Roleplay/Partyfinder Discrepancies & Policy Enforcement by GM's

[Llynethil]

I don't see a problem at all with people wanting to have fun and create a rp group using the other tab (what use would the "other" tab even have if not for that? Competitive cactpot scratching event?!).

At least get the priorities straight and get rid of people selling runs/gold/ weird pics first before thinking about doing something about harmless rp groups ...

[Nayout]

Should the GMs crackdown on that as well? Of course! Two wrongs don't make a right, though.

What is it about then? The GM laid it clearly in those screenshots, the PF is for creating parties to run content.

Are you really taking GMS's words for this game seriously after all the problems they have generated even when Xenos was banned from his Twitch channel? Bans for spamming Holy in Limsa? For telling someone how to do something and the infinite contradictions that they always do?

[Aurou]

This may just be one of the most intentionally obtuse responses I've ever seen on the forums.

Party has a specific and narrow definition in the context of the game. Don't be dense.

Party can mean a variety of things in the context of the game. Just because you don't agree with me, doesn't mean I'm dense. They are still gathering people for entertainment, IE: a party. Whether it's the traditional "game mechanic" version of a party or not is irrelevant.

There's nothing wrong with RP venues posting in PF and I honestly look at PF first if I want to go to a venue before trying to sort through anything else. Which I don't since I rather not leave game to seek something in game. Just imagine raiders being told not to post party finders for their statics and having to use other means to find people. A lot of people would be raging in the other direction then.

[MeiraStarborne]

But you are right, adults should take responsibility, starting with their parents not letting them have their credit card details.

As stated elsewhere: You can buy both the game and game time cards without a credit card. You can get a debit card from a bank at age 16, and still be a minor. There are ways to play the game as a teen without borrowing mommy or daddy's credit card. Please stop blaming parents, when it's adults playing the game who need to be mindful of their fellow players.

The game's content has sexual references, yes. But not explicit sexual acts being written out in detail like you will get in an ERP session.

As for the roleplay community that does do 18+ Venues, they have a strict vetting process in place at many of them, just because you don't see it here, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Anyone can come in and party, but if they want to partake in drinking, gambling gil, other extra-circular activities, they have to be vetted.

No. Just no. I know because I have worked at and helped manage several venues (some that sell ERP services) over the years. While I do not participate in ERP, I can without a doubt tell you that NO age verification happens in game.

You'd be surprised just how serious the RP community takes these situations, not just to keep minors out of that issue, but to keep adults from potentially putting themselves in a situation where they're letting a minor "simulate" activities they shouldn't be (Drinking/Gambling/etc)

Not all 18+ Venues are ERP, a lot of them are just nightclubs, they are strict.

Again, I am a part of the RP community. I have been for years. I order a drink at every venue I enter. Never once been asked my age. I've gambled at the casinos. Never been asked my age.

The only thing I've seen taken seriously by venues is in regards to Lalafels and the appearance of pedophilia.

For the record, I honestly don't care if people ERP, I choose not to. I would prefer it NOT be mentioned in PF ads or shouts. Venues that offer these services can mention it discreetly to patrons once they are IN the venue if they choose.

[Naixatloz]

Re: Discords and other out-of-game methods to advertise and organize RP:
I am an easily overwhelmed person. I would rather eat glass than join a massive Discord, especially since I'm sure it would mostly be used by large and/or popular groups. I don't want that. I want to go to a chill little venue with maybe a dozen people at most. Not to mention that such a solution only works for people who already know about it. You know how I got into RPing? I opened the PF and picked out a venue that sounded nice. Having an option like that, which isn't exclusively for people already in the know, helps the scene grow and thrive, and keeps it open to people who don't want to be involved in some mega-community.

[Shebah]

To people saying its good because of all the brothels: On Crystal, very few venues that advertise as 18+ or having dancers or personal services are what you probably think they are. Yes- they do offer ERP services, but most have at least half of their staff "yellow tagging" which means they're not interested in ERP at all. A lot of people also go there to either hang out or RP with friends, or just RP at the bars. Those places took off BECAUSE of Covid lockdown and are more of a social outlet than a lust-pit or Gil-grabbing scene like many seem to think Yes, there are places that prioritize that aspect but they're in the minority. If that's still not your thing, cool, but as someone who met some of my best friends and my boyfriend in this scene before stepping down from it, it's not all bad.

Many only have the 18+ tag as liability protection because no one on staff wants to flirt or do Activities with a minor. Granted, the 18+ tag really doesn't stop minors from partaking and if anyone was to have real-world authorities go after them for chatting with a minor "Well the place I met them said it was 18+" will do nothing, so it is kind of pointless in that regard, however, it also helps people who don't want anything to do with that scene avoid those places, so it's sort of a blessing.

There is another aspect to it, which is the spam. I can't speak for other data centers but spam started when nightclubs getting weirdly catty and competitive, and the spam started happening deliberately to drown out other venues. Venue owners who didn't want to have to do these things then felt forced to do it.

I'd say, instead of wasting energy arguing over the nature of the venues, or red herrings like selling clears, we should devote that energy to petitioning Squeenix to add a Roleplay tab. GMs are notoriously wishy-washy on what they allow and how they choose to enforce it (which is something Squeenix really needs to work on, too) but regardless of whether or not these instances were GM error or not, it would still be a good thing to implement for the QoL of both RPers and non-RPers. The RPC forums and Tumblr used to be the place to go for event flyers and PF ads were more uncommon, but they've really taken off with the nightclub and new RP scene since the Crystal merger.

Also, implement a rule stating one post per event or you get sent to the time-out box for a talking to.

[Glaschuu]

Re: Discords and other out-of-game methods to advertise and organize RP:
I am an easily overwhelmed person. I would rather eat glass than join a massive Discord, especially since I'm sure it would mostly be used by large and/or popular groups. I don't want that. I want to go to a chill little venue with maybe a dozen people at most. Not to mention that such a solution only works for people who already know about it. You know how I got into RPing? I opened the PF and picked out a venue that sounded nice. Having an option like that, which isn't exclusively for people already in the know, helps the scene grow and thrive, and keeps it open to people who don't want to be involved in some mega-community.

Seconded. I'm no longer part of any FFXIV RP Discord servers because I've found them to be largely ineffectual at helping me find RP *and* most are poorly moderated. And as someone before me pointed out, small venue ads are easily pushed out by the larger events.

PF advertising has a valuable use. It just needs to be improved, both by SE and the community.

[Infindox]

Should the GMs crackdown on that as well? Of course! Two wrongs don't make a right, though.

What is it about then? The GM laid it clearly in those screenshots, the PF is for creating parties to run content.

Why are you and LittleImp trying to police the PF to "only content parties"? I've used PF for the following:
- having a Omnicrafter make me something that I had all the mats for and my gear was not good enough
- buy a mount someone was selling for a friend
- join someone who was making artwork or photographs
- join someone looking for a static member
- doing something in a city for a patch release or expansion release that involves playing with others

All these and more instances are still parties in a way. That's why the "other" tab is there for.

[ForteNightshade]

Imagine GMs doing something about harmless RP party finders, and yet my servers crafting bot farm is still untouched. Absolutely insane

Cactuar's MB is a bot riddled mess and has been for years now. It's blatantly obvious who bots too, but the dastardly RP advertisements in PF. Those are where we're drawing the line. It's a complete joke.

[kinglyonheart]

No. Just no. I know because I have worked at and helped manage several venues (some that sell ERP services) over the years. While I do not participate in ERP, I can without a doubt tell you that NO age verification happens in game.

There are some role players that _do_ have age of consent buttons, especially on their individual character carrds (which i notice is more a thing over here on crystal) or their venue carrds which are like "by clicking this i consent that i am over the age of consent to view adult content in my area..." blah blah, i've made carrds for plenty of people and always recommend this feature. short of having everyone you interact with send a photo copy of their ID, i'm not sure what else roleplayers that do engage in erp can do to verify ages.