Is Idling Inapproriate Behavior for Dungeon Instances

A party member in an dungeon instance joins and then AFKs for the rest of the dungeon. I don't see this often, but when it does occur it can be rather inconvenient when the AFK member is the party leader. Whether or not if this player is leeching on purpose or not is another matter.

When one person happens to drop, then there is no possible way to replenish ranks, as the AFK leader holds the sole responsibility for this option.

There isn't any way to kick an AFK party member in a dungeon instance, nor does the game even uses the idle kick feature to remove players abusing this in dungeons.

Is the only option is to report the player and hope that someone might remove the player?
Would the GMs even take any actions towards this behavior?
Is this issue even on any list of concerns?

I have never heard of an in-game GM doing anything in FF14. Supposedly they are there, but I don't buy it. Honestly in that situation, you're best off taking the 15 minute hit and leaving the group.

edit- Actually if someone else drops first, definitely leave then and you don't suffer the penalty. :cool:

I had this happen when I was running CM for tomstones, I joined a group through duty finder and the person who was MT goes "afk for 30 min" and then over half the group pretty much followed suit with stuff like "afk pool" seriously. Anyways, those of us that were actually there just stood around, no way am I going to feed trolls like that an easy run. Sure enough they all left and I just made another group in that instance by myself and finished it.

I have had this happen, dropping is not an option, this behavior is basically like saying: "Hey, I just qued to get free stuff while I go make a sandwitch, do it quick please got to go soon." and it should stop asap. If no actions are done then people will start doing it more and more up to the point where people will simply stop using the duty finder because of some retarded person deciding they're better than everyone else and should do nothing to get the dungeon done.

@jdnyc: You also need to que again, there goes another hour.

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Originally Posted by lackofwords

Is Idling Inapproriate Behavior for Dungeon Instances

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According to a lot of the posters I see around the general forum, its totally appropriate to AFK leech an entire dungeon, and you're a dirty elitist whiner if you think otherwise.

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Originally Posted by BlueMage

According to a lot of the posters I see around the general forum, its totally appropriate to AFK leech an entire dungeon, and you're a dirty elitist whiner if you think otherwise.

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If I see this crap in a Dungeon im running ill just leave, as a DD/Healer w/e thats fine you want to AFK go for it, as a Tank ill eat my 15 minutes and just get another party and Q instantly

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Originally Posted by Hagito

@jdnyc: You also need to que again, there goes another hour.

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I'm a healer and I have FC members. I usually don't wait that long. 20 minutes tops on heavy traffic nights.

People have been reported for Harassment for doing this and GMs basically said it doesn't fall under that category, so technically it doesn't break any game rules. With that said, it doesn't make you any less of a douchebag for doing it. This isn't a single player game - there are other people you have to take into consideration when you're doing group content. It sucks even worse for DPS who can sit in a queue for up to an hour only for this to happen to them.

If I'm not mistaken, the looking for more people function of the DF is automatic. As a leader, I don't think you can even start or stop it.

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Originally Posted by Alavastre

If I'm not mistaken, the looking for more people function of the DF is automatic. As a leader, I don't think you can even start or stop it.

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Not true. As a leader you get a popup that asks you to replenish ranks. If you don't click yes it don't do it.

Once we get the vote kick the problem would probably be solved unless its a premade joining. But since that hasn't been implemented yet I normally leave. I end up having to do a lot of work in CM runs since I'm tanking. I don't like the idea of someone benefitting from me having to do all the pulling and tanking while other people just mooch.

I've hated moochers, if some real life issues comes up then I leave. People that have "IRL" issues that arise need to follow suite. Real life problems should take priority over video games and afking to handle them is no excuse. Unless its a piss break then that's fine. So anything over like 5 minutes to me is when I tell people I'm out. Has only happened once to me so that's not too bad.

If you take the 15 min penalty, you can still queue up again right away if you group with someone and they queue for you.

When im looking for a party using Duty finder normally finds quickly if not then ill chill watch tv while keeping an eye on the screen listening for the noise. If i am preparing and i have to go away i turn it off till i come back and if in a party and i have to go away like 5 mins or less like restroom or drink i say brb if i know im going to be awhile i tell the party sorry i have to go make sure i dont have leader and leave because then they can get someone to help them and play.

I thought I remember reading somewhere that SE didn't want to give DF groups kick power for some reason, but I think they totally should have an option to kick idlers... maybe have the game notice if they've idled for 5-10 mins and then make the option available? You wouldn't normally be standing still in a dungeon for 5 mins anyway, so that would be a good short amount of time to use to determine that someone's AFKing.

As a main tank for CM runs, I despise AFKers, and I think the problem is a lot of people have this attitude like "well, f*ck it, let's just get on with this so I can get my stones." No. If someone's clearly AFKing, I will stop tanking and demand that person join the group. There's no way in hell that I will ever allow that behavior to pass unscathed. If they try to call my bluff and stay AFK then I will simply leave, whether I end up taking the 15 min hit or not. If I do, then I just craft or fate grind another class for that time period, no big deal.

Some people don't actually AFK they check back in every once in a while to see the progression. If an idle kicker is implemented people will just come back every 5 minutes or whatever the time out is and move around and buff then go back to being afk. Vote kick is definitely something that has to be implemented for stuff like this.

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Originally Posted by Gaddes

maybe have the game notice if they've idled for 5-10 mins and then make the option available? You wouldn't normally be standing still in a dungeon for 5 mins anyway, so that would be a good short amount of time to use to determine that someone's AFKing.

If they try to call my bluff and stay AFK then I will simply leave, whether I end up taking the 15 min hit or not. If I do, then I just craft or fate grind another class for that time period, no big deal.

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They'll auto run into a wall, or just alt+tab / stop watching TV / whatever to spacebar every once in a while to prevent a system from auto kicking them for AFK.

Its easy for a tank to say "Well, just leave a party." but even without a 15 minute penalty, DPS can often wait over an hour for a party just having to re-queue. The game needs a votekick system.

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Originally Posted by BlueMage

They'll auto run into a wall, or just alt+tab / stop watching TV / whatever to spacebar every once in a while to prevent a system from auto kicking them for AFK.

Its easy for a tank to say "Well, just leave a party." but even without a 15 minute penalty, DPS can often wait over an hour for a party just having to re-queue. The game needs a votekick system.

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Exactly this. I am a tank but usually i'll try to 7 man the 8 man instance because I know how bad the DDs have it and I don't want to make them suffer for the jerkbutts who do that crap. This has the unfortunate side effect of giving the idler what they want but my only choice is to bail, get a 15 minute debuff which doesn't matter to me but make the DDs wait 45 minutes for a new queue which isn't right either. Please add vote kick... make it 75% (3/4 or 6/8). We just need a way to get rid of these people who are clearly just leeching off the rest of us.

I like the people that join a DF group and AFK, and like 10 mins later they are all acting like they are surprised they are in a group, and were afk or something. For AK i can see that possibility, but for things like ifrit? You aren't afk if you just got done clicking the accept button to join the DF that just started.

I would think something that checks whether you participated in each boss battle or not, and awarded no loot/tomes would be a good middle ground. Trouble is I imagine this is significantly more difficult to implement than a vote kick or idle timer that boots you out.

SE needs to address this. Lately have had to pug 1 spot into CM runs late at night, several people have followed us from boss to boss but wont touch a mob. One monk just laughed and asked what we were going to do about it, he was to busy watching tv to participate. We are all sick of AK and CM runs, but when people are just dicks because of the anonymity of the internet it makes me see red. For the love of GOD SE, stop being so freaking fair to everyone, it doesn't work! We are already mad about RMT being ignored, why not throw us a bone and give us a vote kick?!

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Originally Posted by Stryker

Some people don't actually AFK they check back in every once in a while to see the progression. If an idle kicker is implemented people will just come back every 5 minutes or whatever the time out is and move around and buff then go back to being afk. Vote kick is definitely something that has to be implemented for stuff like this.

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There are plenty of ways to deter people from doing this without even going that far. The fact that the dungeon can be completed at all when someone is AFKing is a huge red flag. It's really bad design that could easily be fixed with minimal effort on the developer's part.

I wouldn't necessarily say that's true. Sometimes having 1 person down happens due to DC's or just someone that isn't adequately geared. Having all the content impossible with 1 person down would probably kill the casual population, and make it incredibly difficult for others. If you think gear checks are bad now, they would be mandatory with that kind of system. Which isn't to say that isn't the direction that we're heading in now with the ilvl minimums.

A game has to have some leniency due to this factor and not punish the rest of the individuals. Vote kick in my opinion leaves the power to the people, allowing them to make the decision.

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Originally Posted by ProvidenceBreaker

There are plenty of ways to deter people from doing this without even going that far. The fact that the dungeon can be completed at all when someone is AFKing is a huge red flag. It's really bad design that could easily be fixed with minimal effort on the developer's part.

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If you'd implement forced checks (as that's the only way to really stop dungeons from being 6-7 manned by people way outgearing them) people are just gonna be bigger douchebags by making sure the party can't pass those forced checks.

No vote to kick simply doesn't work. Yes, vote to kick isn't foolproof either, but 1 guy being able to ruin it for the other 3/7 is a lot worse than 3/6-7 people ruining it for a single person.

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Originally Posted by jdnyc

I have never heard of an in-game GM doing anything in FF14.

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The only official response I've ever seen about it is that (paraphrasing) players can play the game however they choose to.

In other words, it's not against the rules to AFK through instances.

i'm playing dps. it's our 4th attempt at the first boss in Qarn. i'm on my lvl 3x dragoon (main is 50 bard). have a lvl 50 synced dragoon in party. each attempt the synced dragoon dies first and each attempt i'm the last 1 to die. we finally beat the boss and the synced dragoon starts cussing me out. i'm fed up with this persons attitude so i tell him "good luck on last boss, afk". because i refuse to play and this synced 50 refuses to knock off the attitude they ask me to drop. hmmm, dps are a dime a dozen and i will easily be replaced with replenish ranks. that doesn't get my point across. i'll afk in dungeons, but not for a carry. not to gain rewards for work i did not do. but if someones attitude is out of control with no reason for it to be directed at me, i will take a stand

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Originally Posted by Kolaina

i'm playing dps. it's our 4th attempt at the first boss in Qarn. i'm on my lvl 3x dragoon (main is 50 bard). have a lvl 50 synced dragoon in party. each attempt the synced dragoon dies first and each attempt i'm the last 1 to die. we finally beat the boss and the synced dragoon starts cussing me out. i'm fed up with this persons attitude so i tell him "good luck on last boss, afk". because i refuse to play and this synced 50 refuses to knock off the attitude they ask me to drop. hmmm, dps are a dime a dozen and i will easily be replaced with replenish ranks. that doesn't get my point across. i'll afk in dungeons, but not for a carry. not to gain rewards for work i did not do. but if someones attitude is out of control with no reason for it to be directed at me, i will take a stand

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Grow up.

0123456789

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Originally Posted by Swag

Grow up.

0123456789

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the same can be said for the toxic community in this game

If someone is being stupid and yelling at you, why be just as childish as them and afk? Why punish the other two players just because you got mad? You make a comment about the toxic community, and in the next breath proudly state that you became part of the problem by acting just like those you bash. Just leave! Who cares if you get a 15 minute debuff? It will help you cool down. Walk away from the game or something. People suck, but I wish people would stop adding to the problem.

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Originally Posted by Kolaina

the same can be said for the toxic community in this game

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And you are adding to it / fanning the flames.

and i stated during that instance i would continue once the slander stopped only for him to pursue further. as i did want the dungeon to gear up. i use dungeons to level primarily as i'm not a fan of the locusts that zerg farm fates. the problem people fail to see here is no matter what "solution" you try to get implemented in the game will never fix the community. whether its the minor occurences(sp?) like what i have done or the major ones like a person reaping the rewards for others work.

Eh I still don't think that justifies afking. You dropping is justified, but as other people said you're screwing over 2 other people that did nothing. You shouldn't penalize innocent people for someone elses actions. Sometimes it happens I agree but sometimes you have to block them out. Any game will have its toxic players. Don't feed the trolls is the best course of action.

Besides there will never be a fix for anything that is 100%. But you have to have a reasonable fix that makes these issues more rare. Like airbags. They've saved countless lives, but doesn't mean they haven't hurt some either. It's all about proportional response to an action.

This is why I don't run CM on the English queue lol Far too many trolls AFKing.

People who do this and get reported should just get their tomes and equipment removed if there are enough reports over time. Nothing short of this will change their behavior.

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Originally Posted by Vagrant-0

People who do this and get reported should just get their tomes and equipment removed if there are enough reports over time. Nothing short of this will change their behavior.

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SE doesn't do a thing about that.

I've had a group a few weeks ago where the other healer on an Ifrit HM DF refused to do anything. They weren't even AFK and were replying when we addressed them but they refused to move, fight or cast anything saying that group wouldn't even be able to down Ifrit so there was no point even trying. They also refused to leave the DF to make room for someone who'd actually try.

After a wipe, while everyone was chatting and getting ready to go in again, that person started pulling Ifrit to spawn to wipe the group.

SE's reply to that when I reported that player?

Any player is free to engage or not engage any monster they feel like and that behavior was not against the ToS... or something like that.

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Originally Posted by Fobea

After a wipe, while everyone was chatting and getting ready to go in again, that person started pulling Ifrit to spawn to wipe the group.

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There is a difference between a person trolling a group and one who enters and just AFKs the whole instance.

A troll will eventually lose interest, or could be reported for harassment if it continues. How you describe this is probably important.

An AFKer will just sit there regardless and continue sitting there until the party completes the instance... In the case of a tank AFKer, they will get an instant queue so can essentially earn full DL or AF+1 equipment just sitting on their ass the whole time contributing nothing and making the rest of the party work harder.


Neither should be allowed, but it is the AFKer type that ends up doing the most lasting damage to the game since it sets an example and basically rewards a player for doing nothing. How is this any different from using a bot or buying gil?