Suggestions for SE (to help combat RMTs) *revised* subject

[Deathmist]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum. I was trying to look for the thread to post a suggestion for SE concerning improving FFXI. If anyone knows where this post should go, please let me know, and I'll repost it there.

I think SE has made some good strides in helping to repair the damage that was done to the economy over the past 2 years by RMTs. They implemented bold moves that helped to keep RMT campers at bay, eg.with changing items like LL, VE, and Kracken to EX/RA.

My suggestion is that SE introduce a feature that can allow us to convert Sellable items into Ex/Ra ones. I would term it "stamping". I would imagine that it could be similar to trading in items for upgrade like we currently do for Limbus and Salvage. But instead of upgrade, this would be changing a sellable item into EX/RA.

Would this be a feasible idea? Think it's a possible feature for the programmers without causing too much hardship?

I think this would be a great deterrent to RMTs, because it takes away a good portion of the gil they could have stolen when they hack people's accounts. We recently had a member get hacked, and he lost several high priced items.

Even if they can't do a complete overhaul of all items in the game, I think they could at least do it in phases, starting with the high priced items - those are the ones most coveted by RMTs.

I'm not sure if anyone's already suggested this idea. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks.

*******Edited as of 14APR08***********

Hey guys,

I realize that my original post was too broad and it left the discussion very open-ended. I ended up trying to explain more through the replies as the discussion grew, but I think it's better if I refine my statement and be as specific as possible. Let me start by amending the topic to "Suggestions to SE to help combat RMTs".
In my original post I asked about the feasibility of allowing sellable items to be converted to EX/RA items, or to at least allow this feature for "high-priced" items. I realize both statements were to broad and open-ended. It was my first post on this forum, and I didn't want to post a wall of text. But that just resulted in my statement being too general, so let me refine it now. I apologize for the wall of text, and thanks for all the feedback.

Did anyone else ever wonder why gear dropped from HNMs are not all EX/RA? I'm talking about the following HNMs: Behemoth, Aspidochelone, Fafnir, Hydra ( i guess..), Tiamat, and Jailor of Love. And the items I'm referring to are as follows: Thundercloud, comet tail, Heavy Cuirass, Balmung, Berserker's Torque, Sirius Axe, Herald's Gaiters, Noritsune Kote, Novio earring, and Novia earring. A number of these items are just plain crap, while some are useful but not necessarily "need to have" for most people. Besides, the pop intervals for some of these HNMs (or processes to pop them - in some cases) are time consuming thereby ensuring the rarity for these items. Ya, ya, I know. Some of you may be thinking that stuff like thundercloud shouldn't be put together with gaiters. But in order to be specific about my point, I'm referring to all sellable drops (armor and weapons) from these HNMs be allowed to be converted EX/RA items.

I know some folks have stated why not just make em all EX/RA and save the trouble. That would be the best thing to do, but maybe SE left some of these items as sellable because some of them can fetch a very high price due to their rarity. And maybe SE would not want to admit that they need to go back and change anything else, since they made those adjustments to LL, VE, kraken, peacock charm, etc.

But the fact that some of the items I listed above are very rare, they can easily be sold, especially now when RMTs can look on ffxiah.com too see who's interested in that particular item. Plain and simple, an RMT could hack an account, sell some of the items listed above at a high price, transfer that gil to whomever and log off/cancel id fairly quickly. It is the rarity of some of these items that allows them to be such a windfall for RMTs if they should be able to get their hands on some of these things. This suggestion is solely an idea to prevent the damage an RMT can do when they do hack accounts, and it's also to limit to amount of gil RMTs can make when they do hack accounts. On my server, 2 Herald's gaiters were jacked by RMTs, both within a week's span. The gil an RMT could make from selling one of two of the above listed items that are high priced is probably enough to sustain their living standard for a month of two in the country they are from.

I know there are lots of other items out there, HQ crafted that can also fetch a high price, but it'd probably be harder for the RMTs to unload these things in as quickly a fashion. These items can be generated from multiple sources, etc.

RMTs are always gonna be around. They have already reshaped the game by not allowing mpk by training mobs, and by making more items drop from the BCNM and KSNMs. With each progression of expansion packs, SE has introduced more mobs that tend to drop EX/RA items rather than sellable items (as in Cerberus, Khimaira, and most of the Jailers). My suggestion to them is just to take a look back at some of the earlier stuff, and see if they can do something about those as well.

[Xisin]

hm, I'll bite.

I think it would be a good idea as far as anti-hacking go but not so sure how this would affect the player based trade economy.

and how many people would actually stamp things? I don't know anyone who hasn't bought something then gotten something better later down the line then sold their old armor.
For example i sold my genie weskit when i got my morrigan's robe.

so I'm not sure how it would affect the game overall

[Sonomaa]

"dude can I borrow your haubergeon for limbus?"
"Sure"
"STAMPD, MINE NOW BIATCH"

[byte]

Sorry, I think it's a terrible idea. Some people including myself camped the NMs SPECIFICALLY just for the r/ex version. Think of it like a trophy.. you had to actually camp that mob and kill it to earn it. I don't want to see people buying Peacock Charms off the AH and turning them into Amulets when I had to go and camp Argus for mine. R/ex items prove you are a real player and really go out and get stuff, not just some scumbag who bought gil.

I don't really see the point other than to hinder account theft. But if people actually started doing this and items were more commonly r/ex then there would be a bigger market for account selling than there is now since you can't just buy items. Therefor RMT would selll the accounts instead of stripping them. You can't really win and this is certainly not the way to try.

Something I would like to see though is making it possible to stamp items with a "non-droppable" attribute so you can't even accidently throw away that Ridill without going to NPC first to remove the stamp. Unlike your idea, I think would actually be useful and contribute to the game.

[Deathmist]

"dude can I borrow your haubergeon for limbus?"
"Sure"
"STAMPD, MINE NOW BIATCH"

That may be true, but if the borrower was planning to steal it from the start, then it doesn't really matter whether he stamps it or not after he/she gets it.

[Sonomaa]

"dude can I borrow your haubergeon for limbus?"
"Sure"
"STAMPD, MINE NOW BIATCH"

That may be true, but if the borrower was planning to steal it from the start, then it doesn't really matter whether he stamps it or not after he/she gets it.

uhh... cause somebody just lost a haubergeon
sorry, even I thought stamping might be useful a while back, then I realized people would abuse it, unless they become temporary use items (which se will never do) then its a dud idea and will just have people turn items into ra/ex when they should stay sellable or linkshell property

how many dicks will get a piece of gear from the LS, get mad, get it turned rare/ex then realize their error after its too late

[Deathmist]

Sorry, I think it's a terrible idea. Some people including myself camped the NMs SPECIFICALLY just for the r/ex version. Think of it like a trophy.. you had to actually camp that mob and kill it to earn it. I don't want to see people buying Peacock Charms off the AH and turning them into Amulets when I had to go and camp Argus for mine. R/ex items prove you are a real player and really go out and get stuff, not just some scumbag who bought gil.

I don't really see the point other than to hinder account theft. But if people actually started doing this and items were more commonly r/ex then there would be a bigger market for account selling than there is now since you can't just buy items. Therefor RMT would selll the accounts instead of stripping them. You can't really win and this is certainly not the way to try.

I can understand that, but it doesn't have to be turned into peacock amulet, they could just change the name a little like peacock "necktie" or w/e. Then you'd still have your trophy, etc.

[byte]

Sorry, I think it's a terrible idea. Some people including myself camped the NMs SPECIFICALLY just for the r/ex version. Think of it like a trophy.. you had to actually camp that mob and kill it to earn it. I don't want to see people buying Peacock Charms off the AH and turning them into Amulets when I had to go and camp Argus for mine. R/ex items prove you are a real player and really go out and get stuff, not just some scumbag who bought gil.

I don't really see the point other than to hinder account theft. But if people actually started doing this and items were more commonly r/ex then there would be a bigger market for account selling than there is now since you can't just buy items. Therefor RMT would selll the accounts instead of stripping them. You can't really win and this is certainly not the way to try.

I can understand that, but it doesn't have to be turned into peacock amulet, they could just change the name a little like peacock "necktie" or w/e. Then you'd still have your trophy, etc.

because of the way items are stored.. you do realise that they would have to effectively duplicate the entire item database right? Ps2 limitations etc.. I'd rather see more new items than something like this. Go ahead and make more r/ex versions of things, though. Honestly it's a shame that the r/ex Kraken Club sucks so bad. It should be the same strength.

[DanielRemora]

Password-Protected Locker =)

[Deathmist]

Sorry, I think it's a terrible idea. Some people including myself camped the NMs SPECIFICALLY just for the r/ex version. Think of it like a trophy.. you had to actually camp that mob and kill it to earn it. I don't want to see people buying Peacock Charms off the AH and turning them into Amulets when I had to go and camp Argus for mine. R/ex items prove you are a real player and really go out and get stuff, not just some scumbag who bought gil.

I don't really see the point other than to hinder account theft. But if people actually started doing this and items were more commonly r/ex then there would be a bigger market for account selling than there is now since you can't just buy items. Therefor RMT would selll the accounts instead of stripping them. You can't really win and this is certainly not the way to try.

I can understand that, but it doesn't have to be turned into peacock amulet, they could just change the name a little like peacock "necktie" or w/e. Then you'd still have your trophy, etc.

Well yea, I see what you mean. I've read about ppl who have gotten final relic upgrade and then ditch the LS that helped them to get it, or basically stopped attending events to help other LS members out.
I was in a social LS that did some sky, and one of our most reliable trigger campers left LS soon after he got his Osode (it was worth 50mil at the time). He didn't do it because he was a dick though, he was stressed out from being harassed by our leader to always go trigger farming. We all understood, and no one really tried to desecrate his name or w/e, because he had tons of 75 jobs, while our LS leader only had 75WAR.
If we trust someone we trust someone, and if we don't we don't. There has always been drama of ppl running off with this or that which belonged to another or others. I don't think that's something that stamping will hinder nor prevent.

My concern is that we recently had to witness first hand as an RMT hacked our LS mate's account and began to strip him of his gear. Many made GM calls, but to no avail. It left many members in my LS fustrated. Not sure if anyone knows anyone who's been hacked first hand, but it's not a pleasant thing. The mood of ppl changes, and that's quite unfortunate especially when this is just a game.

I feel bad for the person who got hacked, he has been very apologetic and has felt very guilty for losing some of the items that the LS helped him to get. I think stamping could give piece of mind to many players who fret about whether or not they could be next, and what items they may lose. My LS is very determined to help him recover the things he's lost, but I think some things are very hard to replace? And even if they do, the parnoia and fear of it happening again?

[ronin sparthos]

Better idea would be to just have synthables that lock onto a player once you equip and activate the effect.

So you have the regular items and for players that want to r/ex something - you have the ability to buy the same item off the market, activate an effect and lock it to your char. That way you bypass the schemers who will abuse/steal shit, you please the crafters who could charge a premium for selling you something effectively that will leave the market and you please people who'd like to see all their dusk gloves, haubergeons, scorp harnesses and whatever else locked on their characters.

[byte]

Sorry, I think it's a terrible idea. Some people including myself camped the NMs SPECIFICALLY just for the r/ex version. Think of it like a trophy.. you had to actually camp that mob and kill it to earn it. I don't want to see people buying Peacock Charms off the AH and turning them into Amulets when I had to go and camp Argus for mine. R/ex items prove you are a real player and really go out and get stuff, not just some scumbag who bought gil.

I don't really see the point other than to hinder account theft. But if people actually started doing this and items were more commonly r/ex then there would be a bigger market for account selling than there is now since you can't just buy items. Therefor RMT would selll the accounts instead of stripping them. You can't really win and this is certainly not the way to try.

I can understand that, but it doesn't have to be turned into peacock amulet, they could just change the name a little like peacock "necktie" or w/e. Then you'd still have your trophy, etc.

Well yea, I see what you mean. I've read about ppl who have gotten final relic upgrade and then ditch the LS that helped them to get it, or basically stopped attending events to help other LS members out.
I was in a social LS that did some sky, and one of our most reliable trigger campers left LS soon after he got his Osode (it was worth 50mil at the time). He didn't do it because he was a dick though, he was stressed out from being harassed by our leader to always go trigger farming. We all understood, and no one really tried to desecrate his name or w/e, because he had tons of 75 jobs, while our LS leader only had 75WAR.
If we trust someone we trust someone, and if we don't we don't. There has always been drama of ppl running off with this or that which belonged to another or others. I don't think that's something that stamping will hinder nor prevent.

My concern is that we recently had to witness first hand as an RMT hacked our LS mate's account and began to strip him of his gear. Many made GM calls, but to no avail. It left many members in my LS fustrated. Not sure if anyone knows anyone who's been hacked first hand, but it's not a pleasant thing. The mood of ppl changes, and that's quite unfortunate especially when this is just a game.

I feel bad for the person who got hacked, he has been very apologetic and has felt very guilty for losing some of the items that the LS helped him to get. I think stamping could give piece of mind to many players who fret about whether or not they could be next, and what items they may lose. My LS is very determined to help him recover the things he's lost, but I think some things like gaiters are very hard to replace? And even if they do, the parnoia and fear of it happening again?

I'm more worried about losing my character. Fuck the things you can buy. As far as I'm concerned, this is not going to stop that. If anything, it gives them more reason to keep the account instead of just stripping it.

Better idea would be to just have synthables that lock onto a player once you equip and activate the effect.

So you have the regular items and for players that want to r/ex something - you have the ability to buy the same item off the market, activate an effect and lock it to your char. That way you bypass the schemers who will abuse/steal shit, you please the crafters who could charge a premium for selling you something effectively that will leave the market and you please people who'd like to see all their dusk gloves, haubergeons, scorp harnesses and whatever else locked on their characters.

Like WoW? I think it's a good idea. It sucks as a crafter to see people sell back their Dusk Gloves etc. and undercut you because they only have one pair to sell and don't care if the price drops. Bind on Equip gear.. Maybe that should be the new item type they add with wotg

[spooky]

Why does SE need to make any changes at all? If people stopped giving out their passwords and using 3rd party tools then your accounts wouldn't ever get broken in to.

[Prep]

damn i cant imagine the loss of inventory space you would get from stamping all my blm gear. I could no longer use my delivery box as storage ; ;

[DanielRemora]

Password-Protected Locker =)

Edit: Actually, heh, this got me thinking. Rather than "Stamping" an item...

An NPC which allows you to set a master passcode. By trading an item to it, it sets that particular item (on the DB) as protected.

If an attempt is made to place the item on AH, trade the item, bazaar it, drop it, craft it, etc - Then simply disallow it, and send a message to the users chat log indicating that it is protected.

Trade to the NPC to unprotect, enter passcode, and voila.

(Edit: An option in the menu would be better, but meh)

[byte]

Password-Protected Locker =)

Edit: Actually, heh, this got me thinking. Rather than "Stamping" an item...

An NPC which allows you to set a master passcode. By trading an item to it, it sets that particular item (on the DB) as protected.

If an attempt is made to place the item on AH, trade the item, bazaar it, drop it, craft it, etc - Then simply disallow it, and send a message to the users chat log indicating that it is protected.

Trade to the NPC to unprotect, enter passcode, and voila.

(Edit: An option in the menu would be better, but meh)

A much better solution.

[ronin sparthos]

Password-Protected Locker =)

Edit: Actually, heh, this got me thinking. Rather than "Stamping" an item...

An NPC which allows you to set a master passcode. By trading an item to it, it sets that particular item (on the DB) as protected.

If an attempt is made to place the item on AH, trade the item, bazaar it, drop it, craft it, etc - Then simply disallow it, and send a message to the users chat log indicating that it is protected.

Trade to the NPC to unprotect, enter passcode, and voila.

(Edit: An option in the menu would be better, but meh)

A much better solution.

Too hard to impliment with what SE has to work with though.

[Deathmist]

I'm more worried about losing my character. Fuck the things you can buy. As far as I'm concerned, this is not going to stop that. If anything, it gives them more reason to keep the account instead of just stripping it.

But can't they return your account now, as long as you can verify all your information? And can't they recover EX/RA items as well now? The only issue that hasn't been addressed are the sellable high priced items that are lost after account is hacked.

[zoobernut]

IIRC most people complained that they could not recover items that were just dropped they could only recover items sold on the AH or npc'd which meant that rare/ex gear dropped was lost.

[Isiolia]

What happens when you stamp an Ex item and want/need to be able to hold another one for a short while. For example, you stamped your PCC, so now someone can't come take it and sell it...but you also can't put it in your dbox when you go do Under Observation on the chance another one drops.