Would a VR-type practice dungeon be a reasonable compromise?

[Hayward]

I believe there are honest players out here who feel the need for parsers to gauge their performance. Let there be no doubt about that. What's being planned for 3.2 sounds like a step in the right direction, but only a step.

I believe there may be a middle ground that will satisfy those who want to experiment and test their performance as well as disabuse those of us who are averse to the potential drama a parser in dungeons/raids can harbor.

A VR dungeon, I believe, seems like something that would more readily replicate actual dungeon/raid mechanics without the pressure of wiping. A Light/Full Party can set the difficulty levels, go in to practice whatever they feel the need to work on, and receive an analysis on their performances afterwards.

I do believe something like this would assist in people who genuinely want to improve their job performance (Key word: want).

[CosmicKirby]

While I do like the idea of a practice mode, and I don't doubt that a well executed one could be beneficial, I can't imagine just how much effort and development time this would take to actually implement.

You wouldn't just need a "dungeon", you'd need a room where you can test out various phases/mechanics from bosses and measure DPS while doing it, so, a training room. This training room has to be able to draw from a myriad of relevant mechanics/situations, to help people get an accurate estimate of how they or others are performing DPS-wise whilst mechanics are present. You'd have to develop a means to spawn these mechanics, an interface that is easy enough to use and understand for controlling these things, graphics to properly display the training room, maybe some unique NPCs and quests and texts explaining how to use all of it, AND official parsing software that can only be used for this situation.

Alternatively. You just develop an official parser and add it to the game. You'd be able to spend the development time elsewhere.

I understand that some people have a great aversion to potential parser-related drama, (IMO, a very unfounded aversion). But I just don't think that an alternative as costly as this is justifiable. Not when you already have the means and ability to solve player disputes.

[Derio]

A challenge to implement. But a question really is poor dps affecting the community so much that they need to build a simulator to allow players to test their dps output?

[ElHeggunte]

A challenge to implement. But a question really is poor dps affecting the community so much that they need to build a simulator to allow players to test their dps output?

Yes. I'm willing to bet that most players who suck only suck because they don't know that they... suck. Because the game does a poor job of telling you and fellow players aren't allowed to 3rd-party-parse you to tell you. We don't necessarily need an overly complicated training room, but we certainly need an accurate way to measure performance that isn't against the ToS.

[Yurihyuga]

A challenge to implement. But a question really is poor dps affecting the community so much that they need to build a simulator to allow players to test their dps output?

oh god yes it really does. Too many people are bad with dps it is not even funny anymore.

[Shurrikhan]

If I were playing on a PS4, I'd want to be able to see what kind of damage I'm doing in varying situations, across any situation I feel like checking. E.g. I want a personal parser.

As for parsing other people, I couldn't care less. I'd like to have most people know what they're doing by level 60, but that's more than just their raw DPS output anyways (hitting the correct target would be a close second, or, where immunities are involved, first). A sort of 'proving grounds' that must be passed before people can queue for certain things would probably reduce the chance of those rare but particularly painful DF parties, but I don't need to know what DPS they're doing. Their enmity meters +/- threat drops can give me their comparative values just fine. If anything I'd just the option for like instant casts / weaponskills / abilities to briefly show what was just used (on focus and/or party bars), similar to spell casts. I could then easily track the rotation of someone I'm training without having to keep an eye on their every animation.

If they're to spend development time for a VR-type practice dungeon (e.g. WoD's 'proving grounds', etc), I'd hope that some of its costs/assets could at least be reused for a randomized-encounter arena-type dungeon later on.

[Pence]

My issue with 'training rooms' is that you can't simulate a raid environment without it being the raid itself. Certain mechanics? Sure. But you also practice these in the raid itself, in a real environment.

I'd much prefer they just add a parser already and stop hand holding where it's not needed.

[hagare]

My issue with 'training rooms' is that you can't simulate a raid environment without it being the raid itself. Certain mechanics? Sure. But you also practice these in the raid itself, in a real environment.

I'd much prefer they just add a parser already and stop hand holding where it's not needed.

the training is not for practicing mechanics.
It's to help people practice their rotation better.
when people understand their rotation better, they can start getting used to knowing what to use in raid situation.

[Kolaina]

It's to help people practice their rotation better.

this is only a fraction of it. a person may be able to memorize each and every step in a cookie cutter rotation, but what happens when other elements are thrown at people? for example the target breaks off, say like titan jumps. how aware of detriment to dps will some people be picking up where they last left off? or starting over fresh each and every time? a parser gives people a tool for trial and error, and for fine tuning of every element of encounters

[Kazumac]

Too much work for little gain. My opinion a good compromise is an always available personal parser and a group toggle option (like master looter) for preformed groups. That way it is an option for the groups who want it and isn't in DF where I imagine most of the fears are coming from.