An alternative to parsing?

[Enlial]

Well, they really need to add ingame parsing and make the games memory more difficult to scan. From what I understand theres no encryption or obfuscation whatsoever. There are plenty of games out there that dont have 3rd party programs outside of hardcore paid bots simply because the devs made it too difficult to make stuff like that (as an example, ESO used to have an ACT plugin, but its developer abandoned it when the game made its memory more difficult to scan).

Parsing isn't the problem (and heck, they could even offer the option to disable parsing or "make my parse private" to individual players). The problem is that ACT is being used for things way beyond simple parsing. It's radar as far as hunts are concerned, and on top of that apparently now there's a plugin that lets people script with it? Thats pretty bad. I only recently heard about that but it does explain a lot of stuff Ive been seeing lately (wont go into specifics)... Honestly, I dont generally care when I see people doing something that doesnt impact my gameplay. Im not going to sit there and fill out reports over a bunch of teleporting gathering bots because, well, that's SE's job. They should be able to detect and deal with that sort of thing. But yeah when I see people talk like they're hot ****, when they're blatantly cheating at the game, that really grinds me. Is that petty? idk. lol

[Sebazy]

A couple of small clarifications:

You have stone sea sky to check your basic rotation and gauge improvements in damage.

SSS would have more merit if it gave any real feedback beyond 'you've done an amount of damage within a timer'. As is however, I just don't think it fits in with the difficulty of high end content at release. The lack of any meaningful feedback coupled with a complete inability to factor in team comps has had me thinking it's a half baked exercise from the world go.

The problem is that ACT is being used for things way beyond simple parsing. It's radar as far as hunts are concerned, and on top of that apparently now there's a plugin that lets people script with it? Thats pretty bad

Assuming you're talking about what I think you are, lets be clear that the two hunt radars I'm aware off have nothing to do with ACT, nor are either plugins for it. One is stand alone, the other was an addition to a rival parser that was popular early on in ARR but I suspect is now defunct. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken of course, but I suspect I am not.

The scripting thing is a different kettle of fish, I consider the author to be a good friend and don't doubt his intentions with it, that plugin has some great QOL stuff as well as some really cool functionality for streamers. The keypress on event thing could fairly be labeled as scripting though. Whilst I don't use it myself, I would immediately guess that it's got more implications for crafting than it does combat.

[Saikoh]

My problem with parsers isn't that they are used, it's that they do not tell the whole story but many are acting like they are the only thing that matters. They do not show who is helping or missing mechanics, they do not show who is more concerned with the win. They only show numbers. Too many groups end up relying on this to the point I once had a sch offer to show me how awesome her parser data was when I suggested she should really not be casting broil with 4 dead teammates.

[KaivaC]

My problem with parsers isn't that they are used, it's that they do not tell the whole story but many are acting like they are the only thing that matters. They do not show who is helping or missing mechanics, they do not show who is more concerned with the win. They only show numbers. Too many groups end up relying on this to the point I once had a sch offer to show me how awesome her parser data was when I suggested she should really not be casting broil with 4 dead teammates.

Actually...parse data does show stuff like that on the main site where this information is uploaded. Its more than just raw damage - it does show things like timelines, events, every cast time, who died and to what, what killed whom, etc. There's a ridiculous amount of information that you find on it.

[Saikoh]

Actually...parse data does show stuff like that on the main site where this information is uploaded. Its more than just raw damage - it does show things like timelines, events, every cast time, who died and to what, what killed whom, etc. There's a ridiculous amount of information that you find on it.

Showing what someone got hit by is not the same as showing who is attending to mechanics. This is an example of my point that some believe the parser is all, when it is just a measuring tool.

[Xtrasweettea]

Showing what someone got hit by is not the same as showing who is attending to mechanics. This is an example of my point that some believe the parser is all, when it is just a measuring tool.

On FFLogs there is a "replay" feature that allows people to watch a fight that was uploaded in the most minimalistic of terms. You are able to see when people move, when the mob moves, damage done, damage taken, healing done/received, abilities used by the mobs, etc.

So, yes, you can actually see who is not attending to mechanics using the data from FFLOGs, replay function, and deductive reasoning.

[Saikoh]

And once again a parser fan misses the point. People aren't worrying about people replaying their performance and seeing what they did or did not do. People are in party that only care about their numbers. Excessive reliance on a parser is very detrimental to team play.

[Fhaerron]

Well, they really need to add ingame parsing and make the games memory more difficult to scan. From what I understand theres no encryption or obfuscation whatsoever. There are plenty of games out there that dont have 3rd party programs outside of hardcore paid bots simply because the devs made it too difficult to make stuff like that (as an example, ESO used to have an ACT plugin, but its developer abandoned it when the game made its memory more difficult to scan).

Not fully true, it's not about the memory. ESO has a full API addon support. People (the ones with low DPS) where crying about it so they changed the API. There's still a DPS meter addon, it just shows you how much DPS you do and how much of group DPS you did, party DPS is not available anymore.


"The best you're gonna get is combat metrics which shows your own DPS and how much % of the group damage you did.
There used to be an addon which showed everyone's DPS numbers in the group much like what you ask for, but people were..... sensitive about it. So the devs removed the API"

And that's all I need in this game, SE should do it this way too that way 'poor performers' can remain 'hidden'. The people interested in DPS meter have statics anyway, I personally couldn't care how much DPS pugs do.