SE Please Sell Gil

[JunseiKei]

SE,

The bot situation is out of control. When creating a new character, I cannot even do the MSQ quests because bots will steal kills from inaccessible terrain or the air.

You only need to tag a monster to gain credit for things like quests.

I seriously wait in line for a bot train to finish. People cannot even queue for Amdapoor Keep anymore.

We're on the same data center. It popped just fine for me on all three roles. If it's so bad on Jenova (because I think you mean you can't kill some quest mob to unlock the dungeon), we have this lovely system called world visitation. I highly suggest making use of it.

And for those playing a thaumaturge? Good luck even doing your job quests.

Tag monsters with Scathe. You learn it at level 15.

I paid good money for this game and am moving on, because of bots. It doesn't matter how well done Shadowbringers is. Nor how polished the game is. If you allow this insane level of botting, it trashes the game. I truly do not understand why...

1. There is no client side cheat detection.
2. Reporting bots seems to be intentionally difficult.
3. Reporting gibberish bots does nothing.
4. Reporting non-gibberish player bots, typically with crowns and all does nothing.
5. There is obviously no real effort at containing the problem, and yes, things can be done.

At this point, all I can think of is that it is too financially beneficially for SE to take action. The bots make them money, so they look the other way. Who knows, I don't, and will never.

This is the same across all MMOs and not something special with FFXIV. It's incredibly exhausting and futile to individually ban bots and more efficient to ban bots when you have a large sum. It's easier to replace one bot at a time as they get banned; it's more time investing for those making and using bots to have to replace several.

But please SE, if it really is about profit over actually caring for your game, then sell freaking Gil. Sell it on the MogStation, make it legit. Those concerned about P2W, well we can buy level boosts and quest completions.

I like how your suggestion to deal with bots is ultimately something completely annexed from them. You don't suggest something to deal with the bots - just a symptom that tends to happen with botting (hoarded gil/gold/silver/<insert game's currency>). Level boosting and story skips are not pay to win; simply getting to a turning point in the story or getting to a certain level with a job doesn't mean you 'win' at the game. Being able to buy crafted gear, materia, food, pots, however, still ruins the market with gil that you simply threw a credit card for. At least the bots are somewhat contained as they'd need to buy expansions to access the newer stuff.

I'm quitting, as I know nothing will be done. But for the rest of your player base, especially new players, at least consider it. Sell Gil, beat the bots at their own game. Will it get rid of all of them? Nope. But it'll get rid of enough that you can focus on what is remaining.

It's a violation of terms of service to encourage others to break the rules. As for you quitting ... .

[Edax]

This doesn't affect anyone but yourself, and I'd be more than happy to let people pay real money to fast-track their way to their own weird personal satisfaction.

That is factually wrong. It ruins the economy when there's no point in putting in effort.

I'm quitting

The game is already "P2W." You can buy fully leveled characters and quest completions. It doesn't get any more P2W than that. I'm not against it really, I'd never do it, but we're already there. And IMHO, yes I'd rather see "P2W" Gil sales on the mogstation than have this game ruined by bots. I'd pay 1000/month to play this game with fewer bots, hands down.

I think you should stick with your first impulse because your willingness to throw away thousands of dollars for an MMORPG is unhealthy. It also hints at your willingness to engage in P2W if your willing to throw around that much money. Just because you might want P2W doesn't mean everyone else does. Walk away before this potential addiction destroys you.

[347SPECTRE]

I've played several MMORPGs for years, starting with Everquest (and before that text muds). Bots are a part of online games for sure, I'm not debating that. But the level of botting in FFXIV at the point is too much. Way too much.

I've seen a thousand times worse in other games in terms of botting. The problem in XIV is highly exaggerated from what I've seen. Though GMs could stand to do more about the issue and be more proactive about the issue.

[Raldo]

That is factually wrong. It ruins the economy when there's no point in putting in effort.

By... making crafting materials more expensive? Maybe the finished gear more expensive? Things that no one actually needs to buy? Yeah, try again.

[Edax]

By... making crafting materials more expensive? Things that no one actually needs to buy? Yeah, try again.

That's a non sequitur.

[Kokonji]

if I remember correctly, SE does ban the bots now and then... its just they prefer to do it in a ban wave instead of doing it one by one...

and I don't think selling gil is a wise move...
I don't know if my high school economics knowledge could be applied to the game, but isn't it when there's too much money will lead to hyperinflation and then the money itself will became worthless ? basically destroying the economy... in the mmorpg with player-driven economy, it seems to be a bad idea, no ?

[Driavna]

We already talked about this and the community said no, no idea why to be honest. SE might as well put a similar system to other games to transform gil into that mogstation currency so players can access to optional items/services without needing to spend even more real money.

Is a fact, as long people are willing to buy gil bots are going to be a thing, I rather let regular players benefit from it. In particular when gil is something so meaningless like it is in FFXIV.

Important: this is not SE selling gil per se. But having a way for players to sell gil for cashshop currency to another player.

[Raldo]

That's a non sequitur.

Cool. I don't know what that means, and I don't care enough to look it up.

The game already creates gil from nothing hand-over-fist. I doubt being able to buy gil would greatly affect the economy. If it was done similar to the WoW tokens where the gil wasn't created from scratch, but rather sold from other PCs, I don't see a problem. Do people playing WoW still complain about the existence of those tokens? (Do they still exist? idk I haven't heard about it in years)

[JunseiKei]

We already talked about this and the community said no, no idea why to be honest. SE might as well put a similar system to other games to transform gil into that mogstation currency so players can access to optional items/services without needing to spend even more real money.

Is a fact, as long people are willing to buy gil bots are going to be a thing, I rather let regular players benefit from it. In particular when gil is something so meaningless like it is in FFXIV.

Important: this is not SE selling gil per se. But having a way for players to sell gil for cashshop currency to another player.

That is why botting isn't really that bad of an issue in XIV as compared to other MMOs. Currency means nothing unless you're a high end raider that doesn't make their own food, pots or gear and doesn't have anyone to funnel you them. Giving players a means to buy Mogstation items through in game currency would make the bot a real issue over the nuisance that it currently is.

[Jimmymagic]

Please do not even entertain the idea for P2W. Enough MMO have done that already and ruined the game for noobs.

Although I agree with the bots being out of control, selling gil for rl money brings a tremendous burden to those who earned in game money by grinding, crafting, gathering and utilizing MB. IMO is a just a terrible fix for a terrible problem.

Devs are more worried bout content, adjustments, playability...etc
Perhaps if they more resources to make in game security coding. I m not sure if that's realistic. I'm not a programmer, but surely they could implement something.