Worst housing system I have ever seen

[Shougun]

I find it interesting that whenever people say instanced housing other people will respond we have that already, but I always felt it was clear that they meant unlimited (feeling) housing where every single person can have one. Which we don't have. There are not even unlimited apartments, though there is quite A LOT of them. But to add apartments are not houses- and many people intentionally say instanced housing system not instanced apartment system, which are again not unlimited. In multiple ways, in quantity, location theme, location itself, and size, each limitation could be a fairly large issue and each issue can absolutely compound into the other for a less than maximally desirable experience. So every time I see "we have them" I have to wonder is it really that uncommon to read instanced housing as like many other mmorpgs have it (where there might be a technical real world limitation but one that players never see, so it feels "unlimited")- because "we already have it" is very much untrue under that interpretation and interpretation I find exceptionally consistent among people who ask for it (as of way of asking for housing that isn't so limited, like some other mmorpgs, specifically houses too- not apartments).

I can't imagine everyone is being dishonest when they say that we already have it.. but it always surprises me. I try to add what I mean when I say instanced just to prevent that miscommunication but still find it shocking it exists. I desperately want instanced housing, under that interpretation of 'unlimited'. As I find the limitations of a non-unlimited system a bit disappointing, if every single person wants a Shirogane house when it comes out then go for it, if every person wants a large then I think so shall it be, If Goblet is in this month then it's in, if we all go Ishgard then we all go Ishgard. I understand there are MMORPGs that relish in that limited fighting for resources experience (EVE/other hardcore mmorpgs, limited things work well there). FFXIV however is not a sandbox hardcore rpg.. it's a themepark mmorpg. And that is not said with insult, I very much like this game as a whole and I do recommend it if people ask (though warn it's a long journey if they're focused on "catching up" lol)- I want it to be themepark-ish.

I wouldn't say FFXIV's is the worst, I've seen worse lol, and I think the objects that fill the system are fantastic, but I would say the system itself is probably one of, if not the only, thing that remains in FFXIV that makes me actively frown. An unlimited, instanced housing, system with the theme and spirit FFXIV has would be amazing... Although I understand (in a vague sense) to change the system is potentially massive amounts of money and time, if they can "fix" (imo) the system here then I'd be so grateful and if they can't then I really hope they understand players when they say "I want an instanced system" for when the design their next MMORPG because if they misunderstand it like I see sometimes here. . . Well please don't misunderstand it SE.

[Jojoya]

I find it interesting that whenever people say instanced housing other people will respond we have that already, but I always felt it was clear that they meant unlimited (feeling) housing where every single person can have one.

It's bad to make assumptions about what another person means because those assumptions get influenced by personal experience and desire. Far better for the poster to be specific in the first place since that limits the room for assumption.

Players need to remember we're talking to the development team through translators. Translators can't make assumptions about what the poster means. They have to translate what is written as accurately as possible. We also need to remember this is a world wide forum, not a regional forum. English speaking players post here regardless of where they live or what world they play on.

If we want to make our actual concerns known, then we need to be accurate in posting them.

Complaining about a lack of housing is going to get ignored. SE can see there is plenty available housing when they look at totals across all world.

Complaining about a lack of houses is going to get ignored. SE can see there is plenty of available houses when they look at totals across all worlds.

Complaining about a lack of houses on the NA worlds will get noticed and in fact has been. SE acknowledged during one of the June Live Letters that there is a shortage of houses on the NA worlds compared to player demand and that they would be discussing the situation internally after Shadowbringers was launched.

If we're going to our concerns addressed, then we need to be specific in stating them instead of assuming others understand what we really want.

[Shougun]

It's bad to make assumptions about what another person means because those assumptions get influenced by personal experience and desire. Far better for the poster to be specific in the first place since that limits the room for assumption.

Players need to remember we're talking to the development team through translators. Translators can't make assumptions about what the poster means. They have to translate what is written as accurately as possible. We also need to remember this is a world wide forum, not a regional forum. English speaking players post here regardless of where they live or what world they play on.

If we want to make our actual concerns known, then we need to be accurate in posting them.

Complaining about a lack of housing is going to get ignored. SE can see there is plenty available housing when they look at totals across all world.

Complaining about a lack of houses is going to get ignored. SE can see there is plenty of available houses when they look at totals across all worlds.

Complaining about a lack of houses on the NA worlds will get noticed and in fact has been. SE acknowledged during one of the June Live Letters that there is a shortage of houses on the NA worlds compared to player demand and that they would be discussing the situation internally after Shadowbringers was launched.

If we're going to our concerns addressed, then we need to be specific in stating them instead of assuming others understand what we really want.

Oh yeah, that's why I've added what I mean as I say it whenever I do say. As I am now aware of many misunderstandings in this request, "I want instanced housing" "we already have it" - this is almost always a miscommunication and both parties are not talking about the same thing. Meaning probably an issue on both parts (assume, that famous saying to assume- makes a.. out of you and me lol). Half the reason I posted that wasn't for people here but hopes it was translated if the miscommunication still exists in SE (although I doubt it, but it's possible since I still see it to this day on the forums lol).

I merely wanted to say how I'm shocked this miscommunication exists since when people say it they all almost mean the same thing (very high accuracy/consistency of intent), so you'd think that when people who use it almost always mean the same thing that the miscommunication would be seldom and quickly corrected. I don't change using this wording because I think it's used consistently by the people who mean what they mean, but I do explain it to ensure the same page among what I'm saying is translated as well as others reading it.

So I'm not disagreeing on the need for clarity and that clearly people are assuming things vs understanding what each other mean; although, I also believe sometimes this is done on purpose to damage the conversation. Still am a bit shocked that it's so common when people who use the wording are very consistent on what they intended to mean. They'd likely not be asking for what we already have so you'd think people could also derive this meaning on the fly... but it's not the case lol.

Also just to add to your complaining about lack of housing point (mid post part)- I tend to mean more issues than that on a personal level when I post, not that you're saying what my complaint is/was but since we're on the topic of clarity I wanted to be clear ( lol). I have a lot more issue with the system than just quantity (and I don't mean to say that like it's an easy fix, or easy to even make, I'm sure this stuff is hard, and even harder when you were coming out of ARR at mach 8 trying to design as fast as possible).

Since even if you could add 1 of each area until there is literally exactly 1 house for everyone (person and FC), I'd still think it had major issues since that means people couldn't switch to the new zones, sizes, or locations within, if they wanted. It would mean they're stuck in a specific size and in a specific area of a specific theme'd location, and I want a system that allows players to be where they want in a size that they want. On top of that I find the neighborhood benefits are outweighed by the cons it asks in limitations, like size of yard or object choices- so personally I'd like to see some personal zone spaces on top of the freedom of area, size, and location. Noting that I am not seeking destruction of the current system for those who like it, though to add that personal zone spaces can easily be social too and those afraid of losing that probably needn't be (especially if the MMO systems encourage it, Wildstar housing had quite a vibrant housing community).

Not asking for largest size to be free or easy either as that's sometimes assumed from my arguments, I do believe in upgrade paths (and housing should be a long smooth one). Though I also think it would be very smart to start players off earlier with a small room free, like FFXI, and encourage them to upgrade it over time like another type of character progression (to the point you've got a large and all that).

[Edax]

how can a game that came out in 2004 have instanced housing but this game cannot?

Oh yeah, that's why I've added what I mean as I say it whenever I do say. As I am now aware of many misunderstandings in this request, "I want instanced housing" "we already have it" - this is almost always a miscommunication and both parties are not talking about the same thing. Meaning probably an issue on both parts (assume, that famous saying to assume- makes a.. out of you and me lol). Half the reason I posted that wasn't for people here but hopes it was translated if the miscommunication still exists in SE (although I doubt it, but it's possible since I still see it to this day on the forums lol).

I merely wanted to say how I'm shocked this miscommunication exists since when people say it they all almost mean the same thing (very high accuracy/consistency of intent), so you'd think that when people who use it almost always mean the same thing that the miscommunication would be seldom and quickly corrected. I don't change using this wording because I think it's used consistently by the people who mean what they mean, but I do explain it to ensure the same page among what I'm saying is translated as well as others reading it.

So I'm not disagreeing on the need for clarity and that clearly people are assuming things vs understanding what each other mean; although, I also believe sometimes this is done on purpose to damage the conversation. Still am a bit shocked that it's so common when people who use the wording are very consistent on what they intended to mean. They'd likely not be asking for what we already have so you'd think people could also derive this meaning on the fly... but it's not the case lol.

When someone asks a completely obvious question like "how can a game that came out in 2004 have instanced housing but this game cannot?", then I think it's valid to provide an obvious answer.

The answer to your question is that this game already has instanced housing, it's called Apartments. They were added in patch 3.4 in 2016. You can read more about them in this wiki:
https://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Apartments

Yes, I know they are referring to instanced "houses" but even that prompts an obvious answer:

Because Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. controls the intellectual property and chose not to implement your preferred housing system. It's the same reason you can't fly around space in Battleships like Eve Online despite Eve Online being a game from 2003. Square Enix choose not to implement it for FFXIV.

It maybe damaging to the conversation, but at the same time why would someone start a thread asking something that is completely obvious? It reads like people whining over something that was already given to them. Instanced housing exists in the game, players aren't completely left out, this already seems like progress but so many of these whine threads act like they don't even exist. This is why I personally feel people should be reminded to cherish what they already have. Most of these anti-housing threads are reductionist to begin with, which is why I feel they are so deserving of reductionist answers to their questions.