GM Responses, Roleplay Advertising, and Party Finder - Megathread

Right, so as you can already tell this is opening a can of worms that everyone is going to see as trash and just push it aside saying "Eeeeeeh RP is EEE ARR PEEE in disguise". Well for those of you who think that way, maybe you should go visit Crystal and get to understand the community some - you'd be very surprised in how they do things; and if it isn't your speed? That's perfectly fine - but do not assume based on the general stereotype that had been set for Crystal as a whole and its labeling as the "RP Data Center" that it's literally filled with ERP and whatever; it's like trying to look at the face of game without playing it and saying "this game is trash" by being judgmental about it.



Now, if you've read that part and completely understand, let's get down to business and talk about what's going on with the community as of current: Roleplay. There's a large variety out there, but the trend that has been going on as of late has been related to advertising venues in the Party Finder and then getting thrown into Mordion Gaol for no reason. About a couple weeks or so back we had this very issue with a rogue GM that was cracking down on people who were merely advertising their venues.

Here's your thread right here for the initial issue.

Over the past few years we've been having some issues both with the Mordion Gaol system and abuse of the ToS to hurt other players out of spite for merely just small disagreements. If a player literally does not agree with you over something and they send a Harassment report, you'll go to Mordion Gaol for it with their framing, since the GMs focus on it on a one-way window instead of doing a proper investigation. I've talked with a couple GMs over the years myself when I've had to report people for being both toxic or merely blocking access to an NPC; never have I seen them hear both sides of the story and then close it out properly. It's one-sided.

If you go to Mordion Gaol, you also get a strike against your account more often than not and they cite the Terms of Service and the User Agreement. As they say...

3 Strikes, you're out. Check this thread here for a discussion about the 3 Strikes Policy.

However, there currently has been a recent incident regarding a player being sent to Mordion Gaol for merely advertising their RP venue in the Party Finder. That thread can be found on the front page, but if you want a direct link to it, here.

So, here's where the discussion starts: With the recent activity of GMs cracking down both a couple weeks ago and now on Roleplay Venues, we need to have a real talk both as a community and towards the GMs and Community Team about this issue - because we can't keep having this happen time and time again because some GM thinks that an RP Venue listing is not appropriate for the Party Finder. We have a "Other" section for this VERY reason; what else does it exist for?


So to both the Community Team and the GMs, I want to say this as a player who has been playing this game for a long time and has experienced both sides of the coin on this issue: (Disclaimer: This is my opinion.)

Please, PLEASE adjust your Terms of Service and User Agreement if you are so vehemently against Roleplaying Venues. In the past you've been completely for the Roleplaying scene and have fostered it; creating a very fun community that I've enjoyed for the past couple years as a way to spend off-time on FFXIV in a different way.

If we're to take the correct step forward both between player and developer, we need to set the rules straight and make them in a way that everyone can understand. If you really hate RP venues and having to remove them? Then simply update your User Agreement and ToS to remove Roleplaying from the usage of Party Finder since you all decide what the intended usage of your in-game tools are.

If you want to restrict certain things from the Party Finder in regards to Roleplaying? Make a clause that states that roleplaying venues cannot have anything pertaining to 18+ content(i.e. ERP, since it's the most common example everyone exacerbates around here). That's a fair way to crack down on it.

If you truly don't want to restrict it, then leave it as it is and let it run. It's simple as that.

I understand that this post can be considered critical of the GMs and the Community Team, but I want to spark this discussion once more so we can lay it to rest once and for all as a community and find a proper solution; not a band-aid that merely is removal of a certain GM. The players are supposed to play by the rules you set when they buy the game and agree to the User Agreement and Terms of Service; and if they are not violating those terms and agreements by any standard, they should not be thrown in Mordion Gaol.

If you want a list of things that people have been suspended from the forums for and also in-game, check here.

In addition, as I was looking for threads regarding this issue, I came upon this one. The fact that there are people witch hunting and actively attempting to shut down venues in some Data Centers is alarming, and should be considered Disruption, as per Section 3.2 of the Terms of Service agreement under Prohibited Activities, as that promotes a rather toxic environment for those wanting to roleplay.

In closing, I want to see the community AND the FFXIV Community Team discuss about this seriously as it will spin out of control if left unchecked. Whether people want to condone Roleplay or not, that's up to them - but being a service that has even created a Status for this particular play and encouraging it needs to take a firm stance on where to draw the line.

That is all. I welcome any criticism and discussion that can be had so that we can move on and change Final Fantasy XIV for the better.

Just don’t. Erp go away.

Keep the age rating of the game in mind when advertising to the public. If whatever you're wanting to advertise MIGHT be seen as above the age rating, then please don't come crying when you get a GM nastygram.

Just because you've been getting away with it in the past doesn't mean you can keep getting away with it now.

I also want to keep the TOS situation gray so we don't have anyone evading a nastygram by skirting the line with content that shouldn't be there, no matter how pleasantly-phrased.

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Originally Posted by van_arn

Just don’t. Erp go away.

Keep the age rating of the game in mind when advertising to the public. If whatever you're wanting to advertise MIGHT be seen as above the age rating, then please don't 'come crying when you get a GM nastygram.

Just because you've been getting away with it in the past doesn't mean you can keep getting away with it now.

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If you aren't going to give anything constructive, then don't say anything at all; this is meant to be a constructive discussion thread, not just somewhere where you can bash Roleplaying however you like without explanation why.

Edit to @van_arn: I'm not saying people should get away with ERP or the like. But right now the line is too blurry to make a logical call on it in regards to Roleplay - refer to the original post.

Honestly all I want is a firm stance from SE. The RP community can adapt either way as we've used off site event calendars for years without much trouble. Yet having no official stance about the matter just compounds the problem and leaves us out to dry.

And to clarify, I'm primarily talking about non-ERP events. I don't attend events that cross that particular line and wouldn't mind if they're excluded from party finder. However what I want is clarification either way from the devs rather than for players to play the worst game of telephone ever with the GMs.

A lot of what really goes on in many of these venues is actively posted on social media, usually Twitter. As such, often it's easy to just throw some combination of 'night club' and 'ffxiv' into that site's search bar to get an idea of what to expect. Some of it is harmless, yet some of it isn't - and there's a troubling amount of people bending over backwards to excuse the latter for some reason.

Why do we need a second thread?

Just get rid of all the 18+ advertisements. This game is aimed at people ages 13+. There's no argument here. Stop advertising ERP venues.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

A lot of what really goes on in many of these venues is actively posted on social media, usually Twitter. As such, often it's easy to just throw some combination of 'night club' and 'ffxiv' into that site's search bar to get an idea of what to expect. Some of it is harmless, yet some of it isn't - and there's a troubling amount of people bending over backwards to excuse the latter for some reason.

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Then provide regulation. As Enla stated, they can adapt to this and follow the rules if they want to Roleplay.

Gonna just repeat what I've said in other threads in a short summary (keep in mind this regarding the US only, I'm not speaking for anywhere else):

- I personally don't care if people want to engage in RP or ERP.
- The rating for the game is Teen(T) in the US which means 13+
- The T rating is defined as: content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
- Suggestive themes is defined as: Mild provocative references or materials
- The T rating does not cover references to alcohol
- "In game conversations are not rated by the ESRB" is not meant for us, it's meant to cover the ESRB
- Stating that a venue is 18+ is not in line with the 13+ rating given to the game in the US
- If something happens in game that involves a minor sneaking into a venue and being exposed to ERP or things that are not meant to be in a game rated 13+ and it blows up, Square will get a massive amount of heat for it and the people involved are risking real life consequences for engaging with a minor if it does involve ERP (cybersex crimes are real and it does not matter whether or not you were aware of their age and simulated sexual encounters are included)

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Originally Posted by MPK

Why do we need a second thread?

Just get rid of all the 18+ advertisements. This game is aimed at people ages 13+. There's no argument here. Stop advertising ERP venues.

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In regards to this, note that not all places are ERP venues that run with the 18+ banner. Investigation is key here and they need to take a stance on this. If they sell ERP? Then yes - certainly get rid of them.

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Originally Posted by MPK

Why do we need a second thread?

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Hopefully the forum mods nip this in the bud before it becomes the new spam subject like it always happens with new forum drama.

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Originally Posted by hobostew

Hopefully the forum mods nip this in the bud before it becomes the new spam subject like it always happens with new forum drama.

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This isn't no spam subject. Why do you think I labeled it as such? This needs to be dealt with so we don't have any more repeats of the roleplay community getting cracked down on and not the Run Sellers just because "CONTENT" when in reality it breaks the ToS with how they go about it. Counts as RMT as well since it can be Real Money involved, and most times they ask for account information so they can do it on your account.

Online Interactions can not be rated or efficiently regulated, however everyone is conflating the issue.

The issue in the most basic terms for those who can’t deduce it on their own. Is the issues around Mordion Gaol, the GMs, and the unequal enforcement of the rules dictated in the user agreement and terms of service.

If this were the case with any other aspect of this game but RP this whole forum would be up in arms. But it’s easier to villify an entire section of the community and ostracize them then to actually discuss a greater issue. So mock, tease the RP’ers condemn them, you won’t stop them, but don’t expect them to come to your defense when this uneven enforcement of UI and TOS hits a part of the game you value.

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Originally Posted by van_arn

Just don’t. Erp go away.

Keep the age rating of the game in mind when advertising to the public. If whatever you're wanting to advertise MIGHT be seen as above the age rating, then please don't come crying when you get a GM nastygram.

Just because you've been getting away with it in the past doesn't mean you can keep getting away with it now.

I also want to keep the TOS situation gray so we don't have anyone evading a nastygram by skirting the line with content that shouldn't be there, no matter how pleasantly-phrased.

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Once again someone has to remind you that 18+ doesn't always equate to sexual content, even if it's rp. Some people just don't want to play extensively with kids. There are players well above their 40's who play this game. We're not all just a few years out of our teens.

And why would someone not want to rp with a teen? Because frankly people in that age group tend to have less creative characters due to a lack of life experience and often just rp something that is a bunch of generic tropes. Not always, but it's pretty common from younger players. Rping with someone who does that isn't fun.

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Originally Posted by van_arn

Just don’t. Erp go away.

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Originally Posted by van_arn

I also want to keep the TOS situation gray so we don't have anyone evading a nastygram by skirting the line with content that shouldn't be there, no matter how pleasantly-phrased.

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Also these two statements contradict each other. You claim you want things to remain grey, while having a very black and white stance on rp.

Anyway players will always try to skirt the rules no matter how grey they are because some people are just like that. That's life. The intention of this thread is to make SE give us a clearer image of what they want us to do so that people who aren't trying to skirt the rules don't get pulled into GM jail because they unwittingly caused offense. Not that you care though, given you seem to hate rpers.

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Originally Posted by Darkpaw

Online Interactions can not be rated or efficiently regulated, however everyone is conflating the issue.

The issue in the most basic terms for those who can’t deduce it on their own. Is the issues around Mordion Gaol, the GMs, and the unequal enforcement of the rules dictated in the user agreement and terms of service.

If this were the case with any other aspect of this game but RP this whole forum would be up in arms. But it’s easier to villify an entire section of the community and ostracize them then to actually discuss a greater issue. So mock, tease the RP’ers condemn them, you won’t stop them, but don’t expect them to come to your defense when this uneven enforcement of UI and TOS hits a part of the game you value.

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And again, that's meant for the ESRB's protection, not for the player.

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I don't want to double post, so I'm adding onto here.

No one is making anyone who doesn't want to RP with 13 year olds, RP with 13 year olds. Just putting that out there. The issue is that the game is rated 13+ and you're purposefully closing off a section of the game to them and labeling it 18+. That is the issue. You cannot have 18+ sectioned off areas that engage in anything not covered by the rating in US servers. Harping that online interactions are not rated is literally irrelevant because that protection is not for the player and no matter how many times people say that, it won't change the reality. You can roleplay with 18+ people all you want, just drop the 18+ tags on the venues and allow them to be for 13+ access. That's literally it. No one is forcing anyone to rp with teenagers if they don't want to, you can literally ignore them in the venues if you want.

Note: The ERP and ToS and the Teen Rating and legal and child safety arguments have been done here extensively. I can guarantee this would just derail the thread entirely.

People, yes, automatically assume ERP here. The first time this was an issue non-ERP and non-18+ venues were being targeted too. They reversed the actions taken against the innocent and said it's fine as long as it doesn't violate ToS. And that nothing had changed. I thought that meant it was pretty clear that RP PF ads were okay.

So my question, is it just ERP or 18+ venues that are being hit? Or are regular non adult RP ads being hit? And I am talking since the community rep's intervention. I feel this distinction needs to be made explicitly clear.

Because if it's only 18+ venues, then we can get a good idea of why they're being taken down. If it's blanketly any RP venues, then it doesn't make sense and complicates it. Regardless of one agrees its a violation of the ToS it should ascertain what they're targeting.

I have no issue with people ERPing and I am pretty on the fence when it comes to advertising them on PF, I recognise the risks when it comes to minors but I defer to the GMs' handling of it, because I see arguments two ways when it comes to advertising ERP on PF and as it doesn't affect me, I have no personal stake to swing either way.


I'll also say, it's not a question of whether we think it is okay or not okay, but SE to clarify where it is to them.
And really it should boil down to 3 points:
- Whether PF advertisements for regular Teen Friendly RP is okay.
- Whether PF advertisements for 18+ RP is okay
- Whether PF advertisements for ERP is okay.

And again I feel we should clarify which of these 3 are being hit still? Is it all 3 or 2 or 1? Because the answer to that question could give a better idea to what's okay and what isn't.

It's about wanting OFFICIAL and formal clarity, and holding people to that accountability ACROSS the board as players, AND customer service representatives in an effort to dispute false claims, trolling, prosperity, and cohesion across a community, as I stated in the thread I created. There should be no grey area on this, as it then further drives things of this nature. If they don't want it, say it, be done with the scenario. In the post, I created there are multiple posts of GM conversations involving RP, ERP, ERP for gil being "OK" per GM conversations. The entire thing is null and void per those instances. Could they be edited? Sure. That's why FULL FORMAL STATEMENTS AND STANCES Must be made.

Pretty sure the GM in your screenshots told you its fine so long as you keep it out of public view. IE. Shout chat, PF, and the like.

Correct. However, the entire night, the only thing done was literally standing in place on a staircase, not saying any "E" related RP, carrd information that has NO lewd imagery (simply screenshots of a venue, and a music stream. Yet they cited "privacy policy" due to their reasoning as to not providing any explanation of being sent to the Gaol. Yet I WAS sent to the gaol? I still have questions of clarification.

It's their policy not to share details to keep people from working out who reported them and potentially harassing them. It doesn't matter if in this case that wouldn't be possible or if you aren't the type of person to do that. We all know there are people who do take these things too far sometimes so it isn't an unreasonable stance for SE to take.

Again, the statement is true. If it were to resort to harassment, then is this not what actual reporting, blacklists, etc are for? It's still incorrect to literally say in essence: "YOU screwed up, we're not telling you why, GL figuring it out, don't do it again."

I love how any time anyone asks for clarity on why people are being punished the same 3-4 people come out of the woodwork and go "ERP BAD GET BANNED LUL" even if it has little to nothing to due with the current topic

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Originally Posted by LianaThorne

- The T rating does not cover references to alcohol

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That is not true, when you log into the game, the rating screen very clearly states:
Language
Blood
Sexual Themes
Use of Alcohol
Violence.

If the T rating did not include alcohol references and use of alcohol, the Dwarven Beast tribes would not exist, nor any in-game tavern with very clearly drunk people passed out on tables.
ANYTHING that can be found within the game itself has to be rated T or it cannot be part of the aesthetics of the game itself. The language used by the game in story, side quests everything written and seen by NPCs. Scantily clad dancers,T. All our gear including underwear, T. Innuendo, T.

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Originally Posted by Merrnryn

That is not true, when you log into the game, the rating screen very clearly states:
Language
Blood
Sexual Themes
Use of Alcohol
Violence.

If the T rating did not include alcohol references and use of alcohol, the Dwarven Beast tribes would not exist, nor any in-game tavern with very clearly drunk people passed out on tables.
ANYTHING that can be found within the game itself has to be rated T or it cannot be part of the aesthetics of the game itself. The language used by the game in story, side quests everything written and seen by NPCs. Scantily clad dancers,T. All our gear including underwear, T. Innuendo, T.

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Theres a main story quest in Stormblood where they very clearly talk about how amazing a girl is with her tongue

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Originally Posted by Cerver

Theres a main story quest in Stormblood where they very clearly talk about how amazing a girl is with her tongue

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In a 'blink and you'll miss it' moment. You don't see it acted out.

It wouldn't fit the game's ratings if it was given further elaboration and a more in-depth description as to what it entailed which is why ERP is often disallowed - players involved usually don't stick to a brief innuendo, they go far above that.

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Originally Posted by Theodric

In a 'blink and you'll miss it' moment. You don't see it acted out.

It wouldn't fit the game's ratings if it was given further elaboration and a more in-depth description as to what it entailed which is why ERP is often disallowed - players involved usually don't stick to a brief innuendo, they go far above that.

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"Nothing turns me on like goin' at it hard with another adventurer"
-PvP NPC

But again, often the people who are frustrated at being hit by a random punishment likely arent active with ERP, otherwise they wouldnt be so confused.

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Originally Posted by Merrnryn

That is not true, when you log into the game, the rating screen very clearly states:
Language
Blood
Sexual Themes
Use of Alcohol
Violence.

If the T rating did not include alcohol references and use of alcohol, the Dwarven Beast tribes would not exist, nor any in-game tavern with very clearly drunk people passed out on tables.
ANYTHING that can be found within the game itself has to be rated T or it cannot be part of the aesthetics of the game itself. The language used by the game in story, side quests everything written and seen by NPCs. Scantily clad dancers,T. All our gear including underwear, T. Innuendo, T.

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Not sure why it doesn't match the literal one found on the ESRB website but that's not my problem ultimately. I didn't take mine from the screen of the game, just took it from the direct source of the ESRB's website. I can admit I was wrong though. I'm not incapable of that.

And yeah, mild references, a.k.a. suggestive themes are covered by the 13+ rating...not sure what you're trying to say with the scantily clad thing when people in bikini like clothing isn't violating anything. It's not like they come to life and interact with the player and engage with them in that way, that would be taking it past mild. Innuendo is still mild because not every teenager is going to understand innuendo. I'm sure you didn't understand every sexual reference made in your favorite TVs shows as a teenager until you got older.

The ESRB ratings have many other definitions, then what are shown. You can easily look up previous FFXIV expansions as they do change.
There is some pretty raunchy innuendo too.

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Originally Posted by Cerver

I love how any time anyone asks for clarity on why people are being punished the same 3-4 people come out of the woodwork and go "ERP BAD GET BANNED LUL" even if it has little to nothing to due with the current topic

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Personally, I have 0 sympathy for anyone banned for ERPing or fostering an ERP friendly environment in a Teen rated game. I don't have an issue with the activity per say, so long as they aren't openly advertising it or breaking any real life laws, but I think if people are willing to take certain risks...they shouldn't be surprised when it backfires. All of that said, I have always felt that the GMs could give better explanations to avoid another account action in the future. Sadly, they don't, and that is an issue in and of itself, and one I can sympathize with regardless of the the circumstances leading to the Gaol.

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Originally Posted by Merrnryn

The ESRB ratings have many other definitions, then what are shown. You can easily look up previous FFXIV expansions as they do change.
There is some pretty raunchy innuendo too.

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Still can't assume everyone will understand the innuendo at 13, raunchy or not.

I guess ERP bans are more important to be up in arms about than how trivial it is to punish a player just because they tried to teach you a mechanic.

The thing with the in-game quotes is, they're in the game. They're scripted. They're rated. They're the extreme end of what is allowed within the game rating with no possibility of it going further.

It's not evidence that they should also be okay with a similar situation acted out in more detail, by players who have the ability to type any text into the game.

This isn't to say that they're handling the current situation well, but neither is it a sign that they're contradicting themselves. Those game quotes have been rated 13+, not 18+.

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Originally Posted by ReynTime

I guess ERP bans are more important to be up in arms about than how trivial it is to punish a player just because they tried to teach you a mechanic.

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In essence, same thing. *snickers*

i think? the question of official RP server designation has been asked for in the past, but they've wanted to avoid labelling anything as such, because then they would have to put resources into policing it as such probably. and that's something they most likely don't want to bother with.

So imo anyone expecting an official stance on anything probably isn't going to get it.

I'm not debating that, for that, you would need to take up raunchy innuendo with Square. There is plenty of very clear and pretty raunchy innuendo within the game itself. That is what I was speaking of. Have you talked to a 13-year-old? I have twin 12-year-olds in my house that can tell dirtier jokes than I can, understand far more from school alone than what they see in this game.

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Originally Posted by DrWho2010

i think? the question of official RP server designation has been asked for in the past, but they've wanted to avoid labelling anything as such, because then they would have to put resources into policing it as such probably. and that's something they most likely don't want to bother with.

So imo anyone expecting an official stance on anything probably isn't going to get it.

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They generally want to avoid it, but with how they've been acting it's starting to become an issue that we can raise here. We need a stance or a statement in this regard from the development team because it's been this 'gray' area for years; but hasn't been defined by the ToS or End User Agreement - especially with the controversy about how the Party Finder is used from the two incidents that connect to that in-game tool. People mostly see it usable for Game Content, but others see it as a place to advertise their RP Venue in the Other Tab.

Regardless if people don't like RP, RP is in-game content, it is a tag we may use /roleplay. It is on our housing designation RP is otherwise known as Immersive experience, eateries, taverns, florists, etc. It is in the very story of you the Warrior of Light Hero and Savior of the Star. When you step in and play as an NPC your buff literally reads 'roleplaying'. That RP is considered content within the game itself cannot be disputed. As for those that want it gone from the party finder well the other tab can be filtered out with ease and cease to exist if the PF for those people. You can filter out everything and effectively even shut it off completely. The PF itself is highly customizable, The place RP venues often advertise is in the other tab, which again with unchecking the box, it disappears completely.
There is not even a need to /blacklist. Simply filter it out completely in the PF.
I am sure many of us see this often: Of the 84 parties currently recruiting, all match your search conditions. Those are what you have filtered.

While filtering it out isn't disruptive to your gameplay or RP'ers even advertising their venues, or events. Forcing RP'ers out of the PF IS disruptive to theirs as it is discriminatory and uses a false narrative. Which is against the ToS.
3.2 Disruption. You may not in any way disrupt or interfere with the Game experience of other players, including the disruption of Square Enix's computers and servers.

PF ads for RP have already been cleared as acceptable by GM's, there is definitive proof of that. Yet this is about a crusade on RP this is about people weaponizing the GMs against other players.

According to SE's own website within Game manuals: The Party Finder allows players to recruit adventurers on the same World or data center who share common goals. - https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/game_manual/pp/ - There is nothing here that specifies the goal nor anything about 'content'. People can gather in a place, such as instanced dungeons, open world, or instanced housing.


A good call to attention are other T rated MMORPG's such as WoW, which has mild swearing throughout as this game does (don't attempt it, not worth it.) and not only seen alcohol consumption but player consumption and sale therein, even a drunk effect, (don't fly drunk in WoW, its terrifying). Guild Wars 2 another MMORPG not only has in-game drinking but players can partake in drinking contests. Just to name two.

Now that said, we are simply attempting to figure out what is and isn't against the ToS, because the same rhetoric run around and vague dance around answers are troubling. So then that leaves it up to us, the players to do our due diligence and figure out what is and isn't acceptable with clear cut lines in the sand that we aren't getting from official sources. All without getting banned.

Offical stance would shoehorn them into that position. It is far easier to keep the tos vague and fuild. Does it suck for the general player base? Tbh yes but I am not sure the general player base will back such a change cause the general player probably thinks they will never get in trouble and for the most part they probably are right that majority of the general player base will never go past two warnings let alone one.

I honestly think going forward people that want more adult oriented content will have to use platforms like discord to organize and vet the patrons. Cause leaving it open even without the 18+ marker still leaves you open to witchhunts.

I don't get involved with this community, but anyone who knows me on this forum also knows I'm in favor of SE just generally improving their banning conduct. The ToS could absolutely use an update with their stance on RPing and the limits therein.

Also, this is to Van Arn specifically: We get it. You really hate ERP. You don't have to keep posting it in every thread even remotely related to the topic. It'd be nice if you could actually contribute to the discussions instead of taking any and all opportunities you can take to plant down your flag and shout "ERP BAD! ERP BAD! ERP BAD!" for the people in the back. I don't even care about what happens to ERPers(given more clear regulations) and even I think you're overdoing it.

I think transparency is more of a boon than a con, if people skirt things because they aren't covered then they can be added as addendums. Having everything extremely vague, with enforcement not uniform, makes it feel like you're walking on eggshells no matter how innocuous an activity you're doing (ie: using abilities in a town, using emotes too much, advertising Roleplaying Events in PF under the appropriate "Other" tab, I mean even using foul language in a SFW RP context is reportable)

Sanctimonious arguments aren't even worth talking about. If someone is blatantly trying to get ERP via the PF system and forcing you to read a list of desires, then that's just... reportable in general. In any MMO. But if it's just "RP Event - 18+; Nightclub" there's a 50/50 there's ERP involved, but it's not explicitly mentioned (thus you don't have to read any NSFW parts of it) and there's the 18+ tag, which is about the most anyone can do in any online anything to create a space for adults somewhere.

Will people try to skirt around that "18+" designation because at the end of the day, it's easy to do? Yeah, just like everyone does with any website or anything that asks for your age before entering it.

That's why like, there's parents, who should be supervising or somewhat aware of what their kids are up to in online public spaces and decide whether or not their kid is lying their way into those events/situations and presumably then stop paying for the service.

If it's purely based on the game's rating, game ratings aren't generally a simple and uniform process free of bias and there's a lot of variation present since the ESRB system is more or less a joke. But it's only there for what the game officially provides: online interactions aren't rated by the ESRB (and it's stated as such).

That said, most event listings in PF are SFW events. I don't RP much, but I've been around to a handful and it's usually just what it says -- a venue for RP.

I mean, there's a XIV Content Creator who often has what basically amounts to a nightclub venue that's streamed on Twitch sometimes, and there's nothing untoward there, and that's basically... what most of the events are. Punishing the many for the few is a stupid take.

So is it regular RP venues still getting hit? Or is it the only ones that are adult or ERP?