Reduce FC Invite Spam

[CtrlAltDefeat]

So something needs to be done about this. I've been receiving a ton of FC invites (20+ a day) because I'm not associated with one.

From what I understand, players are using the Player Search function, right-clicking anyone who doesn't have a FC beside their name, and selecting 'Invite to Free Company'.

This is really annoying when you're in the middle of playing and an invitation pops up in front of what you're doing.

My suggestions are as follows:
-Remove the 'Invite to Free Company' option from the Player Search. There's no reason for it. If people want to invite players to their FC, just stand beside someone who's a part of it.
-Add a cooldown for FC invites.
-Give us an option to auto-decline FC invites without having to use /busy?

[Niwashi]

-Give us an option to auto-decline FC invites without having to use /busy?

I think this is the best of the suggestions. It's both the least disruptive to people legitimately trying to invite friends and the most complete for people trying to avoid invite spam. Just let people set in their character options that they don't want FC invites and they won't get any.

(Ideally, also let the player inviting them know that it was auto-declined. That way, if someone forgot they had that option set when they changed their mind and wanted to join an FC, the inviting player would see it and be able to reply "/tell Player Name Sure I can invite you, but you'll have to change your auto-decline option first.")

[CtrlAltDefeat]

I think this is the best of the suggestions. It's both the least disruptive to people legitimately trying to invite friends and the most complete for people trying to avoid invite spam. Just let people set in their character options that they don't want FC invites and they won't get any.

(Ideally, also let the player inviting them know that it was auto-declined. That way, if someone forgot they had that option set when they changed their mind and wanted to join an FC, the inviting player would see it and be able to reply "/tell Player Name Sure I can invite you, but you'll have to change your auto-decline option first.")

I especially like the idea of the auto-reply indicating the user has that option set.

[Acelyn]

i just made a post that could involve this, i wish they would just give us the choice to join a GC as a full company, use your credits to buy whatever actions you want, it would give solo players the benefit of actions and also the protection from fc's who hunt for numbers, i dont mind fc's but im at the point where I dont have the will to join an established one and work to fit in the clique or join an up and comer to build it up or just watch it fail.

[Doozer]

The worst part is when they send you a /tell as well that's like "hey let me know if you need any help! I love assisting new players, so join my FC!" like if you're not in an FC then you must be new. They don't bother to check anything.

[CtrlAltDefeat]

The worst part is when they send you a /tell as well that's like "hey let me know if you need any help! I love assisting new players, so join my FC!" like if you're not in an FC then you must be new. They don't bother to check anything.

Also this. It drives me up the wall. They're just as bad as the gil-sellers!

[MicahZerrshia]

First, I will say this, if you are getting too much spam, esp from the same player or fc you can report them because it is considered harassment. Talked to a GM about this when I rolled a new char on a different server and was inundated with invites to a certain fc by different players, which I suspect were mostly the same person on different chars just inviting when they were on alts as well as their main.

As a fairly experienced guild leader in a few different games I must say that FCs who just send rando invites are generally the worst guilds to join. If you send a random invite or even a stock greeting + invite it tells me you are either a very inexperienced guild leader or a guild leader that doesn't care about their members because all they are to you are numbers. If the leader is inexperienced there is room for them to grow, but to me its not worth it to give the other ones numbers. Regardless the invite gets declined and that person gets blisted.

[LalaRu]

Another way to stop receive invites is starting to create your FC and stop at the signatures request. Your character will be listed as with a fc even you didn't (still) created any.

[Kochequ]

Players starting a new FC need efficient recruitment tools. Better to throttle the search to players only in the main cities and not in combat.