Real Money to Get In-Game Currency: Eternal Bond Edition

[Lior]

As you know, the promise wristlets were designed to be tradable so that one person would be able to purchase a pair of wristlets and gift one to their partner.

While the trading and selling of these items for gil is not against the terms of service, in the event this type of trend continues and topics continue to arise regarding whether or not this is considered real-money trading, we will have no choice but to change the design of this system. Therefore we would like players to stop selling and trading the bracelets for gil so that they can continue to be used for their intended purpose.

Others have already picked apart why this is a ridiculous stance to take, so instead I'm just going to offer up an equally absurd response:

I don't mind the occasional microtransaction, and I have money to burn. I also disagree with the ability to sell cash shop items in-game and disrupt the flow of gil. Since this isn't a bannable offense, and since the only way to put a stop to it is if it's being done often enough, I myself am going to start raking in gil by selling wedding bands to other players. I'll benefit both my in-game wallet and my personal values towards the cash shop, even if it means temporarily going against said values. Win-win!

(Fun fact: I am setting aside time I would have spent running clear / farming parties in order to use PF to perform these sales. So not only am I part of this problem, but I'm also detracting from the potential in-game activities on my server. Yay!)

I don't necessarily mind cash shops, however a large part of why I came to FFXIV is because it stood out as a last bastion of p2p purity in a market where more and more titles were adding microtransactions on top of subscription fees. So if I ever have a reason to weigh FF against playing another MMO, you can bet this whole thing will factor in.

That said, I can live with the mounts and minions. I'm not too thrilled about having premium services like the weddings, as it will make me question all future non-combat content (as many are right to do with Gold Saucer). The dyes are pushing my limit, but I'll live with it for now.

But interrupting the flow of gil in-game via RMT is ridiculous, and if it is not intended and is frowned upon severely enough that continued abuse will result in the system being modified, then it should not be allowed to continue in the first place.