People advertising they're running Parsers

[Ransu]

Actually the TOS prohibits software that modifies the games code, so it isn't "legit." They just choose not to enforce it...for now.

Parsers do not modify anything. They literally just read the text logs from the game and calculate the numbers to give you a total dps. Even if SE wanted to enforce it, there is no way they could because there's no code being injected into the game for them to detect.

and it really sucks. Coming from WoW, I was so happy to hear (what was now obviously a lie) this game had no addons. Oh well.

Technically it doesn't. There is no official support or open API like WoW and none of them are required to do content. Only the super hardcore/world first groups go out of their way to mandate any kind of raid overlays. The large majority of the playerbase doesn't care, especially considering a lot of raiders are on console where they have no access to mods anyways. I don't use any mods and I have yet found a reason to ever use them.

[Esper56]

Parsers do not modify anything. They literally just read the text logs from the game and calculate the numbers to give you a total dps. Even if SE wanted to enforce it, there is no way they could because there's no code being injected into the game for them to detect.

2.5 Data Mining. You may not intercept, mine or otherwise collect information from the Game using unauthorized third party software.

Parsing is a term in Final Fantasy XIV that refers to the tracking of DPS via third party tools. It’s generally used to track performance in dungeons, raids, and trials – but Square officially discourages their use. So what’s the deal?

By using a plug-in like ACT (Advanced Combat Tracker), players can monitor DPS output from both themselves and party members.

This involves modifying your game client, something Square have expressly forbidden multiple times in the past.

Usage of third party programs within FFXIV – even ones that just modify your character’s appearance – can result in a range of punishments, including time-outs to a mysterious jail for naughty players.

Dunno, sounds like parsing is directly against the ToS.

[Ransu]

The logs are literally saved in clear text to your documents folder.....I can open the log and type out the numbers in a calculator and come to the exact same result as the parser does. It's just doing an OCR and has nothing to do with data mining.

Regardless of if its against the TOS or not, it doesn't matter either way because all it is doing is reading logs that are saved locally to your PC. They cannot tell if you're running the parser or not, which is why Yoshi has treated it a as a grey area. As long as you don't harass other players with it you're fine. If players are harassing you about your dps numbers or if you see PF's advertising anything related to parsing then yes absolutely report them. Otherwise, who cares?

[Sylve]

Dunno, sounds like parsing is directly against the ToS.

That's like saying Excel Spreadsheets are against ToS.

The logfiles are right there in a public folder where your XIV configs, character creation saves, screenshots, keybinds etc are saved.

Short of SQenix putting deep encryption on the folders to stop third party programs from reading what is being printed in those logs, They have absolutely no way to detect or prevent a user from utilizing the data contained within said logs.

You can, quite literally, Paste your log file into Excel and manually do the calculations if you wanted to badly enough. All the parser is doing is .. Parsing the available data.

They will ban you in a heartbeat if you start harrassing people for their DPS using data gleaned from a parser.
So don't harrass anyone or reveal the data in-game and you'll be fine.

[Esper56]

So when people parse in game, they aren't doing it via a third-party plugin, but rather taking log files and uploading it into a program?

So do you guys just review it after a savage/extreme run is over?

[LittleImp]

So when people parse in game, they aren't doing it via a third-party plugin, but rather taking log files and uploading it into a program?

So do you guys just review it after a savage/extreme run is over?

Actually, yeah, that's usually how it's done.

FFLogs re-parses the completed log-file after the fact and provides significantly more indepth analysis about runs, where ACT's real-time output is considered pretty primitive and often unhelpful.

[Esper56]

Actually, yeah, that's usually how it's done.

FFLogs re-parses the completed log-file after the fact and provides significantly more indepth analysis about runs, where ACT's real-time output is considered pretty primitive and often unhelpful.

See now this is the information I seem to have been missing or overlooked through this entire thread/articles I've read on what parsers are. The whole time it seemed like everyone was talking about a plug-in/addon that was constantly doing it in real time and not something done after the fact to review your mistakes.

[Menriq]

See now this is the information I seem to have been missing or overlooked through this entire thread/articles I've read on what parsers are. The whole time it seemed like everyone was talking about a plug-in/addon that was constantly doing it in real time and not something done after the fact to review your mistakes.

That's because LittleImp is incorrect. ACT is the plugin that writes out the logs in a format that is used not only for the plugin, but also FFLogs. The two developers often work together to ensure they are in sync with changes.

[lisaa]

No, ACT is a hack that looks directly at the game data. It’s not just looking at the chat log it looks at what the game data is on your computer. That’s why you can even see some people use ACT to call out mechanics before it’s even shown in the game or things that don’t have any chat log like titan jails. SE even has to use special codes every patch to try to obfuscate this data to prevent it but hackers quickly decode it and then update ACT with it

[Caurcas]

No, ACT is a hack that looks directly at the game data. It’s not just looking at the chat log it looks at what the game data is on your computer. That’s why you can even see some people use ACT to call out mechanics before it’s even shown in the game. SE even has to use special codes every patch to try to obfuscate this data to prevent it but hackers quickly decode it and then update ACT with it

Cactbot and triggers are separate plug-ins. Default ACT just parses the battle log.