The big housing problem, why it isn't the amount of houses

[LineageRazor]

The problem is, and always has been, that the housing system we have was not originally designed for player housing. It was originally intended for FC housing only, and player housing was going to be separate (and much more affordable). Both player and FC housing were going to be non-instanced. This, however turned out to be more than the devs could handle at the time, particularly since FFXIV became WILDLY more popular than really anyone anticipated. As a hasty kludge, they modified the FC housing areas to be available to players, as well, and that's the system we've had since.

The idea of non-instanced housing is neat, in concept, and if they'd actually been able to pull it off, it would have been totally awesome. I'd love to see a single, city-sized area with every house being a real, living house owned by an actual human being. What we have now, though, IS instanced housing, with thirty houses per instance. So they pretty much failed the concept right out of the gate.

When they added apartments, they should have given them outdoor patios, even if they were smaller than the outdoor portions of even small houses. Make them large enough to have a small garden and room for a few outdoor furnishings, and that would solve most people's complaints.

[Mykll]

When they added apartments, they should have given them outdoor patios, even if they were smaller than the outdoor portions of even small houses. Make them large enough to have a small garden and room for a few outdoor furnishings, and that would solve most people's complaints.

That is what I am mainly missing with the apartment. I can't do jack with any outdoor furnishings.

[ForteNightshade]

When they added apartments, they should have given them outdoor patios, even if they were smaller than the outdoor portions of even small houses. Make them large enough to have a small garden and room for a few outdoor furnishings, and that would solve most people's complaints.

Apartments i such wasted potential. They're glorified FC rooms that cost more. It baffles me how they actually believed this would fix the problem. And they're still making excuses not to allow size options.

[DPZ2]

Apartments i such wasted potential. They're glorified FC rooms that cost more. It baffles me how they actually believed this would fix the problem. And they're still making excuses not to allow size options.

Apartment advantages over FC rooms: you get to select the housing area, you get a room even if you never join an FC, the room doesn't go away if the FC blows up. or the FC house gets traded for something bigger when you're offline for two weeks, or you get kicked.

Some people don't require a yard. What makes anyone think they're going to get a mansion-size apartment with a yard and a great view if SE were to implement truly "instanced" housing? I've experienced enough MMOs with 'housing' that was little more than the apartment that is available in FFXIV.

[Enla]

Apartment advantages over FC rooms: you get to select the housing area, you get a room even if you never join an FC, the room doesn't go away if the FC blows up. or the FC house gets traded for something bigger when you're offline for two weeks, or you get kicked.

Some people don't require a yard. What makes anyone think they're going to get a mansion-size apartment with a yard and a great view if SE were to implement truly "instanced" housing? I've experienced enough MMOs with 'housing' that was little more than the apartment that is available in FFXIV.

I'm not sure many people are thinking they'll get a yard or even a view? At least I've never heard anyone actually express that in most of my time scouring these topics. I personally just want the ability to pay to own the interior of a small or medium house, but as an apartment. I'll even happily pay a premium for it. Until SE gives us proper Z-Axis then apartments and FC rooms are always going to be inferior in terms of design potential than actual housing.

[ForteNightshade]

Apartment advantages over FC rooms: you get to select the housing area, you get a room even if you never join an FC, the room doesn't go away if the FC blows up. or the FC house gets traded for something bigger when you're offline for two weeks, or you get kicked.

Some people don't require a yard. What makes anyone think they're going to get a mansion-size apartment with a yard and a great view if SE were to implement truly "instanced" housing? I've experienced enough MMOs with 'housing' that was little more than the apartment that is available in FFXIV.

Hence why I said "glorified FC room" because while there are some differences. They remain minute at best.

And where did I mention a yard or mansion-sized apartment? All they needed to do was take the downstairs level of each house and make that an option. As for other MMOs, they don't try to market housing or glamour as a big deal nor do they have the budget and develop manpower that Square Enix does. BDO manages to make instance housing great, and it's a FTP MMO. There's no excuse for how poorly handled housing is in this game.

[Zer0]

Apartments i such wasted potential. They're glorified FC rooms that cost more. It baffles me how they actually believed this would fix the problem. And they're still making excuses not to allow size options.

To be honest the biggest thing was for people to be able to dye chocobos if you weren't in a FC to me. It was a solo players thing. Now everyone I know in my mains FC that bothers with any form of decorating has a Room, Apartment, and house. Why? I don't know. Whatever they're into. I have a FC room but thats it and I barely touch it. I thought about a house but I'd never do anything with it. I honestly don't care about housing that much.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It's fine to have personal and FC housing. But they never should have been in the same instance. Double the total available plots. Move all FC plots there. So you have personal and freecompany zones for it.