Small required change for /assist.

[Pixela]

The warning button is basically nothing more than a thumbs down feature, the issue with it is that a) it's anonymous b) it can be used by any mentor for any reason they feel like c) it's called "A Warning!" and d) Nobody else can see it except the person who gets it, which encourages bullying behavior.

This means one person that obtained mentor and hates people or just enjoys trolling can give people warnings for any reason they want, and due to the nature of the wording they can think it's far more serious than it actually is and that they did something wrong.

A new player asking for help and getting a warning is not going to use this feature again, and is going to be pretty mortified. Not knowing it was some mouth breather that did it for fun.

This feature is custom made for a handful of people to discourage use of this chat system over time and bully users who are using it properly.

I would suggest:

Either remove the warning system (why is it even necessary when you have the silence option) or make them viewable by all when someone gives one out (or at least all mentors so we know if someone is abusing it and know who is doing it).

The main argument for its removable is, why is there no downvote system on this forum? Because it would be abused, it's the same in the game. People are abusing it.

[Alhanelem]

why is it even necessary when you have the silence optionI remind you that the ability to suppress bad behavior with a feature (i.e. language filters for chat, etc) is not a license to engage in bad behvior, these are things people should only have to use as a last resort, ideally people don't behave bad and thus the feature isn't necessary in the first place.

FFXIV has the novice network, and mentors can kick each other as well as the sprouts, the reality is the threat of account bans or suspensions is enough to prevent most misuse. Occasionally something stupid happens like a kick war where someone thinks the other person's kick wasn't justified and thus kicks them for abuse of the kick feature, and it repeats til people realize how stupid that is. But for the most part, the novice network has served the game well despite the periodic stupidity.

[Pixela]

I noticed the Famitus interview:

https://www.famitsu.com/news/202105/14220565.html

translated by a player on ffxiah


Changing tracks a bit here. Assist Channel. Ain't nobody using it! What do?
Fujito: I don't think you can say it's not being used, but it certainly isn't the helpful tool we envisioned. However, the tool's power is really in the hands of the community, not on our side. We can do things like expand the areas it can be used in, but we're not sure it will be used even if we do. We want to limit our participation in the channel as that would change the role of the channel. The assist channel can be a place to ask for help or ask simple questions. We received feedback that it's hard to hold a conversation with the limits on the channel, but remember you can always use /tell or join a party.

You need to address the issues I posted in OP, when one person can warn others and basically stop them using it then people are going to stop using it.

Also yes, do as suggested and allow it to be used in all areas.

Also, increase the amount of time new players can use it. One of the biggest problems is there aren't many people outside of mentors that can use it for very long.

[Zehira]

Good point and yes expand the areas it can be used in but keep it out of all the battle areas (like BCNM, DynaD, Omen, etc.) so that doesn't bother players fighting.


/Assist channel seems to be useful on Asura only.

[Alhanelem]

Good point and yes expand the areas it can be used in but keep it out of all the battle areas (like BCNM, DynaD, Omen, etc.) so that doesn't bother players fighting.


/Assist channel seems to be useful on Asura only.
Asura isn't the only server with people on it.
In fairness, too many new people are being given advice to go to Asura, we need to start steering them towards other servers to improve everyone's experience.

[Zehira]

Asura isn't the only server with people on it.
In fairness, too many new people are being given advice to go to Asura, we need to start steering them towards other servers to improve everyone's experience.

If I recall correctly, the OP came from Shiva so... :(

I don't call your servers "dead", I call them "small" servers just to be more polite. They seem only care about their old friends and soloing the content. Um, it does sound like a depression to me but on Asura we are supposed to focus on teaming up doing any further content. To improve your server you have to do something like I used to be, you know, Haruhi Suzumiya with bunny outfit recruiting players to join our server. :)

[Haldarn]

/sea all on Shiva on Sunday returned over a thousand players. Maybe I shouldn't be advertising the fact though - keep all those gilsellers uninterested and on Asura.

Adding more people to my server will not improve it! I think the server populations are well-spread. If you want an Asura experience: gilsellers, mercs, overcrowding - go for it. If you want an experience with a normal population server those exist too. If you want play alone or with a small group, you finally have that option.

However, it is frustrating when Asura players complain that something is wrong with the game without taking a moment to think that actually it's just a problem on their server. Unfortunately, the best solution for you is a server transfer (or changing the attitudes of people on the server en masse). I do sympathise with the cost and have always thought that you should get one server transfer for free per year (or five years) or something.

[Zehira]

Unfortunately, the best solution for you is a server transfer (or changing the attitudes of people on the server en masse).

To be clear, I am totally fine on Asura as it is. I supported the argument that created the /assist channel last year.

[Alhanelem]

/sea all on Shiva on Sunday returned over a thousand players. Maybe I shouldn't be advertising the fact though - keep all those gilsellers uninterested and on Asura.

Adding more people to my server will not improve it! I think the server populations are well-spread. If you want an Asura experience: gilsellers, mercs, overcrowding - go for it. If you want an experience with a normal population server those exist too. If you want play alone or with a small group, you finally have that option.

However, it is frustrating when Asura players complain that something is wrong with the game without taking a moment to think that actually it's just a problem on their server. Unfortunately, the best solution for you is a server transfer (or changing the attitudes of people on the server en masse). I do sympathise with the cost and have always thought that you should get one server transfer for free per year (or five years) or something.


Shiva's really not in a bad spot. But I think everyone would benefit from the server populations being more balanced. We have basically 3 servers with like 75% of the population. Asura is the reason they created a second zone for Ambuscade. But you make a good point, don't want to compromise the relatively RMT-free experience.

[Pixela]

Shiva's really not in a bad spot. But I think everyone would benefit from the server populations being more balanced. We have basically 3 servers with like 75% of the population. Asura is the reason they created a second zone for Ambuscade. But you make a good point, don't want to compromise the relatively RMT-free experience.

No, because some people want a very busy server and are willing to take the negatives for that and some people want a very small server they can play with their friends on.

[BST]

Asura isn't any busier than any of the other Worlds, it just looks busier because you see everyone's Alt accounts.

Take away all of the Bot's, Alt accounts, Chat spammers (RMT and Mercenary-RMT) and you'd be left with around the same population in general.

[Zehira]

This is ridiculous. I forgot if I say something about Asura, people have to stand up. No matter how many times I have to explain. Servers will never be balanced. I know you want to hush-hush me just because what I say possibly affect people to want to come. It just doesn't work that way. You people can say such like it's okay to ban bots but we are not allowed to voice our opinions? Again, it's ridiculous.

I know you want to spend a lot of time commenting here trying to negotiate with the STF. It's just not going to happen. Work on the /assist channel then maybe the loneliness won't bother you. :D

*sings "Happy" song in Asura*

[Alhanelem]

No, because some people want a very busy server and are willing to take the negatives for that and some people want a very small server they can play with their friends on.
Extremes suck. Everyone is better closer to the middle.

[Pixela]

Extremes suck. Everyone is better closer to the middle.

Choice is good.

[Alhanelem]

Choice is good.
Choice isn't always good. If you are in a vat full of liquid waste all the way up to your neck and someone comes along and dumps a bucket of crap over you, do you duck under the liquid or do you stay up and take on the crap?


Balancing server populations doesn't mean that suddenly every server is identical.
Keeping populations balanced was the whole reason the world pass system originally existed. But it made it hard for people to play with IRL friends, so that led to it eventually being removed. Too many ppl on a server is bad because it causes all kinds of networking and performance issues. We've had patches in recent years to address issues that only ever occured on Asura and maybe the next two biggest servers because Asura (and possibly the other two) are overpopulated- too many people for the servers and gameplay systems to handle reliably. Meanwhile low populated servers have their own set of problems as well.

Basically, you're choosing between two different sets of problems based on which one is more/less of an inconvenience to you. How is that a good choice? Balanced server populations have neither set of problems.

[Pixela]

I know people that play FFXI as a game to play with their friends, they literally do not care if it was a server with just them on it.

I will accept negatives to have a server with as many people on it as possible.

Players that want a small server have plenty to choose from, players that want mass population have Asrua, and people that want the middle ground can goto Bahamut

Square give players the servers and the option to go where they want, Asura became what it was because of reddit players all deciding to make a big server.

[Alhanelem]

I know people that play FFXI as a game to play with their friends, they literally do not care if it was a server with just them on it.

I will accept negatives to have a server with as many people on it as possible.

Players that want a small server have plenty to choose from, players that want mass population have Asrua, and people that want the middle ground can goto Bahamut

Square give players the servers and the option to go where they want, Asura became what it was because of reddit players all deciding to make a big server.The only reason you care how many people are on a server is because you need them to buy your stuff.