Damage Meters

[Tarta]

Ok so listen up, I have a suggestion that has been suggested, but I will flesh it with a more respectable approach.

Ditch the numbers on the imaginary damage meter models and parser models you may think you should implement.
If you aren't at that stage, realize you need to implement them for the hard DPS checks you require in a lot of fights.
If that's not something you can acknowledge, then just assume, theoretically, you are requiring hard DPS check and move on with my suggestion.


Personal Meters in Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Flashing/Rainbow/Stars whatever.
Think about it; you're doing damage and you're wondering if you're pushing enough, if you are the problem or not.
You don't want numbers, you just want to have a feel if you know you're doing good.
Red - not doing good.
Orange - better, would work for some trash mobs.
Yellow - Average for trash
Green - Most check will be met.
Flashing/Rainbow/Stars/insertwhatevergratuitouspsychologicalrubdownsyougot - you will meet the hardest checks fights are designed.

This way no one sees other's fail and there's no finger pointing.
You aren't throwing numbers everywhere so casual players aren't intimidated by number, but are instead striving to reach the Delicious-fakeawardlevel damage check.
You gave something the players can improve on to know if they are ready for the tough fights.

Now the levels of each tier for the meter in the back end would to meet a per-level basis, or per iLvl basis, but it's basic match that's translated into basic programming overnight with a small team. Implementation could be problematic for PS3, but you could leave it server-side with refresh on meter matching MP/TP ticks.

So? What do you think?

EDIT: This isn't a ranting thread. This is a thread to work on the problem, and provide a viable, real-world solution which engages the players rather than segregating the players. Let's be positive guys!!

[Tarta]

Doesn't need to be colors (for people with color blindness for example) could be patterns. Point is you make the colors/patterns boring to interesting and exciting. Don't think a drawing/pattern is exciting? Think of any shiny-attraction gimmick games have for imaginary points. Could be the delicious candies of candy crush (ugh) or the dazzling gems of bejeweled or the sweet sound of the tetris longbar that gets you 4 row clears with sweet sounds. It's a psychological thing that garners positive reinforcement in a way.

Really, I want people to feel good playing the game.
Failing a boss and not knowing if it's you isn't a good feel.
Failing a boss and knowing it's not you feels better, and limits the finger pointing drama as everyone is focus on their own thing.
Failing a boss and knowing it is you is arguably better since you can focus more and tighten your rotation better. You could also practice on a dummy/mobs to get the Super-level of the "meter".

It's just a gimmick, but it's a needed gimmick if there's content locked behind/gated behind DPS checks.

...really want some feedback though.

[Darkova]

Honestly it doesn't really matter how they implement such a system as much as doing so. Someone already made a thread to have it personal so you can't be harassed by others.

The end result would be the same, the player would need to improve themselves whether it be reading online or asking friends/people for help.

[Tarta]

Honestly it doesn't really matter how they implement such a system as much as doing so. Someone already made a thread to have it personal so you can't be harassed by others.

The end result would be the same, the player would need to improve themselves whether it be reading online or asking friends/people for help.

It is bad to give a tool for self-improvement within the confines of the game itself? I'm asking seriously, as I'm not sure how it'd feel for someone that wants to have fun if it's something they'd enjoy.
Fighting games arguably allow improving one's self with easy to see meters.
You got meters in myriad ways in other games that allow for gauging your current skill level, and it doesn't seem to damper the other game genres.

RPGs also have meters in a way (limit breaks and the likes) but the LB system counts close calls and damage taken and other factors that aren't relevant to DPS gated content.

Making it personal is a must as finger pointing is bad for sure. Just like you can't tell if others have damaged armor/gear, as that'd allow finger pointing. Just how you can't easily tell who didn't complete the content, just that you know someone hasn't (allows for security in anonymity)

[Darkova]

Perhaps I should have worded myself better, I agree with your post. I'm just saying they need to implement some sort of system since this game has dps checks and doesn't tell players how they are performing.

[Bishop81]

Just provide a normal DPS meter (/w numbers) but make it available only in non-DF content.

We already know hardcore statics (and Extreme mode PUGs) are going to run 3rd party parsers anyway.

[Voltyblast]

They should just allow it and that's it: even if they made ways to avoid fighting within a group there's always going to be someone who will cause trouble because he/she has his/her own parser who will start flaming X for low dps and what not. Not allowing parser doesn't remove the elitistic people.

People already use parsers constantly, especially since almost any fight is heavily reliant on dps and dodging mechanics: only way to avoid parser at all, in my opinion, is to make fights less about overmaximising your dps and more about actual tactics.

In other words: if the fights are heavily dps based, parser is always going to be used. Make the fights less about dps, and parser might not be needed as much.

But for now, I want one as well.

[Tarta]

I suggested omitting the numbers as it seems to lessen/dampen/scare away potential positive feedback.
Adding numbers is the easiest thing ever. There's already parsers out there that do just that.
The reason I suggested color codes/patterns/etc is to make the experience feel more like a game (we're still playing a game here, right?)

New Gaming industry standards are forcing psychological gimmicks to make gaming feel more like an addiction than a anything else, so giving the intangible reward of "high DPS" being further encouraged with flashy/exciting pattern/sounds or whatever was for the checkmark on whichever boardroom meeting would propose if the feature would positively retain players or detract players.

Bishop81, you are correct in that we have "hardcore" players that may use 3rd party software to parse their performances, but as Voltyblast is pointing out, they facilitate a finger-pointing scenario on poor performances on some of your peers.

I was looking for a way to positively promote self-accomplishments in the game to the player himself (like achievements, you would even have achievements for upkeeping the special meter max status for x-amount of time or some such).

Would there be a way to better the system (without complicating it). Keep ideas simple, concept simple and thing of newcomers playing Final Fantasy, is this something that would help or hinder?

[Risvertasashi]

I see what you mean about numbers but... A relativistic system is a bit hard to do right with so many variables.

[Terribad]

Wouldn't the same problem still exist?
The causal/bad that's scared of numbers is just simply going to be scared of colors now. Even with the color bar the person that doesn't know their rotation by now most likely doesn't care to. So we're back in the same situation, someone is the weak link, we don't know who, no one is going to step up so we can't correct the problem.

SE just needs to allow parsers and stop nerfing everything in the ground so fast, when players can't get through something and they know daddy SE isn't going to nerf it in a week, they'll figure it out. Plus the natural gap between the bads and average players needs to be there it'll cut down on extra drama.