Need advice: static imploding because of cheater.

[Stormpeaks]

A lot of people seem to try to make this seem like a norm or something more acceptable, but the dev stance is pretty obvious:

"If the presumption is that this content will be tackled and cleared with the use of third-party tools, then any reason to develop high-difficulty battle content seems to be lost."

The issue overall is very obviously more in-depth than just "tools bad". However, I think most people can also agree that there's a pretty big difference between tools people use for accessibility, such as for disabilities or colorblindness- versus tools used for cheating- providing real-time advantages over others in gameplay instances.

Like I've said, I don't understand opting to do the hardest content this game has to offer and then go far out of your way to make it easier for yourself. It diminishes the accomplishment. At that point it seems like said people do it solely for the bragging rights, and for none of the challenge. In which case I feel that cycle becoming relatively ironic because as this sort of cheating behavior becomes more common-knowledge to outsiders, people won't look at look at those who've cleared ultimates with the 'acclaim' people who use cheats to clear probably want from others. Instead, outsiders will simply begin to think "that person probably cheated."

Raiders in WoW also do mythic with addons, and their achievements are not worth any less, it's not like the game plays itself for you, and I dont see how a "zoom hack" is going to suddenly make you the best player and make the content easy to do. If a person is bad, they are bad, and a zoom hack wont help them.

[Lunalepsy]

But if they had left on their own accord, there wouldn't be any drama

[SeiyaSoiya]

This attitude is the reason you're definitely not fit to be a static leader.
You don't just assume the worst of everyone, you're also blaming the world around for it and scrape together excuses that are solely based on assumptions and suspicions when you don't get the pat on the back for a good job.

You should've set rules before and make sure you're perfectly transparent on them. Especially if you intend to enforce zero-tolerance policies without communicating them. You should've communicated with everyone even if your decision was already final. You should've made sure to minimize the negative impact it has on others by finding replacements in time.
And lastly, a good static leader doesn't put their own opinion above everyone else's.
You handed it terribly on several levels and the consequences are well-deserved.

Do I really need to write it into rules "don't cheat"? Do I also have to have a rule saying "don't be racist" or "don't try to hit on the women in the static"?

[Rilifane]

Do I really need to write it into rules "don't cheat"? Do I also have to have a rule saying "don't be racist" or "don't try to hit on the women in the static"?

You have to be clear about having a zero-tolerance policy and kicking the people immediately without saying a word to everyone else, yes. You do. That is part of being a static leader: being transparent instead of just stomping your foot, crossing your arms and doing what you want.
You handed it terribly and what happens now just further proves it.

[EgilTheStressedMage]

“Why did you remove the cheater?” - Disturbing amount of posters in this thread.

[Saraide]

A lot of people seem to try to make this seem like a norm or something more acceptable, but the dev stance is pretty obvious:

"If the presumption is that this content will be tackled and cleared with the use of third-party tools, then any reason to develop high-difficulty battle content seems to be lost."

The issue overall is very obviously more in-depth than just "tools bad". However, I think most people can also agree that there's a pretty big difference between tools people use for accessibility, such as for disabilities or colorblindness- versus tools used for cheating- providing real-time advantages over others in gameplay instances.

Like I've said, I don't understand opting to do the hardest content this game has to offer and then go far out of your way to make it easier for yourself. It diminishes the accomplishment. At that point it seems like said people do it solely for the bragging rights, and for none of the challenge. In which case I feel that cycle becoming relatively ironic because as this sort of cheating behavior becomes more common-knowledge to outsiders, people won't look at look at those who've cleared ultimates with the 'acclaim' people who use cheats to clear probably want from others. Instead, outsiders will simply begin to think "that person probably cheated."

People cheat in pve games all the time. What does it matter to me if someone else one shot elden beast with a hacked weapon? What does it matter to anyone else that I unlocked all the squads in Into the breach by just editing the savefile? The important part is having fun which means that it varies extremely from person to person. Too much in this discussion is spent on extremes like "well if you cheat on ultimates, island sanctuary is the content for you". That's way too reductive and shows just a complete lack of understanding. Some mechanics are considered by some people as just not fun and getting a tool to solve it for them increases their fun massively. That doesnt mean they would rather "play" island sanctuary, that doesnt mean that they dont enjoy the challenge of other mechanics. I found that yoship quote you posted to be extremely fatalistic and childish. To me someone else cheating does not in anyway reduce my personal accomplishment of doing the same thing without cheats. Doing content to just be able to show off with something just seems arrogant to me.

This thread specifically is far more about group communication than accepting someone cheating. A static can choose any ruleset they want but it has to be communicated first or there will be issues (like the ones OP is facing right now).

[Rilifane]

“Why did you remove the cheater?” - Disturbing amount of posters in this thread.

Quote for the win.

This thread specifically is far more about group communication than accepting someone cheating. A static can choose any ruleset they want but it has to be communicated first or there will be issues (like the ones OP is facing right now).

[Kansene]

If you feel the need to cheat in high-end content you're basically admitting you're not good enough to do it. And it's okay to not be good enough, heck I don't even do extremes. I suck, and understand that this content is too hard for me, and I don't need all content in the game to be beatable.

The second you use cheats and addons, you're invalidating the whole piece of content and should not be admired for clearing it because you literally felt you had to illegitimately change the game to achieve the win.

That being said, if you want to do it that way that's your prerogative.
Maybe you think using those tools to do the fight is fun, maybe you think it's a superior way to play the game.
But definitely don't expect people to be okay with it.

In OP's shoes I would've asked the other static members what they thought, then left myself rather than kick the offender if they ended up supporting them.
I don't like beating a challenge by being a cheater, or with the help of one, but if a group of cheaters want to do it without my involvemebt then awesome, I hope they have fun
Not my business.
It only becomes my business if they force me to go along with it.

[NekoMataMata]

I would've just ignored it. They're kind of right about you ruining the progress of 6 others just to remove a cheater.

The thing that bothers me the most about cheating isn't the cheating itself, it's the moral high ground people take. You're not square enix. You have one of two options the way I see it. You report them, and let SE do something about it, or you don't, but don't try to take the moral high ground while taking some weird middle ground. It's not your place to witch hunt, even if it's blatantly obvious.

If this game ever reaches the point of people actively witch hunting, right or wrong I'll just leave, because I'm not going to deal with the drama.

[Alice9]

Raiders in WoW also do mythic with addons, and their achievements are not worth any less, it's not like the game plays itself for you, and I dont see how a "zoom hack" is going to suddenly make you the best player and make the content easy to do. If a person is bad, they are bad, and a zoom hack wont help them.

I understand what you are saying, but WoW and FFXIV are two very different games. WoW actively appears to promote addon usage, and many have told me that a lot of fights wouldn't be clearable without them in the first place in WoW. I'm just posting the dev stance- to which the dev's specifically went out of their way to say "We don't find this clear using this cheat legitimate".

Since the designers of the content itself have this standpoint, I believe it to be fair for XIV players to adopt it as well should they choose. Ultimately its to each their own- but when in a static, its very important to be on the same page.