Housing: Purchase Timer - Alternative Idea

[Penthea]

Though in all honesty, the system was actually more fair before the current rules and RNG. But everyone complained about how awful the previous system was, and we got the current system, which is worse imo.

How was the old system better? Before the random timer so many were buying houses with the sole intention of selling them off for several times their price. I have looked on the housing market forums at the prices and on some servers cottages were going for 30 million. And that was just the fee for them to demolish the house. You had to pay the fee the placard asked for on top of that. How is this much better than placard spam? Most players don't even have half that gil. This often drove players to use RMT to get enough gil. There was also no protection from getting scammed because by reporting the scam you would be also admitting that you were violating the ToS by attempting to buy a house from a player instead of the placard. It was awful. The annoying placard system we have now was introduced because of this.

At least now because of the placard timer most people who are trying to buy a house are doing so because they actually want the house. Not because they want to sell it off for a gigantic profit and take advantage of other players, and make them consider risking their account by not only purchasing from a player but also using RMT to be able to afford the house. This is a small comfort to those who still have no house I know. But at least you don't have to worry about the placard scamming you out of 10+ million gil.

The old system was bad and the current system is bad. They're both horrendously bad, just for different reasons.

The only real fix is for there to be a better system in place where everyone who wants a house can buy one. No waiting for some random, unseen timer, just walk up and buy something. It would probably have to be an instanced system, since adding more and more wards just isn't really a feasible system.

I completely agree. Even with the part about adding more wards because frankly the ward system is silly. Having a limited amount of slots for content is never a good thing. Housing should have been completely instanced from the beginning. Everyone could have as many houses as they want, whatever house they want, wherever they want, buy whenever they want and demolition timers wouldn't exist. It could have been wonderful.

But at this point it would be shocking if SE were to do an overhaul. If they really wanted to they would have done so several years ago. So the most we can hope for is things like more wards, more tenancy slots, etc.

Honestly unless we get proper instanced housing there will always be players are unfairly left out. There is literally no incarnation of the ward system that can ensure equal treatment and opportunity to all.

[MizArai]

How was the old system better? Before the random timer so many were buying houses with the sole intention of selling them off for several times their price. I have looked on the housing market forums at the prices and some servers cottages were going for 30 million. And that was just the fee for them to demolish the house. You had to pay the fee the placard asked for on top of that. How is this much better than placard spam? Most players don't even have half that gil. This often drove players to use RMT to get enough gil. There was also no protection from getting scammed because by reporting the scam you would be also admitting that you were violating the ToS by attempting to buy a house from a player instead of the placard. It was awful. The annoying placard system we have now was introduced because of this.

At least now because of the placard timer most people who are trying to buy a house are doing so because they actually want the house. Not because they want to sell it off for a gigantic profit and take advantage of other players, and make them consider risking their account by not only purchasing from a player but also using RMT to be able to afford the house. This is a small comfort to those who still have no house I know. But at least you don't have to worry about the placard scamming you out of 10+ million gil.

The old system was bad and the current system is bad. They're both horrendously bad, just for different reasons.

People are still buying and selling houses for profit. They can only sell to relocators now or sell whole FCs with a house attached. The only thing this system changed was who can buy the house. I don't see how changing the system so that it's harder for people to buy their first house helps anyone. Because that's all the current system has done is make it harder for a new player to buy their first house. Anyone with a house can walk up and relocate, by passing the random timer. So house selling is still very much a thing, and usually still for very inflated prices. So, I call the old system better. With everything else equal, at least with the old system a new person could buy a house from a re-seller or walk up to a plot and instantly buy it without sitting for an undetermined amount of time placard spamming only to lose the house to either a relocator or someone else spamming the placard as well.

To me, the only reason the old system was bad was because of the limited numbers of houses (which is still a huge problem). If everyone could walk up and buy a house somewhere, then reselling would (mostly) die off, since there wouldn't be a need for it (other than preferred plots, certain mediums and larges throughout the wards).

[Penthea]

People are still buying and selling houses for profit. They can only sell to relocators now or sell whole FCs with a house attached.So house selling is still very much a thing, and usually still for very inflated prices. So, I call the old system better.

Never said house flipping is gone. But it has been dramatically reduced. I still look at those housing market forums out of curiosity and I can tell you that they're significantly less active now than before 4.2. The placard system is an imperfect solution. Like all the features of the housing system to be honest.

The only thing this system changed was who can buy the house. I don't see how changing the system so that it's harder for people to buy their first house helps anyone. Because that's all the current system has done is make it harder for a new player to buy their first house. Anyone with a house can walk up and relocate, by passing the random timer.

But it was super difficult to get your first house before anyway. I don't know why you have this idea it was easier before. You actually see more plots free now because the placard is preventing purchase usually for several hours. Before those plots would have been snapped up within minutes of becoming available and you may never know they were unclaimed at all.

You probably think the current system is worse because now you see free plots you can't get, whereas before you may just not have seen any free plots because you missed the tiny window where they were unclaimed.

I completely disagree with a system that makes it difficult to buy a house, but I also completely disagree with the idea that the old system was better. It was not. It was very easily and regularly abused.

At least with the old system a new person could buy a house from a re-seller or walk up to a plot and instantly buy it without sitting for an undetermined amount of time placard spamming only to lose the house to either a relocator or someone else spamming the placard as well.

If your sole concern of the entire system is the placard, then yes that is better. But if you have other concerns such as not wanting to engage in activity that is against the ToS that could get your account banned (yes house flipping as a buyer or seller is against that), being able to get enough gil to satisfy an asking price that is several times the actual price of the plot, and then not getting scammed by the seller...then no, it's not a better system.