Major changes needed for housing

[LianaThorne]

Maybe it should be like a private estate. This would solve the issue of people having 1 FC house and 1 private house on the same character, and also the issue where people transfer FC leadership to bypass housing restrictions.

Just allow players to link one private house to an fc and let members use it according to their rank and refresh its demolish timer. Should the player leave or get kicked, someone else can link their house to the fc. Also limit ownership to one house per account.

Again, going to say (since this exact suggestion came up in another housing thread):
- This isn't fair for FC leaders. So our members can have private houses but because we choose to open an FC, we lose the right to it. Why do we have to give up privacy just because we want to help people? There's nothing wrong with an FC having their own estate and also being able to own our own house. The issue is that FCs are set up so that you can just inherit new ones.

You're also heavily assuming that members will have housing to link. Myself, my bf (current leader) and another couple are the only ones in our FC who own housing and I doubt that they want to give up their right to privacy for the sake of an FC either if he and I left the game.

So, please. No. Not this. How about we either just fix apartments so they're actually appealing or the devs rip apart how FCs are coded into the game and make it so they can be tracked the same as personal houses?

[LaylaTsarra]

This isn't fair for FC leaders. So our members can have private houses but because we choose to open an FC, we lose the right to it. Why do we have to give up privacy just because we want to help people? There's nothing wrong with an FC having their own estate and also being able to own our own house.

Yes you're entitled to a private house just like everyone else. I wouldn't worry about it the dev team isn't about to change that. They certainly recognize the difference. I have a small FC I share with friends and my alts on Spriggan with a private right next to it. I'm entitled to my privacy just like anyone else.

[Reinha]

Again, going to say (since this exact suggestion came up in another housing thread):
- This isn't fair for FC leaders. So our members can have private houses but because we choose to open an FC, we lose the right to it.

I didn't say it has to be the FC leader's house. If not enough players in the FC have a house, you could pool your Gil and get a homeless FC member a house they can share with everyone. Or is the problem that you, as the FC leader, don't trust any of your members to have control over the FC house?

Either people can inherit a house with FC leadership, or FC housing isn't tied to FC leadership. There are no other options.

[LianaThorne]

I didn't say it has to be the FC leader's house. If not enough players in the FC have a house, you could pool your Gil and get a homeless FC member a house they can share with everyone. Or is the problem that you, as the FC leader, don't trust any of your members to have control over the FC house?

Either people can inherit a house with FC leadership, or FC housing isn't tied to FC leadership. There are no other options.

It has nothing to do with either. I just want to be able to own an FC house and a personal, as should everyone. Everyone should be allowed to open an FC and have a personal house to do what they want with. It's nothing deeper than that. Why should anyone be forced to give up their privacy or their right to open an RP venue or a crafting shop in their personal house for example, for the sake of their FC?

And yes, camping for a new plot for each member that needs one sounds lovely and not at all like it doesn't have the potential of taking days or weeks to get one. God forbid someone needs to step down for a real life emergency and a replacement plot can't be found in time so everyone is homeless.

Also, I did offer options, feel free to re-read them.

[MoonPhaseAlpha]

Lastly, yes people were grandfathered in because they had multiple houses when there wasn't a housing shortage and more importantly, when se's own rules allowed it. Those people broke no rules.

True, they might not have broken any rules but it doesn't excuse the fact that they are greedy and won't give up those plots so others can enjoy the game. Player greed is the real problem in my opinion. No one needs a housing portfolio consisting of full/half wards of houses they own. Why does one player need 15 houses?! Answer: they don't.

[Jojoya]

Edited Note: Probably money and time sinks, and forcing you to subscribe to keep it, while EQ2 did not, last time I played. But not something that works on me, considering the lack of benefits vs. cost and if I were into decorating, which I'm not, I've played better games for that.

If the point was to use houses to keep players subscribed, they would never suspend auto-demolition nor would apartments be free from demolition.

I honestly don't think the sub money is their objective with the system considering how often demolition has been suspended.

Housing helps keep me subscribed not because I fear losing my house (I've lost one in the past, had to wait 8 months before I could get another and would deal with it if I lost this one) but because it gives me something I enjoy doing when I need a break from other content. My FC will tell you how much I like to decorate/redecorate, helping some of them decorate their newly purchased houses when they weren't feeling comfortable about doing it themselves (a few of them are now frequent decorators as well).

How many sub dollars is SE losing because other players who would do likewise can't get a house at all so there's nothing to keep them interested once other content is consumed? It's a double-edged sword relying on a limited resource system to keep players subscribed. You've got players who only stay subscribed because they fear losing something they wouldn't be using. You've got players who unsubscribe because they can't get something they would be using.

I think it's fair to say that the devs designed the system intentionally with a specific vision of what they wanted housing to be like (the neighborhood thing) but not to say they intentionally designed it to be a problem for players. That runs counter to so many of the other things they do and say.

[Tommara]

I think it's fair to say that the devs designed the system intentionally with a specific vision of what they wanted housing to be like (the neighborhood thing) but not to say they intentionally designed it to be a problem for players. That runs counter to so many of the other things they do and say.

Yes, I agree, because I don't believe the devs are incompetent at all. FF14 has the most competent devs I've ever seen in an MMO. I've loved their games since I first encountered them on an 8-bit Nintendo. I was shocked when they made me cry over the twin mages turning themselves into stone to prevent a party wipe. My reaction was that I needed to step away from games for a bit for taking them so seriously.

That obviously didn't last long. I can't even listen to Chronotrigger's Schala's theme without feeling sad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIJxrAHuk7Q Their ability to suck me into the story has never been equaled and Schala's theme is without equal as the best music I've ever heard in video game, despite it being a midi. OK, so Horizon Zero Dawns' non-midi Meridian is close https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czMIP79Xr9o but almost seems inspired by Schala's theme, although I can't put my finger on why.

But housing, meh. I can't get sucked into it because I've known much better. I just find it annoying without any real benefit and refuse to take part.

So while no doubt FF14 housing is working as intended, it's just not working for me. I just find it absurd.

[SavishSalacious]

Now first off I know I will get lots of naysayers and people defending current system but it needs to be fixed badly.

I post this because for the past month I became aware of players using some loophole in the current housing rules to get themselves extra fc\\\\'s on a world when it should be impossible. They do it by making alts on their world. They are then invited to the fc they bought and thay are given ownership.

This needs to be addressed AND those fc\\\\'s need to be taken away. They are gotten unfairly and through means that shouldn\\\\'t be possible considering how the rules are told.

Now further is the continued sales of plots and fc\\\\'s. The fix for this is one that will make you all mad.

1) for private plots make it so relocation has a hidden cool down timer of 12 hours. This would need to start the moment the plot was vacated and not before. Not only would this deter plot selling but would make buyers worried as normal players without would have a shot.

2) As far as fc selling. The implementation of duration of membership in said fc would need to be put in and no less or more then 6 months must the person be a member. This one I\\\\'m aware will draw alot of heat from you sellers but tough.

Now then. Last housing rush we had a problem with trolls buying up plots and either moving servers or just giving up the plot immediately after defeating the purpose of people having a chance.

I propose a ownership timer be added. Whereas said plot must be owned no less then 30 days for possible relocation or world transfer.

Onto the next issue. The fact that we got a outcry for housing but the team doesn\\\\'t give the players who want a house a legit chance. We all know patch day we have people sniping prime plots and stuff.

I propose a 72hour cool down period when new housing is out to give players without a chance to finally get a plot. If implemented. 2 weeks before new housing is to drop, people with established private or fc housing will not be able to make alts of any kind.

I further propose that when new housing is approaching. All new fc\\\\'s being made is suspended 4 weeks prior so we don\\\\'t have pop up fc\\\\'s.

My last tweak will draw alot of bile. Get over yourselves. Right now there are players who own multiple properties that were grandfathered in back in stormblood change. I propose this is reversed but with a few week notice so players can get stuff out of those properties.

I further recommend if this is done to advise the house they want to keep will be the last one they enter or first one they enter.

There is such alot of fixes for this but everything is half implemented and players control the market.

There is only one that needs to be done, and never will be: instanced housing.

[Jojoya]

There is only one that needs to be done, and never will be: instanced housing.

Instanced housing is part of the game. House interiors are instanced (you are no longer in the ward when you step inside, why it was raining in your yard but the weather inside is always Fair). Apartments are instanced.

What SE needs to do is focus more on improving the instanced part of housing and giving players more options in the instanced system. There's no point of having a house in a neighborhood when you rarely see a neighbor and you're no longer in the neighborhood once you go inside.

[Krokov]

You'll get island sanctuaries which if understood correctly will allow most of the functions of housing i.e. growing plants etc. You course will be able to raise animals as well however to what extent in stuff we have not yet been told.