Does Square intend to address Market botting?

[KageTokage]

I think the community is on its own for this one.

For the bot-type originally discussed at the start of this thread, one I will call the Market-Crash-Bot, a suggestion that might be useful is to coordinate with other sellers in your world to each take a set of, say, 5-10 items cornered by the bot and to undersell so that the bot can't sell and profit for RMT. My experience is that the bot sets its price floors to the cost of mats, and for poly-DOL/DOH players, this should be easy to beat. These sellers will have to take one for the team (the server) to let the well run dry, but I don't think it'll take more than a month to eliminate the bot if profits aren't coming in. The RMT merchant will probably bot something else, like crystal selling, but I think the market bots are the most damaging to the health of a server.

As I said before, I'm quitting after my sub lapses at the end of the week, specifically for the poor support for bots and fair play. I also have to say that SE USA's support has been pretty pathetic, and I don't really want to give them any more money. We haven't even received a form response on the forums or an acknowledgement of the issue. With email, I only receive template emails that don't address my message comments. They don't have to tell us whether or not they're investigating specific bots; they just need to at least acknowledge that they've received the issue.

I can't see that working unless there's only one bot on the entire server as bigger servers like Cactuar have several bots who are fighting with each other on top of the actual players which has basically just turned the marketboard into an undercutting warzone where the bots are the only winners.

[TheLoveJenovan]

Thanks KageTokage. I think it could still work with multiple bots, but it would require more work.

Another suggestions: Start a temporary FC called "No Marketboard" with other legit sellers on your server. Advertise your FC in all Markets with a note like "We are legitimate players who love FFXIV and are protesting the prevalence of bots on the marketboard. We'll sell items you need until SE fixes this problem." (I haven't checked the word limit)
The goal is not to make this a long-term solution, but to raise awareness. Squeaky wheel.

This behavior would not violate the TOS. The relevant parts are:

3.2 Disruption. You may not in any way disrupt or interfere with the Game experience of other players, including the disruption of Square Enix's computers and servers.

As long as you don't tell, harass or force players to use the FC instead of the marketboard, you will be ok. You're merely offering an alternative to players who want this broken system fixed. Players are still free to use the marketboard.

3.6 Any Illegal Activities. You may not conduct any illegal activities whatsoever in connection with the Game. This includes every illegal activity not specifically highlighted above, including without limitation gambling, defamation, harassment, and fraud

Don't defame SE in your world messages. Don't write stuff like "We have to do this because SE su***!"

3.9 Non-Commercial Spamming/Spimming. You may not use (or abuse) the in-game chat and message services to harass other players.

Even though people Tell to recruit for their FCs, I wouldn't do that for this FC.

I would do this myself, but I don't have time right now with my job and covid-19 preparations for the semester. You could also do what I did and let your sub lapse. If you do this, I'd suggest sending SE a note to let them know why.

https://support.na.square-enix.com/c...382&la=1&fty=1

I posted mine under Contact Category "In-game", Contact Sub-Category "Other" and in "Summary of your Inquiry," I wrote: I am quitting because of bots.