For the love of god, add a priority system.

[Ayan_Calvesse]

I've been trying since 2.5. I could never get a placard. And have dutifully deposited gil on every weekly placard ever since the housing lotto was added on the lowest bidded small at the end of the week in any ward. I have lost 7 50/50's.

Instanced housing is the only solution. I'm all for priority based on sub time, but it's still slightly unfair.

If every level 90 on Balmung wanted a house, only 23% of them could get one. And that's ignoring FC's winning in mixed wards. The real number is probably sub 10%.

I respectfully disagree; instanced housing would likely just result in less engagement as the exclusivity of its possession would likely diminish for one; secondly SE wants you to realize that IF you stop playing - your not likely to get your house back - instanced housing removes that threat entirely as having a house is a trivial matter.
I do think a priority system is a good idea -people wrongly assume its "unfair" but I disagree on some simple questions.

-Someone that has not finished parts of the MSQ isn't really competing in Shirogane, nor the empyrean.
-Someone that has not played long cannot afford some lots simply due to lack of funds.

We already establish there is a benefit to "investment" in the game; if someone is tossing SE an extra 50$ for a story skip and level boost to bid; they get a advantage over those that due not - that is likely by design rather then a happy accident for SE. In short time will (and should) always equal better outcomes; the current lotto system makes people think they are "waiting in line" only to have the newly boosted new player that got their GC rank to walk to the front of the line.

I see no issue with time invested resulting in returns on investment; especially given the lobster trap nature of housing.

[BigBossCL]

No thanks, use apartments, they are instanced housing.

So if they're already instanced housing, why not make them house-sized?

[Solowing]

I respectfully disagree; instanced housing would likely just result in less engagement as the exclusivity of its possession would likely diminish for one; secondly SE wants you to realize that IF you stop playing - your not likely to get your house back - instanced housing removes that threat entirely as having a house is a trivial matter.
I do think a priority system is a good idea -people wrongly assume its "unfair" but I disagree on some simple questions.

-Someone that has not finished parts of the MSQ isn't really competing in Shirogane, nor the empyrean.
-Someone that has not played long cannot afford some lots simply due to lack of funds.

We already establish there is a benefit to "investment" in the game; if someone is tossing SE an extra 50$ for a story skip and level boost to bid; they get a advantage over those that due not - that is likely by design rather then a happy accident for SE. In short time will (and should) always equal better outcomes; the current lotto system makes people think they are "waiting in line" only to have the newly boosted new player that got their GC rank to walk to the front of the line.

I see no issue with time invested resulting in returns on investment; especially given the lobster trap nature of housing.

It doesnt make people think they are waiting in line, they put that idea in their own head if they think that. They wanted a random selection via lottery, here it is. Those who subscribed later are basically never going to get a chance at a house and might as well give up. Where i started in 2014, would pretty much be guaranteed a house.

No, we wanted fair, we got fair. No need or reason to ask the developers to allow longer tenured players to allow us to place a thumb on the scale.

[PredatoryCatgirl]

So if they're already instanced housing, why not make them house-sized?

This. Just let people buy bigger apartments. That will sate like 90% of people who can't get houses.

[Solowing]

This. Just let people buy bigger apartments. That will sate like 90% of people who can't get houses.

How big though? Should it be the size of a small. If so, why would anyone want a ward house if you have to deal with a demo timer?

No, planting space and the outside yard isnt worth a perma subscription with only 1 month breaks allowed...

[PredatoryCatgirl]

How big though? Should it be the size of a small. If so, why would anyone want a ward house if you have to deal with a demo timer?

No, planting space and the outside yard isnt worth a perma subscription with only 1 month breaks allowed...

Make them freaking mansion sized if people can pay for them. Make three sizes available, each one pegged to the lowest price of a house that size (so a mansion sized apartment would be 40M gil). Houses will still offer some clout for people who care about that sort of thing, and will still be the only options for FCs. Trust me, houses won't go unused if they do this.

[Jojoya]

How big though? Should it be the size of a small. If so, why would anyone want a ward house if you have to deal with a demo timer?

No, planting space and the outside yard isnt worth a perma subscription with only 1 month breaks allowed...

Because a lot of players state they are only interested in ward housing and would never accept instanced housing. They want to feel like they're in a living neighborhood and they're willing to risk demolition to get that feeling.

Outside yard is worth risking demolition to me if SE never implements an instanced housing system that includes both interior and exterior spaces. I want that slice of nature as part of my housing (though I'd be happier without neighboring houses blocking views). Right now, it's impossible to convincingly recreate that in housing interiors.

That's not going to stop me from dreaming that we might one day get something on the scope of RIFT Dimensions. Realistically, I don't think SE would ever deliver it despite the good first steps added with Island Sanctuary.

[Solowing]

Because a lot of players state they are only interested in ward housing and would never accept instanced housing. They want to feel like they're in a living neighborhood and they're willing to risk demolition to get that feeling.

Outside yard is worth risking demolition to me if SE never implements an instanced housing system that includes both interior and exterior spaces. I want that slice of nature as part of my housing (though I'd be happier without neighboring houses blocking views). Right now, it's impossible to convincingly recreate that in housing interiors.

That's not going to stop me from dreaming that we might one day get something on the scope of RIFT Dimensions. Realistically, I don't think SE would ever deliver it despite the good first steps added with Island Sanctuary.

Nobody with common sense is going to take a ward plot that requires you to keep a active subscription and 45 day mandatory check-in, over a instanced plot of the same size that exempt from being demolished. I own an FC and a private, i cant even leave for longer then 2 weeks. If you get exactly what you want, thats a boon to me. why wouldnt i want this, i could move my homes into spaces that i dont have to upkeep my subscription for? Whats 20 slots and crossbreeding, when i can drop my suscription without fear of losing my work?


but why would S.E want that? If they were to give you what you want,they are just as likely to put a demo timer on your instanced house, because they are not just going to let the free income just walk away. When they have suckers like myself who kept a sub up for 5 years+ in part to keep my house regardless of the content drought or low points in the game. Now if you want to vouch for me reasons to finally let my sub lapse for alil while, by all mean go for it.

But theirs a profit motive for them to leave the system the way it is. But im aware that i willingly walked into the trap, and they get basically free money for as long as my interest in the plot holds

[Jojoya]

Nobody with common sense is going to take a ward plot that requires you to keep a active subscription and 45 day mandatory check-in, over a instanced plot of the same size that exempt from being demolished.

If you want to say most most players aren't going to want a ward house when they won't have to worry about demolition if they have an instanced house, then I'll agree.

Saying "nobody" would is incorrect and to imply they lack common sense if they choose to retain a ward house is ignorant. We're talking content in a game. Subjective preference is going to win out.

SE has let that "free income" walk away every time they've suspended the demolition timer. It's not just house owners that end up letting their sub lapse during demolition suspensions. Players who have been staying subbed trying to get a house likewise let their sub lapse because their chances of getting a house drop from small to microscopic.

Someone with common sense would let their sub lapse if they weren't interested in playing and not worry about the house instead of continuing to pay month after month for something they aren't using.

If they're lacking the common sense to unsub, chances are good they're going to be attached to their ward house and not interested in a bigger apartment.

[Solowing]

If you want to say most most players aren't going to want a ward house when they won't have to worry about demolition if they have an instanced house, then I'll agree.

Saying "nobody" would is incorrect and to imply they lack common sense if they choose to retain a ward house is ignorant. We're talking content in a game. Subjective preference is going to win out.

SE has let that "free income" walk away every time they've suspended the demolition timer. It's not just house owners that end up letting their sub lapse during demolition suspensions. Players who have been staying subbed trying to get a house likewise let their sub lapse because their chances of getting a house drop from small to microscopic.

Someone with common sense would let their sub lapse if they weren't interested in playing and not worry about the house instead of continuing to pay month after month for something they aren't using.

If they're lacking the common sense to unsub, chances are good they're going to be attached to their ward house and not interested in a bigger apartment.

Youre not making ward housing appealing, by making it an objective worse version then a instanced house. For 20 outdoor slots and crossbreeding, you too can be "encouraged" to perma subscribe and if you leave longer then 45 days, you will have all your time and effort destroyed and if youre gone too long, you wont even get your items back.

I say lack of common sense, because even you admit that most players wouldn't choose it because it requires upkeep of an active subscription to keep a ward house. Over a house of the same size, that doesn't get demolished regardless of how long youve been gone. Crossbreeding and 20 slots isnt worth such a steep trade off if you weigh the pros and cons. You dont make ward housing more appealing, by making it less appealing.

S.E only lets that free income walk away in certain circumstances, they dont just shut the timer off on a random Tuesday just because they feel generous, they do it from natural disasters, or the coved-19 pandemic. And even then the timer keeps running. If they arnt back by the time S.E turns back on the demo timer, their house is gone the moment the switch is flipped. SO its best to check in once a month anyway so when they do flip the switch back on, your timer would be partly reset.

In which case they dont, after a month their house gets demolished, and the house goes back up for sale. Right? But if you have any investment into what you worked on and a bare minimum interest in the game, what's the price of a drive through-meal once a month? If you plan on continuing to still play in the future, you might want to continue to check in, because if you lose your plot now, it might be awhile before you see another one with 3 attempts at housing a month now.

You are asking for them to eliminate the difference between a house and an apartment. This isnt "house vs apt". This is a " ward house with a demo time vs an instanced house of the same size, without a demo timer". And for me thats a no-brainer because i dont have to be on-top of my logins so stringently and if i cant reach my PS5 im not going to lose one of my plots within 14 days and the other within a month.