the set of Star Trek the Next Generation.

An addon API allows users to make their UI do what they want it to do. Oftentimes these adjustments would be in such tiny demand that spending dev time and resources on them would be a grievous misuse of their time and effort.

NPCScan

So the way this one works, if you were unaware, is that it checks to see when a particular target is loaded in by your client. So at best this lets you know if something spawned within 100 meters of your character. And actually the most recent addon API for WoW denies this information to the client. Now it only barks if you happen to mouse over a rare NPC.

It doesn't really matter though, since FFXIV doesn't have rare NPC spawns outside of hunts (which are already tracked by third-party software), an addon like NPCScan would be pretty worthless.

[RelaxingRain]

So the way this one works, if you were unaware, is that it checks to see when a particular target is loaded in by your client. So at best this lets you know if something spawned within 100 meters of your character. And actually the most recent addon API for WoW denies this information to the client. Now it only barks if you happen to mouse over a rare NPC.
It doesn't really matter though, since FFXIV doesn't have rare NPC spawns outside of hunts (which are already tracked by third-party software), an addon like NPCScan would be pretty worthless.

Well thank you for that explanation.
As i said i am think that is upon community to deny bad behaviour.
I am not gonna lie.
If i have a UI like this one:
http://tinyurl.com/nwowweh (Photo not mine.Taken from the Internet)
i will be totally happy.
But after so many years modding my WoW UI i think that the ''default'' one by SE was a refreshing change.

Thanks for your answers!
Have a nice day!

[Tiva]

Thank you, Callinon, for that breakdown. I totally agree.
RelaxingRain, you might want to go to this thread and share your opinion if you haven't already. And also some information in there may affect the way you feel about dps meters.

Personally I'm not too crazy about addons like DBM for this game because the mechanics are very simple in this game. But if others want to use such an addon, more power to them.

Since you brought up wildstar- Although that game has failed (IMO) for other reasons, one thing they did really well was allowing addons from launch. I played beta and live for that game and went through the pre-nerfed raid attunement. I really enjoyed the ability to have addons from day 1. The raiding community really likes this feature. Its something to consider for other MMOs in the future.

And yes, the maker of ElvUI is very talented. I've used that interface replacement for years. The default UI in FFXIV is not terrible. But it could definitely use improvement. The main argument for me about allowed player made addons is based on that. Like, I hate the party frames. Many many people hate the party frames. Why should squeenix spend time they can be spending developing on content worrying about the UI? Let players worry about redesigning the UI the way they want. Its a huge project and everyone likes different things. This is the main reason addons are so great. Release addons, let US worry about the UI, Squeenix, YOU worry about content, class, and encounter design!