What is the point of "no mods" if it is not enforced?

[Bonkleberry]

One of the reasons I chose to play this game is based on an idea that this game does not allow mods or third party programs, but, from what I am reading and hearing, damage meters, parsers, and even screen overlays are widely used by most players in the end game without penalty.

So, in order to play in the end game, I am forced to play cookie cutter because these illegitimate programs are tracking my every move and exposing me for not being completely min-maxed to other players. On one of the promotional pages for these third party programs, a part of the pitch for the program is 'on screen indications to check if teammates are using skills in the right order and on time so you can tell if they are pro or not at a glance'.

This is very discouraging information for me as a new player who bought this game because the main rules page bans mods and third party programs from being used.

[UnaLihzeh]

From what I know, when they are caught they are reprimanded. The problem is that someone has to report them, and most people don't reveal they are using them unless to people who wouldn't report them. You'd just get kicked if you weren't up to par.

That being said, there's a much bigger problem with RMT bots than harassment from parsers imo. I actually haven't encountered anyone using them myself, but I have seen a crapton of bots running through dungeons and making a mess of things.

[Bonkleberry]

I am not worried about harassment. It just becomes a reality of the end game that I would be forced to cookie cutter my build to my role and use these programs myself if I want to be included in anything serious. Cookie cutter builds are just boring and steal fun from the game, but third party programs expose my computer to unmoderated access that can potentially cause damage and violate my privacy or compromise my identity.

[Atoli]

I am not worried about harassment. It just becomes a reality of the end game that I would be forced to cookie cutter my build to my role and use these programs myself if I want to be included in anything serious. Cookie cutter builds are just boring and steal fun from the game

So "fun" is sucking at doing your job at the expense of your party members who have to compensate for you? FFXIV is a fun game, but there really is no variation in effective "builds" or anything.
There is the "I can heal through heavy raid-wide DMG and brutal tankbusters" build and there is the "My healing can't save anyone" build. That's it.

If you want to be included in something serious, make a serious effort, easy as that. People (potentially) kick you because you don't do your job well, parser or not.
Having one just makes it easier to notice, but it's not like failing isn't obvious otherwise. If you are worried about people being mean to you based on parser results - UnaLihzeh already said it: that's strictly forbidden and you can absolutely report someone for it.

I find it kind of mind-boggling though how you can indirectly say "I want to suck at this game but still get carried through hard content without getting called out on it" without feeling any shame. I'll just assume you are not aware yet that there IS only one effective way per class to play and that's why you said all of that..since you do not know yet that anything but cookiecutter just means sucking really hard.

[Bonkleberry]

Awe, how cute. Did you wait this long to reply because you were afraid I would see it and respond?

First off, you know nothing about me, so attacking my game skills and knowledge is just a childish way of compensating for your own issues.

Second, you clearly lack reading comprehension skills. This thread is not abot me wanting to be a bad player and getting away with it, it is about what the rules of the game clearly state and people breaking the rules to be "better" players and players that do not want to do certain things to be good at this game. To put things more simply for your small perspective, if this game has a rule that everyone should follow for competitive reasons, then the rule should be enforced. People chose to play a game because of rules it may offer. Trying to get around the rule does not make a good or improved player, it makes you a cheater and cheaters ruin the game for other players.

[Taika]

Unfortunately, there really isn't a way to play any job in this game in a "not cookie cutter" way effectively. The best rotations, stats and cross-class abilities for each job are well known and there aren't any valid alternatives. Parsers don't affect this fact in any way, and it's quite easy to notice if you're following the correct rotation without one (a parser only shows if you're using that rotation effectively).

Also, while it's true that probably every single one of the static groups doing the highest level of endgame (basically Savage) in this game is using a parser to see they have what it takes to beat a certain DPS check, there are a lot of individual players who are playing at that level without using a parser themself (especially the PS4 players who couldn't do that in the first place).

[Bonkleberry]

Also, while it's true that probably every single one of the static groups doing the highest level of endgame (basically Savage) in this game is using a parser to see they have what it takes to beat a certain DPS check, there are a lot of individual players who are playing at that level without using a parser themself (especially the PS4 players who couldn't do that in the first place).

I never considered the PS4 players when posting. I feel better about the situation now. I am not at the end game, yet, so I am not experienced with what is actually expected of players and, from what I was reading and hearing, it seemed this third party stuff was a must have. But, if PS4 players can play at the top level and they do not have access to third party programs, then I do not have to fear being forced to use third party programs or the game/community being balanced around the use of third party programs. Thank you.

[vigioX-Sun]

The way i see it,those tools can actually make you a stronger player if you use it for good.

[Sagittarian]

As mentioned, the PS3/4 players don't have access to any of those 3rd party programs. There *are* a lot of dps checks but there is also an in-game mechanism for checking your numbers. Once you get to level 60 you will get access to "Stone, Sea, Sky" where you will have 3 minutes to 'kill' a practice target based on the trial you are testing for. If you can kill the dummy in time you should be ok.

[Pintsized]

One of the reasons I chose to play this game is based on an idea that this game does not allow mods or third party programs, but, from what I am reading and hearing, damage meters, parsers, and even screen overlays are widely used by most players in the end game without penalty.

If you're referring to this part:

"Third-Party Programs or Tools. SQUARE ENIX strictly prohibits the use of third-party programs or tools – including programs and tools that permit automated or “absentee” play – in FINAL FANTASY XIV. Accordingly, the following activities are prohibited:

· Modifying, analyzing, integrating, and/or reverse engineering game software or data.
· Creating, distributing, using, or promoting utilities that interact with the game.
· Exploiting SQUARE ENIX programming bugs or glitches.
· Automating gameplay processes."

I think you misunderstand what 'analyzing' means in this context, clearly SE don't think parsers 'analyze' anything in breach of this clause.