Gil sellers top the achievement list!!

[Laraul]

SE tried do something with gil sellers in FFXI... they removed a large number of accounts... purged untold amounts of currency from the game... this lowered prices considerably but only do to the huge amounts of gil being removed from the game. Eventually legit accounts started to be terminated without notice... major mistake...

RMT started using alternate ways of obtaining gil. This included using "phishing" to gain access to people's accounts. They would mass /tell players from freshly created accounts attempting to appear as GMs, telling players that their account may have have been compromised, with link to a illegitimate web site where they would obtain the users account info and briefly hijack the account.

This would lead player's having their character restored prior to the loss of their valuables. Though limited once per account, this in itself was used occasionally as a way for quick gil. A player could exchange items/gil/etc with RMT for real money in return (i imagine to help with the monthly fee) and then get one quick reset. Of course you only got ONE. Still one was enough.

Regardless of what SE did, they we're powerless. GM's we're completely overwhelmed trying to remove the accounts responsible for the huge flood of spam /tells being sent. In the end, it was the real world economy with in game additions (Abyssea, etc) that moved RMT back behind the curtain. It still lives on, but it influences only those willing to do business with them, and not everyone else.

I think everyone would agree SE's battle against RMT was an embarrassing failure. By cracking down on them they made the game worse for a much larger number of players then if they had gone about fighting it indirectly.

[Efrye]

once again, you contradict what im saying with what you are thinking

someone who plays 24/7 for days on end, actively, not stopping, is proof something is being done thats not humanly possible. thats where they can get them [...]

It's not against ToS to share accounts, is it? So it could be multiple people taking turns with the same character.

In other words: I agree with you that it's by far not as easy to detect bots as many make it out to be.

I think everyone would agree SE's battle against RMT was an embarrassing failure.

I don't. Failure or not, there is nothing "embarrassing" about trying to provide players with an enjoyable game environment.

[Karbine]

Nobody in their right mind would buy gil at this point. They are storing up as much as they can for 2.0

If SE wants to really put the screws to them, they will collect info, reports, and complaints on them, but allow them to keep going until right before 2.0 is released. Then, right before all the new players come on board, ban all their accts and delete all their gil

Poor RMT, all that time and subscription fees spent for nothing.

It's what I would do.

One can only hope.....

[Magnesium02]

Maybe SE will merge all the random gibberish name RMTs onto one server and they can sell gil to each other.

[AngryNixon]

The "not humanly possible" argument holds no water either. Could be a couple of friends playing the game together at different hours on the same account. I'll even contrive a sob story for you. They're poor and so must share one account because that's all they can afford.

Now you're banning them for being less fortunate than you.

Don't you feel ashamed of yourself?

Also "stockpiling with intent to sell/distribute" (a.k.a.irl the drug crimes that rise above simple possession) is not a bannable offence as far as I know because you'd never be able to prove the intent without seeming like a crazy person. This isn't RL where you can make out a case for things like "conspiracy to commit..." or other "...with intent to..." actions that go against their ToS.

SE might be compiling a list of "suspects" and watching for now. When they actually do something they will likely start to ban them but I suspect Thevedis is right. I doubt you'll see much movement either way until 2.0. Patience.

[Noata]

The Verdis is right, after looking at this thread it is nothing but a bunch of Witch Hunters trying to burn people at the stake.
I would like to share for an above post, that it is in violation of ToS to share an account. even with your family. I would then like to say that YOU have no right to demand anything be done to the person in question suspected of violating the ToS. you serve merely as an informant nothing more or less. This game is not free, this game is subscription based and as such everyone has paid for there service. SE runs a business and must see to it that its clients do not get mistreated by them in anyway as a means to maintain the business. Without definite proof SE will not be able to do anything. and I want you to know that there is no way for any player to prove that someone is RMTing. You can suspect all you want. and it maybe true but you cannot prove it. as such your reports serve only to aid in investigating accounts. Follow that golden rule of treating others how you want to be treated and stop being selfish and demanding the banning of accounts you suspect. and just so where clear "Suspect - To surmise to be true or probable; imagine" "Proof - The validation of a proposition by application of specified rules, as of induction or deduction, to assumptions, axioms, and sequentially derived conclusions". Thought I would let you know that those probable Assumptions you all think or observe as RMT and botting are but the pieces needed to prove. as such just your information will not result in banning. I keep repeating in different ways so you understand. Your report is a single leaf in the bush needed to Prosecute.

[Conradus]

It's not against ToS to share accounts, is it?

I believe it is, actually. In FFXI it definitely was, except when a parent or guardian shared an account with a minor under their care (you couldn't have your own account if you were under 18 in FFXI, but players could be as young as 13 by sharing an account with a parent/guardian).

Addition:

Yep, it's still against the rules to share your account, except with a minor under your charge. Cut and pasted from the User Agreement:

3.1 Sharing Account Information. You may not share your account or login information (such as your Square Enix ID and password) with anyone except your legal guardian, your minor child, or SQUARE ENIX. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and login information, even from your friends and family. If you violate this provision, you may unexpectedly lose access to your account to a third party without recourse against SQUARE ENIX. SQUARE ENIX will not be obliged to credit your SQUARE ENIX Account with Crysta or other points or awards, which may have been used by a third party as a result of the violation of this clause.

[Kinseykinz]

I believe it is, actually. In FFXI it definitely was, except when a parent or guardian shared an account with a minor under their care (you couldn't have your own account if you were under 18 in FFXI, but players could be as young as 13 by sharing an account with a parent/guardian).

Addition:

Yep, it's still against the rules to share your account, except with a minor under your charge. Cut and pasted from the User Agreement:

3.1 Sharing Account Information. You may not share your account or login information (such as your Square Enix ID and password) with anyone except your legal guardian, your minor child, or SQUARE ENIX. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and login information, even from your friends and family. If you violate this provision, you may unexpectedly lose access to your account to a third party without recourse against SQUARE ENIX. SQUARE ENIX will not be obliged to credit your SQUARE ENIX Account with Crysta or other points or awards, which may have been used by a third party as a result of the violation of this clause.

However, you really *can* share your account information, or at least you won't be banned for this...this legal mumbo-jumbo is just saying 'Hey, if you share your account/account information and then loose your account/gil/money/creditcard info etc. SE is NOT liable. But do they actually care if your grandma knows your password and logs onto your account to pay for another month of services etc. while you are on vacation for example??? No. But if grandma spends all your in game gils on a level 5 shield...they won't fix that for you because you compromised your account

They won't close your account for this though. This is also a clause to cover SE's butt when the gullible gamer goes to a fake website and enters in their account info because a fake 'GM' told them too and instead ends up losing their account/having items or gils stolen. But in both cases, SE wouldn't close your account or ban you, they just wouldn't help you get your stuff back.

Just like it's technically against the TOA to Fraps your gameplay... but SE most likely won't ever enforce that. They just reserve the right and 'ownership' off all gameplay related videos players create. (Actually SE LIKES us to Fraps etc...it's free positive PR....they would probably only get upset about it if 1. you sold your videos or 2. made videos to purposely make SE or FFXIV look bad.)

The only behaviors SE tends to monitor/watch/ban for are ones that give players an unfair advantage over other players and/or mess up the game system somehow (RMT's/bots) for example. Most everything else in the TOA is 'we reserve the right to say no to x,y,z crap'

[Conradus]

However, you really *can* share your account information.

"You may not share your account or login information (such as your Square Enix ID and password) with anyone except your legal guardian, your minor child, or SQUARE ENIX."

Now, you can play guessing games of, "No, they don't REALLY mean that," if you want to. You may well be right that they'll never take action against you for it. Me, I just read what's written there. It's against the User Agreement.

[Noata]

SE does not punish but prohibits sharing of account information. this is true, your grandma can know your password and they do not like it. SE does however take an active role in multiple users using an account and will shut it down. This is nearly impossible to prove outside of self confession though. as such you may think they do not care, but in truth you as a user agreed to forfiet all rights to your account when others used it. In the world of SE you having an account and your brother/sister/friend having another is exactly what they want. Trust me when I say they would rather two subscriptions then one.