Parsing unfair but okay?

[Dracosavarian]

Yeah, I don’t think that’s how things work in this game. If so, well watching this ring of bots for 4+ years is certainly quite generous of the STF.



The developers aren’t enforcing the ToS when it comes to parsers because of the reasons I stated above—they know that if they suddenly start taking action, Savage dies. There’s no point in continuing to run it outside of getting gear. The competitive raid scene is built upon chasing leaderboards, and that scene keeps the content alive. As long as the parsers aren’t used to harass, SE will do nothing about them. When they are used to harass, the person is punished under the harassment clause—not the third-party software clause. See: Arthars.

I’m aware of what happened with Arthars. I’m also aware of what happened with others as well. SE has also said that if they so choose, they can suddenly start banning people left and right for it. This has been openly stated.

All of the arguments for and against, none of that changes the fact that it is against the Terms of Service.

I don’t use parsers. I don’t need to, nor do I have a desire to. If I wish to test myself, I have other methods of doing so that don’t break the Terms of Service.

No matter how much people try to hand wave that it is “ OK “ because SE does not currently enforce it according to their argument, will not change the fact that it is still against the TOS.

In essence, SE has not said it is ok. Rather, they have stated openly it is against TOS and that any use of such tools is at the users own risk.

[Anonicat]

People try to wield the ToS, as if they have power. Insecure folks indeed. It baffles me. Just let people play the game. And as to the whole Botting thing. Well Square Enix has done a great job of doing nothing. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if those monthly, Oh we banned X amount of accounts is just for show, and pure BS. And on another term. Y'all know what makes bots easier to program. A heavily scripted game... and macro's..... lmao..

[Saraide]

People try to wield the ToS, as if they have power. Insecure folks indeed. It baffles me. Just let people play the game. And as to the whole Botting thing. Well Square Enix has done a great job of doing nothing. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if those monthly, Oh we banned X amount of accounts is just for show, and pure BS. And on another term. Y'all know what makes bots easier to program. A heavily scripted game... and macro's..... lmao..

The RMT shout bots in the big cities are pretty easy to ban but that's also completely without consequence. The unfortunate truth is that a huge amount of players are not negatively impacted by crafting and gathering bots as they will push prices on many things down in an effort to undercut and push out legit competition.

[Rolder50]

I’m aware of what happened with Arthars. I’m also aware of what happened with others as well. SE has also said that if they so choose, they can suddenly start banning people left and right for it. This has been openly stated.

All of the arguments for and against, none of that changes the fact that it is against the Terms of Service.

I don’t use parsers. I don’t need to, nor do I have a desire to. If I wish to test myself, I have other methods of doing so that don’t break the Terms of Service.

No matter how much people try to hand wave that it is “ OK “ because SE does not currently enforce it according to their argument, will not change the fact that it is still against the TOS.

In essence, SE has not said it is ok. Rather, they have stated openly it is against TOS and that any use of such tools is at the users own risk.

That's weird, I see some data from your character on the big bad scary parsing website...

[Dracosavarian]

That's weird, I see some data from your character on the big bad scary parsing website...

I have zero control over whether players I have grouped with use parsers or not.

[HyoMinPark]

I’m aware of what happened with Arthars. I’m also aware of what happened with others as well. SE has also said that if they so choose, they can suddenly start banning people left and right for it. This has been openly stated.

All of the arguments for and against, none of that changes the fact that it is against the Terms of Service.

I don’t use parsers. I don’t need to, nor do I have a desire to. If I wish to test myself, I have other methods of doing so that don’t break the Terms of Service.

No matter how much people try to hand wave that it is “ OK “ because SE does not currently enforce it according to their argument, will not change the fact that it is still against the TOS.

In essence, SE has not said it is ok. Rather, they have stated openly it is against TOS and that any use of such tools is at the users own risk.

Unfortunately, this is impossible in this game—since it gives no indication of personal skill or personal damage dealt outside of sitting down with an Excel spreadsheet, a calculator, and a vast amount of time on one’s hands. If you ever wish to know your true performance, that is only possible with a parser. You are mistaken if you believe anything else in this game will inform you of whether or not you’re doing an adequate, below adequate, or above adequate job.

If SE were going to ban parser users, then they would. But they know that doing so kills their raid scene. So they allow it “unofficially”. You can wave around the ToS as much as you want, but it’s meaningless if it isn’t enforced.

[Rolder50]

Unfortunately, this is impossible in this game—since it gives no indication of personal skill or personal damage dealt outside of sitting down with an Excel spreadsheet, a calculator, and a vast amount of time on one’s hands. If you ever wish to know your true performance, that is only possible with a parser. You are mistaken if you believe anything else in this game will inform you of whether or not you’re doing an adequate, below adequate, or above adequate job.

If SE were going to ban parser users, then they would. But they know that doing so kills their raid scene. So they allow it “unofficially”. You can wave around the ToS as much as you want, but it’s meaningless if it isn’t enforced.

Not to mention that actually implementing the ability to track whose parsing would likely take a ton of dev time, if it's even possible in the first place. I'd imagine the large majority of players would rather have that dev time spent on new content.

[HyoMinPark]

Not to mention that actually implementing the ability to track whose parsing would likely take a ton of dev time, if it's even possible in the first place. I'd imagine the large majority of players would rather have that dev time spent on new content.

Well it would involve installing their own software on a player’s computer to scan files in search for anything reading the game’s memory—anti-cheat software, in other words. Which is illegal in a lot of countries, including Japan last I checked. With a global game, it would be impossible for SE to enforce this anti-cheating software.

[Dracosavarian]

Unfortunately, this is impossible in this game—since it gives no indication of personal skill or personal damage dealt outside of sitting down with an Excel spreadsheet, a calculator, and a vast amount of time on one’s hands. If you ever wish to know your true performance, that is only possible with a parser. You are mistaken if you believe anything else in this game will inform you of whether or not you’re doing an adequate, below adequate, or above adequate job.

If SE were going to ban parser users, then they would. But they know that doing so kills their raid scene. So they allow it “unofficially”. You can wave around the ToS as much as you want, but it’s meaningless if it isn’t enforced.

I’m not sure why you think improvement without a parser is not possible, when it is. There are ways in game of measuring your general capabilities and dps against a boss without a parser. And from those, I have derived ways to improve.



As for the latter bit, we are repeating ourselves. And our opinions on that matter are clearly not going to change. That having been said, I wish you no ill will. I don’t care whether folks parse or not. That’s their business, and a risk they take unto themselves.

It is their choice.

It does not change the fact that it is against TOS.

[HyoMinPark]

I’m not sure why you think improvement without a parser is not possible, when it is. There are ways in game of measuring your general capabilities and dps against a boss without a parser. And from those, I have derived ways to improve.

What are these ways, if I may ask?