Is it OK to use bots in FFXIV?

[Liam_Harper]

Morally no. In terms of rules, Enix seem to be treating it like ACT. Don't openly tell anyone and they'll turn a blind eye. They haven't even acknowledged it's a rapidly spreading issue or taken any measures. Sure it's not easy to tackle bots in large MMO's, but Enix don't even seem to try. A STF of 3 people in Japan, for the entire game, is a joke.

[Jijifli]

Morally no. In terms of rules, Enix seem to be treating it like ACT. Don't openly tell anyone and they'll turn a blind eye. They haven't even acknowledged it's a rapidly spreading issue or taken any measures. Sure it's not easy to tackle bots in large MMO's, but Enix don't even seem to try. A STF of 3 people in Japan, for the entire game, is a joke.

Except you can even admit it in game. I had an ex-fc member actively admit in game chat that he botted his materials, but because he had no crafter he needed other members to make his raid stuff. He even admitted to some of how it works (If you whisper the bot enough, it feigns afk and stops gathering, in case it's a gm.)

This player is still active, and it's been years. You'd think someone actively admitting it would do something, but Square doesn't want to say goodbye to their $15 a month from that person.

[KageTokage]

After how poorly they handled the cheaters in the restoration rankings (Only a handful of them actually got removed, and it was strictly DoL bots not DoH), I'm thoroughly convinced they just don't care and what little effort they do put in is just a token measure so people can't say they aren't doing anything.

[Veliaire]

After how poorly they handled the cheaters in the restoration rankings (Only a handful of them actually got removed, and it was strictly DoL bots not DoH), I'm thoroughly convinced they just don't care and what little effort they do put in is just a token measure so people can't say they aren't doing anything.

Why should they? This game is taking in record profits as more and more people subscribe. The cash shop has never done better. What reason do they have to improve when the community isn't willing to hold them accountable? FFXIV has the best crafting/gathering system I've seen in an mmorpg and its a shame that Square Enix invested so much effort into creating it only to let it be destroyed by bots.

I've been playing this game since 1.0 but I feel strongly about this issue and don't see myself renewing my subscription as frequently as I do. I'm usually subbed year round but I may change that to 3 months out of the year... and if Ashes of Creation is as good at it looks, I might just stop playing this altogether once that comes out.