Support for FCFS housing in 6.1

[Skoll_the_Sun-chaser]

I support Lottery, but only if it's limited to the new Ishgard housing for the first 3 to 5 months as a trial run, before any decision is made on if it expands beyond the Empyreum.

Pros:
1. Less people clicking plots for the duration of the hidden purchase timer (which can be as long as 24 hours)
2. Less traffic in the open plot areas, as there's no need to linger once you've put a ticket in
3. A cap to how many tickets a single person can put in for the lottery (I'd reject the idea if more than 1 personal and 1 FC ticket were allowed at a given time per person)
4. Reduces the likelihood of excessive server queues during new ward releases. (the only plus to having it as a system, instead of a semi-optional feature)

Cons
1. Removes the option to show support for those who may be house hunting, as there's no longer a reason to linger at the plot and therefore no need for people to show support for friends who may not be in the same Free Company as yourself, or might even be on another server entirely.
2. The Limbo period of the plots, as it looks like the lottery process will take much longer than the maximum 24 hour timer of the standard Hidden Timer plots (one of the biggest reasons that I don't like the Lottery system)
3. Heavily favors larger FCs, so the small FCs that are made of Friends and possibly Family will suffer from the Lottery System. (yet another big reason I don't like the Lottery System)

Opinions on the changes to Housing:
Housing tends to be a major factor for a lot of people, both solo players and community people, so I feel that there should not be a preference in targeted groups shown when adjusting housing systems. Favoring any one group will make the others unhappy over time, and it would only lead to more redesigns of housing if a focus group is involved. Some people want to play with just people they know, others want to stay off to the side and have friends scattered across Data Centers instead of all on one server. Small Free Companies are being ignored in favor of the larger groups, which means those smaller FCs who may be made of a group of close friends and/or family members would have a harder time getting a plot when facing Larger FCs who can devote dozens of players to a single plot.

In regards to the Ward Distributions, I am Strongly in favor of separating FC and Personal housing from each other so that Personal house hunters will have more of a chance at obtaining a house. I feel like the separation is a good move, and will improve the conditions for people who seek to obtain a personal house, or who don't want to be part of an FC just to have housing. I can see that system freeing up plots over time, as more and more solo players will be getting their first house with that system. Unfortunately, it doesn't really help Small FCs because they'd still be competing with the Large FCs, which often have more people to spare for attempting a plot purchase.

[Jojoya]

I can see that system freeing up plots over time, as more and more solo players will be getting their first house with that system.

How does more players owning a house make more plots available? That makes no sense.

The only way more plots will become available is if players either start quitting the game in large numbers (leaving their houses to demo) or SE adds more wards.

Unfortunately, it doesn't really help Small FCs because they'd still be competing with the Large FCs, which often have more people to spare for attempting a plot purchase.

More players to spare does not equal more gil to spend on all the entries, nor does it mean sufficient trust between officers and members that one side isn't going to screw over the other. Large FCs are usually an officer clique with a bunch of random members no one else really knows.

You're also assuming those members are willing to give up their single entry for the lottery to their FC over using it for the chance to buy their own house or relocate their existing one.

Most large FCs are already going to own a house. They're not going to be competition to you unless you're trying to go after a prime plot (which would be a mistake for a FC trying to get their first house).

The competition you need to worry about are the close knit small to medium FCs with wealthy members. They've got the trust factor to share the gil needed for multiple entries.