Suggestion: make this forum for active accounts only

The old FFXIV forums have this configuration, you should bring it back, I mean if you are no longer playing, why any one want those people posting here? Probably the forums are going to have less traffic but the community will be better...

inb4 "You don't have to read x thread if you don't want to"

agreed....

i dont think you can even log in to post without having an active account....

nope you dont need an active account o post, i should as my alt (this account) dont have an active sub on it.

also sign

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Originally Posted by Zanfire

is that an alt character thats not active (on the same account) or a totally separate one?

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a totally separate one. SE forum banned my main account.

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Originally Posted by Macka

Why I like this game and right now I'm not able to play, I even have 2 60 day time cards ready. Why should I not be able to post or read the forums
because my account isn't active? The only people I see complaining is usually active players anyway.

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actually, it IS the inactive players (i cant name names, but the usual suspects then to surround the "[x] reason why this game sucks"

I'm pretty sure you can't post unless your service account is still active.

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Originally Posted by astrobearthe2nd

nope you dont need an active account o post, i should as my alt (this account) dont have an active sub on it.

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I stand corrected, I thought you had to have an active account to post. Huh.

Some of us still have active accounts because we signed up for a longer subscription period before we realized that the game is going in a direction we're not interested in.

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Originally Posted by astrobearthe2nd

nope you dont need an active account o post, i should as my alt (this account) dont have an active sub on it.

also sign

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is that an alt character thats not active (on the same account) or a totally separate one?

Why I like this game and right now I'm not able to play, I even have 2 60 day time cards ready. Why should I not be able to post or read the forums
because my account isn't active? The only people I see complaining is usually active players anyway.

Locking the forums from non-player view would block out people interested in the game that either had questions or wanted to see the state of the community/game from player viewpoints. Blocking posting would disallowed interested parties asking questions of a legitimate concern to them.

Not sure that would be a wise business practice honestly.

I guess thats fine. You are already limited to the # of posts you can make based on your level in the game, so why not lock out those w/o an active sub?

They can still view all the threads/posts. There are also other forums/sites to go to.

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Originally Posted by astrobearthe2nd

nope you dont need an active account o post, i should as my alt (this account) dont have an active sub on it.

also sign


a totally separate one. SE forum banned my main account.



actually, it IS the inactive players (i cant name names, but the usual suspects then to surround the "[x] reason why this game sucks"

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Let's take a look at active threads started by active players.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/145098-There-s-nothing-interesting-happening.-We-have-nothing-to-discuss.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/137410-Eorzea-feels-like-a-world-with-no-teeth.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/145363-This-game-feels-more-like-a-RPG-then-a-MMORPG%21

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/145007-Bad-alt-Players

I don't always agree with the opinions of folks who make "I quit the game because of X" threads, but I don't think it's a bad thing they're able to post them. Without negative criticism, there cannot be positive change.

Just don't be fooled into thinking that the opinions of these people are necessarily the majority opinion. Looking at a lot of the complaints, particularly the ones complaining about "not enough content", I get the feeling that they're coming from folks who would pretty much be impossible to satisfy, as they simply have too much free time on their hands to possibly satisfy with any kind of economical business model. XD

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Originally Posted by Macka

Why I like this game and right now I'm not able to play, I even have 2 60 day time cards ready. Why should I not be able to post or read the forums
because my account isn't active? The only people I see complaining is usually active players anyway.

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You would have to blame the bad apples for spoiling the bunch. It sucks for individuals like yourself, but overall, it would be a boon to the forums and the community to block people that aren't currently subscribed from posting.

Consider this: The threads you linked may be taken more seriously with less troll clutter and garbage started by people that aren't subscribed. Would you support a view only for unsubscribed accounts if this were the case?

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Originally Posted by Zplinter

Locking the forums from non-player view would block out people interested in the game that either had questions or wanted to see the state of the community/game from player viewpoints. Blocking posting would disallowed interested parties asking questions of a legitimate concern to them.

Not sure that would be a wise business practice honestly.

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I imagine a "view only" function. Interested parties can look at threads and read through the forums, but would be unable to post in them. People get the information they are looking for while stop gapping the trouble makers.

Moving on!

Forum-lock pissed me off so much in 1.0! My subscription was fully paid the entire run, but because I took some time away from the game I was no longer allowed to voice my opinions. If I'm paying for the service, why should I not be allowed to comment on it?

Forum lock people who stopped paying. Like most people said, vote with your wallet. A person who paid his/her month's due is entitled to as many complaint threads as he/she can post.

Almost all the time, if people are dissastisfied with the game, they are going to quit before their monthly sub expire and will have many chance for to post their discontent here anyway.

It's not already!? Wow, that surprises me...well then I agree. Make the forums for the people playing the games...

Why shouldn't they be able to post?

What if they have opinions on why they stopped subbing? Wouldn't SE want to know why they stopped playing?

Most doom and gloom threads are by people that are active anyways :P

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Originally Posted by Gurpsmeister

It's not already!? Wow, that surprises me...well then I agree. Make the forums for the people playing the games...

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I can post on every game forum SE has even FFXI what make this one so special? I guess FFXIV players want to be part of an Elite Club.

What if a player unsubbed, comes back after a month or two and has a few questions? Then he logs into the forum just to see he can't create a thread/posting anymore. Or people who look forward to buying the Game first time. Shouldn't they be allowed to ask questions? This is discouraging and the few people who don't play but only complain do not justify such a step imo.

I bet this would be like with the Vote kick. A lot of people wanted it. Since we have it, you see a complaint thread every single day about abuse. If SE follows the suggestion, I am sure as soon as it's live in the Forum, there will be complaints "where did all the people go, why are there less threads now, it is dead empty and boring here".

Don't open Pandorras box if there is no need to. By the end of the day you know those who only complain. And if there is somebody constantly getting on your nerves, this forum has an Ignore function. I use it, works wonders.

Pretty sure the forum is locked to people who have paid accounts... with one exception. If you cancel your account you lose access to the forums, but it's not immediate because of your session history which is what allows you to stay logged into the forums without having to enter your user ID and password every time. This will eventually clear, but I've heard it takes up to 6 months to happen after your session was created. So as long as you don't click the 'Logout' button after deactivating your account, you'll be able to access the forums until that session expires.

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Originally Posted by Mhaeric

Pretty sure the forum is locked to people who have paid accounts... with one exception. If you cancel your account you lose access to the forums, but it's not immediate because of your session history which is what allows you to stay logged into the forums without having to enter your user ID and password every time. This will eventually clear, but I've heard it takes up to 6 months to happen after your session was created. So as long as you don't click the 'Logout' button after deactivating your account, you'll be able to access the forums until that session expires.

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I log in and out everyday between my phone, PC, and laptop.

You get locked out when your sub runs out. Some people quit playing but bought 6 months worth so they can still post a bunch of topics since their time hasn't run out.

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Originally Posted by Zumi

You get locked out when your sub runs out. Some people quit playing but bought 6 months worth so they can still post a bunch of topics since their time hasn't run out.

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Not true I stop playing in October and only paid for 30 days.

I don't think it's a good idea.
If you've bought the game you most definitely should be able to post in forums, even if your account is currently inactive.

Also this:

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Originally Posted by Zplinter

Locking the forums from non-player view would block out people interested in the game that either had questions or wanted to see the state of the community/game from player viewpoints. Blocking posting would disallowed interested parties asking questions of a legitimate concern to them.

Not sure that would be a wise business practice honestly.

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A more valid point: why post about a game you don't even play anymore? Get a life, lol @ you people.

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Originally Posted by Marishi-Ten

I imagine a "view only" function. Interested parties can look at threads and read through the forums, but would be unable to post in them. People get the information they are looking for while stop gapping the trouble makers.

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My suggestion go for this side.

tbh - i think there are more important topics to discuss than people with expired subs posting on forum , i bet the majority of people not playing anymore arent posting either anyway

Pretty sure you're not allowed to post after a month has lapsed from the time you've unsubscribed from the game. Some people have multi-month subs and aren't playing, yet can still post because they're still subbed. This was how it functioned in 1.0 anyway, so it may have changed since then. *shrug*

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Originally Posted by Orophin

Pretty sure you're not allowed to post after a month has lapsed from the time you've unsubscribed from the game. Some people have multi-month subs and aren't playing, yet can still post because they're still subbed. This was how it functioned in 1.0 anyway, so it may have changed since then. *shrug*

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Like I said over and over again I unsubscribe 4 months ago and with no time left. I can still post.

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Originally Posted by waldo

A more valid point: why post about a game you don't even play anymore? Get a life, lol @ you people.

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Maybe I do got a life and its the reason I stop playing for awhile. That doesn't mean I don't like the game. With your petty attempt to insult peopleand real insight on the subject may I suggest you follow your own advice and get a life.

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Originally Posted by Macka

Like I said over and over again I unsubscribe 4 months ago and with no time left. I can still post.

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Like I said it's your session. Mine expires Nov 27th, 2014 for example, so I will be able to post until then if I decide to cancel. Once that's done, I will no longer be able to post.

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Originally Posted by Mhaeric

Like I said it's your session. Mine expires Nov 27th, 2014 for example, so I will be able to post until then if I decide to cancel. Once that's done, I will no longer be able to post.

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You seem to not understand I did cancel. Know this for fact I can't log into the lodestone because it says I have no active FFXIV or characters.

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Originally Posted by Macka

You seem to not understand I did cancel. Know this for fact I can't log into the lodestone because it says I have no active FFXIV or characters.

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I understand you cancelled. Your session ID lets you access the forums until it expires. Yours hasn't expired yet.

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Originally Posted by Mhaeric

I understand you cancelled. Your session ID lets you access the forums until it expires. Yours hasn't expired yet.

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Where do I find this ID?

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Originally Posted by Macka

Like I said over and over again I unsubscribe 4 months ago and with no time left. I can still post.



Maybe I do got a life and its the reason I stop playing for awhile. That doesn't mean I don't like the game. With your petty attempt to insult peopleand real insight on the subject may I suggest you follow your own advice and get a life.

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Dear sir, my point to the post is people don't play, why give them a forum to spew vitriol and hate? These people, not saying you are one if them, need to move on with their lives if you've decided for whatever reason this game isn't part of it.
There is so much negativity on these boards, I'd be willing to bet 90% of it is from people that don't even play the game anymore.

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Originally Posted by waldo

Dear sir, my point to the post is people don't play, why give them a forum to spew vitriol and hate? These people, not saying you are one if them, need to move on with their lives if you've decided for whatever reason this game isn't part of it.
There is so much negativity on these boards, I'd be willing to bet 90% of it is from people that don't even play the game anymore.

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This not going to happen they even linked the PS4 product page to these very forums.

be able to read the forum without an account? yes
be able to post without an account? no!
be able to post without an active account? no!

it's a forum for the community of the game... if we allows people that have just play a bit and never come back to simply come here and spit all them hate and nullify the interest of the forum... this forum is used for communicate with the dev, in a way or another.

Threads will be about the same mix of positive/negative threads. It's been that way in pretty much every game forum I've seen, regardless of whether the forums are for paying customers only.

People want to believe that a pay gate keeps out riffraff, but people are pretty much the same, regardless of whether they pay.

Go check the SWTOR forums if you want to see a forum where people pay to complain about the game. On the first page there are threads complaining that people are too entitled, gear looks bad, starter gear is bad, there are too many lockout timers, customer service is terrible, leveling takes too long, and PVP gear sucks in PVE.

There are also a couple positive thread and suggestions. Pretty similar to FFXIV's forums.

Some people just complain for the sake of complaining. Welcome to the internet!

The community in game is better, a bunch of vocal whiners (really: they're always the same sort) do not represent it. If I went by the forums of any game, most of them would be insufferable because forum trolls are a common phenomenon; they have to really overstep certain boundaries to get banned from forums and until then can be a huge nuisance. This is actually symptomatic of almost every forum, even non-game ones, ever, and requires a benign but strict dictatorship of moderators to cull and temp-ban people for trolling.

The downside to restricting poster rights is that not everybody gets a voice. I'd rather everybody gets a voice because trolls are a very vocal, very loud minority. Whether they're subscribing to the game or not.

There's always going to be someone out there who disagrees with you. No level of restriction is going to make an online forum sunshine and rainbows.