Call me stupid,but??

[Whatyastarinat]

What is Parse or parser or w/e? I hear it alot and want to know what this is referring to. Thanks.

[aardda]

<p>A parse is the work of the devil... j/k <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Its a 3rd party application which takes the data generated from combat logs and breaks it up into which group member is doing what, such as how much damage a person does, or how much they heal.</p><p>People sometimes use them to justify criticizing others for not doing their 'job' in parsing high enough damage etc. Personally i don't see the point, i'm here to have fun and would never join a group that openly parses.</p>

[Spyderbite]

Its a small program that will take your EQ2 logs and filter them for the information that you'd like to see. More sophisticated parsers can bed used to extract specific information and display it semi-RT like dps, buffs, heals, etc.Other parsers, such as the one over at Allakhazam parses treasure drops, discoveries, mob and quest completion locations. Then uploads it to their database thus removing the necessity of adding these things manually to the website.The first is used primarily by people who are curious about who's doing the most damage, etc. during raid. Others use it determine if a new spell, ability or piece of equipment is helpful or not.

[Whatyastarinat]

K thanks. That clears it up alot.

[Seidhkona]

I didn't see anyone specify this, but probably the most widely-used parser is <a href="http://home.maine.rr.com/eqaditu/ACT/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Advanced Combat Tracker</a>, which is freeware.For me, it's really useful for giving me an audible signal when my auto-attack hits so I can get my rhythm down, spacing spells/CAs in-between the auto-attacks properly.  And it's very helpful when I'm evaluating a new piece of equipment, to see how much (if any) it improves over what I had already.

[Loolee]

Well, you asked for it.You are a stupid butt.

[Mwahaha]

<p>A parser is a program that causes DPS classes to go all out and not watch their aggro causing the healer/tank to work extra hard which eventually leads to group wipes.</p>

[Seidhkona]

<cite>Vivalavito@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>A parser is a program that causes DPS classes to go all out and not watch their aggro causing the healer/tank to work extra hard which eventually leads to group wipes.</p></blockquote>Geez, any kind of ePeen-waving competition can do that!  People who overnuke and wipe a raid may very well not be invited to go next time, so it can be very self-limiting.It's like an axe - you can chop wood with it, or you can act the fool and end up cutting your own leg with it.A parser can be an excellent training and self-evaluation tool.  If you are having problems with people competing to "top the parse", forbid posting the parse results and let people do their own parsing after the fact.  Where I find it most useful myself is in evaluating new equipment - I run a set of writs with item #1, then the same writs with item #2, and compare parses. /shrug

[Erithorn]

<p>Are "parsers" such as this one legal for use in EQII?</p><p>Your idea of checking spells and equipment intrigues me, though knowing how each member in my team performs is really of no interest to me...  I just want the baddie to die <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" width="15" height="15" /></p><p>Erithorn </p>

[Bakual]

<cite>Erithorn@Oasis wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Are "parsers" such as this one legal for use in EQII?</p><p>Your idea of checking spells and equipment intrigues me, though knowing how each member in my team performs is really of no interest to me...  I just want the baddie to die <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src=" width="15" height="15" />" width="15" height="15"></p><p>Erithorn </p></blockquote><p>Yes, they are legal since they only look at the logfiles and don't monitor or alter the actual dataflow.</p><p>I use it most of the time to look how I do in groups/raids. And yes, I want to be one of the top DPS in a raid - simply because as a conjuror this is my job to do. And no, I don't get aggro doing so - I know how to maintain good DPS without aggroing mobs <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Erithorn]

<p>Thank you both for the good tip then.... and I will try out this suggested site to see what I can do!</p><p> Erithorn</p>

[ShashLigai]

how does running ACT in the background affect gameplay (FPS, lag, etc.)?

[Targ]

<cite>ShashLigai wrote:</cite><blockquote>how does running ACT in the background affect gameplay (FPS, lag, etc.)?</blockquote><p>I don't notice any difference in lag or frame rate. There are some options that you can adjust.</p><p>One of the benefits of a parser is when you are having problems it can help you figure out why; by looking at the damage coming from the mob and from the group you can come up with better tactics. </p><p>First you should look at the break down of the damage coming from the mob. The damage break down tells you what spells the mob  used and what resists would help with each spell. You can use this information to adjust your amour / jewelry and buffs.</p><p>Second you want to look at the damage coming from each party member broken down by spell. So if a spell is not hurting the mob you can change your tactics and use something that is landing.</p><p>When get your butt kicked and you want to step back and go what just happend? A parser as an information tool it can be a very valuable.   But if it is used as a DPS maximizer you are headed for big trouble.</p>

[Soulforged_Unre]

<cite>Targ wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>ShashLigai wrote:</cite>  But if it is used as a DPS maximizer you are headed for big trouble.</blockquote>How so?

[Seidhkona]

<cite>ShashLigai wrote:</cite><blockquote>how does running ACT in the background affect gameplay (FPS, lag, etc.)?</blockquote>Can't answer that for you, because everyone's rig is different.  I have no problem with ACT running.  Some people do. Some people run it on another networked computer to lessen the load on the machine running the game. There really is no way to determine actual framerate without using a third party tool such as <a href="http://www.fraps.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FRAPS</a>.Usually I will not run ACT during a raid - you can parse after the fact by pointing ACT to your logfile and giving it a date and time range to look at.  If you find running ACT slows EQ2 down too much, just parse after you close down the game.I do often run the parser when I am soloing to try stuff and see how it works.  I use <a href="http://actparse.freeforums.org/viewtopic.php?t=20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a plug-in to ACT</a> (Double Attack.cs) that sounds a beep when I autoattack - that way I can audibly know when my autoattack has fired, then I cast my CAs and spells in between. Doing this soloing or in a regular group helps me get the rhythm down for most effective use of time between swings.

[Seidhkona]

<cite>Charons@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Targ wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>ShashLigai wrote:</cite>  But if it is used as a DPS maximizer you are headed for big trouble.</blockquote>How so?</blockquote>ShashLigai's comment is true if you get one or more people attempting to "rock the parse", i.e., maximize damage, while paying no attention to aggro control. Aggro control is EVERYBODY'S responsibility.  No tank can hold aggro against a high-parsing maniac who over-nukes. The mob goes, eats the maniac, and often kills a bunch of other people, maybe even wipes the group or raid when this happens before the tank can get aggro back.  The real challenge for the DPS-types is to learn how to consistently do a steady high amount of DPS *without* stealing aggro.  That's the win-win situation.But some people are dorks. It's like the Darwin awards... "Watch this Bubba! See what happens when I.... RIFT/DECAPITATE/ICE NOVA/ETC.!!!" And, like peeing on an electric fence, the results are not good most of the time.Where I see the biggest problem is right at the pull. A tank needs to get the mob in position, get it taunted, and get it hit at least once before the big DPS opens up with the giant damage.  Generally the DPS types should start slow, using debuffs and smaller nukes/strikes, then when the mob is down to the last 25% or so, go wild.  If, however, you drop your biggest atom bomb on the mob while the tank is trying to position it, early in the fight, you are *so* going to the top of the hate table!  And Rescue is not going to get the mob back under control.So, having people parsing leads some into an ego-trip competition where they are competing with one another to top the parse, and they nuke harder and sooner until, voilá! they steal aggro. And this is when ShashLigai's observation is correct... parsing leads to big trouble.  If you can avoid grouping with dorks who do this, then the parse is just a helpful tool.