All hands on deck for combat log changes
by Amanda Dean 
Feb 7th 2008 at 1:00PM
If you're anything like me you're chomping at the bit to devour any new piece of information regarding the highly anticipated Sunwell patch. I was fascinated to read Slouken's description of upcoming changes to the in-game combat log. These changes, he reports, are driven to help assist in with game AddOns in the future.
One of the major changes is the ability for players to filter their combat logs by a number of criteria. This will send only necessary data through the user interface, which can then be picked up by the AddOn. Other changes include formatting options that allow the language and presentation of the combat log output to mimic existing AddOns in syntax and color coding. Blizzard is implementing these changes so that players do not have to use "middle-man" AddOns.
Filed under: Patches, Blizzard, News items, Add-Ons, Forums
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dAnixx Feb 7th 2008 1:40PM
This sounds great :D
original2k Feb 7th 2008 1:47PM
sounds cool, i've been using simple combat log for a while
Profit Feb 7th 2008 4:18PM
I've noticed Slouken and the UI team have taken great pains over the years to include the community in changes. They have made numerous changes based upon the requests of the add-on community and post planned upcoming changes long before the rest of the blue team has released any tidbits about the next patches.
I for one have appreciated the work Slouken has taken to include the community and listen to their concerns and suggestions.
dafire Feb 7th 2008 2:23PM
> One of the major changes is the ability for players to filter
> their combat logs by a number of criteria. This will send only
> necessary data through the user interface, which can then
> be picked up by the AddOn.
there is only one global filter for one addon .. and if you change what you want to see in your Chatwindow this will also affect this global filter.
Because of that every addon will probably just parse all events without filter, and not only those that would be necessary.
ThorinII Feb 7th 2008 2:33PM
"These changes, he reports, are driven to help assist in with game AddOns in the future."
What they're really thinking: "These changes are driven to assist in the elimination of all AddOns, because we want complete control over every aspect of the game."
Alchemistmerlin Feb 7th 2008 2:44PM
Dear god, people will find ANYTHING to comment negatively on.
How can you even attempt to say that Blizzard is trying to eliminate all addons when they are the ones who allowed them to be implemented in the first place? Do you honestly believe that the little "Addon" button and the "Addon" folder that go along with your game magically appeared there against Blizzard's will?
ThorinII Feb 7th 2008 2:59PM
Then how do you explain all the addons that have been killed by the major updates over the past two years? I had a ton of addons making the game easier and therefore more fun to play when I started playing. My addon list is down to a handful of UI and comminucation mods. It's only a matter of time before they kill all of them and that AddOn button goes away.
crib Feb 7th 2008 3:06PM
A lot of addons / macros were using API calls that they had to 'protect' because of botting.
Blame bots, not blizz.
Alchemistmerlin Feb 7th 2008 3:11PM
There is no "only a matter of time". If Blizzard wanted it removed from the game, it would be removed, they have no reason to slowly filter them out.
ThorinII Feb 7th 2008 3:14PM
Because the people who made bots write the code?
No, wait, Blizz writes the code. So, Blizz gets the blame.
Better code = no bots without screwing over everyone else.
Gizmo Feb 8th 2008 11:53AM
Moreover, when you find yourself down to "A handful of addons" from your many many addons, ask yourself: Are you actually losing functionality? Most of the changes that Blizzard has made that reduced my Addon count merged the content of the old Addon into the base package.
Angelus Feb 7th 2008 3:50PM
Blizz allows users to design addons to the game to fill in UI 'holes' that Blizz didnt fill yet for one reason or another. If you've played this game from the beginning you'll see how some addons that were once used are now actually built into WoW.
The point is so we dont need (that many) Addons. Blizz is not trying to take away your ability to create and/or use addons, they are simply buffing the game to help the user.
This is not a consiracy, lol.
ThorinII Feb 7th 2008 3:56PM
"This is not a consiracy, lol."
I never said it was a conspiracy, you assumed I thought it one. It's their game, they can do what they want with it. I made a simple observation that they are slowly removing addons from the game. No matter the reasons or means, this is a fact. Everyone else jumped on the conspiracy theories.
ThorinII Feb 7th 2008 3:21PM
Let's see....
Kill all AddOns in one fell swoop and tick everyone who plays the game off and take a chance on losing a HUGE number of paying customers at one time...
OR...
Slowly phase out AddOns so people slowly get used to not having them and only being inconvenienced with each major patch while new players never see what the game was like having certain AddOn options and therefore keeping all their paying customers while recruiting new paying customers...
Nope, no reason to slowly filter them out. (note: this is known as sarcasm)
Alchemistmerlin Feb 7th 2008 3:34PM
I could reply that the number of players leaving over addons wouldn't be felt by Blizzard at all, and in fact would be replaced quickly by your aforementioned "new players".
Or I could resort to flaming along the lines of your sarcasm coment. "Nyah nyah you're a poop". Feel better now?
ThorinII Feb 7th 2008 3:22PM
Let's see....
Kill all AddOns in one fell swoop and tick everyone who plays the game off and take a chance on losing a HUGE number of paying customers at one time...
OR...
Slowly phase out AddOns so people slowly get used to not having them and only being inconvenienced with each major patch while new players never see what the game was like having certain AddOn options and therefore keeping all their paying customers while recruiting new paying customers...
Nope, no reason to slowly filter them out. (note: this is known as sarcasm)
ThorinII Feb 7th 2008 3:22PM
sorry for the douple post
Marcie Knox Feb 7th 2008 3:33PM
For those that enjoy EnemyCastBars, my understanding is the author will no longer maintain this addon once these combat log changes go into effect. Hopefully someone else will take up the charge.
I wonder if other combat log-dependent addons will also fall by the wayside like this...
:(
superfrank Feb 8th 2008 11:18AM
If he's designed it properly, it will be relatively easy to write a new combat log parser for his addon that feeds the data to the existing ui. I'm sure someone will step up to the challenge.
Angelus Feb 7th 2008 3:52PM
*conspiracy
frackin 'p' thats what i get for bashing my 'p' button all the time.