So In A Game Where In-Party Communication Is At Times Vital ...

[Saefinn]

There could also be an architectural reason it wasn't put there in the first place (in how servers handle different types of messages), whilst technically resolvable there might not just be enough demand or need for it for them to make it work. Though obviously any reasons why are speculation as I don't believe the devs have touched on it.

But this is honestly the first I've heard somebody viewing this as necessary for tank/healer communication, as a career healer for the majority of the game's existence. Communication is necessary, but never seen chat so cluttered that this needs to be a thing? Especially in a game where you don't have that much space to be typing whilst you are doing stuff.

I just don't see how it's needed. If simple and straight forward to rectify, then sure, for the niche of people that might use it.

[Spiroglyph]

If you're trying to communicate with someone from your party to coordinate things for incoming mechanics, the best would be to use party chat so everyone's aware of what you're trying to do and offer their own advice and help on the matter. Personally I can't think of a single reason why you'd need to /t someone over using party chat.

[Sated]

The first time I tried to send a whisper to someone it was to point out they were wearing a glam piece instead of armor in a leveling roulette.
I couldn't whisper them, and also didn't want to call them out for it in party, so I didn't say anything.

But it also makes me understand why it's blocked... it's distracting and usually used for unsolicited messages.

In general though, I think anything that is relevant to the party's progress like cooldown orders and roles can and should be handled in the party chat before the fight anyway so everyone's on the same page.

[Arngrim_Greyashe]

I'm confused as to how this is an issue for the OP when all chat boxes are completely customizable. Alliance chat is good for 24 man and party is good for 8 man. Also, discord for voice if you're in a premade for more demanding content. Easy peasy.

[linay]

I'm guessing they don't want /tell in instance so people don't try to privately work together against someone (discord notwithstanding), like trying to get someone vote kicked, or they don't want people bullying another.

If you have something to say, can say it publicly, and if a fight is hard to do, no reason for idle chat, so only relevant chat should be there (res and other ability macros aside).

[Paladinleeds]

I dont want to make a case to disable all "outside" chat-functions during duties, but I admit that there have been situations where someone messed up multiple times or constantly stopped everything they did etc. and then it turned out they were having a conversation with their FC instead of paying attention to the duty. And that is very annoying for the 3 people who are in this duty with them.

As someone who has made that mishap myself, I think it could actually be useful. Remove all communication forms except /party (in a 4-man or 8-man duty), or /alliance (in a 24-man duty), while in instanced duty. By that, I mean in a 24-man duty, even /party wouldn't be available. That way while in duty, there's one line of communication (outside programs like Discord notwithstanding), and it helps to laser-focus everything.

[Kewitt]

I have a chat channel just for raiding.

[SamRF]

TBH I just did an alliance raid as ninja and I kind of wished I could whisper to ninja from other alliance to arrange the order we do our trick attack.

[kaynide]

Personally, I'd hate it. If there is something to discuss, it's better to discuss it out in the open for all to see. In other games the only thing that ever came out of /tells were people nit picking or asking stupid questions gumming up the whole raid. Lot of standing around wondering wtf the tank is waiting for, lots of unsolicited advice. The nature of 1-to-1 chatting emboldens idiots to be more..idiotic. Something I've never really needed.

As others have said, if I AM doing something that needs communication between members, I use some kind of voice-chat app, and am most certainly NOT playing with random people.

[DRKoftheAzure]

Short version is "spaghetti code" with the long version being Yoshi-P giving BS excuses that doesn't even involve "spaghetti code" at all...