Is GShade allowed?

[hynaku]

Way back there was a thread about it and a GM said it was ok. That was few years ago, so I don't think it has changed. If so, that would mean graphic card programs also would be against toss since they can do some of the same effects.

[Oopsy]

They have never been "Okay". They have been more or less stating.... WE FORBID IT... But we dont want to spy. So IF you do use it, we likely wont know and dont care.... but... if you start posting it online and it offends people then you will be banned. (referenced to NSFW mods especially).

The ELUA say none. They also address by done do you really really really mean no 3rd party tools? And they said... well technically then we could peg you for using excel to calculate some numbers... or for using a mouse with more buttons.... And we aren't going to do that because we don't want to know what you have we dont want to spy...

Its all very clear... Not Allowed.... We don't want to make FFXIV a police state.... Don't harass people... If you use them, do so at your own risk and risk of being banned.

They also had a bit in a live letter that cover it... like 3 years ago?

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/414393

[technole]

don't ask, don't tell, and don't show (on twitch).

[Canadane]

Literally no one is saying it's cheating.

I can if you'd like.
It can most certainly give an unfair advantage in the retina burning P3S.

[Packetdancer]

So what exactly IS the status of GShade? I think this is the most important question we all want to know.

I don't think SQEX is going to give us an official answer, because every time they say "all third-party software is forbidden except..." they open the door to people trying to find loopholes ("Look, I embedded ACT into GShade!"), or hundreds of emails going "Well this should be allowed, too!"

So I think you have to make your mind up for yourself about your comfort zone, and what you're willing to do. I wouldn't recommend streaming yourself using GShade, because that just seems like bait/catnip for trolls who want to get people banned. But if you're using it just for yourself, or using it to take shots that you post on, like, DeviantArt or Twitter or Instagram and where they could shrug it off and go "maybe they just did artistic stuff in Photoshop before posting", maybe that's within your comfort zone as far as "risk" goes.

I personally don't think they're going to bother putting in the effort to enforce TOS against the latter scenario; someone who uses GShade to make artistic screenshots that look like an oil painting is probably a lot lower-priority target for the TOS than someone who uses a tool that modifies the game and draws giant "GO HERE" diagrams in Ultimate fights or whatever else.

[Oopsy]

I don't think SQEX is going to give us an official answer, because every time they say "all third-party software is forbidden except..." they open the door to people trying to find loopholes ("Look, I embedded ACT into GShade!"), or hundreds of emails going "Well this should be allowed, too!"

So I think you have to make your mind up for yourself about your comfort zone, and what you're willing to do. I wouldn't recommend streaming yourself using GShade, because that just seems like bait/catnip for trolls who want to get people banned. But if you're using it just for yourself, or using it to take shots that you post on, like, DeviantArt or Twitter or Instagram and where they could shrug it off and go "maybe they just did artistic stuff in Photoshop before posting", maybe that's within your comfort zone as far as "risk" goes.

I personally don't think they're going to bother putting in the effort to enforce TOS against the latter scenario; someone who uses GShade to make artistic screenshots that look like an oil painting is probably a lot lower-priority target for the TOS than someone who uses a tool that modifies the game and draws giant "GO HERE" diagrams in Ultimate fights or whatever else.

IM SORRRY WHAT PART OF ALL THIRD PARTY TOOLS VIOLATE THE ELUA/TOS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL ANSWER?

In videos and in blogs they have even said mice can count as 3rd party tools. Including Razor Nega Mice.

But their enforcement policy is based off reports and evidence. They are not hunting for reasons to ban people and would rather people just play the game. If they judge that it violated the rules after they review the evidence then it does.

[Voidedge_Ragna]

If you think SE is going to have someone go down a list of what each addon does in order to decide if this give an advantage or not you are delusional. To then say "yes this one is ok and this one is not okay"

"so what does this one do" oh it changes the shades "anything else?" We don't know we did not create the mod.
"perfect lets look at the next mod"

For ... Every ... Single ... Mod ... and addon.

Rule of thumb ...
was it created to be used for FFXIV specifically? Yes, prolly should not run around yelling you use it.

Half the forum acts like they 100% constantly share their screen, its client side, use what you want and be quiet about it.
There is no grey zone and there is no slippery slope its all "forbidden". You have 3 options,

1: Be a saint and use nothing
2: Use what you want and be quiet
3: Cry on forum

[Oopsy]

Oh, I also found a list of approved 3rd party hardware and software if you are interested:

https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/system_requirements/

[Lieri]

Gshade is a different beast than ACT and plugins. Because you can now control your own graphics card if you want better colors. NVIDIA control panel lets you do this. Theyre both 3rd parties but colors dont help you achieve anything in the game. Heck I can also just change my monitor contrast if I want to.

[Klytania]

People who care about other peoples add-ons are cringe.

I haven't heard a single good argument for why you care. "T-t-t-t-the TOS" isn't an argument. Why do you care?