"Parsed Facts" and "Ecologic Validity"

[Madrone]

Its not like we can zerg a boss down in 60 seconds or need the max efficiency at killing for xp party. Yes, there are times when we need to go balls top the wall and dish it out as fast as possible. Its nice to care enough about your role to figure out what is going to work best a lot of the time, but the OP is right about utility and winging it when necessary.

Nice example. He's a tank and thinks a utility debuff that a DD can apply that reduces damage taken is a good thing when it comes to a tough/long fight. I've been playing a healer mostly in betas, and I think the same thing.

[Fyreus]

Man this reminded me so much of those drks who wouldn't use stun or weapon bash back in XI. Op, great post man, great post.

[Almalexia]

It is possible the party could carry itself well enough that Feint wouldn't influence the outcome. In that case, it would be better to do more direct damage than play cautiously with debuffs. But parser data wouldn't bring you to that conclusion.

That DRG's reasoning is bad, but he's not absolutely wrong.

[Ruanark]

OP, if you were capable of tanking the raid boss without needing the 20% slow then the lancer was correct to forgo its use. The faster you can complete the dungeon, the better off everyone is. However, if the lack of the debuff caused you (or anyone else in the party) to deal less damage overall than the damage the lancer gained by not using it, then he was wrong and should have used it.

Well if the PLD is taking less dmg then the WHM or SCH is healing less, allowing them more time to add to DPS, which would most definitely make up for the dmg loss in the time it takes the DRG to use ONE move.

The DRG cared only about their own DPS, not the overall DPS of the party, nor the overall safety of the party.

[Reaujien]

Though I agree with a lot of what the OP said, we need to recognize that sometimes it's how the game/content has been designed that can make utility-type skills "useless". Remember that video of a group of people from a certain LS downing Ifrit while all 8 of them were in their "summer event" swim suites? Don't get me wrong for I want a game, and most of its content, to be "deep" enough so that skillful use of such utility-type skills really have an impact. Just feels like these "modern MMOs" keep such skills on the 100% optional list...

[Asiaine]

Parsers are fun, it lets me know if I am fulfilling my potential. Am I using good equipment, was I smart in my material choice, how much damage did I loose to fashion, is my skill use and timing good.

But beyond that, it should take a back seat to the more important battle elements:
Is the team working well together, are we accomplishing our goals, is everyone having fun?

Sometimes (most times?) you do not need to have the best possible parser results to win.

So use them as a guide to know how to play, but not as a yardstick to determine who is best. Please save your Parser Egos for the PvP arena ^^;

[HoolieWho]

Parsers are great tools, but as a great American bard said, "there are lies, damn lies and parser statistics."

[HoroBoro]

People only talk about DPS parsers. I've never seen a hot thread about threat parsers or damaged healed parsers.

The problem is this: the ratio of DPS:Tank/Heals is too low. Thus people have the perception that unless you're the best at damage (because what else is DPS role for), you aren't going to be wanted. Thus, they focus on DPS parsers.

I think if you get into this trap, you need to roll a different class. If you're stressing out about 1 statistic all the time, you're not getting the big picture. A class is more than a statistic. And if you make others feel this this way about themselves...

[Yashnaheen]

Parsers give you information. Not thinking and not knowing what to do with the information are the problems.

This information goes along with your battle plan, any unusual situations in the fight, their importance / danger. It's easy to know what you can do. You can pretty well know what to expect out of other individuals and generally the group in your own FC. Duty finder groups are another story. I'd throw out all my buffs / debuffs as I have no idea how they react under stress or how easily they become overwhelmed.

With a good parser you'll see damage per hit (far superior to a DPS meter for gear evaluation), abilities used, Crit %, ACC, total number of attacks, damage taken and so on. You need to use all this information to evaluate a DD's performance. You the reader have to decide if it's a problem at all, if its gear, slow to engage, only one caring to CC etc.

Parsers give you great information. People too lazy to think give them a bad reputation.

On the other hand this is a FF MMO made by SE. No one (except SE) is going to be surprised when a lot of abilities are entirely useless.

[Sylkis]

Rotations tell you how maximise output damage, but maximising damage isn't a DPSer's only job. It's the people who don't realise this that are at fault.