IN regards to the server congestions

[Teraluna]

Yes, it was definitely an unexpected (but richly deserved) influx of players. One moment we were carrying on as normal, looking forward to the interim patches and then Endwalker. The next moment, player avalanche :-) Great stuff!

[Xerkrosis]

[...] As producer, the responsibility for being unable to predict the current influx of new players falls to me. [...]

Oh please, YoshiP couldn't have known that Patch 9.1 would've been such a great success!

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Let's see if the new players are scared away of the queue. The game is a lot of fun even during the tedious ARR slaught. If you spent lots of time farming WoW and being absolutely burned out after a year, give it a rest sometime, but be interested in MMOs, FFXIV is such a joyful alternative. Unfortunately even long-time players in my FC are getting annoyed, especially when you're coming home from work and you find yourself in a queue for over half an hour. Staying logged in doesn't help much and most certainly not now with the automated kick now around. Yet, as much as I commend the AFK timer, it yet hasn't shown its real effect. At least when it comes to world travel, there's still at least 20min queues with most over 30min. I don't dare to log out and check how the queue for the actual log in now looks like.

[MistakeNot]

There is one more thing I would suggest: Add "AFK auto-logout circumvention" to the list of prohibited activities.


And be sure to enforce it.

Not a good idea. There are too many, perfectly legit, ways of avoiding the auto-logout, some of which can easily happen accidentally.
One example: Start crafting something. Get called away from the computer by a phone call or something. Forget to go back to computer to log out character and don't return for many hours. While in crafting stance the character will not be auto-logged out. Talking to an NPC or a retainer also blocks auto-logout.

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

Not a good idea. There are too many, perfectly legit, ways of avoiding the auto-logout, some of which can easily happen accidentally.
One example: Start crafting something. Get called away from the computer by a phone call or something. Forget to go back to computer to log out character and don't return for many hours. While in crafting stance the character will not be auto-logged out. Talking to an NPC or a retainer also blocks auto-logout.

So... Just make auto logout force you out even if you "accidentally totally not on purpose" bypass the current auto logout function.


Such as "if no new inputs received in x minutes, force disconnect client"

[MrPresident]

Not a good idea. There are too many, perfectly legit, ways of avoiding the auto-logout, some of which can easily happen accidentally.
One example: Start crafting something. Get called away from the computer by a phone call or something. Forget to go back to computer to log out character and don't return for many hours. While in crafting stance the character will not be auto-logged out. Talking to an NPC or a retainer also blocks auto-logout.

You’re acting as if crafting is some lengthy ordeal. If you can’t finish a minute and a half long craft and proceed to then AFK “for many hours” you’re exactly the reason they’re having to implement these workarounds, whether it’s intentional or not.

[Sove92]

There is one more thing I would suggest: Add "AFK auto-logout circumvention" to the list of prohibited activities.


And be sure to enforce it.

How were you planning to enforce it?

[MistakeNot]

You’re acting as if crafting is some lengthy ordeal. If you can’t finish a minute and a half long craft and proceed to then AFK “for many hours” you’re exactly the reason they’re having to implement these workarounds, whether it’s intentional or not.

Crafting isn't some lengthy ordeal - that's just nonsense. But you can still get interrupted while doing it and have to leave the computer.

If you get logged out while crafting you lose the crafting materials you were using - some of which can be very valuable. If an auto-logout feature would cause that to happen I guarantee SE would get many very angry customers.

Crafting is just one of many activities that SE has decided makes you immune to auto-logout.

[Theodric]

If someone is eating an apple for their lunch and they step away from it then the apple is going to spoil and likely be inedible by the time that they return. Equally, if people choose to go AFK in the middle of an in-game activity then I don't think they should be surprised if they're logged out or unable to complete whatever it is they were doing before they took their leave.

[Sebazy]

There is one more thing I would suggest: Add "AFK auto-logout circumvention" to the list of prohibited activities.


And be sure to enforce it.

Why? It'd be much more fruitful for them to go after large scale bot and RMT teams, mass pvp win trades and such. These are things that actually impact both the game's economy and it's player base. A few stubborn AFKs aren't impacting anything. This is just adding work to achieve nothing except alienate some of the most steadfast and lucrative players they have.

[Feronar]

How were you planning to enforce it?

Someone is seen repeatedly jumping in place.
GM whispers that player: "Hey, are you there?"
No response. Player is still jumping in place.
GM teleports that player to the Mordion Gaol, and gives him the boot.