Frontlines 7.1

[Mawlzy]

I can absolutely confirm this. I’m in a Discord server where people treat PvP like it’s parsing in PvE, prioritizing padding their stats over actually winning the match. To them, having the highest number of kills or the most damage is what matters because it makes them look like they contributed more and, by extension, look better than everyone else. Winning the match has become secondary to boosting their own numbers. When I first got invited to the server, I was genuinely shocked by how widespread this mindset is. It’s not just a few players—it’s a significant number, and they even run premade groups nightly with this exact goal in mind. It’s like parsing culture bleeding straight into PvP.

This is actually why I left a couple of large PvP Discord servers. Made me feel queasy. It's a great shame, because some of those guys have done a lot of good (RW would be stone cold dead rather than just ailing without them), but you've described the situation perfectly. It's personal stats first, with winning little more than a side bonus if it happens.

[YouWereIndicted]

This is actually why I left a couple of large PvP Discord servers. Made me feel queasy. It's a great shame, because some of those guys have done a lot of good (RW would be stone cold dead rather than just ailing without them), but you've described the situation perfectly. It's personal stats first, with winning little more than a side bonus if it happens.

In all fairness, as I am someone who occasionally pads. It is much easier to pad and play for your numbers and yourself than it is to control 23 other people on your team. Some outcomes of the match are just out of your control but playing for numbers and performing well on a job is still something you can do plenty. I think the only issue with only playing to pad is if you end up hitting the wrong team because it is either weaker, squishier (more ranged = bigger numbers) or they're clumped up more. Besides from that I don't think there's any issue only playing to pad so long as you're stopping the winning/stronger team as well. I think doing both is just fine and it's how I play.

In terms of looking for damage, I'd be more impressed at a SAM or a WAR doing over 1.5m damage than I would some ranged/caster anyway. Some jobs just make it easier like right now RDM/AST/SMN are the top dogs from my experience. Gone are the days of SCH! (good riddance)

[Mawlzy]

In all fairness, as I am someone who occasionally pads. It is much easier to pad and play for your numbers and yourself than it is to control 23 other people on your team. Some outcomes of the match are just out of your control but playing for numbers and performing well on a job is still something you can do plenty. I think the only issue with only playing to pad is if you end up hitting the wrong team because it is either weaker, squishier (more ranged = bigger numbers) or they're clumped up more. Besides from that I don't think there's any issue only playing to pad so long as you're stopping the winning/stronger team as well. I think doing both is just fine and it's how I play.

In terms of looking for damage, I'd be more impressed at a SAM or a WAR doing over 1.5m damage than I would some ranged/caster anyway. Some jobs just make it easier like right now RDM/AST/SMN are the top dogs from my experience. Gone are the days of SCH! (good riddance)

I understand working with 23 (or 20) randos can be frustrating, but I still think the priority should be helping the team win. I know many premades on Aether who don't communicate with the team (bit of a clue when the leader types "vc" in party chat and that's the last we hear from them), are clearly padding, or in some cases carrying out a vendetta against an opposing premade.

Since such players tend to be the most skillful, it's absolutely crushing if they focus first on K/A instead of team goals. It's incredibly selfish (although not as bad as AFKers before someone counters with that). Obviously sometimes padding coincides with team goals, simply because wiping out opponents is important. But I'd bet many of these instances of 2nd place going after 3rd arise from padders feeding on the weakest opponents.

[YouWereIndicted]

I understand working with 23 (or 20) randos can be frustrating, but I still think the priority should be helping the team win. I know many premades on Aether who don't communicate with the team (bit of a clue when the leader types "vc" in party chat and that's the last we hear from them), are clearly padding, or in some cases carrying out a vendetta against an opposing premade.

Since such players tend to be the most skillful, it's absolutely crushing if they focus first on K/A instead of team goals. It's incredibly selfish (although not as bad as AFKers before someone counters with that). Obviously sometimes padding coincides with team goals, simply because wiping out opponents is important. But I'd bet many of these instances of 2nd place going after 3rd arise from padders feeding on the weakest opponents.

Absolutely. I agree with you there as I only have ever wanted balanced matches and people to try their best. I was merely speaking from a solo perspective and how someone else sees padding. Thankfully with DRK being much weaker (I was also someone who played DRK) I think the mindset of only trying to pad is kind of dying because this iteration of PvP requires team support much more and people can't really get carried by DRK anymore as it is much easier to counter and die on. But dealing damage is just harder in general right now, once AST (hopefully) receives the DRG treatment it will be interesting to see what jobs and comps people will pick up now. I'm sure you will see people trying to accomplish and be greedy on Onsal though. As that map definitely rewards padding and pushing more, still. At least from my experience and playing lots of melee last time the map was in rotation despite melee being much harder to play now imo.

RIP to my beloved Dragoon in Frontlines, though. :'(

[Mawlzy]

Absolutely. I agree with you there as I only have ever wanted balanced matches and people to try their best. I was merely speaking from a solo perspective and how someone else sees padding. Thankfully with DRK being much weaker (I was also someone who played DRK) I think the mindset of only trying to pad is kind of dying because this iteration of PvP requires team support much more and people can't really get carried by DRK anymore as it is much easier to counter and die on. But dealing damage is just harder in general right now, once AST (hopefully) receives the DRG treatment it will be interesting to see what jobs and comps people will pick up now. I'm sure you will see people trying to accomplish and be greedy on Onsal though. As that map definitely rewards padding and pushing more, still. At least from my experience and playing lots of melee last time the map was in rotation despite melee being much harder to play now imo.

RIP to my beloved Dragoon in Frontlines, though. :'(

Agreed, Mid on Onsal is probably the clearest example of people putting their own goals above those of the team.