Idea: Premium Wards

[Jojoya]

Well technically the sheer number of wards and plots WILL increase

Except it won't increase it past what would exist without the premium housing.

You saying that you will pay extra in the future does not give SE the resources to create that special premium housing today. They would have to divert their existing resources to create your project. Housing that would have been created for all players ends up being made for a privileged few, a net increase of 0.

[Alyanna_Elingval]

Except it won't increase it past what would exist without the premium housing.

You saying that you will pay extra in the future does not give SE the resources to create that special premium housing today. They would have to divert their existing resources to create your project. Housing that would have been created for all players ends up being made for a privileged few, a net increase of 0.

It wouldn't be a privileged few, if SE were to do it, they would have to believe that there was enough demand to support what they're putting into it (ie...a lot of players). All people who would be giving up current houses in wards to move to whatever wards they set up for premium subscribers, along with players bypassing looking in current wards for house, which would lower demand in current wards. Yeah, more non premium players would get houses.

Another way they could do it would be to switch to an instanced housing model and just offer premium subscribers more perks. More item capacity, balconies, back yards, etc. This, along with letting people pick whatever size house they wanted may be enough to get enough players to support it, as well a giving a base version of houses to non-premium subscribers. So yeah, more housing for everyone.

But it all comes down to demand, just like the current housing situation. People don't play this game or remain subscribers based on the housing system. Probably two-thirds of the player base or more don't have houses, and what percentage of them really care? To the point where they'll walk away if they don't have one. There's a difference between having a house just because it's offered and thinking that having a house is essential to the player experience. So what percentage of players really, truly care is the question. Obviously, at this point, SE does not believe that percentage to be high enough to do anything more than band-aid, and add a few new wards here and there.

SE said that they would never charge for housing, so this is all just an intellectual exercise anyway.

[Dyvid]

Or you could suggest something that could actually happen like improve apartments.... Just a thought.

[ERMITANYO]

Premium wards will just be an instanced form of housing, if somebody is going to purchase a plot he/she would probably choose a medium or large and at the best possible location. (e.g. not cramped, near the sea, has a good view.) this will not be possible if premium wards will be patterned from the current district and ward housing system that have an already set number of house plot sizes and locations.

So better just implement a form of instanced housing that is both functional & aesthetically pleasing, and readilly available for all, together with the current ward and district housing system, as a sort of rare resource (for those who still want to try their luck).

[Solarra]

I definitely don't want to see Premium Wards introduced. I'm already paying extra to have alts on the same world as my main and I'm paying extra for retainers. The game isn't FTP, so I don't want to see housing put behind a second paywall.

Apartments were a step in the right direction but they are not very attractive due to size and lack of features such as Gardening and Workshops for FCs. I would much rather see an improvement on apartments because that would benefit everyone at no extra cost.

As I understand it, the ward system is a part of the problem, because wards are persistent. They are up all the time and that uses a lot of resources.

[Kytrin]

As I understand it, the ward system is a part of the problem, because wards are persistent. They are up all the time and that uses a lot of resources.

That's my understanding as well. From what I've heard, Yoshi-P was going for an interactive neighborhood idea so there would be actual communities of players and such, buuuuuuuuut it didn't really work out that well. Folks are always out in the world doing things and not being Animal Crossing FFXIV Edition.

[ERMITANYO]

Credits to Meoni,

Ishgardian Restoration from Tonberry Server.

https://youtu.be/3Klzo0y3fLc

I hope the first small, medium and large houses are not just model houses.

[SmileyXIII]

Having premium wards will turn this game to pay 2 win where you have the option to buy a house with real money and then use the gardens to grow seeds and sell them for a lot of gil. I am making a lot of gil from gardening.

[Doozer]

Sweet necro.

[Jojoya]

Having premium wards will turn this game to pay 2 win where you have the option to buy a house with real money and then use the gardens to grow seeds and sell them for a lot of gil. I am making a lot of gil from gardening.

Pay to win refers to someone ability to use real money to get a power or progression advantage over other players who don't pay.

There's no power or progression advantage to owning a house in this game. You'll make more gil doing treasure maps on a semi-regular basis than you'll make from gardening. Gil itself offer no power or progression advantage because it's nearly useless except as a tool to simplify bartering for non-essential items.

I'm still not in favor of having premium housing but it would be silly to call it pay to win.