Apartments need Rent

[Jojoya]

Oh I agree that things were pretty bad back then, and SE definitely needed to do something. This just wasn't it.

Then why weren't players making other suggestions back then if the timer wasn't the answer?

There wasn't a lot of pushback to Almangus's original suggestion. On the surface it was a sound idea and actually did work for all of 4.2 and 4.3, along with most of 4.4. The only world during that period that had perpetual complaints about trying to get a house was Balmung and that's because Balmung was severely congested at that time.

It stopped working as efficiently when the player base exploded in size in the first half of 2019 but there was no corresponding increase in the number of plots on each world.

If we had gotten an increase to the number of plots sufficient for the new size of the player base, the timer would have continued to work well. There would still be some flipping on the side for those trying to get medium and large houses (that will always be a problem as long as the quantities are very limited) but no one would have had to go through a flipper or camp a placard to get their first house.

We're right back to where these discussions always end up - supply. If the supply was sufficient, the timer wouldn't be a problem.

What we have now is a bot developer making a killing selling a bot he developed to players who are desperate but don't want to sit for hours at a placard clicking. .

No one has to buy a bot program to auto-click a placard. All it takes is a simple macro on a programmable keyboard. Bot developers aren't making a killing off housing in the game (though they're definitely doing well on other grindy aspects).

1. 45 day relocation timer. Which starts the second you relocate the house somewhere. Personal and FC houses both are subject to this. It may not stop the relocator sellers, but it definitely hampers them having to wait 45 days to be able to relocate to another plot. In the meanwhile, mediums and larges that demo are open to other people. It also makes people stop and think before they relocate somewhere. Is that plot *really* the one you want in your heart of hearts? No? Then probably best to stay where you are for now.

2. FC master cannot be handed down to anyone who hasn't been in the FC for at least 30 days. This puts the kabosh on people botting their way to a small plot with the intent to flip it right away to someone willing to purchase the FC with house attached. From what I've seen, these sellers count on a quick sale. Having to have the buyer in the FC for 30 days (and being unable to hand off their FC to an alt to sit on right away) may not kill the industry but it'll make it much harder to the point some will find the effort no longer worth the reward.

3. Lower the damn placard timer. 24 hours is ridiculous. I'd go with 6 to 8 hours at the most, 6 being preferable.

45 days seems excessive to me though definitely we need something more than the 5 minutes it currently is. Personally I'd set the relocation cooldown at 7 days. Long enough that someone isn't going to random repeat relocating on a whim but not so long they're likely to miss out on a chance at their dream plot.

Definitely FC abuses need to be addressed but the 30 day restriction could end up a problem for newly formed legitimate FCs if something unexpected happens to the original leader. With the rather lax permissions structure currently within the game, a lot of FCs are being extra cautious with the permissions. The FC situation is one that really needs some serious thinking for an overhaul.

Definitely agree that the timer should be much shorter. Four to 6 hours is more than enough for it to accomplish what it's intended to do.