Need advice: static imploding because of cheater.

[Midareyukki]

Just to clarify though:
Cheating and Botting. You may not create or use any unauthorized cheats, bots, automation software, hacks, mods or any other unauthorized software or hardware designed to modify the Game and gameplay. In addition, you may not take advantage of game system bugs and exploits during gameplay.

This is what the literal terms of service say on the matter. Some of the things listed fall under that category, some do not.
Someone reading about strats on a site or watching a youtube vid isn't against the ToS at all.
If they've said otherwise elsewhere, they've still not added it to the ToS and as such it isn't binding.

They didn't state "otherwise" per-se, but they did make a weird explanation elsewhere on Lodestone. (Edit: well, weird in terms of what people took from it). Specifically this link, which a GM told me to check when I asked.


I specifically asked about shaders btw.

And what people can and did pick on is how that page it says it prohibits the "Use of tools that allow players to more easily complete content."
Because it was extrapolated that using tools to access information on the content, in-game items or even using discord for call-outs was problematic.

Which I'm 100% sure it isn't... But a lot of people will argue to the death that they are.

And as I said, likewise will you find people arguing the same for mods, or even within 3rd party tools that ARE visibly prohibited (plug-ins, for example) on whether they're constituting a cheat (giving an advantage over others) or not.

Again. At the end of the day, it don't matter. Square's the one who needs to define and act on these things, and their actions so far have made it relatively clear what they actually consider a violation vs what they consider to be peanuts.

[Stormpeaks]

This far in the discussion and yet the simple response to this is that op should have minded their own business, as the person who streamed probably did it to an extremely small amount of people, probably at most 5 viewers so it had no importance whatsoever, there was no risk for anyone involved in the static but they prefered to be a TOS warrior and go on a crusade agaisnt third party tools because "muh beliefs over my static", instead of simply telling the person to stop and then if it didnt work, kick them off at the end, AFTER talking to the rest of the static.

They got what they deserved which is for their static to implode, next time, keep in mind that there are other people in a static, it aint all about you.

[Rolder50]

Just to clarify though:
Cheating and Botting. You may not create or use any unauthorized cheats, bots, automation software, hacks, mods or any other unauthorized software or hardware designed to modify the Game and gameplay. In addition, you may not take advantage of game system bugs and exploits during gameplay.

This is what the literal terms of service say on the matter. Some of the things listed fall under that category, some do not.
Someone reading about strats on a site or watching a youtube vid isn't against the ToS at all.
If they've said otherwise elsewhere, they've still not added it to the ToS and as such it isn't binding.

The literal text of the TOS states (https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...la=1&kid=68216)

Square Enix strictly prohibits the use of third-party programs or tools as these disrupt the balance of the game. Third-party programs and tools that permit automated or "absentee" play are prohibited. A Game Master (GM) may speak to players to investigate and confirm "absentee" play, and if the player continues with this behavior, contrary to the GM's instructions, they will be treated as participating in "absentee" play and subject to penalties.

Accordingly, the following activities are prohibited:

- Modifying, analyzing, integrating, and/or reverse-engineering game software or data.
- Creating, distributing, using, or promoting utilities that interact with the game.

"Square Enix strictly prohibits the use of third-party programs or tools as these disrupt the balance of the game." seems pretty gosh dang open ended and could include everything on that list. Same with "Creating, distributing, using, or promoting utilities that interact with the game."

Edit: In hindsight that FAQ article could be different then the TOS but the point still stands that it's an official article from them.

[Kansene]

The literal text of the TOS states (https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...la=1&kid=68216)

Square Enix strictly prohibits the use of third-party programs or tools as these disrupt the balance of the game. Third-party programs and tools that permit automated or "absentee" play are prohibited. A Game Master (GM) may speak to players to investigate and confirm "absentee" play, and if the player continues with this behavior, contrary to the GM's instructions, they will be treated as participating in "absentee" play and subject to penalties.

Accordingly, the following activities are prohibited:

- Modifying, analyzing, integrating, and/or reverse-engineering game software or data.
- Creating, distributing, using, or promoting utilities that interact with the game.

"Square Enix strictly prohibits the use of third-party programs or tools as these disrupt the balance of the game." seems pretty gosh dang open ended and could include everything on that list. Same with "Creating, distributing, using, or promoting utilities that interact with the game."

Accordingly
"as a result; therefore."

They sum up exactly what is considered prohibited, which is the part where they say:
- Modifying, analyzing, integrating, and/or reverse-engineering game software or data.
- Creating, distributing, using, or promoting utilities that interact with the game.

Granted, this could have been worded more clearly, but to me it seems very cut and dry.

EDIT: The only dodgy part of that though, is the word "analyzing". Because that is indeed a very open-ended word, so I'll definitely cede on that. The spirit of the word appars to be software that directly interacts with the data (e.g. parsers) but seeing as I have to use the phrase "the spirit of the word" it's not definite at all.

[Hoodcat]

Well rip discord and static recruiting sites

Cuz I consider those upsetting the balance of the game ect

[Bobby66]

The other issue is, SE could even say X is cheating and please don't do it. Until the start to enforce their policy people will still do it because the benefits do not outweigh the consequences, and many do feel a rule / law that is not enforced is not really a rule / law that needs to be followed. A person that has such a mindset do people really feel they think they are cheating? SE is a in a weird spot cause they do not want witch hunts against players, thus the whole don't talk about it keep it to yourself mindset.

We the players can feel one way about things, but unless those in power feel the same it is not the case. I also highly doubt if this thread is legit the person that was reported streaming to probably a small handful of people had any action taken against their account. The people that did get action taken against their account for streaming have often been high profile players or cases within the game. I personally know of many streamers that stream on certain sites NSFW mods and stuff, and people have threatened them many times and nothing has happened. SE knows if they go after the modding side too hard it will hurt their bottom line. So they will always have this no you should not do x, but we really cannot do anything about it unless you are really blatant about it.

[Rolder50]

Well rip discord and static recruiting sites

Cuz I consider those upsetting the balance of the game ect

Having voice chat is cheating didn't ya know?

[Bobby66]

Having voice chat is cheating didn't ya know?

Is is cheating if I use discord on my phone . . . or is it an issue as a console player if someone records my logs and uploads them. Does this also invalidate my own clears. :P

RIP not sure if I can handle this depending on the answers.

Jokes aside, I am sure we can all agree that the greatest threat to our community are those fake bards, they are a blight that needs to come to an end.

[Jamini]

The guy using zoomhacks should have cleared it with his raid leader before even using it. The leader is perfectly in the right to remove someone who was cheating, especially as activities like that are against the ToS.

To the OP: If you even read this far, best of luck. Next time make a set of rules that everyone agrees to adhere to before your group starts. Kindly ignore the people telling you how to run your own groups.

[Saraide]

The guy using zoomhacks should have cleared it with his raid leader before even using it. The leader is perfectly in the right to remove someone who was cheating, especially as activities like that are against the ToS.

To the OP: If you even read this far, best of luck. Next time make a set of rules that everyone agrees to adhere to before your group starts. Kindly ignore the people telling you how to run your own groups.

You're telling OP how to run their group and then tell them to ignore people telling OP how to run their group. What.