What is the official stance on botting that does not involve RMT?

Gathering and FATE botting for personal use.

Is it held to the same standard as parsing, where you need to keep it to yourself?

Too lazy to look up the ToS. My initial assumption would be that it is not allowed under any circumstances, but it's prevalence makes me think it is allowed to an extent.

Botting is against the rules as far as I am aware. And even if it isn't it is strongly disliked and berated by any serious player. If you are found to be botting you'll generally be seen as something akin to scum.

But as I said, I'm pretty sure it's against the rules.

Officially, bots of any kinds are banned - found here (under 'Activities That Negatively Affect Game Balance', and specifically, 'Third-party Programs or Tools') - relevant portions are bolded:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Final Fantasy XIV Support Centre

Activities that Negatively Affect Game Balance

Third-Party Programs or Tools
SQUARE ENIX strictly prohibits the use of third-party programs or tools – including programs and tools that permit automated or “absentee” play – in FINAL FANTASY XIV. Accordingly, the following activities are prohibited:

- Modifying, analysing, integrating, and/or reverse engineering game software or data.
- Creating, distributing, using, or promoting utilities that interact with the game.
- Exploiting SQUARE ENIX programming bugs or glitches.
- Automating gameplay processes.

During the course of an absentee play/automation investigation, SQUARE ENIX may request that players respond to or comply with certain instructions. Failure to do so may result in SQAURE ENIX taking disciplinary action against the account.

Real Money Trading (“RMT”)
RMT is the selling and buying of virtual assets for real-world money, property, or services. “Virtual assets” include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Accounts
- Characters
- In-game currency (gil)
- In-game services
- In-game items or gift codes
- In-game property

SQUARE ENIX has a zero-tolerance policy for third-party tools and RMT. Items and gil obtained through third-party tools or RMT can affect the game’s economic stability and disrupt gameplay balance. Moreover, some third-party programs contain viruses and spyware that can harm players; this can lead to unauthorised disclosure of users’ personal data, character deletion, identity theft, and other unfortunate circumstances.

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So that is pretty cut and dried to me - basically, botting is not allowed under any circumstances (for good reason too, as has already been stated).

Much obliged.

They definitely don't treat them the same as parsing, you're talking about automated gameplay, that's an ensured ban if you get caught

I'm pretty sure they don't ban those, even though it's against ToS.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FabricioRF

I'm pretty sure they don't ban those, even though it's against ToS.

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They generally won't ban you for parsing unless you're being a jerk about it, but botting ... yeah, that'll get you hammered.

Any parse results dropped in the chat is liable for punishment as long as someone's sending a report, just that being a jerk's the best motivator for that.
Any mention of bot use will have you investigated, joking in chat that you're botting may also count as "evidence", so don't do it.

I reported several known players, who obviously botted in northern thanalan back when it was a thing

each of them is still playing, they dont do anything against it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ServerCollaps

I reported several known players, who obviously botted in northern thanalan back when it was a thing

each of them is still playing, they dont do anything against it

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You'd be surprised how many Players there are on Odin who Gather 24/7 with afk Icon or Busy Status and even get stuck in front of a Unspoiled Node or stack together with other Players on Ground / Air.
I gave up to Report them.