Here's a possible solution: KICK WHOEVER AFKs FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES

[MudkipzAnStuff]

OH i just got a different error! I got lobby server error and got kicked! didn't get the worlds full one XD

[Hove201]

Just add auto disconnect the way it was in FFXI. Leave it on if you'll use it and turn it off if you won't. Theres no need to stay online overnight anyway.

[Valiant]

I'm currently unable to access my character... but if I could I would agree with a timer.. all but FF11 and FF14 have I played games with timers... EVEN AFKers still affect the server whether they move or not.. Why? Cause they are on... IF I cold access my character I would want it too... It makes if fair to those that can't log on due to high volume. I have seen Blizzard do it before they added their lastest group of servers... and their reasoning was fairness to those that can't log in.

[Mana_Burst]

Just add auto disconnect the way it was in FFXI. Leave it on if you'll use it and turn it off if you won't. Theres no need to stay online overnight anyway.

The Problem is, the people are staying online on purpose because they are afraid they won't be able to log on when they get back from Work/Sleeping/Going Shopping/Whatever they are doing that takes more than half an hour.

[PostalTwinkie]

I am completely surprised they don't have an AFK detection and kick. Did you go AFK for 15 minutes? Well at minute 16 you get the big boot.....

I have a feeling they will implement this later.

[Quixadhal]

AFK timers are a holdover from primative game design, back when world servers used a single process and could only have a limited number of players in them. MOST modern MMO's don't need AFK logouts, because every zone is instanced anyways, and an idle player doesn't use much in the way of resources.

Apparently, FFXIV's design is NOT very modern. Even EQ2 (a 9 year old game) would simply create new instances of the main city zones if they got over-populated.

[Feichai]

Yeah I definitely agree with an idle to d/c timer. Today I played early in the afternoon and had to run out to do a few chores. Ended up taking a nap etc. Come back 4-5 hours later I was still sitting in game. I had no idea there was no idle timer. So I decided to log off seeing all the problems everyone had logging in due to capacity. Now it is 11pm and I want to play and definitely regretting ever logging off.

Idle to d/c timer would definitely alleviate some of the strain on the server and allow others to login and play. That afk for 4-5 hours I did today and still be logged in was unnecessary. Someone else could have been using my slot in that time frame.

[Feichai]

AFK timers are a holdover from primative game design, back when world servers used a single process and could only have a limited number of players in them. MOST modern MMO's don't need AFK logouts, because every zone is instanced anyways, and an idle player doesn't use much in the way of resources.

Apparently, FFXIV's design is NOT very modern. Even EQ2 (a 9 year old game) would simply create new instances of the main city zones if they got over-populated.

Agreed here. Especially considering the game is pretty much already fulled with load in points unlike WoW or Rift where the world was pretty much open. I believe the design here is absolutely old school.

[Dieadre]

I pay the same monthly rate for the game as you do. I have a right to be connected whenever I want, even if I'm idle. When I'm connected it's my business what I do, even if i'm idle. I may appear to YOU to be idling but I may be discussing strategy with my linkshell. Kicking people off for being "Idle"? Nonsense! Square simply over-sold this game by a large margin and now they're scrambling to add more hardware to support all the demand. You people are asking for ignorant things in your panic because you just "wanna play right now" and blame people who appear to be idle for your inability to do so. But remember that the login caps are artificial and intentionally added by SE to cover for their lack of sufficient infrastructure to support demand for the game while they try to add more hardware.

Talking in chat won't make you idle, leaving for work for 8 hours will. Edit- That is, in possibly ALL MMO's except this one.

[Rex]

probably would be the solution, BUT SE not even answer the forum threads, I have my doubts if they at least read.

Lol. Right. Square doesn't read the forums. I guess you've never tried the dev tracker.