How to : Program a REAL live DPS meter

[gorom]

Ok,

So, it's not all very difficult, but I don't have time (or will) to do this, I'm just letting the programmers know that there is a way to do this.

What you need :

An external program that parses your logfile just like the current "damage meter" that runs completely outside of the game every 5 seconds and create a custom TGA file every 5 seconds, based on the log file parsed. You can create a simple tga file or a very fancy one, doesn't matter.
Let's say you have only 2 players in your group, the program will parse the logfile and create 2 bars for you stating the name of the character ( from the logfile ) and the amount of damage done in a number or % on top of a graphical bar. There are NO numbers, NO letters , it's all just 1 little TGA image.

Then the only thing you need to program into the game is the xml to display this TGA file ( 10 lines of code ) and refreshes it every 5 seconds. It will look the real thing, it will feel the real thing, it will BE the real thing.

Now the real question is : Are there any die-hard Vanguard players with the knowledge of how to program this who will want to spend a few days or weeks programming it