The Housing problem and my proposed solution

[Kosmos992k]

I don't buy for a second that turning the housing situation around completely is a matter of "can they do it". I believe it's a question of "will they do it".

Oh no, don't misunderstand, with sufficient time, resources and infrastructure I am sure practically anything can be done. However, rearchitecting systems or subsystems pretty much from the ground up while they are in place and operational, is easily the most expensive way to affect change. They'd be better suspending further work on housing as it is and starting over on housing 3.0. In terms of realities and practicalities, there are thing than can be done, and things that cant realistically, or practically, be done at this time.

I'm not defending SE here, I think the housing system we have makes sense for free company housing, but absolutely fails at addressing personal housing. I also think that blending personal housing into the FC wards as they have both dilutes the worth of housing to a free company, and offends those FCs unable to obtain a plot because someone bought a medium(or small, or large) lot for personal use and subsequently quit... That doesn't even begin to addrsss how badly it fails the vast majority of players.

Actually, I'll go one further, the housing system as it is fails both gatherers and crafters as well. Instanced personal housing within the reach of any active player would have stimulated the market for furnishings and related items creation much more cash flow in the economy. Howver, as it is it became nothing more than a property bubble and the economy as a whole suffers from that.

I aleady made my suggestiojs on fixing things;

• Create 'condominium' style system with an entrance lobby accessible from the main square in each ward.
• The homes are expanded versions of personal chambers with an outdoor area.
• The starter unit costs twice the amount of a private chamber in a FC house, but is larger.
• The starter unit also has a back yard outdoor area permitting indoor and outdoor furnishings and things such as garden plots and chocobo stable.
• The existing wards are locked for future purchase by FCs only.
• Abandoned lots in exitsting wards are actively recovered and offered for sale to Free Companies.
• Additional expansion of the personal house would be added through in game purchaseable items using gil.
• The homes are instanced, but visitors can enter them the instance only exists while an owner or guest is present.
• A premium version of this is also available for a small additional monthly fee expanding, similar to the retainer fee.
• The premium version has a full outside instance with a home and larger yard.
• Item limits would be doubled (except for gardn plots and the like) within a Premium house.

This makes housing available to all, provides a potential revenue stream from people who want a bigger and better personal home and preservesthe existing system intact without unduly penalizing existing owners of personal homes. It makes use of existing systems in the game and can be developed in parallel to the existing system without impacting that system negatively - IMHO of course...