[request] Appear Offline option

[xbamfo]

Hi there. I was wanting to request a feature where someone could log in and appear offline when it comes to friend's lists and player lists.

The reasoning for this is that sometimes someone may just want to log in and not be bothered by folks in FC and friends list.

I myself, have some good friends on FFXIV and love to interact with them most of the time, but I also play the game with a significant other, and sometimes just want to play the game with her without people bothering us or assuming we're ERPing when we just simply don't want to dungeon or raid :P.

I know that we can talk to the friends but it's just awkward, especially when it comes up repeatedly. I'd really like the option to just avoid the hassle and the awkwardness and just play with my girlfriend in peace. (Or log in for 5 minutes to check my market board without friends getting excited for me to play)

Also "busy" status doesn't cut it. I'd like to be just plain invisible.

[Rongway]

What do you find unacceptable about /busy? It tells people, "Don't bother me." It's not a fault of the system if your friends aren't respectful enough to understand that.

[xbamfo]

Put simply, it looks rather suspicious when yourself and significant other both put on "busy" status for all the friends to look at.
But besides that, what seems unacceptable about another option? It's not like this would take away or replace anything.

[Iscah]

Sometimes you just don’t want to have to talk to people. It’s the equivalent of seeing someone you know on the street and hoping they won’t notice you, because you don’t want to talk OR seem rude by not talking - except in this case, the FC login notifications make sure they know you’re here and there’s no chance of slipping past unnoticed.

[Rongway]

But besides that, what seems unacceptable about another option? It's not like this would take away or replace anything.

You made the claim that what we have is unacceptable; it was fair for me to ask why.
It still sounds like the problem is with people who don't understand and respect what it means for you to be /busy, which is not a problem with the system. If you can explain to us here that sometimes you just want to play with your SO, surely you can explain it to your friends as well?

[xbamfo]

I never stated that Busy status was unacceptable or had a problem with it. It just simply lacks a function that I'd like to have as an alternative. That's what I meant but "doesn't cut it". For it's function, it works fine. I just want a different function from a different status.

Also there is not an issue with explaining it to the friends. It has already been a few times in fact. But it'd be much easier to just stop having to repeatedly explain to people and stop being bothered, while still keeping people on friends list so I can interact with them like normal the rest of the time. It's honestly more of a convenience thing.

[Reinha]

Sure, with the condition that all social lists where you are invisible are also invisible to yourself. The offline status should not be used as a tool for stalking.

[xbamfo]

Sure, with the condition that all social lists where you are invisible are also invisible to yourself. The offline status should not be used as a tool for stalking.

That could be a good way to go about it : ). I've seen other games use a similar format. Steam even as a whole doesn't let you view your friends list when in 'incognito' mode sotospeak. And then those that want to interact while invisible can meet before going that way, or set a meeting place.

[Zomkei]

snip... assuming we're ERPing when we just simply don't want to dungeon or raid :P.

nothing like walking into your private home to idle only to start receiving tells left and right asking who you’re erping with. like man, let me dissociate in my fireplace in peace. i agree there should be an option to be invisible, but like suggested above me there needs to be a counter measure or it can be abused easily.

[Aylis]

Why not just make an alt and keep the names between just you and your SO? That way under the currant system you two can have all the time together alone you want and not have to worry about upsetting friends.