Can we cut the ward system and finally go for instanced

[Krakksie]

Instanced Housing

I understand on paper that a ward system was wanted for a 'sense of community', which works on paper. However in most wards you'll find them to be barren, empty and void of player life. Which begs the question, why are we forced into a 'sense of community' when there is nout to be seen in the wards.

After losing every single lotto for the last 365+ days Its starts to beg the question of why as a paying customer must we be locked out of something we've been despirately trying to do for over a year. I now find myself to be logging in only for the lotto and logging out to see a refund, each and every time the cycle goes on. If the wards were replaced or now given as an option to be an instanced plot of S, M or L housing plots, this would give every single player an actual chance at taking part in the content they pay for without being denied.

This could even be implimented into the island system to install a house plot on that land (an already instanced island, ready for a housing plot).

I spent a lot of my own time to earn the gil to be able to upgrade from a small plot to a large, grinding countless hours through maps, Bozjan and crafting to find it was all in vain. I find myself wondering why, what was the point and left at the end of a rope each time a lost bid comes through begging the question as to why am i still even subbed to the game.

One thing that has been clear through each cycle as well is the factor that Medium and Large houses are clearly in higher demand than any small could ever be. (which would not be an issue in an instanced system).

So please impliment an instanced system and cut this pseudo belief that people want a sense community in the wards.
And no i will not state 'we will pay X for this content' as we already pay enough per year already with the sub (over £92.28 per year per person on basic).

[CatStarwind]

However in most wards you'll find them to be barren, empty and void of player life.

Those are the Fight Club sub farm wards.

[Yuniko]

I've lost 75 houses now. I've had a small for 4 years. SO i know how you feel hun. i truely do.

[Raim]

Ward system is way more soulful. They will almost certainly not add fully functional instanced housing. They should instead just work on server infrastructure and add 5-10 wards per patch (based on datacenter) as needed.

[Fable]

Many people like the wards so add both.

[Krakksie]

Ward system is way more soulful. They will almost certainly not add fully functional instanced housing. They should instead just work on server infrastructure and add 5-10 wards per patch (based on datacenter) as needed.

I'd like to agree with you, however the amount of abomonation houses ive seen, from some intentionally blocking the patch via glitching items out of bound, to namazu effigy only gardens and gingerbread houses in the middle of a brick designed ward feels void of soul.

5-10 wards will not fix the issue, you'll find the same people who have lost every single cycle will still continue to lose the following cycles and by the time the next ones up, everyone has now earnt enough Gil to bid for the biggest plots avaliable. The system is fundamentally flawed which in some ways makes me miss the incredibly inhuman old system where you were forced to spend 10 hours clicking at a board till you win (which i did... manually).

Instanced is really the only way to fix this, they could use the same wards we have today but instance the actual plots, having a showcase house on display (highest likes as an example).

We all pay for the content, yet we shouldnt be denied access to the content due to RNG, leaves a very sour taste to the mouth.

[PaalHenrik]

Those are the Fight Club sub farm wards.

Time for a new soap box.

[Khryseis_Astra]

Instanced just makes more sense. Keep the wards for those that want them. Just let everyone else have an instanced plot, made to look like any existing plot in the game, with the option to change sizes as desired. I actually have a medium, and want to go back to a small and I’ve lost every lotto, with only a handful of bids each time. I’m on Crystal, so the odds are only going to get worse now that the new wards are mostly filled (except the FC only one…). From here on out, I’ll probably be competing with over 20 people for a small plot.

And SE, if you’re listening, I’ve already said at this point I’d be willing to pay for it. Waiting 9 days only to lose over and over again feels bad in a game where players pay a sub.

[Krakksie]

Here is an example of 'soul'

[Ayan_Calvesse]

I am not 100% against instanced wards...

However I would limit their function.
1 - No more then 8 people in a instance (or some similar smallish number) to prevent a horde of venues in the instance servers. If folks want venues have them put in the effort to get a house in the ward. Naturally if its a FC house then anyone in the FC does not count toward this limit.
2 - No workshops in instanced housing (For obvious reasons)
3 - One instanced home per world per service account - just like a private home in the wards already; but this applies to FC's as well so that folks do not create a geometrically growing flood of such homes.
4 - No instanced home if you already own a home in a ward of the same type on your account. So if you own a private already; no private instanced home. If you own a FC home; no FC instanced home.
5 - Allow instanced home layouts to be "saved" so that the player can move it to a ward home easily later with the "do you wish to transfer the interior of your home to this home?" or if we are going big....just save the info just like we do with character appearances.
6 - Tax instanced homes monthly to ensure people are buying them and using them. I would ALSO tax ward homes at a even greater rate; given that Ward homes would be generally intended for larger scale public consumption and able to generate revenue.