Roleplay/Partyfinder Discrepancies & Policy Enforcement by GM's

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yencat

If they want to crack down on inappropriate listings then they should do so, but they really shouldn't "blanket ban" people or listings that have nothing to do with that.

A warning is a permanent strike on your account that never goes away, it's like giving everyone in an 8 man group a permanent strike on their account because 1 of them swore just to teach them all a lesson about not swearing.

---

I agree. I'm also concerned that a lot of people are forgetting that the actual infraction that was cited by GM Wyndallus in his own words was, "The Party Finder is intended to be used for the formation of parties to attempt content. Essentially, that system is in place to help players find other players for duties, raids, map parties, hunts, etc. It is not intended as a social feature, whereas something like the fellowship finder is."

There is nothing in GM Wyndallus' wording that states that the player had inappropriate wording or anything else but their sole infraction was using the other tab of the Party Finder for social purposes, which has been a common practice of RP venues for years without any GM involvement. This isn't about whether it was ERP or 18+ in Wyndallus' own words but simply using the party finder as a social feature. If there was going to be a change in policy about this, SE should have at least warned players of this change in policy and enforcement so that players were aware of this change on enforcement before every being confronted with a GM.

If the sole infraction is using the Party Finder as a social feature, then does that mean that GM Wyndallus will also be punishing those who throw Pride parades, birthday parties, or funeral processions if they use the Party Finder to advertise the event? A distinction also should be forthcoming as to what precisely the "Other" tab is for especially considering that all of the things that Wyndallus' listed have their own tabs in the Party Finder so players need not look at the "Other" tab to find what those things. To me, again, this is beyond weird that it's just now being punished when it's been a longstanding practice without any warning of a change in enforcement from SE, itself.

Gm's banning any RP LFG posts and none of the damn RMT posts is a clear disregard to players and should be banning RMT LFG's. Making a misc LFG section this is ridiculous that this is even an issue.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RanRanTheCat

While i do not disagree with your stance on the business of that GM, i do disagree that "there is no alternative". Maybe it's about time people picked up those discord ads and made them equal and bearable, instead of relying on things like PF.
If there is will - there is way.

---

To each their own, but most don't want to join nigh endless Discords for the sake of doing things that the game has easy means of arranging while logged in. There are other subsets of this community that splinter off into so many individual Discords that it's impossible to keep up and not be overwhelmed.

Imagine if you hop between 10-20 venues on a regular basis? Each one has a discord.
That's ten wasted Discord slots, minimum. It's not an alternative, it's a nuisance.

The fact that the GM targeted people just looking for company while doing in game things means that they interpret content as things that have to be queued into, so then where does this stop?
Does someone who just wants a leveling partner or buddies while fishing/crafting/gathering now need to provide their personal discord or a server link? Do you honestly think that's a viable alternative?

Because let me put it to you straight, it's not.
PF has worked fine as a social tool, fellowships, Discord and Discord servers are not a viable alternative.

I will once again say there is no need for discussing alternatives, we need to call into question this GM's actions and bring them to light of the development team to get a resolution on this.

I don't run venues and have never used PF to scope out places. That said, reading over this thread, people seem to be fixating on the ERP Venues, bringing up 3.3 in the ToS, and keep coming back to the topic of brothels and +18 venues over and over and over again. I completely get why, it can be a topic with a lot of complex emotions depending on your views. However - bringing them up is entirely moot and is a major distraction from the actual problem.

The GM wasn't striking down these RP listings, because he assumed they were all too "adult" to be there. If they were, he wouldn't have immediately advised for everyone to move what he felt were "adult, non-Teen-safe advertisements" out into city-state shout chats instead where it could potentially be thrust into the faces of even more minors.

The GM specifically stated that PF is meant to be used for making parties for game content only. And that's it. Anything else is speculation on the GM's motivations without any real evidence backing it up. He didn't mention to any of the folks involved that the nature of their venues or listings were inappropriate. He didn't cite 3.3. If I read correctly, someone even got in trouble for looking for a fishing buddy.

The true problems are what other folks have already mentioned:

1) There's no rule anywhere in the game or in the ToS that informs users that they can't use Party Finder's "Other" tab for social purposes. If players have no clear guidance around what is and isn't allowed, they can't make sound decisions on how to avoid getting a strike on their account.

2) The rule we can't seem to find documented anywhere isn't being applied consistently across the board. What differentiates the AFK parties and folks selling crafted gear or advertising their statics via the "Other" tab from "Fisherman looking for fishing buddy" or "Master Chef Eorzea: Join the Great Limsan Bake Off!"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RanRanTheCat

While i do not disagree with your stance on the business of that GM, i do disagree that "there is no alternative". Maybe it's about time people picked up those discord ads and made them equal and bearable, instead of relying on things like PF.
If there is will - there is way.

---

I disagree. PF has worked fine for years. Sure one can branch out and use discords and other means, but that's no reason not to use what has worked.

"Don't fix what's not broken."

This here is relevant:
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/420425

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SturmChurro

Might I remind some of the forum guidelines:



https://support.na.square-enix.com/r...la=1&tag=forum

---

You have time to look that up but can't find the section of the ToS that covers how to use the Party Finder. Still. Gee I wonder why?

Y'all need to start reporting these GMs with their own ticket system.

Nowhere it the ToS does it say anything about not using the party finder for RP. Nor is there any part I can even find someone interpreting it that way. Report the GMs and hopefully they'll get removed from the team. This thread is already 44 pages and moving.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MightyTachikoma

Y'all need to start reporting these GMs with their own ticket system.

Nowhere it the ToS does it say anything about not using the party finder for RP. Nor is there any part I can even find someone interpreting it that way. Report the GMs and hopefully they'll get removed from the team. This thread is already 44 pages and moving.

---

They won't do anything unless its you specifically who was targeted, not your group in general. So the people who've had warnings from him would have to do it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FelisDarwin

You have time to look that up but can't find the section of the ToS that covers how to use the Party Finder. Still. Gee I wonder why?

---

They're referring to the fact people are criticizing the GM involved; myself included (though I have edited my replies).
It's a bannable offense which is really laughable to read as it implies they're saying they are above reproach or criticism, which is a really bad look.