Quote Originally Posted by Antipika View Post
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.