Now obviously the group damage mod (R.I.P.) was rendered useless, and the reasons have been debated at length.
What I am proposing as a feature is something similar, with a little twist. (Just a heads up, I am not trying to be an elitist tool, I genuinely think this can be used to help a person improve their allies' performance.)
Main Features:
Party Leader only - The feature would only work in groups, and only be available to party leaders. (This can be changed if desired, but my proposal to have only party leaders see the group's individual damage is so randomly added players in a group are not sharing their stats with EVERYONE.)
Not applicable with group finder tool - You want to run with random people and not feel judged or required to turn this feature on, use the group finder tool. This is mostly meant for guild-based groups where everyone is kinda friendly and helpful to one another. (Or cross-guild.)
OPT In - This would be an opt IN feature (prefer opt out, but I think opt in is more politically correct), so you are required to enable it in order to allow your dps to be broadcasted to party leader. This would also function only in PvE-land, where is is more relevant and less likely to draw crown aggro.
Show DPS contribution - This feature would show a readout of each player's (who enabled the feature) contributed DPS for an encounter, in real-time. Possibly in a % or total number format.
How it is shown - This is up to developers, but possibly in a small box or an addition to the hp bars for group members (this means user interface addons can do cool looking things with this)
Why I think it is a good idea:
Not required or forced to use - YOU have to enable it. Though many groups may require it for people that they have never run with before.
No spying on you - YOU have to enable it.
No need to feel embarrassed - If you know you do good dps, you can show it if you want, or not, but it lets you (the dps) PROVE that you are not the problem, if need be. (Or may
A tool to improve allies - There is nothing worse that not knowing that your dps is why the group is having a hard time with content. (Doesn't matter if you copied a pro build from some website, you can still have low dps.) With this, the group leader can have actual data to back up his claims (crown usually can tell if they are experienced anyways) about a particular person not holding their own. Actual hard data helps people improve, and many dps don't run a dps meter/don't know what good dps actually is. (But if your tank does more that you, it IS fair to say you might need to work on your build/rotation, but how would you know this? Oh right, this mod!)
Now obviously you might end up with a leader who insists on having you turn this mod on if you are new, but you are never required to do so. It is possible to end up with a leader who uses this tool, requires it, and is a jerk when you don't perform as he expects, but I ask you, wouldn't they be a jerk WITHOUT this feature?
The main benefit of this is so party leaders in PvE (like for Trials training, vWGT/vICP training) can see if a party member is not carrying their own weight, and help them improve accordingly. This also allows you to provide data to back up any claims, so stubborn players can see proof that they need to work on their build (at least for the content in question). I have met many players who had poor dps and were totally interested in learning how to improve, and I LOVE it. It would be easier to help with this tool, which is why I am suggesting it.
While this idea is not perfect, I think it is still a good idea, so please lets not start a flame war. It is fine if you disagree or agree, but please state why. I am tired of seeing all the ln2plays and git goods all over the place, it doesn't help players improve, but I feel a player with appropriate tools can help others.
NA-PC
Kaineth - Stamina Nightblade (Weakest Player Ever!)
Elena Stormwood - Magicka Sorcerer (vMA no Death 12/21/15 Score 401148)
Sheila Feyrondas - Magicka Dragonknight Tank (Frost staves are gonna be fun!)
*Disclaimer* I fail at emotional communication, so assume what I say is NOT meant to be offensive.