Is WTFast against ToS?

Would a service like this be against the ToS? I have severe lag issues without it

Using a VPN is not against the ToS.

Is it technically against the ToS? Yes.

Do they care or will do anything about it? No.

Just as a warning, my account was banned in WoW for using WTFast. They did reverse the ban once I called them (within a few hours). I've never heard of anyone being banned for it in ff14, or even having any problems, so take that as you will.

I haven't heard of anything, seeing as it's simply a proxy.

You're not directly affecting FFXIV's data (unlike a parser).

SE has specifically said they do not consider VPNs a third-party program violation, though I don't have the cite.

Quote:

---

Is it technically against the ToS? Yes.

---

Technically it's not actually.

Quote:

---

You're not directly affecting FFXIV's data (unlike a parser).

---

Parsers do not change game data, they simply read it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blowfin

Technically it's not actually.

---

technically it is as it alters the hops between your isp and the games server. you may want to read the tos again and see that's directly stated. se doesn't seem to have a problem with it and has commented they have no issue so it's fine atm. they person you qouted was correct when they said technically it was against the tos though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shioban

You're not directly affecting FFXIV's data (unlike a parser).

---

a parser does not affect data in any way, shape, form, or fassion. it reads what is posted on a chat log and compiles it into an easy to read format. however, a vpn does alter the route the data is sent from your isp to the server so it does DIRECTLY alter data.

Quote:

---

however, a vpn does alter the route the data is sent from your isp to the server so it does DIRECTLY alter data.

---

This is wrong. This thread contains quite a lot of wrong.

A VPN doesn't alter GAME data in any way, shape, or form. It just changes the way the data travels between you and the server. You're just overriding your ISP's default route with the one provided by the software. Again, for emphasis, no game data gets changed, simply the route taken between you and the server.

You may want to read a few textbooks about how routing works before claiming it changes game data?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

SE has specifically said they do not consider VPNs a third-party program violation, though I don't have the cite.

---

I've seen said dev post as well, it was a couple months ago.

VPN is not against the ToS, they have already said this.

Also, if they banned VPN they would lose literally half of the Oceanic playerbase... try doing Ex Titan with 400 ping, not gonna happen.

if WTFast if its a dns change theres no problem, vpn & other tunneling services are ripoff's thats stuff you can fix with no software.
learn how to portfoward, QoS ports on your router. ask your IPS whats the best MTU for your router. get another DNS from a third party company thats not your ISP.

User Agreement: http://support.na.square-enix.com/ru...1&tag=users_en

Quote:

---

2.5 Data Mining. You may not intercept, mine or otherwise collect information from the Game using unauthorized third party software. <- parser falls here.

---

Well let's be clear about the wording.

You can not use any 3rd party program that would allow you to do "anything" you could not otherwise do in the game without said 3rd party program.

Unfortunately... without WTFast... you could not dodge! With WTFast! You can! I totally sense the ban stick!

(Incase you didn't get it... I'm trolling! Dev has already said VPN is fine.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blowfin

This is wrong. This thread contains quite a lot of wrong.

A VPN doesn't alter GAME data in any way, shape, or form. It just changes the way the data travels between you and the server. You're just overriding your ISP's default route with the one provided by the software. Again, for emphasis, no game data gets changed, simply the route taken between you and the server.

You may want to read a few textbooks about how routing works before claiming it changes game data?

---

you may want to actually read what someone posts before you quote and start commenting trying to tell them to read a book since it's pretty obvious you didn't. here is another quote of mine that you directly quoted.

"a vpn does alter the route the data is sent from your isp to the server"
show me where that is wrong at all because that's exactly what a tunneling service is meant to do.

if i give you something and tell you to take it directly somewhere else and instead of taking it there you give it to your next door neighbor and they take it to there instead did you alter the route or did you take the route that was designated?

anyways as that's not the point i am glad se doesn't consider it bad to use because i know many that use them myself and i do not see where they are bad at all. of course i don't see anything wrong with a parser if used the way they are intended either.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hvinire

The type of software you are describing in this thread doesn't appear to directly control anything for the FFXIV client, and as such isn't breaking any of the rules. Similar to other programs, 3rd party software is used at your own risk, and we recommend you employ your best judgement when running software not mentioned in the user agreement.

---

See: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ill-get-banned

Tunelling programs like WTFast and Battleping are not illegal or against ToS

It would be no different from changing your ISP, Router configuration, or even simply playing the game on a different connection. Its like asking if upgrading your broadband is against the ToS.

(In case that wasn't simple enough, it's not against the ToS).

Quote:

---

"a vpn does alter the route the data is sent from your isp to the server"
show me where that is wrong at all because that's exactly what a tunneling service is meant to do.

---

That's correct. You also stated this:

Quote:

---

however, a vpn does alter the route the data is sent from your isp to the server so it does DIRECTLY alter data.

---

Which is not correct at all. Changing the route does not amount to changing the data.

Bottom line is Square Enix can't seem to decide on their stance and it seemns to keep changing everytime they say something and their wordings keep being interpreted differently. Hell, it looks like even yoship, community reps and GMs have different ideas.

Imo it's better to not just say anything about it in the game, lest someone has something against you and report you for it.

I can't imagine that changing the routing would be an issue - traffic is dynamically routed across the Internet anyway. If SE have a problem at some point, it is more likely to be if the originating IP is being concealed by the use of the VPN.

That said, I find the claimed benefits of these services to be sketchy. If your routing is currently taking you through a dodgy hop, it might help, but bad ping associated with your connection to your ISP's network and just physical distance seem much more common problems, which these services can't help with (as they neither bypass your ISP nor increase the speed of light).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gardes

Bottom line is Square Enix can't seem to decide on their stance and it seemns to keep changing everytime they say something and their wordings keep being interpreted differently. Hell, it looks like even yoship, community reps and GMs have different ideas.

Imo it's better to not just say anything about it in the game, lest someone has something against you and report you for it.

---

Their stance have been perfectly clear all along.
It's players trying to re-interpret that stance all the time that is causing the confusion.

They've stated multiple times that they cannot condone even pure parsers, and Yoshi have said that he while he can't condone them, he understands people use them anyway.
Not all parsers are PURE parsers however and some DO things that are definitely not allowed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mithent

I can't imagine that changing the routing would be an issue - traffic is dynamically routed across the Internet anyway.

---

THIS. Your data routes change constantly and without you even knowing most of the time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheRogueX

THIS. Your data routes change constantly and without you even knowing most of the time.

---

I wouldn't quite say "constantly", although it may happen around once a day 'cos some router went down for whatever reason, or more rarely (and generally causing much greater disruption) some technician screwed the pooch and punched in a bad BGP config while attempting to support some new network, and then all hell breaks loose as different routers start disagreeing on the best path to route traffic (generally referred to a route-flap). Usually it is noticeable as a significant lag-spike of a few seconds or more, as the routers between yourself and the server attempt to renegotiate the best possible route to work around whatever went dark.

As is quite often the case, Wikipedia provides a half-decent introduction of the topic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Gateway_Protocol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by darkstarpoet1

a parser does not affect data in any way, shape, form, or fassion. it reads what is posted on a chat log and compiles it into an easy to read format. however, a vpn does alter the route the data is sent from your isp to the server so it does DIRECTLY alter data.

---

Parsers directly read the battle logs and memory dumps from FFXIV battle encounters which is seen by the development team as an unfair advantage as not all players have access to it.
So yes, it doesn't alter the data but it is reading it, which is against their terms of service against third party applications.

(Fixing your awful internet connection through any of these 3rd party programmes isn't an unfair advantage)

Arguing otherwise is silly.

There are a whole lot of misinformed or just flat out incorrect statements being thrown about in this thread.

The only things we can say for certain are the following.

1. Tunneling services such as Battleping, WTFast, et al. are not seen as ToS violations. You can argue all you like over whether or not these "modify" game data (they don't, of course, only the route the data takes), but Community Rep Hvinire has flat out said they are not breaking the rules. You do of course use them at your own risk since SE cannot endorse them, but you will not be banned for using them.
   
   
2. Parsers are against the ToS. This is not up for debate. They are third-party applications that read data from FFXIV's memory space and that give players who use them an advantage (primarily in the form of boss alerts, timers, overlay widgets and so on). Square Enix has even specifically called out "parsers" as a type of third-party application that is not allowed.
   
   
3. Square Enix is not currently checking for or banning users of parsers. There is nothing in the game client looking for parsers, or bots for that matter. Bans are done completely through player reports and server-side heuristics. Since it's impossible for said heuristics to detect the presence of a parser (because it does not directly alter the behavior of your character), the only way you can be banned for using a parser is by basically admitting in-game that you are using one, and then being reported. In other words, you will only be banned for using a parser if you are being an asshole about someone's DPS and they decide to report you.

Square Enix, of course, may change this at any time by implementing client-side automated cheat detection. If they choose to do this (which is unlikely, most games seem to be forgoing client-side cheat detection in favor of server-side detection because it's a never-ending battle that developers cannot win), it is up to them to decide whether or not to ban users of parsers. Good business sense would probably dictate that they don't do this because a very large portion of the endgame raiding playerbase uses parsers at least occasionally and are not harming the game in any way by doing so, and losing their business would be silly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shioban

Parsers directly read the battle logs and memory dumps from FFXIV battle encounters which is seen by the development team as an unfair advantage as not all players have access to it.
So yes, it doesn't alter the data but it is reading it, which is against their terms of service against third party applications.

(Fixing your awful internet connection through any of these 3rd party programmes isn't an unfair advantage)

Arguing otherwise is silly.

---

i know what you are saying and like i said earlier i do not see it as wrong to use programs such as wtfast. what i am saying is i do not see how knowing what your dps is gives any advantage at all over another player, but i can see how the paid tunneling service will. look at the example below to see what i am talking about.

let's take next door neighbors on the exact same internet provider. in this example both are always getting hit by stuff before it shows and their dps is quite low for both players.

step 1. give one a parser and not give it to the other and send them into an encounter and see if it helps them win. do you think the one with a parser is going to do better dps just because it tells them how much they are doing?

step 2. now give one them a paid tunneling service like wtfast and do not give it to the other. do you think the one with the tunneling service will dodge more of the attacks then it did before?

the answer to step 1 will be no and step 2 will be yes. one is a free program and one is paid. which gives an advantage over the player that lives next door with the same internet provider? that was my only point is i do not see how one is not allowed and one is. personally, i think they both should be allowed.

Are you using cable internet to play FFXIV?

Then you are in violation of the TOS possibly. Using a method other than dial-up may be considered using a third party to access the game which is not allowed.

Personally I made a long distance call to SE Japan's data center number, then place my rotary phone down on to my modem receiver box. After that I'm good for a gaming session for quite a while. I highly recommend it. I experience zero lag this way.

Those of you using cable are manipulating the game data in ways that are not allowed and it really grants you no special benefits. I can understand it's cheaper than calling Japan long distance, but it's something you just have to do if you truly are a Final Fantasy fan.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cherie

Are you using cable internet to play FFXIV?

Then you are in violation of the TOS possibly. Using a method other than dial-up may be considered using a third party to access the game which is not allowed.

Personally I made a long distance call to SE Japan's data center number, then place my rotary phone down on to my modem receiver box. After that I'm good for a gaming session for quite a while. I highly recommend it. I experience zero lag this way.

Those of you using cable are manipulating the game data in ways that are not allowed and it really grants you no special benefits. I can understand it's cheaper than calling Japan long distance, but it's something you just have to do if you truly are a Final Fantasy fan.

---

no, but i do write everything down that's shown in my battle log and figure out how much dps my whole party does since it shows everything. see 2can play that game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by darkstarpoet1

no, but i do write everything down that's shown in my battle log and figure out how much dps my whole party does since it shows everything. see 2can play that game.

---

That information you are writing down is property of SE and is copyrighted. If you must, you may enter the data you are reading into a abacus or TI-85 calculator. Those are the only allowed options.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by indira

if WTFast if its a dns change theres no problem, vpn & other tunneling services are ripoff's thats stuff you can fix with no software.
learn how to portfoward, QoS ports on your router. ask your IPS whats the best MTU for your router. get another DNS from a third party company thats not your ISP.

User Agreement: http://support.na.square-enix.com/ru...1&tag=users_en

---

Are you trying to use that statement to say WTFast violates ToS? Wow...just no.

To put this in simpler terms, let's use the mail system, with the only difference being based on receiving mail you're not allowed to open; you're only allowed to have your computer interpret the letters.

So intercept would be opening the mail, mine would be reading it, collect information would be either a combination of reading it or idk, looking at what stock of paper it's on.

WTFast just puts your mail on next-day delivery instead of normal mailing time. There's nothing against that.

...and yes that analogy's not perfect, just trust from an IT tech perspective that that 2.5 note about data mining has absolutely nothing to do with running a vpn such as WTFast.