Would you like an in-game parser?

[Ghishlain]

Just wanted to point out you have no reason to assume that some votes for a personal parser aren't also coming from those that don't want parsers. I voted for no parsers, but I also voted for personal parsers only, and only if it ABSOLUTELY had to happen in some form.

This true too. I'll probably update my post on the previous page to reflect this once Rwarz answers since there's no point to do it if that's not his intent xD

*Wonders how many people trolled the poll by voting for all there* /think

[Reinha]

Random stat breakdown time

I would just like to point out that any percentage comparisons related to total votes are completely irrelevant because we can vote on any number of options. The OP says so right in the first post. The total number of votes is not a good thing to compare to, because it does not represent the total number of voters (a sample of the population). A percentage display only matters if it's a percentage of voters and not votes. There is, however, one thing you can do with this data. You can compare how many times more an option was voted for than another option, because we can only vote once on each option.

As of now, it's 53 for no, 163 for personal, 102 for public. There is an unknown amount of people voting multiple options.
(1) Voters support a personal parser 3.08 times as much (208% more) as no parser. Other way around: the number of votes for no parser is 0.33 (33%) compared to the number of votes for a personal parser. (67% less voted for no parser than personal)
(2) Voters support a public parser 1.96 times as much (96% more) as no parser. Other way around: the number of votes for no parser is 0.52 (52%) compared to the number of votes for a public parser. (48% less voted for no parser than public)
(3) Voters support a personal parser 1.60 times as much (60% more) as a public parser. Other way around: the number of votes for a public parser is 0.63 (63%) compared to the number of votes for a personal parser. (37% less voted for public than personal)

I would also like to agree with Thunda_Cat that you have to take into account the possibility that some people vote for no parser and personal parser as valid options, but are opposed to a public parser. You can't just say "the majority wants parsers in any form and we just need to decide which form", because some people would rather have no parser at all than a public parser. As Layla said, the third option is formulated "Yes, but I would only like a personal in game parser", which will have guided the voters to make their choice. It was not a question of "Do you want parsers? Yes/No". There were 3 distinct options. Personally, I ticked the first and the third options precisely because of how the third option was formulated, but do not make the mistake of assuming I am in favor of a public parser. I didn't tick that box and my vote does not count towards that option in any way. Interpreting the votes as such is flawed.

Also, the last 2 number breakdowns are sort of pointless. They are just guesswork. You don't know how many voted for both parser options and you don't know how many voted for one parser option plus the no parser option. You also don't know the number of voters. Arbitrary numbers offer nothing of value and would be better left out of any statistical analysis.

[CGMidlander]

A group parser would mean Astros have less of a reason to waste their Balances on the weakest DPS in the group >_>

[Khemorex]

well if we talk Numbers now ok ^^

if i have it right from the last unofficial census there is around 400k players on the NA/EU Data-centers.
so 300 votes are like hmm approximately 0,01 % :P

[Cherie]

I understand a big part of the parser debate is people fear getting harassed by people. I can understand that being a big deal. If we don't have parsers it's hard to tell when someone is harassing you by not trying their best or maybe just standing around for long bits not doing anything. Maybe it would be easier to notice if you were also were standing about, but you are trying your best and working hard so maybe you don't notice them.

People currently harass me in duty finder because we lack parsers (though not at all the time). I could see why people hope we get them soon. Mostly it's just when I play a bard or maybe heal. They say that because they are a non-support(or heal) job that their dps is automatically superior and that I am worthless if things aren't going very well. They do this unsolicited quite often even if I only talk with emotes! \(-.-)/ It would be funny if parsers are released and they see that a bard(or healer) can do more damage than they are. How ironic that would be! This is just my experience though. Your mileage may vary!

I know I'm not the best but I would prefer people to have some metric to judge me by! I know a SE made parser might not be a perfect way to judge people but if the devs do add one it is a nice tool to have. Right now, in duty finder, people just arbitrarily judge people by their class or by the gear or some other random thing (whatever suits their argument). If it's less random that would make me happy. :3 It means I could make a difference in their judgements if I try hard and maybe people that aren't doing as well wouldn't yell at me. I am the silent duty finder participant. ^-^/ ♥ I like to just do my job, get my tomes, and go home. I have no need for big chats during duties... Ty for your time reading! ^^

[Seraphix2407]

It's silly people care. However there is a big difference being afk and try hard as you can. Too many sadly are ''afk'' and do nothing, which sucks. I mean it's silly people care about dungeon or 24 man raid numbers, but also I think many just have a opinion on it as well (including myself) If you were in my party trying I wouldn't give a damn about your dps, coz you tried and many time's I've done more than tank and both dps as a healer. But I don't tell them, their job is to dps and they did it. However casting ice 24-7 isn't something you should do. But when you are in a extreme primal or raid then there is a different tone, people have to play very good to do their job optimized. It sucks you get harrased in duty finders in roulettes or 24 man but keep in mind, there are assholes in any form and there are plenty of assholes who refuses to listen and waste people's time just to piss them off. But I'm glad you see some positive sides even tho it have given you alot of negative ones in roulettes for example.

[Laerune]

Hmmmmm.... I have been thinking, maybe SE could release a ingame poll, like they did during BETA? The amount of players on the forum is nothing compared to the current active FFXIV players, so why not reach them ingame and ask them what they want?
Add the options:

1. NO PARSER
2. PERSONAL PARSER
3. PARSER THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE

If majority of players want a personal parser, then they will only add a personal one, if majority want no parsers at all, they will add no parsers to the game, etc. They should send this to all DATA CENTERS, this way SE gets direct feedback. Worst case scenario for the ones that want parsers, is that they need to use ACT instead of a ingame one.

What do you guys think of this suggestion?

Now to the second issue. Parsers give players a advantage, AST having one means they can direct the right cards to the right players. If SE wants to give parsers, how can they be fair about the way of adding this. I dont think PS3 can have parsers and I am not sure about PS4, but untill they can make it so adding parsers means every player can use, I dont think adding one is fair.

Still SE has a way to get direct feedback and they did this before during the BETA, so I reckon players should request them to send a ingame poll and accept the outcome if its what they wanted or not, because in the end what 5% of the players want, should not impact the other 95%.

[Animarelic]

I started a weekly Vlog on FFXIV and one of this week's topic was about this very subject. I tried to be as objective as I could adding views of all 3 sides, those for public parsers, private parsers and those who don't want them at all. https://youtu.be/X96f9A2EHuM

[Cnidarian]

Personally, I'm against an in game parser as it will lead to people being more vocal towards those who play sub optimally. While this isn't always a bad thing (as some people are courteous and helpful while being vocal), there are also those that are just plain toxic. I have never seen people harass others personally, but I do know it happens.

For those who claim that SSS isn't working because clearing the SSS doesn't tell you how well you actually do in the fight, I call BS. If you are skilled enough and know your rotation well enough to clear the SSS requirements without completely outgearing the SSS, then you know when you are under preforming in the actual fight. I can clear the A8S SSS at i222 as a BLM (1800 DPS required for BLM), so I know I have a pretty solid understanding of my rotations and proc/cooldown usage as a BLM.

I've only cleared SephEX a few times and I know without using a parser that my dps is low for that fight. I know this because I know how to play my job. I know that I'm not completing my rotations properly in the fight due to having to move. I know that sometimes I use a proc too soon instead of saving it for when I do have to move. I know that I messed up by not moving into position sooner by slide casting my way there and thus am losing out on a GCD which adds up to a lot of missed GCDs by the end of the fight. All of this I know not because a parser told me, but because I know my job and I know when and where I made mistakes. I also know that every time I go in there, I improve and get better. I don't need a parser to tell me this either because I know that each time I make fewer mistakes and I get better at prepositioning.

This is true of all content and is true for all players who truly know how to play their roles. For people who are still learning their roles, they don't need a parser to tell them they how they are performing or if they are improving. We already have a tool that can tell you that which I mentioned previously, the SSS dummies. Pick an encounter appropriate for your ilvl and go from there. If you failed horribly, then you know you need to improve and will seek the information required to improve. A parser isn't going to make you better just because it's telling you that you have low dps. Only the player can make themselves better by seeking the knowledge required and applying it. If the player doesn't want to take this extra step, then a parser isn't going to help them anyways.

I use the above method for every job I play in order hold my own if you will in any content I choose to bring that job to. At the very least, I read all the guides and the various theory crafting discussions for every job I have at 60 so that I have a firm understanding of that job and their rotations. Because I do this, I'm able to assist players that are open to criticism and are willing to improve that I run into during a DF run. I don't need a parser to tell me if they have low dps, I can tell by looking at their cast bars or character animations and buffs/debuffs if they are preforming their rotation properly. (As a point of reference, I have every job at 60 except 50 MNK and 57 DRK).

TLDR: Parsers aren't needed for a person to improve, knowledge of their job and a desire to improve is needed for them to improve.

[Seraphix2407]

TLDR: Parsers aren't needed for a person to improve, knowledge of their job and a desire to improve is needed for them to improve.

While I do agree with that, there are certain things you can improve. Even IF you know how to do rotations in fight, as you mentioned, you move alot, gotta do things slightly different in the fight, have to adapt to situation etc, you know it. Problem is, when some one is called out, yes called out for being a low dps and they say their dps is fine when its not, then what? Harrasment? I've even told people I could help them out because their dps is way lower than it should be, but I got reported for it, why?

I'm not saying you are wrong, not at all, but keep in mind, people have to see with their own eyes why they are not included in fights, because it's either they not doing the job properly or their attitude leaves them not wanting to improve. I like that you try really hard to get better without parser and take time to read guides and such, so mad respect for that! Keep in mind there is a lot higher % of players who refuses to give a damn, than those low % who are ''elitist''

My argument FOR parser is simply because there are great numbers who refused to get better or feel harrased even if they have bunch of people who are more than willing to teach them how to play. They need to see with their own eyes why, when they do they will maybe understand more? Btw I'm talking about content like primals and raids. Problem is many wants to do those type of content but won't do their job, in this case as DPS. However, if you do 1.1k as BLM and the other is at 1.6k, that's a huge difference right there. Now the parser wont make you great as you stated, you have to see why. So you try different rotations during that phase, and if you improve you keep going if not you have to fix it again. That's what parser is doing.