Discussion: User Created UI Addons?

[Antipika]

You don't need a damage meter mid-fight to know if your group is meeting the DPS requirements. Its very easy to see if a monster's HP is dropping fast enough to avoid a certain mechanic. It is a timing factor, not a damage meter factor. I think we all know the goal is to do as much damage as possible in the allotted time and you normally do more damage the longer you stay on your feet. Completing the goal is more important than beating your ally in damage.

Taking risks is only going to increase your party's overall damage if you actually survive the risk. Doing stupid things like using a weaponskill just before Ifrit uses one of his weaponskills is only going to pay off if you get lucky and he doesn't use Eruption. Trying to burn down the twins in Garuda before correctly positioning them because you are 3rd on damage might let you beat the other DD, but it could also get your group killed.

My point is, people tend to play smarter and more efficiently when see that the group is progressing, no matter who is doing the most damage. This is why I like having the damage meter in the background, it lets people focus during the encounter and stress about numbers after.

You do, because it's always easier to compute proper and exact numbers rather than using an approximate HP bar.

If I calculated beforehand that 15K rDPS are needed in order to pass DPS check #1, by having a quick look at the DPS meter, I can tell how my raid is doing. If we are on time or not. If I see 18K, then we're good. If I see 15K, then we're just there and I would give the instruction to raise DPS a little bit etc.

As for your Garuda example, again, if some players are retarded and don't play properly just because they want to be first at DPS, the issue are players themselves, not the tool. Parsers, meters, add-ons, all of these are fine when used properly. We shouldn't restrict any of these tools just because some persons misuse them.

If you wipe your raid because you wanted to top DPS you're just an idiot. Having no addon won't change that, you'll still remain an idiot. However pushing DPS because rDPS is at 14.5K and 15K are needed to pass the check makes you useful to your raid. Individual risks are better than a raid wipe...

[Ryans]

You do, because it's always easier to compute proper and exact numbers rather than using an approximate HP bar.

If I calculated beforehand that 15K rDPS are needed in order to pass DPS check #1, by having a quick look at the DPS meter, I can tell how my raid is doing. If we are on time or not. If I see 18K, then we're good. If I see 15K, then we're just there and I would give the instruction to raise DPS a little bit etc.

As for your Garuda example, again, if some players are retarded and don't play properly just because they want to be first at DPS, the issue are players themselves, not the tool. Parsers, meters, add-ons, all of these are fine when used properly. We shouldn't restrict any of these tools just because some persons misuse them.

If you wipe your raid because you wanted to top DPS you're just an idiot. Having no addon won't change that, you'll still remain an idiot. However pushing DPS because rDPS is at 14.5K and 15K are needed to pass the check makes you useful to your raid. Individual risks are better than a raid wipe...

You get the same result mid-fight, probably even easier, by going off of the HP percentage. Using Garuda as an example again, you can push her HP under 30% (that is a set number that won't fluctuate and isn't split between 6 DD all needing to average 15k dps) during phase 1 and skip to phase 3. You don't need to know who is slacking during the fight, mostly because it'd be too late to yell at someone to burn more or kill plumes faster and the fight is already fucked up. People need to focus on what they are assigned to do and not on whether or not one of their group members is doing better than them. It is honestly a group effort, all that matters is the job gets done, not who pulling the most weight.

If you are trying to argue that having a chart that actively ranks people on how well they are doing their job in real-time (even if it isn't an accurate depiction of skill) doesn't promote competition, you are being awfully short-sighted. People are vain, especially when there is something to compare themselves to. We don't need tools that make it easier to do so, we need tools (or lack thereof) that promote cooperation. Use a damage meter to determine areas that need improvement, not as a bragging right shoved in everyone's face. I know I will only use a background damage meter, and I'll encourage my LS to do the same.