Roleplay/Partyfinder Discrepancies & Policy Enforcement by GM's

[ForteNightshade]

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.

No, it isn't. They have an "Others" tab for a reason. It's always been meant to find people who are interested in a specific activity, which can include things like selling crafting gear, advertising raid discords and all of sorts of things. Literally all of the major discords people readily use (Aether Hunts, Raid Recruiter, Ultimate Uncoiled, The Balance) all started through PF advertisement and wouldn't exist otherwise. Until now, this has been allowed since the inception of PF. Suddenly, we have a single GM who has taken it upon themselves to decide "Nope. Can't do that." No warning to players prior, no other GMs issuing bans or reports. Does that not come across as someone grossly overstepping their authority?

Regardless, it makes SE themselves look downright incompetent because PF is littered with RMT advertisements they do nothing about. If they do want to clean up PF, they need both announce it publicly and address everything. Not just cherry pick. Which is effectively what this GM is doing.

[SavishSalacious]

This is why I never use the party finder. Either I go with the FC or do roulletes.

[LittleImp]

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.

When did I say the PF needed to be policed and made for "content only"?

I even said I endorsed an RP section for the PF; Someone asked what the logic behind potentially banning RP PFs was and I provided a summary of what the GM was implying without endorsing it. I explained the reasoning, I never said I supported it. The most I've said is that I think that ERP shouldn't be advertised publicly on the game.

The artwork and photo stuff is kinda questionable tho, I've seen quite a few cases of what could qualify as RMT in respect to that.

[Glaschuu]

Balmung, your reputation precedes you.

Now, while I don't understand Roleplaying at all, I think that warning is a bit harsh. They should be focusing on handing out warnings to people that want to sell pornographic imagery or attention-seekers taking up unnecessary space.
If this particular issue is not directly stated to be against the TOS, then the GM is at fault here. If it is, then accept the rules and abide like everyone else is doing.

This happened in Primal.

[Reinard]

Let me chip in my two gil on this matter: I do agree that there is a sudden new wave of unofficial policy changes with how GMs are handling these Roleplay Avenue ads. What was OK up until recently is suddenly not OK and it's causing people grief, and at worse, suspensions or loss of their accounts. Especially given that infractions, rightful or not, do not go away with time. They're permanent. Imagine you down the line getting suspended because a GM made a bad call. That would suck, yeah?

I see a lot of folk commenting on the content sales. I don't think they're technically against TOS as players are trading in game currency. There's no real money transaction involved, but who knows maybe there is a TOS line against it. I suspect there isn't. But between content runs and roleplay avenue ads, I see the first as being a lot closer to a breach of TOS.

[Taytay]

I know how little age verification actually happens.

You're whining about the lack of age verification with your "think of the children" act and yet...

Worked at and managed clubs on Primal and Crystal that offered ERP services.

Maybe your account should be banned next, since you clearly contributed to the issue you're sanctimoniously railing against, Ms. Manager.

[WkdPaul]

This is why we have a terms of service and a moderation team that enforce a set of rules specifically laid out entirely separately from the ESRB rating.

The collective density of the people in this thread is going to cause a singularity.

The realization that your original reply wasn't just a joke has left me genuinely astonished, congratulations. I am not an accomplished enough mental gymnastic to take you seriously.

I also don't think raiders would be impacted that much if static recruitment was banned from PF; Most people recruiting for statics are using other platforms to do so these days, it's just a lot more convenient.

The fact that you and others in this thread are policing how others are playing FFXIV, and are resorting to insults is, in all honesty, extremely sad.

To quote Yoshi P ;
A life dictated by someone else is no fun anyhow, is it?

[JanVanding]

This is why we have a terms of service and a moderation team that enforce a set of rules specifically laid out entirely separately from the ESRB rating.

The collective density of the people in this thread is going to cause a singularity.

Advertising Player Venues and Events in the PF is not against Terms of Service, nor is it the GMs M.O to make an interpretation based on their own "gut feeling". The GM overstepped the mark and acted in a manner that is both unprofessional and actually dangerous to the company.

As a Former GM myself for another studio, I can tell you straight, the GMs must act in accordance with the guidelines they are set specifically and follow the company mandated interpretation to the letter, they must conduct themselves at all times with utmost professionalism. They are not allowed to make calls like this off their own backs without authorization from a more Senior GM, whom will first ask Legal if it's alright because it would mean a written change in terms of service that would need to be then re-accepted by the entire playerbase.

One GM did this, there was no indication a senior GM had been even approached, that's a break in the command structure for a start which is overstepping the mark, why? The GM would refer the case to a Senior GM to handle because they're not allowed to handle it themselves or the Senior GM would also have to be in attendance.

In no part of the terms of service does it state that PF is not to be used to advertised events and/or venues.

Read it, it's not there.

The GM went Renegade and is very likely going to be finding themselves on a long unpaid vacation for their unprofessional conduct.

[Hexie]

Let me chip in my two gil on this matter: I do agree that there is a sudden new wave of unofficial policy changes with how GMs are handling these Roleplay Avenue ads. What was OK up until recently is suddenly not OK and it's causing people grief, and at worse, suspensions or loss of their accounts. Especially given that infractions, rightful or not, do not go away with time. They're permanent. Imagine you down the line getting suspended because a GM made a bad call. That would suck, yeah?

I see a lot of folk commenting on the content sales. I don't think they're technically against TOS as players are trading in game currency. There's no real money transaction involved, but who knows maybe there is a TOS line against it. I suspect there isn't. But between content runs and roleplay avenue ads, I see the first as being a lot closer to a breach of TOS.

This first part is important- If the GMs come out and say that RP adverts ARE allowed in PF in the end, people who have been warned and suspended over this need to have those strikes removed.

[MeiraStarborne]

You're whining about the lack of age verification with your "think of the children" act and yet...
Maybe your account should be banned next, since you clearly contributed to the issue you're sanctimoniously railing against, Ms. Manager.

Yes... Worked. As in past tense. I never sold or participated in ERP, but did enjoy many aspects of the clubs at which I worked. I left the [E]RP club community and do not regret it in the slightest bit. I'm still very much part of the RP community.