Help with ACT (Advanced Combat Tracker)

The Ban · 05-29-2006, 01:33 AM

I always seem to be slightly gimped on the parser cause on raids I have to wait about 5 or 6 seconds before I start going all out. This lowers my DPS alot.

Is there away to make it start counting my DPS from the time I start actually doing dmg?(instead of how it is now where it starts parsing as soon as the tank pulls)

kingdeke · 05-29-2006, 05:46 AM

Well that wouldn't be your true DPS in relation to the entire fight.

I'm not sure if there is a way to alter how ACT starts tracking th encounter, but if you start it only when you do damage then you wouldn't have a parse of the actual fight... Changing the way it starts would of course make you look less "gimped" but then it wouldnt be a real parse.

Nightwo|f · 05-29-2006, 05:59 AM

ACT has two values for DPS. One is just DPS, other is ExtDPS (Extended DPS). DPS is the DPS for the duration of which you're casting spells. For example, if the fight last 5 minutes, but you don't start casting until a minute into the fight, the DPS value is calculated based on those four minutes. However ExtDPS is the amount of damage you did divided by the encounter duration. In any case, when raiding I usually start off with dots and such (icicles, tempest, convulsions, protoflame, etc), though it all depends on the encounter as they're not all the same.

Fingle · 05-29-2006, 07:50 PM

Others have covered your question, but you should be able to cast from the get go. Proto is a good starter followed by icicles, that's not going to draw agro.

ailees · 05-30-2006, 09:43 AM

I use ACT a lot to parse logs.But I never use DPS. As you already have been told, and you can see it any time, it all depends the way the programm computes it (for example the time needed after a fight to stop parsing can vary from 0 to a lot of seconds).When I started parsing, to increase my damages, I used it in 2 ways :1/ in some groups - for example camping ones - I have enough time to examine each fight closely and see results of every spell. Then I can see what's the best chaining in each situation.2/ in long fights, raids or 2 hours group in a place, I merge all fights. And i look at total damage. I think it is the only thing that really count. ACT computes also an extended DPS for it ! but it is lower than the DPS of each fight (I never saw one being at more than 800 if I remember well) AND gives wrong numbers : I also remember a guy who had the best DPS, but was 5th damager. ACT found (dunno why) that his total fight time was less than others SMILEY

kingdeke · 05-30-2006, 07:37 PM

On another note: It's important to change the way ACT ends combat to "wait xx Seconds after last combat action." If you leave it at the defaults where it ends a parse on either xp gain, or "so and so has killed mobx" then it will mess with your parses as well. I've got mine set to end combat after 3 seconds of no combat action.

TheBu · 05-31-2006, 07:29 PM

kingdeke wrote:

Well that wouldn't be your true DPS in relation to the entire fight.

I'm not sure if there is a way to alter how ACT starts tracking th encounter, but if you start it only when you do damage then you wouldn't have a parse of the actual fight... Changing the way it starts would of course make you look less "gimped" but then it wouldnt be a real parse.

I would agree with Kingdeke that it would not be your true DPS in relation to the entire fight. extended dps is from the time one starts till they end.

But rember the game is not one with dps alone and Parsers do not tell the whole story. They just give u an idea whe u may improve.
Procs, Pets and debuff are rarely included under the caster and wards do not show up.

So instead of just looking at the dps, look at the damage type taken. and the misses and resist of the mob.

Nightwo|f · 05-31-2006, 07:41 PM

TheBuzZ wrote:
I would agree with Kingdeke that it would not be your true DPS in relation to the entire fight. extended dps is from the time one starts till they end.

But rember the game is not one with dps alone and Parsers do not tell the whole story. They just give u an idea whe u may improve. Procs, Pets and debuff are rarely included under the caster and wards do not show up.

So instead of just looking at the dps, look at the damage type taken. and the misses and resist of the mob.

Wards do show up with the latest versions of ACT (1.8 and higher, I'm running 2.0), on my last raid it showed I healed for 20k or so over the entire night (from my self wards: AA line, xhavis robe, vultak eye). I also agree, don't let ACT tell you how to play the game, just let it be a tool to help you improve and adapt.

Message Edited by Nightwo|f on 05-31-2006 11:42 AM

05-29-2006, 01:33 AM	#1
The Ban Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 113	I always seem to be slightly gimped on the parser cause on raids I have to wait about 5 or 6 seconds before I start going all out. This lowers my DPS alot. Is there away to make it start counting my DPS from the time I start actually doing dmg?(instead of how it is now where it starts parsing as soon as the tank pulls) __________________ Drop your pants and release your fudge cookie... Ephemerotera 70 Necro Ohhm 70 Wizard ETERNUM

05-29-2006, 07:50 PM	#4
Fingle Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Najena Posts: 100	Others have covered your question, but you should be able to cast from the get go. Proto is a good starter followed by icicles, that's not going to draw agro. __________________

05-30-2006, 09:43 AM	#5
ailees Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toulouse (France) Posts: 553	I use ACT a lot to parse logs.But I never use DPS. As you already have been told, and you can see it any time, it all depends the way the programm computes it (for example the time needed after a fight to stop parsing can vary from 0 to a lot of seconds).When I started parsing, to increase my damages, I used it in 2 ways :1/ in some groups - for example camping ones - I have enough time to examine each fight closely and see results of every spell. Then I can see what's the best chaining in each situation.2/ in long fights, raids or 2 hours group in a place, I merge all fights. And i look at total damage. I think it is the only thing that really count. ACT computes also an extended DPS for it ! but it is lower than the DPS of each fight (I never saw one being at more than 800 if I remember well) AND gives wrong numbers : I also remember a guy who had the best DPS, but was 5th damager. ACT found (dunno why) that his total fight time was less than others __________________

05-31-2006, 07:29 PM	#7
TheBu General Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 400	kingdeke wrote: Well that wouldn't be your true DPS in relation to the entire fight. I'm not sure if there is a way to alter how ACT starts tracking th encounter, but if you start it only when you do damage then you wouldn't have a parse of the actual fight... Changing the way it starts would of course make you look less "gimped" but then it wouldnt be a real parse. I would agree with Kingdeke that it would not be your true DPS in relation to the entire fight. extended dps is from the time one starts till they end. But rember the game is not one with dps alone and Parsers do not tell the whole story. They just give u an idea whe u may improve. Procs, Pets and debuff are rarely included under the caster and wards do not show up. So instead of just looking at the dps, look at the damage type taken. and the misses and resist of the mob.

05-31-2006, 07:41 PM	#8
Nightwo\|f Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 172	TheBuzZ wrote: I would agree with Kingdeke that it would not be your true DPS in relation to the entire fight. extended dps is from the time one starts till they end. But rember the game is not one with dps alone and Parsers do not tell the whole story. They just give u an idea whe u may improve. Procs, Pets and debuff are rarely included under the caster and wards do not show up. So instead of just looking at the dps, look at the damage type taken. and the misses and resist of the mob. Wards do show up with the latest versions of ACT (1.8 and higher, I'm running 2.0), on my last raid it showed I healed for 20k or so over the entire night (from my self wards: AA line, xhavis robe, vultak eye). I also agree, don't let ACT tell you how to play the game, just let it be a tool to help you improve and adapt. Message Edited by Nightwo\|f on 05-31-2006 11:42 AM

05-29-2006, 05:46 AM	#2
kingdeke Loremaster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 66	Well that wouldn't be your true DPS in relation to the entire fight. I'm not sure if there is a way to alter how ACT starts tracking th encounter, but if you start it only when you do damage then you wouldn't have a parse of the actual fight... Changing the way it starts would of course make you look less "gimped" but then it wouldnt be a real parse.

05-29-2006, 05:59 AM	#3
Nightwo\|f Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 172	ACT has two values for DPS. One is just DPS, other is ExtDPS (Extended DPS). DPS is the DPS for the duration of which you're casting spells. For example, if the fight last 5 minutes, but you don't start casting until a minute into the fight, the DPS value is calculated based on those four minutes. However ExtDPS is the amount of damage you did divided by the encounter duration. In any case, when raiding I usually start off with dots and such (icicles, tempest, convulsions, protoflame, etc), though it all depends on the encounter as they're not all the same.

05-30-2006, 07:37 PM	#6
kingdeke Loremaster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 66	On another note: It's important to change the way ACT ends combat to "wait xx Seconds after last combat action." If you leave it at the defaults where it ends a parse on either xp gain, or "so and so has killed mobx" then it will mess with your parses as well. I've got mine set to end combat after 3 seconds of no combat action.