MSQ cutscene skipping against TOS?

[MariaArvana]

Trying to get a reluctant group of randoms/newbs to do it is one thing, but who cares if the group is in agreement?

To me, it's more about spreading common sense to people so that they don't do something foolish and end up with temp bans or worse. You know, to save them from theselves. Especially if some people are going around how to tell more innocent people how to do it.

Even with a full group agreement, that's not going to protect you. Back when Ungermax was being exploited, several people were hit by bans even when they did it among full friend groups in casual content. GMs have WAY more statistics and data to work with on their hands besides the in-game chat log. All that needs to happen is a mass bunch of 15minute clear Praetoriums to start popping up in the server logs for them to start investigating jimmy over here that was in every single one of those runs and is the common denominator to catch him in the act. GMs can enter instances if they so desire.

Not to mention, you'd need a full group of 8 in agreement to try and hope you stay under the radar, since even if you're 7/8 and that 8th doesn't like it...oops. Not to mention just typing it out in chat in the hopes the group agrees is enough to incriminate you.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It doesn't matter if "it's never happened to you or anyone you know" or any similar reason. It's against the TOS, the GMs have a ton of data they can use if the situation worsens, you're the one risking your account, it's up to you to decide if permanent warning strikes/bans against your account is worth saving that 25 minutes instead of firing up netflix or your favorite social media to distract yourself. And if you end up in front of a GM, you literally have no one to blame but yourself. That's it, no ifs and or buts. Take the risk and accept any potential consequences, or stay on the side of common sense and don't break the ToS.

[Vnolan]

To me, it's more about spreading common sense to people so that they don't do something foolish and end up with temp bans or worse. You know, to save them from theselves.

You don't have to warn people about advertising RMT in chat or harassment using parses.

Even with a full group agreement, that's not going to protect you. Back when Ungermax was being exploited, several people were hit by bans even when they did it among full friend groups in casual content.

Because they kept it hidden. That was also dealt with rather quickly once they became aware of it. Nothing happened with BLU or Eureka Light glitching when that was known about for about a year in Eureka's case (how many got banned for cheesing Doom during BA?) and this MSQ exploiting has been publicly known for over 18 months.

GMs have WAY more statistics and data to work with on their hands besides the in-game chat log.

Doesn't matter what tools they have if they aren't allowed to use them.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It doesn't matter if "it's never happened to you or anyone you know". It's against the TOS, the GMs have a ton of data they can use if the situation worsens, you're the one risking your account, it's up to you to decide if permanent warning strikes/bans against your account is worth saving that 25 minutes instead of firing up netflix or your favorite social media to distract yourself. And if you end up in front of a GM, you literally have no one to blame but yourself. That's it, no ifs and or buts.

Yep, just like you risk your account when you bot, sell content for real money, parse, use hunt radar, steal from a FC chest, run a LM scam party, provide unsolicited advice, pilot someone else's account, or win trade. Oh, I forgot, those are either not against the ToS and so don't matter even though they affect other people, or are dealt with by the STF, which has even more tools at their disposal than the GMs but somehow allows it to continue.

[MariaArvana]

snip

You can justify it however you like or downplay it, but they do have the tools and can use them if the situation escalates enough.

(Read: An LB giving 50% damage up literally breaking the difficulty of their content, forcing the devs to play their hand and using those exact tools and statistics to place temp bans on many people who used the exploit, even just out of fun.)

The cutscene lock took a while to be implemented, despite it being an ongoing problem for many months - years as well. Just saying, any day now you can wake up to a lovely email informing your character has been banned due to the devs wanting to place a firmer stance on the cutscene skip exploit. Like I said, it's about common sense. I know some players who botted 24/7 that have been banned, I know others who never have been. If you want to paint a target on your character's back, that's the player's choice. But they shouldn't be surprised if they suddenly have a GM zone in on that target and deliver them to the Mordion Gaol.

So as I said, it's your risk and only yours to make. Keep it to yourself to minimize innocent casualties, but you have only yourself to blame if you get put into a GM's crosshairs. As Ungermax had set a precedent for, nothing will keep you safe, no matter how innocent, no matter how much the group agrees with you, if the devs decide they want to go hard on shutting down an exploit. I'd advise to stay on the side of common sense. They implemented the cutscene lock because of outrage people were clearing the instance while they wanted to watch cutscenes. A subsequent outrage will only have the dev's iron hammer crashing down upon you.

[Vnolan]

You can justify it however you like or downplay it, but they do have the tools and can use them if the situation escalates enough.

Not talking about trigger use, hunt radar or clearing content for money/Gil. Doesn't have to be justified when anyone can do it, it affects no one and the devs have had ample time to do something about it if it displeased them so much.

(Read: An LB giving 50% damage up literally breaking the difficulty of their content, forcing the devs to play their hand and using those exact tools and statistics to place temp bans on many people who used the exploit, even just out of fun.)

They found about Ungarmax and let players continue to do it for 18 months? Or was the game taken offline within a day or so?

The cutscene lock took a while to be implemented, despite it being an ongoing problem for many months - years as well. Just saying, any day now you can wake up to a lovely email informing your character has been banned due to the devs wanting to place a firmer stance on the cutscene skip exploit.

Adding unskippable cutscenes is not like temp banning a bunch of players.

Like I said, it's about common sense. I know some players who botted 24/7 that have been banned, I know others who never have been.

So we're in agreement that just doing it won't have you banned.

As Ungermax had set a precedent for, nothing will keep you safe, no matter how innocent, no matter how much the group agrees with you, if the devs decide they want to go hard on shutting down an exploit. I'd advise to stay on the side of common sense. They implemented the cutscene lock because of outrage people were clearing the instance while they wanted to watch cutscenes. A subsequent outrage will only have the dev's iron hammer crashing down upon you.

Sure it will. Why nip it in the bud over a year ago when they can wait, let more people do it and increase how many they have to ban all so they can take in less money?

[Chie_M]

Since this Moogle event started, every single run I've been in has had someone skipping. Is it honestly that hard to just tab out for a few minutes? Sheesh.