AFK in PVP

[Cadmar]

AFK in PVP has become a real problem. I really enjoy PVP and it has been ruined by people coming in just to get EXP. I like that SE added EXP to it but I never thought that people would be so lazy. Why not at least try? You may find out you even like it!

Would it be acceptable to just AFK in POTD? No. Any other dungeon? No. Why do people think it is ok in PVP? I know we can report (and I have and will continue) but that only does so much good.

Maybe SE should add EXP per kill/assist or some form of incentive for people to actually try. Right now it is just infuriating.

[AlphaFox]

I would agree with at least giving EXP for dealing a fair amount of damage to that even if you were the worst possible player, but really tried, you would still get the max EXP. I can certainly agree with giving the AFKers who do nothing the entire time 0 exp and seals. This coming from someone who only did it for the glamour.

[Khel]

Seems to be a problem in every pvp game that has matches like these.

[rxnin]

For those who actually enjoy PVP and want to win, but is held back by AFK players "guarding base," I think OP has a great idea.

We should incentivize players, who actually deal damage, heal, or steal bases.

And with new PVP changes, it's more accessible than ever for players to actually try and contribute to the party, rather than sitting around doing nothing.

[Fynlar]

Would it be acceptable to just AFK in POTD? No. Any other dungeon? No. Why do people think it is ok in PVP? I know we can report (and I have and will continue) but that only does so much good.

The issue is that if you just afk in POTD you will never complete the instance, as you won't be able to use the portals. If you don't complete the instance, you obviously get nothing. Obvious discouragement of the lazy approach, and this is how most instances in the game work. Not only will you not get rewarded if your group doesn't win because of your lack of contribution, your party won't get rewarded either, which will make them all the more inclined to boot you out.

That's what's causing the afk issue in PVP; it doesn't have that same discouragement. No matter how you perform, you still apparently get the full EXP. The people who are there solely for EXP (which, as of the release of SB, number a great many people) have no real reason to expend beyond the bare minimum effort to avoid being kicked, whether auto-kicked or manually kicked by their party. The people that are there to actually contribute but don't actually care that much about their team's result or what the rest of their party does won't be as inclined to administer a kick either. Personally, I don't just afk (even if I do think I suck at PVP and I might very well be more of a hindrance than a help at times), but I also don't spend my time in PVP watching everyone in my alliance like a hawk to make sure they're all doing things because I simply don't care that much about what they're doing.

I don't know why they can't make EXP awarded based on personal contribution, seeing how they pretty much went out of their way to ensure PVP in 4.0 is a homogenized experience where everyone has nice round identical HP values and your actions are practically decided for you by the game, so everything is all nice and fair (and at least for me, boring).

[Ranhansha]

Totally agree. Something should be done. I don't like losing, but if we tried and the enemy team was better I can't complain at all, but when we lose due to an afk it's really discouraging since we never had a chance.
Maybe the exp boost was given to compensate for the afks?

[Beckett]

Just boot them. I've never seen an AFK vote kick not go through.

We had this same issue when tomestones were first added to Frontline, and unfortunately we're going to see more of it now with PVE EXP rewards. I definitely think a few problematic AFKers is worth it though. For every 1 person I've seen joining Frontlines to AFK for free EXP, I've heard 5 players who have never done PVP before join up and say they love it. Despite a couple hiccups, Frontlines has never been in a better place than it is now, and I think SE did an incredible job revitalizing it.

[Ashua]

There is something to be said for just owning up to being that kind of person. It's not anything good, though, that is for certain.

I have done very little frontlines so far this xpac, but this is a problem in Feast as well, people just running in and, for lack of a better term, feeding kills, respawning, and doing it again. It seems even more offensive to me there, as it lasts a maximum of 8 minutes. If you can't spare 8 minutes of your time in a game, I can't imagine how insufferable you must be in real life.

Might not personally like it but itleast this person is upfront and direct over the rest of people who afk/bot and just all around find ways to cheese the game while pretending otherwise.

[Fynlar]

Something tells me he ain't as "upfront" about it to his parties.

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

Nothing wrong with it. PvP frontlines isn't real PvP anyways. Blame square for awarding that much exp. I'm afk in a match right now lol

Possible attempt to troll aside, I'd like to point out the open contempt for PvP here, and note that this has been a rather predominant thing for far too long.

It's no secret that PvP has been largely unpopular with the XIV playerbase - largely due to misunderstanding, anxiety in the face of competitive gameplay, and negative stigmas based on bad experiences (in XIV and other MMOs with PvP). But the idea that you can do in PvP, ethically what would be frowned upon and a reportable offense in any PvE content is absolutely wrong, and a huge insult to those who actually gave PvP a chance and found something quite enjoyable, even before the changes.

Worse still is blaming SE for finally trying to do right by a playerbase/content that has gone largely neglected or minimally supported though ARR and Heavensward. Awarding XP for PvP isn't a problem. People who wouldn't touch PvP besides exploiting the XP gains by queueing up and not participating IS a problem, and there's no excuse for doing it.

As it stands, the best thing you can do is kick the afks. Advise those who don't know any better that "base guarding" generally isn't necessary (especially if you keep your map open and watch enemy movement). And when you see someone blatantly trying to throw, don't attack them. Don't even touch them. Drag the match out. Then kick them before it's over. They want fast easy XP and will screw 7/23 other people out of it. . . Show them that won't be tolerated.