In-game Team,

Quite frankly, I'm not sure what word in English I can use to describe how frustrated I am with this process; I think I may avoid all public services in-game or otherwise that Square-Enix has to offer for XIV due to the fact that any small thing can be taken completely out of context from person to person. Understandably, you have a business to run, and policy is policy;

The process in which you give feedback for suspensions and violation is sorely in need of amends, especially since you have a policy that prevents your team from explaining details of what invoked the incident of violation in the first place. I understand you guys are trying to prevent further harassment and retaliation but improving on giving more information to offenders so they understand why they're being banned/suspended/terminated/etc will help to give those people who are able to return back to your community a chance to understand what they did and how they might avoid repetitious offenses in the near future.

A week and 1/2 ago, I received an e-mail in my inbox maybe a couple hours after I had logged off to notice that I was hit with a ban/suspension 216 hours in regards to having violated the following:

FINAL FANTASY XIV User Agreement:
3.3 Profanity and Offensive Language. You may not use profanity or any language that a reasonable person would find offensive. The Game is for a user aged 13 and older. You agree to behave accordingly.

Unlike other violations/warnings that are generally given for other offenses, this email was devoid of anything related to the incident itself, save the fact that an investigation had taken place; I was found violating an obscure (and later come to find out extremely broad) policy or clause which is much wider beyond the scope of what it suggests.

After trying to communicate twice with the in-game team in regards to more details about the incident in question, I was told in both instances it would be best for me to reach the team in-game once the ban had been lifted, as they cannot discuss anything further with me in an e-mail. Ten days later, ban is lifted; I call a GM in-game who then tells me that they are unable to discuss the specifics of the incident in question, even though they have my ticket report before them. They did elaborate on the 3.3 clause however extends to harassment, of which they were still unable to discuss with me exactly where or how it occurred. I was perplexed as to how I was even supposed to learn from this experience at all as I still have no idea exactly what I was banned for, for what particular reason, nor how to even prevent being banned in the future. At best, all the conversations that I have had with your team have indicated or implied the following points:
  • You can be banned for anything any party deems offensive in a public in-game channel, regardless if profanity or offensive language is used or not.
  • You can be banned for anything any party deems offensive in a lodestones service post, regardless if profanity or offensive language is used or not.

So now, after that conversation, I'm feeling that the information that was sent in the e-mail is heavily erroneous. I'm even given a link to review the ToS/User Agreement, but in no such way does this clause state anything to do with what has been discussed through the team.

I'm glad to know that the team is actively investigating issues in the game with such a fine-tooth comb; In the fineness of your combing, it does not make me as a paying customer or a community member feel any more eager to use any of the public services in this game in question, which is shamefully regrettable. I'm unsure whether or not your goal in question was to make people apprehensive of using public channels, forums, or lodestone services over the daftly vague chance that they may or may not be banned for an extended period of time but you have definitely been successful in that vein.