Regarding the Revision of the Prohibited Activities and Account Penalty Policy

[Rivers23]

According to the new TOS, yes, they can report you. You are trying to "compel a playstyle."

I'm very close to outright dropping the game. I mean, if people start getting banned because they're telling other people to improve, that's just sad. I mean, basically everything is harassment nowadays, you can't say anything to anyone anymore. Stuck with an ice mage in a dungeon, stuck with someone who doesn't use aoe abilities, stuck with someone who clearly doesn't know the mechanics of the fight he's in? Tough luck kiddo, you have to keep your mouth shut and carry them.
I mean, who cares anyway, Yoshi probably knows that 90% of the players play the game to glam and afk in Limsa, who cares about pve content.

[Xtrasweettea]

* According to how people are interpreting the new TOS.

Which overall is being done in some clearly exaggerated ways to prove a point, instead of just pointing out the issues and waiting to see if we get a dev response.

Because the rules are so broad, they can be interpreted every which way to Sunday.

No, not some of these are clearly exaggerated. They are exaggerated to you because of your own perceived value and benefits the rule may provide. Others do not have that same perception of value about these new TOS rules.

"Compel to playstyle," is super broad. There is no measurable base to this rule. Who's playstyle? The player's playstyle? SE's interpretation of what a playstyle for a role or event should be?

Most of these rule are for "offense." Offense has no measure to it. SE made rules for something that isn't measurable, has no base for us to use as a guideline, minus a few points (such as gender and "thinking"). It's completely up to GMs and SE.

[Xtrasweettea]

I'm very close to outright dropping the game. I mean, if people start getting banned because they're telling other people to improve, that's just sad. I mean, basically everything is harassment nowadays, you can't say anything to anyone anymore. Stuck with an ice mage in a dungeon, stuck with someone who doesn't use aoe abilities, stuck with someone who clearly doesn't know the mechanics of the fight he's in? Tough luck kiddo, you have to keep your mouth shut and carry them.
I mean, who cares anyway, Yoshi probably knows that 90% of the players play the game to glam and afk in Limsa, who cares about pve content.

Glamour is the true game. You just have to do "content" to get the pieces you want for your glam (or purchase it off of the Mogstation).

[Lauront]

Because the rules are so broad, they can be interpreted every which way to Sunday.

No, not some of these are clearly exaggerated. They are exaggerated to you because of your own perceived value and benefits the rule may provide. Others do not have that same perception of value about these new TOS rules.

"Compel to playstyle," is super broad. There is no measurable base to this rule. Who's playstyle? The player's playstyle? SE's interpretation of what a playstyle for a role or event should be?

Most of these rule are for "offense." Offense has no measure to it. SE made rules for something that isn't measurable, has no base for us to use as a guideline, minus a few points (such as gender and "thinking"). It's completely up to GMs and SE.

Exactly. Even if their intention is to specifically weigh down on certain types of abuse, the rules are written incredibly vaguely - and are ultimately interpreted and enforced by the GMs. Not the devs.

I don't see how people can try to defend these aspects of the new ToS.

[Jib]

I agree with having rules, I agree with respect between players and I agree with punishment when it is fair. BUT, if they act in the same as for example these forums are ruled sometimes,... then I am afraid for this game.

Dont get me wrong I really like this game, but I believe that if they do intent to literally do what is written with these changes then it will be tough and it might become unfair for some players. I truly hope they dont start using a "heavy hammer" straight away just to make a point. We are all humans, ppl make mistakes, including ppl that are judging.

What im trying to say is that I accept the change but I believe it will be extremely difficult to implement it fairly.

/apprehensive

[24spencer]

lmao imagine actually reporting someone because they told you not to spam blizzard 2 at level 70 and then getting them banned for 9 days
and then feeling like you are actually in the right for doing what you did

the absolute state of this game and its players

[Hyperia]

I am honestly very worried about this.

• If I say something, anything, or... nothing at all, and somebody takes offense to that... I'm banned?
• If somebody does not like how I pull a dungeon, I'm banned?
• If somebody does not like my playstyle, or my character, or my speech, or anything else, if they take offense to me in general... I'm banned?

The delivery of this change is worrisome as well, something this dramatic and significant should have been a PLL in itself. The fact that they are hiding the specific rules is exceptionally worrying as nobody knows what they can or cannot do. This is like a country passing a law saying that if you take offense to someone, they will lock them up and throw away the key.

When my employer implemented harassment training, we got a week of it and a book as thick as my wrist with all of the rules and guidelines. We knew what was safe, what we could correct and what would have to be corrected by others. We need guidance!

SE, I implore you, please post detailed guidelines so we may better abide by your rules. This is so vague that many people will withdraw from the rich community you have made out of fear. Is this what you really want? Did you really have to go this far? Your previous guidelines should have been sufficient to deal with any issue. As it is now, I will admit, that I am a bit fearful of this. I love this game and I don't want to get banned from trying to be kind and helpful.

[Gemina]

Does this also mean I can report people who call me elitist because I suggest they should improve their skills before they go into high end content and that no one has the obligation to carry them through content or sit in dungeons for 40 minutes? I find that very emotionally distressing.

Nope. But they can report you for infringing on gameplay, because the advice you're giving is unsolicited. If you want to coach the knowledge you've obtained, I suggest joining a program that allows you to do so instead of imposing your playstyle onto others in a dungeon. If that ice mage bothers you so much, then abandon the duty and form a premade party. DF isn't for your convenience. It's for everyone. Either bite or bail.

Does this mean that if we tell a dps player in 380 gear who's doing 4k dps to learn to play his job better we'll be reported? Is saying ''learn to play your job'' a bannable offense now?

Yes. You are in contempt because you are using a third party tool that allows you to see such numbers, which is and always has been against the ToS. Of course it's bannable, and should be. I honestly don't know how may players getting pissed off at you it takes for it to stick that your opinion on someone else's gameplay isn't needed, wanted, or asked for. DF is not the place to critique someone else's gameplay. "Learn to play your job" is typically a retaliatory response to rejected criticism, and you can best believe that is offensive.

I mean, things are really getting ridiculous.

I agree with you here, but not for the reasons you would think. SE has chosen to intervene because we as a community, failed. They wouldn't have to do things like this if everyone was respectable and courteous to one another, and obeyed the freakin rules. But no. We've forced their hands and there's going to be increased policing as a result. Everyone needs to look in a mirror instead of pointing fingers at SE. It's not their fault. It's ours.

[Sorimachi87]

Aside from people interpreting the ToS. This left a huge impact for sure.
Lets see and wait for how this develops...

[DamianFatale]

Hey, I am so relieved and happy that stalking is finally a bannable offense.

Several guys on here have stalked me in game, and tried to find out real life information about me. This has always needed better understanding.

I am also happy to see that homophobia against gender orientation, and that discrimination against gender identities is also clearly stated to be an offense. Often a company will just label LGBT+ as other, or put us dead last on the list of priorities. It feels like they only do it because they have to. Square Enix clearly makes the LGBT+ community a priority. With same sex eternal bond, Haurchefaunts bisexuality, Aymeric's bisexuality, random gay npcs, and even the Buduga tribes inclusion, I feel represented. Keep it up. I hope we get more LGBT+ inclusion in Shadowbringers. Seriously, this series is my childhood, and seeing that touches my heart. I have been through a few hate crimes, and I am so proud to say that XIV has helped me have an outlet that I can heal with in my spare time. I regularly use a Buduga alt to roleplay, and express myself in a way that I often struggle to do in real life. You have done such a fantastic job, and given me a tool to be more than just a victim. I am learning to be in charge of my own narrative, and I feel like I can honestly thank you for it.

My main issue however is that everything else is pretty vague, and I feel like it could be abused by users. How do you determine what is morally correct in a game that is filled with people from all over the world? Sure you have separate datacenters, but that hasn't stopped people from joining over seas on my server.

Please be more clear on what is and isn't allowed on XIV.