Dear Squeenix: Instead of using FOMO to promote PVP...

[Vahlnir]

Not being forced to team with randos would be a great start. Also having rules that actually make sense and not feeling like every death against you is the result of something cheap and unfair. How about not being screamed at by someone who fancies themselves the world's greatest shotcaller but is just being a jerk in alliance chat?

Honestly, I have more fun playing Mahjong than I do trying to unravel the nightmare that is FFXIV PvP.

The thing about FF XIV PvP is that it is very, VERY objective focused. Unfortunately, far too many people fail to understand this and decide to zerg another team from start to finish, all the while feeding points to the opposition. This is why you see people that are seemingly aggressive in Frontlines chats. They are tired of losing, and I don't blame them. Obviously, some take it too far, and that is never okay. But I think you need to understand why people tend to be like this. Personally, I stopped doing Frontlines entirely, and I only really tolerate CC because the difference between a win and a loss is negligible, and the matches are usually pretty quick. Every so often the people I get grouped with actually know what they are doing, so I enjoy that while it lasts, but I see the same mentality that I saw in Frontlines pretty often regardless.

[RyuDragnier]

The thing about FF XIV PvP is that it is very, VERY objective focused. Unfortunately, far too many people fail to understand this and decide to zerg another team from start to finish, all the while feeding points to the opposition. This is why you see people that are seemingly aggressive in Frontlines chats. They are tired of losing, and I don't blame them. Obviously, some take it too far, and that is never okay. But I think you need to understand why people tend to be like this. Personally, I stopped doing Frontlines entirely, and I only really tolerate CC because the difference between a win and a loss is negligible, and the matches are usually pretty quick. Every so often the people I get grouped with actually know what they are doing, so I enjoy that while it lasts, but I see the same mentality that I saw in Frontlines pretty often regardless.

For bonus points, play a SCH for CC. You are pretty much only a support as SCH, because the only kills you're getting are going to be the last tags from your DoT or if you're lucky enough for your Broil to be the last thing registering on an enemy. Otherwise you exist purely for setup, with a mitigation/damage buff, a DoT/damage debuff, and a healing debuff. Your team not running with what you're setting up? Resign yourself to the loss. Your team running with it? Well, you're in for a fun match.

[JamieRose]

The thing about FF XIV PvP is that it is very, VERY objective focused. Unfortunately, far too many people fail to understand this and decide to zerg another team from start to finish, all the while feeding points to the opposition. This is why you see people that are seemingly aggressive in Frontlines chats. They are tired of losing, and I don't blame them. Obviously, some take it too far, and that is never okay. But I think you need to understand why people tend to be like this. Personally, I stopped doing Frontlines entirely, and I only really tolerate CC because the difference between a win and a loss is negligible, and the matches are usually pretty quick. Every so often the people I get grouped with actually know what they are doing, so I enjoy that while it lasts, but I see the same mentality that I saw in Frontlines pretty often regardless.

I am also tired of losing. Very, very, very, VERY tired of losing.

[Johners]

I am also tired of losing. Very, very, very, VERY tired of losing.

That's because there's no real incentive to grind out a win. In ranked you only derank to a certain level and in casual, you get 700 Series EXP per defeat and 900 Series EXP per victory regardless of how long the game takes. Not to mention the lack of fixed composition or team queue means you often get sub-optimal teams. Win or lose, the reward structure rewards doing it quickly rather than grinding out a result as losing 20 games quickly is worth more Series XP than winning 15 games slowly.

[JamieRose]

That's because there's no real incentive to grind out a win. In ranked you only derank to a certain level and in casual, you get 700 Series EXP per defeat and 900 Series EXP per victory regardless of how long the game takes. Not to mention the lack of fixed composition or team queue means you often get sub-optimal teams. Win or lose, the reward structure rewards doing it quickly rather than grinding out a result as losing 20 games quickly is worth more Series XP than winning 15 games slowly.

So people are throwing? Good to know that's why I'm losing so much.

It's doesn't make losing any less frustrating.

[Vahlnir]

So people are throwing? Good to know that's why I'm losing so much.

It's doesn't make losing any less frustrating.

Purposely throwing a match is a ToS violation, so I think that some people just do the bare minimum, even if it's just getting KO'ed and running back ad nauseam. They are technically making an attempt, just not a good one. But I do think that a lot of people just don't understand that FF XIV PvP isn't just player vs player.

[Johners]

Purposely throwing a match is a ToS violation, so I think that some people just do the bare minimum, even if it's just getting KO'ed and running back ad nauseam. They are technically making an attempt, just not a good one. But I do think that a lot of people just don't understand that FF XIV PvP isn't just player vs player.

I've had plenty of games this weekend, grinding out my PvP Series rank last minute, in which people are clearly throwing by just fighting near the point and magically letting someone push the crystal... not that I'd blame them for it. It's 700 Series EXP for a defeat and 900 for a victory. Statistically it's better to lose fast and queue again than it is to push 3+ minutes of overtime and win (assuming you even win by doing that).

[Vahlnir]

I've had plenty of games this weekend, grinding out my PvP Series rank last minute, in which people are clearly throwing by just fighting near the point and magically letting someone push the crystal... not that I'd blame them for it. It's 700 Series EXP for a defeat and 900 for a victory. Statistically it's better to lose fast and queue again than it is to push 3+ minutes of overtime and win (assuming you even win by doing that).

Right, but if they are still participating it is hard to prove intent. And they know this, I'm sure.

[SturmChurro]

Purposely throwing a match is a ToS violation, so I think that some people just do the bare minimum, even if it's just getting KO'ed and running back ad nauseam. They are technically making an attempt, just not a good one. But I do think that a lot of people just don't understand that FF XIV PvP isn't just player vs player.

I have seen multiple times people intentionally throwing or just plainly giving up. It was usually accompanied by "good game" spam or whatever, if I am not mistaken. Anyway, a fool proof way of throwing and trying to skirt a ban is just to play bad; who is going to prove it? Although, yeah, there can be some really bad players.

[Vahlnir]

Anyway, a fool proof way of throwing and trying to skirt a ban is just to play bad; who is going to prove it?

I'd imagine that there's more than a few people who do exactly this.