Why we need parsers

[pandabearcat]

Lol no.

I've played every mmo that has a parser. I've never had issues. I'm not sure where you guys get these horror stories from. It is far more useful to me as a player than your fear of griefing is detrimental to your game.

Go start your own guild then, and ban parsers...? Or just mute everyone in a pug. Parsers don't bring out the worst in people. Parsers already exist, and those that want to use it in stupid ways are already doing so.

FFXIV doesn't seem to have exploded. Its not rotting from the inside. I don't have people spamming me about how low my dps is.

But I AM worried that I have no idea how well I'm doing.

[Asheilin]

I've played every mmo that has a parser. I've never had issues. [...]
But I AM worried that I have no idea how well I'm doing.

I'm Happy For You, that you never saw the awful truth so many of us HAVE with parsers. That doesn't mean you're solely right either. If you're so worried about it, join the hundred who are using a 3rd party parser and discover it yourself. Parsers in themselves, can be fine; and in pre-made groups, its not a problem. Any content where you PUG a person, THEY should not be allowed.

[SirTaint]

If everyone had access to the same info it wouldn't be that bad. What we have now is people with access to information playing with people that lack the same information. The uninformed majority feel threatened by the information but it will only make them better.

[JimboTCB]

If the game isn't going to permit players to evaluate themselves or each other, it needs to do so itself. Someone mentioned WOW's Proving Grounds earlier, and from the abjectly terrible state of some of the DPS I've encountered in dungeons (and also tanks and healers, nobody is immune from ineptitude), something similar is definitely required here.

The funny thing about WOW's proving grounds were that the forums were usually split more or less equally between people complaining that it was absurdly trivial and completely useless as a barrier to entry, and people complaining that it was ridiculously difficult and a completely unfair barrier to endgame content. None of them required anything much more than basic knowledge of your role and how to deal with simple mechanics, but it was still too much for a lot of people, and that's what we see in this game time and again.

I know it sounds horrible and elitist, but there comes a certain point where people can't complete stuff while adequately geared for the content in hand, and the only real answer to that is "get good". But without the tools to properly measure performance, or any effective roadblocks to prevent people from getting carried through content by other players, nothing changes.

[pandabearcat]

If you are having trouble with people ragging on you with parser numbers in PUGs there are really only 3 scenarios.

1. They are a dps diva. They are either overgeared and wrecking you, or barely beating you by 2 dps and want to rub it in your face. Ignore them, much like you would ignore a gil seller. Really you can't stand this? How did you survive any pugging?

2. You are really sucking bad. This is your fault. Being ignorant of your dps doesn't make your dps any better. Perhaps this will motivate some to improve. Perhaps it will motivate some to quit. Either way, the quality of duty finder is improved. Not everyone is going to dps shame you either. Perhaps they have legitimately helpful tips.

3. Somewhere in between. This depends largely on how sensitive you are.

[Kabooa]

Denying people who want it for the fear of people abusing it means we wouldn't have any of our features currently in game.

Fact of the matter is, people -know- when DPS, Threat, or Healing isn't enough. It usually involves a wipe, or a far more strained encounter than it's supposed to be. And when they -know- it's not where it should be, it's not a huge step to see who's dragging everyone down. (Aggro meters, while not perfect, show a very good indication over a few minutes of how hard everyone is pushing)

So, no, your fear of parses is irrational because the situation -already- exists. There are already third party parsers people use and will 'dps shame' with. The only thing an official meter does that a 3rd party one doesn't is eliminate the set up, potential inaccuracy, and provide easily access information.

[Starcade]

I think one of the posters had it right: All a parser will do is basically chuck any sub-standard player out of any elitist's party.

One could even make the case, if XIV has the same rules as XI, that the parser might be used to report sub-standard players as compromising the game experience of the elitist.

[pandabearcat]

I think one of the posters had it right: All a parser will do is basically chuck any sub-standard player out of any elitist's party.

One could even make the case, if XIV has the same rules as XI, that the parser might be used to report sub-standard players as compromising the game experience of the elitist.

This is what we call a slippery slope argument (hint: its fallacious).

There is some subconscious categorizing players into elitists and sub-standard players. Is there no middle ground? Also who are you to call someone an elitist?

Why don't we call "sub-standard players" as "useless detriments to party"? You see the point here, "elitist" is diluted to the point where its basically name calling. Its like calling everyone who beats you at CS a hacker, and everyone who you beat a noob.

What you call an elitist seems to just be "a jerk". You can do good dps without being a jerk. You can expect your group to hold to a standard of performance without being a jerk.

If someone is seriously being kicked out of multiple groups because their dps is really bad, then well...their dps is likely really bad. Noone is really entitled to anything in an MMO, but the party leader certainly can form the party he/she wishes. If that happens to be an "elitist" party then well, you know what you signed up for.

[MythToken]

Parsers aside.

The community needs something for people to know if they are doing good dps or bad dps.
As of right now, our options are:

1. read about rotations and try to pull them off the best you can and hope they are right.

2. Use technically illegal parsers

3. Eyeball it with how big of numbers you get (lol)

None of these are great options. So no matter what side of the fence you are on, the community does need a way to improve itself. Especially in terms of dps.

Is an in game parser the answer to that? Maybe.

[Arkenne]

Well... if a parser was implemented, I bet we'll find posts claiming "Static looking for BRD ilvl 12X Parsing 5XX minimum" or "Party looking for MNK for T13, know fight, ilvl 128 min, Parsing 6XX" or this or that.

Certainly would add more reasons for drama, which I think its what they are trying to avoid here...