This game is on a terrible state right now.

[Atelier-Bagur]

Who is 'upset' over it, exactly? I was making an observation about something you could show to random people in the street to find that normal people would recoil in disgust from or crack a joke over. It's not a great thing for the game to be known for in the grand scheme of things and I've spoken to a fair few people who gave it a pass on that basis alone.

I'd wager the people who lash out and downplay the issue of creepy, predatory venues and dubious alterations to the game are the ones who are 'upset' around these parts. For starters, the game has players who are underage or who simply do not want to be exposed to other people's explicit fetishes out of the blue...

That's not being a prude, that's common legal sense.

Such people doing their own thing in private could be tolerated. Yet the game is now catering to them directly at the expense of those of us who...want an actual game.

Im sure degeneracy is happening in places because this is the internet but where in the bloody hell are you getting these statistics for FFXIV? Nobody is trying to defend the creepy shit but to try to label a whole group of people (The RP'ers) as predators is the stupidest thing I ever heard. This is the language and attitude you're giving off.

[Theodric]

Im sure degeneracy is happening in places because this is the internet but where in the bloody hell are you getting these statistics for FFXIV? Nobody is trying to defend the creepy shit but to try to label a whole group of people (The RP'ers) as predators is the stupidest thing I ever heard. This is the language and attitude you're giving off.

They're not roleplayers. Cyber isn't roleplay.

At no point did I ever state that all roleplayers are like that, so you're simply attempting to portray my words in a deceptive manner. Intentionally or unintentionally.

[Atelier-Bagur]

They're not roleplayers. Cyber isn't roleplay.

At no point did I ever state that all roleplayers are like that, so you're simply attempting to portray my words in a deceptive manner. Intentionally or unintentionally.

Buddy, you're the one trying to be deceptive here. You argue that the rp and venue scene is somehow killing FFXIV but then your first reasoning behind this is because of the "creepy, predatory venues". Yeah I'm sure you were trying to NOT label the whole crowd for being weirdos.

[Theodric]

Buddy, you're the one trying to be deceptive here. You argue that the rp and venue scene is somehow killing FFXIV but then your first reasoning behind this is because of the "creepy, predatory venues". Yeah I'm sure you were trying to NOT label the whole crowd for being weirdos.

Once again, you're twisting my words. I'm very familiar with roleplay. I roleplay myself. What you're referring to isn't roleplay, it's cyber - the characters involved are heavily altered through mods and are not being roleplayed as part of the FFXIV world as would make sense. They're using it as a place to cyber, chat and are being catered to with dance poles, modern clothing and modern furniture. Which would be tolerable if it wasn't coming at the expense of stuff for those of us who actually invested in the setting at its core.

I was a moderator for the unofficial site for FFXIV roleplayers in the past. There was a huge exodus of European roleplayers from Balmung to Omega years back because most of what was being offered did not qualify as roleplay but cyber and the situation is even more dire than it was back then.

Do you actually roleplay yourself out of curiosity?

Furthermore, I even urged people - if brave enough - to go explore the rabbit hole that is FFXIV on Twitter. They'll then see just how deeply rooted cyber is within the community. It's not subtle at all and doesn't give a good impression of the game to anyone who wants their MMO to be an MMO.

[Atelier-Bagur]

Once again, you're twisting my words. I'm very familiar with roleplay. I roleplay myself. What you're referring to isn't roleplay, it's cyber - the characters involved are heavily altered through mods and are not being roleplayed as part of the FFXIV world as would make sense. They're using it as a place to cyber, chat and are being catered to with dance poles, modern clothing and modern furniture. Which would be tolerable if it wasn't coming at the expense of stuff for those of us who actually invested in the setting at its core.

I was a moderator for the unofficial site for FFXIV roleplayers in the past. There was a huge exodus of European roleplayers from Balmung to Omega years back because most of what was being offered did not qualify as roleplay but cyber and the situation is even more dire than it was back then.

Do you actually roleplay yourself out of curiosity?

Furthermore, I even urged people - if brave enough - to go explore the rabbit hole that is FFXIV on Twitter. They'll then see just how deeply rooted cyber is within the community. It's not subtle at all and doesn't give a good impression of the game to anyone who wants their MMO to be an MMO.

I live and breathe FFXIV media such as Twitter and Reddit (as much as that sickens me to say) and I'm telling you the opposite. More so I see people posting and sharing their own characters and art than the degenerate cyber stuff as you describe. And if even thats the case...actually think logically for a second here.

Dont you think its a little stupid to believe that the dev team whom are very much against the "cyber" crowd with modded characters would want to cater to that crowd when those people are breaking the ToS in the first place?


THINK MARK, THINK

[Absimiliard]

I live and breathe FFXIV media such as Twitter and Reddit (as much as that sickens me to say) and I'm telling you the opposite. More so I see people posting and sharing their own characters and art than the degenerate cyber stuff as you describe. And if even thats the case...actually think logically for a second here.

Dont you think its a little stupid to believe that the dev team whom are very much against the "cyber" crowd with modded characters would want to cater to that crowd when those people are breaking the ToS in the first place?


THINK MARK, THINK

I care little for what demographic the dev team does or does not cater to at this point. They've chosen their direction, and no amount of input from the fanbase will change that.

Having said that, I feel your response to that poster comes off as disingenuous. If you are indeed extremely active in FFXIV and its social media circles, then there is no way possible for you to have missed the incredible amount of degeneracy going on. Care to take a guess how often weird crap gets posted on the main subreddit that has to be taken down? Not to mention the weird crap that gets posted and doesn't get taken down. For that matter, when's the last time you looked at party finder? Or spent five minutes in Ul'dah? I'm no role-player, but the lion's share of people I know from the game that still play are. They too are extremely disappointed with the current state of affairs, particularly the venue infestation and massive upsurge in overtly predatory behavior that came with it. It's at the point now where a not insignificant portion of people that prefer normal, which is to say non-degenerate, role-playing activities are opting to invest their time in other games, and plenty more besides are starting to contemplate doing the same.

Some days there's more venue garbage in the party finder than actual party finding. I'm not sure why these people feel the need to label their weird cyber-lounges as raids, but I can think of several jokes to make on the subject that would get me banned from the forums real quick.

That aside though, you've got to admit... the inclusion of stripper poles is all kinds of sus. Throwing in all sorts of modern accoutrements that sorta fit the same theme isn't exactly helping, either. It's rather reasonable for someone to look at this and go, "oh, I guess SE is encouraging it." Because, honestly, it sure looks like they are. Maybe they don't realize it, maybe they do. I'm not an SE employee, so I don't know. I just know what I see, and what I see is the degenerates multiplying like crazy while those of us seeking to use the game for something other than an online brothel service for forever-virgins are left shaking our heads in disbelief.

[DixieBellOCE]

Having said that, I feel your response to that poster comes off as disingenuous. If you are indeed extremely active in FFXIV and its social media circles, then there is no way possible for you to have missed the incredible amount of degeneracy going on. Care to take a guess how often weird crap gets posted on the main subreddit that has to be taken down? Not to mention the weird crap that gets posted and doesn't get taken down. For that matter, when's the last time you looked at party finder? Or spent five minutes in Ul'dah? I'm no role-player, but the lion's share of people I know from the game that still play are. They too are extremely disappointed with the current state of affairs, particularly the venue infestation and massive upsurge in overtly predatory behavior that came with it. It's at the point now where a not insignificant portion of people that prefer normal, which is to say non-degenerate, role-playing activities are opting to invest their time in other games, and plenty more besides are starting to contemplate doing the same.

I can see this tbh.

I was originally from Tonberry, Prior to the massive surge of clubs and ERP venues, there were lots of smaller RP cafe's and Courtrooms ect ect.
Nowdays the PF is just spammed with 18+ RP ERP venues.

With that influx of ERP venues, came a complete disregard for the games ToS towards modding, people openly and actively ask you if you use mods. The number of people that have (MARE) in their adventurer plates, actively advertising that they use mods, is growing by the day, there is no regard for the games ToS and the number of times the developers have said mods can and will get you banned if you advertise yourself using them, is falling on deaf ears.

They need to do a single widespread purge of the Modding community to force home the point that it is NOT allowed, and if you use it openly, you will be banned. No more slaps on the wrist.

[Ath192]

Im sure degeneracy is happening in places because this is the internet but where in the bloody hell are you getting these statistics for FFXIV? Nobody is trying to defend the creepy shit but to try to label a whole group of people (The RP'ers) as predators is the stupidest thing I ever heard. This is the language and attitude you're giving off.

Personally I don't care if people RP, I really don't, and if they add life to the game all the better. I like areas being populated. However, to me RP should be side content, and something thats there but the game keeps people hustling and doing official game activities for the most part, because, the official game activities are interesting enough.

Now in FFXIV that isn't the case. And so I find it sad that RP is kind of the main dish. Hence I complain. I want fun game activities and thats what most people want as well.

[Atelier-Bagur]

Personally I don't care if people RP, I really don't, and if they add life to the game all the better. I like areas being populated. However, to me RP should be side content, and something thats there but the game keeps people hustling and doing official game activities for the most part, because, the official game activities are interesting enough.

Now in FFXIV that isn't the case. And so I find it sad that RP is kind of the main dish. Hence I complain. I want fun game activities and thats what most people want as well.

I want fun game activities too, but blaming the rp community is not the solution. Its so silly how the fact that just because they added Island Sanctuary all of a sudden people are crying that they're giving attention to RP scene. When;
1. IS isnt even being used for RP as much as you think (as far as I'm aware) and
2. the rest of the main patch content so far has been battle activities.