Forum update! Feedback and incentive thread.

[LeoLupinos]

Have you ever wondered how this forum system could have more modern functions and Quality of Life similar to other places or even new ones? Are you fine of how some systems are handled here? This thread is being created for the purpose of feedback and incentive for a update for our forum.

Please, post your ideas and why they are valid, and discuss them.


FAQ:
1- Do we really need it?
Yes, why not? If FFXIV wants to bring more players to voice out their feedback in a clean space about the game these platforms need to be as good as possible. We don't need to start big, little by little makes a long term great deal.

[linay]

The only update I'd like for this forum that comes to mind is more moderation.

I don't know why, in several forums I've been to, people don't like the idea of posting in old threads. There was one forum I used to go to where if your thread isn't different enough than an existing thread, the moderator would either merge the two threads or close your thread with a link to the existing thread.

[Theodric]

I just really want to see our community representatives engage with us more directly.

[FirstnameLastname]

And maybe a forum software that does not predate the invention of the wheel, please?

[LeoLupinos]

1 Function to hide threads: Similar to reddit function to hide post and comments. Some threads I have zero interest, and I believe this would ease my life into tracking threads that I care for. Individual user choice

2 Optional function to respond to a specific post with direct message instead of needing to make a new post section with a quote: Again, similar to reddit. Some threads turn into off-topic and just turn off the interest of viewers duo to a huge surge of discussion, and some suggestions get lost amidst the discussion. That way, players can respond to that post without hindering the sight for new posts in the same thread.

3 Revision of the limitation to post in the forum by only active subscriptions : I would like to know what is the reasoning of this limitation. How can FFXIV gather feedback of the ones who have quit the game over X subject? Maybe limit for only reply and not new threads as a first move.

4 Lift characters limitation: Instead of a limitation, create a system to show the text up to 3000 characters then a button "Read more" to read to rest of the post.

5 Add the OPTIONS to enable in your post a negative reaction along with the like button, and a box containing who reacted with what: By expanding reactions players would feel more encouraged to interage. And by removing anonymity some players would choose differently a positive react or negative react. By adding it as a option then nobody can get hurt like reddit does. Some threads had been answered by the devs and their suggestions implemented resulting in a majority of players actually not wanting it, such as GNB sounds, alliance greed only and much more. By having a negative reaction players can actually vote and show a more accurate census to Devs. Please, don't make negative reactions impact negatively the user.

6 Edit mode for mobile: I've already ran out of count for the times I've just posted something with my mobile phone and there is a little typo error in there and I need to either run to a PC or forget about it. Please, such simple feature.

7 More threads per page: I personally forget about threads when they reach second page. I believe this change will help important threads to have longer life. I personally like reddit system of keeping it in the same page while loading proportionally as you scroll down.

8 More presence of FFXIV representatives in our forum section: As some player had pointed it out in this thread. It's hardly a presence nowadays, it feels like a miracle when they engage directly since the rarity. Some feel like JP get's more, even if we are supposed to get the same. Just take a look at the "Dev Tracker" function of this forum to see which language show more presence. Tip: It's not english.

9 More moderation: It's sad to see troll threads burying important threads to the second page, where they die. Also, it's not educative to ban without teaching how to not repeat the error.

10 Better Ban Appeal and penalties reset after sufficient time of good behavior: The current one doesn't help itself.

11 Option to Lock own thread: I usually see some threads that are just a question and are basically done in the first Reply, and people just repeat themselves trying to reinvent the wheel, don't know why, and this just keeps the already answered thread being answered and open to more discussion when it was all done in the first comment. I would like to have the ability to lock my own threads.

12 Better control over profile picture: As it stands now, it's weird and sometimes it stays with a outdated glamour of my char, I would like to have more control over that, ot at least a better informative UI explaining how it works to better avoid that case.

[linay]

3 Revision of the limitation to post in the forum by only active subscriptions : I would like to know what is the reasoning of this limitation. How can FFXIV gather feedback of the ones who have quit the game over X subject? Maybe limit for only reply and not new threads as a first move.

In the WoW forum, there were apparently people who claimed they have quit the game and yet stayed in the forum to post complaints about the game. Some of that might just be due to their subscription still having time, but it can be a legitimate issue.

If you have feedback to give, then you can give it within the time your subscription is active. Even if you only came back for one month, that's plenty of time to leave feedback in the forum after trying out the game again.

As for your other points:

I'm not sure what you mean by similar to Reddit, but I hope they don't change the actual message board format as I like reading a thread through once. Hiding threads/posts should be per user basis.

And that brings me to the negative reaction. I don't like how, in WoW forum, report functions are used to automatically hide posts. Again, hiding posts/threads should be individual user choice. (Of course, the problem in WoW forum is that it currently has no dislike button, so people abused the report function.)

That said, I personally don't think like/dislike buttons should be used at all. If you agree/disagree with someone's post, feel free to post and, hopefully, contribute to the thread by adding your own thoughts rather than just press a button.

[Sated]

I'm not sure what you mean by similar to Reddit, but I hope they don't change the actual message board format as I like reading a thread through once. Hiding threads/posts should be per user basis.

Really not a fan of how Reddit is set up either, I'm sure it's a fine format for something like advice that should be elevated, but for a forum is probably the worst possible format I can think of for having a discussion.

Ideally though I'd like any system that allows blocking other users. It'd be nice to at least be able to moderate on our end.

[linay]

Ideally though I'd like any system that allows blocking other users. It'd be nice to at least be able to moderate on our end.

This forum has an ignore list. I don't use it, so I don't know if that's what you're talking about.

[Sated]

This forum has an ignore list. I don't use it, so I don't know if that's what you're talking about.

Thanks I remember spending forever looking for it when I started using these forums and came up empty, but checked again just now after you mentioned it and I was able to find it almost immediately. Here's hoping it works better than other boards.

[worldofneil]

3 Revision of the limitation to post in the forum by only active subscriptions : I would like to know what is the reasoning of this limitation. How can FFXIV gather feedback of the ones who have quit the game over X subject? Maybe limit for only reply and not new threads as a first move.

Pretty sure it's because it stops unsubbed players from putting negative threads on the forums making the game look bad.

Sincerely,

Unfortunately there's no way for me to message you directly, but since this is about forum improvement it seems like the right place to mention it...

Are you aware there is actually a place to put your signature so it automatically appears on the end of all your posts? Just click "Settings" in the top right and then "Edit Signature".

As I'm sure you've realised doing it the way you are means you have to manually add it to every message, but you might not realise in doing so you're also disregarding the preferences of any user who has the "Show signatures" tickboxes unchecked. The reason that is there is because not everyone is viewing from a computer and/or they have very restrictive data allowances.