So this game has dps checks but we can't talk about our dps in game?

[Connor]

This is just another example of the developers absolute refusal to compromise in any sort of way.

You can’t see your dps or any kind of ‘battle output’ for that matter under any circumstances unless you’re using a third-party program that’s only available to 50% of the player base (assuming it’s 50/50 between PC/PS4 which it probably isn’t but let’s say it is lol). As a PS4 player it’s infuriated me to no end that I’m not allowed to see the one and only value that actually matters in combat . The only option is to find a PC player and have them do it for me.

If I didn’t need to know a rotation or my damage output I wouldn’t care about personal dps really. But I very obviously do need to know these things regardless of class, because it doesn’t matter how much you support/heal/whatever the party - you deal your maximised dps using the rotation you’re just magically supposed to know without any outside knowledge or you’re do it wrong. Despite how blatantly contradictory some rotations are (e.g give Bloodletter three charge suggesting you can use it more often, now you ignore it for an entire song to line charges up with burst)

They don’t want this program to be used openly because it can lead to issues with harassment or whatever. Which I believe is totally the right way to go about it. Despite what people will defend to the grave just because someone is ‘bad at the game’ it doesn’t mean they deserve harassment or bullying.

Then the devs add dps checks to like everything that doesn’t have ‘normal’ in the name (normal players are too dumb for dps checks? Seems an unfair presumption…). So obviously people want to see their dps. Except they’re not allowed because potential harassment.

But, if they had say, Stone, Sky, Sea show a ‘total dps’ output that nobody else can see in any way (and isn’t an indicator of how we’ll they’d do in actual content anyway because mechanics)…surely that would make all parties happy whilst minimising the risk? You can get a general idea of how well your doing in literally the only metric that matters in the entire game but it’s not publicly displayed for anyone else to see.

I mean, I genuinely don’t see how making a third-party program ‘illegal’ then saying ‘you can use it if you want just don’t say’ is in any way better than just making a budget-version yourself so you can control how it’s used? Surely if it came from SE itself they’d have better control over how it is or isn’t used?

[Kolsykol]

This is just another example of the developers absolute refusal to compromise in any sort of way.

I think that allowing people to use it but taking action against those using it to harass is an excellent compromise...
I haven't actually heard of anyone getting banned for using it even on Stream.
When someone has been banned for it it's because they acted like complete asshats about it.

[Sylve]

I think that allowing people to use it but taking action against those using it to harass is an excellent compromise...

Uhhh. You know this is what they're doing as of now, right?

You will not be banned if you install a parser and check your numbers.
You WILL be banned if you speak up in game proclaiming that you have a parser running or harrass players with that information.

Its honestly the best compromise they can do.
The moment they make numbers available in an official capacity, players use it to harrass.

The devs don't want a player focus on raw numbers. Having those numbers shoved in your face in the UI is not useful anywhere outside of Savage.

The way it is right now, You can parse if you want to. There are communities in game that don't report each other for using or discussing parse numbers in their private channels.
The only way the devs can police the use of a parser to stop harrassment is to make them technically illegal.

The system works perfectly find as it is right now. Console players just need to find a friend or FC/LS to have the numbers revealed to them via discord.

What if your group's dps is just too low to clear even when you dont get damage downs or deaths? How do you plan on figuring out why you didnt clear then?

If you hit enrage, the total party DPS is too low.
Duty Recorder exists
Simple screen recordings exist.

DPS comes from item level combined with executing your rotation.
If your item level is appropriate for the content, but the team still hits enrage, the problem is your rotation.
SOmething as simple as aligning raid buffs all the way to just not missing GCDs while dealing with mechanics.

A simple video from your perspective to inspect (Duty Recorder etc) your play is enough to identify areas you can improve.
Things you miss in the moment can be seen when looking back on a video. ANd those things you identify as problem areas can be improved upon.

All a parser will do is tell you what the Enrage already told you. Not enough damage.

[Michieltjuhh]

Having those numbers shoved in your face in the UI is not useful anywhere outside of Savage.

So.. have it be available through the game once you enter high-end content? Remove the taboo of talking about it during high-end content?

The system works perfectly find as it is right now.

No. It does not. It has been explained plenty of times in this thread why it does not, and you yourself, within 9 lines of text, contradicted this already.

Duty Recorder exists
Simple screen recordings exist.

Self-improvement only, and even then it's merely speculation, since you don't actually know whether what you're doing is correct or not without a summary of total damage dealt, compared to others.

A simple video from your perspective to inspect (Duty Recorder etc) your play is enough to identify areas you can improve.
Things you miss in the moment can be seen when looking back on a video. ANd those things you identify as problem areas can be improved upon.

Ah yes, the good old "if you improve yourself, the 7 other players in your raid will automatically improve as well, I promise!" logic. What about the scenario where my personal play is pitch perfect and yet we're hitting enrage?

All a parser will do is tell you what the Enrage already told you. Not enough damage.

Yep. You know the beautiful part of it? It tells you WHERE that damage is missing. Since, you know, it's not a single player game, even if you seem to think it is.

[Rolder50]

All a parser will do is tell you what the Enrage already told you. Not enough damage.

Incorrect. You can upload the parse to XIV Analysis and it can look at your log and tell you exactly what you are doing wrong. For example, it will show you incorrect weaves, missed combos, unspent resources, cooldowns left inactive for too long, etc etc.

[Saraide]

Uhhh. You know this is what they're doing as of now, right?

You will not be banned if you install a parser and check your numbers.
You WILL be banned if you speak up in game proclaiming that you have a parser running or harrass players with that information.

Its honestly the best compromise they can do.
The moment they make numbers available in an official capacity, players use it to harrass.

The devs don't want a player focus on raw numbers. Having those numbers shoved in your face in the UI is not useful anywhere outside of Savage.

The way it is right now, You can parse if you want to. There are communities in game that don't report each other for using or discussing parse numbers in their private channels.
The only way the devs can police the use of a parser to stop harrassment is to make them technically illegal.

The system works perfectly find as it is right now. Console players just need to find a friend or FC/LS to have the numbers revealed to them via discord.



If you hit enrage, the total party DPS is too low.
Duty Recorder exists
Simple screen recordings exist.

DPS comes from item level combined with executing your rotation.
If your item level is appropriate for the content, but the team still hits enrage, the problem is your rotation.
SOmething as simple as aligning raid buffs all the way to just not missing GCDs while dealing with mechanics.

A simple video from your perspective to inspect (Duty Recorder etc) your play is enough to identify areas you can improve.
Things you miss in the moment can be seen when looking back on a video. ANd those things you identify as problem areas can be improved upon.

All a parser will do is tell you what the Enrage already told you. Not enough damage.

So you would record the entire fight and then specifically look at each player's rotation to see if they are doing a good rotation and aligning buffs correctly? You are describing a parser.

[Sylve]

So you would record the entire fight and then specifically look at each player's rotation to see if they are doing a good rotation and aligning buffs correctly? You are describing a parser.

Yes, Its almost as though i were describing an alternative method of self improvement that didn't involve a parser.

The question i was responding to was "How do i find out whats wrong without a parser", So i listed some methods that are indeed capable of providing that information.

To address a whole bunch of replies at once: The instant numbers become available in an official capacity, the playerbase will begin using it to attack players.
Don't believe me? There are several incidents of streamers being banned for their comments regarding DPS.
Every MMO I've ever played that includes DPS meters also includes a culture that allows attacks towards other players for percieved failure to live up to someone elses standard.

Know what i like in XIV? Not seeing meters spammed after every pull. Not seeing egotistical pricks scream at the party about how much better they are and how they're carrying everyone on their back.

Players cannot be trusted to behave with respect towards their fellow players.
We don't need official tools to facilitate bad behaviour.

@Everyone with stories of "But a parser helped me!"
Great, you're experiencing the Square Enix Compromise of turning a blind eye to parsers on the proviso you keep your mouth shut about other players.
Use the tools available in a way that Square has no reason to drop the ban hammer on you for and everything will be fine.
Its not like Square can write a clause in the ToS to not talk about official parts of the UI, But they CAN put one in regarding third party UI elements.

PS: the problem with parsers is never the parser, its how people use the information that prevents us from ever getting an official one.