Adressing the roots of the housing problem

[Krotoan]

There's nothing level about this playing field, at all, and the newly proposed restrictions are half-measures that absolutely make it worse.

This is fairer than the original system in that nobody has an advantage because of money or computer specs or internet connection or daily schedule (to a point, if you can be on more you'll have more of a chance, but you won't lose out just because you cannot be on when the known timer expires) . Everyone has the same chance to be there when the plot comes up.

And now you have no chance whatsoever to get anything greater than a small, which you have to compete for and which will invariably be the least desired of all plots because of how skewed this will be.

I think you're referring to the new plots and how the FC's will get first crack and likely buy all the meds and larges and how you wont be able to get one if you don't already have a personal house. True. But as time continues and Houses are moved/abandoned people will have the chance to get meds and larges. Maybe less so larges but there definitely WILL be people who abandon meds to GET larges, then someday at a random time someone will have a chance to buy the abandoned med. Also, the main complaint being resolved here isn't "I DONT HAVE A LARGE/MED HOUSE".. it's "I DON'T HAVE A HOUSE".

This could already happen, barring Square's insistence on repeatedly turning off auto-demolition. Under these new restrictions, what you said is only true if:
1.) The hidden timer expires while you're in front of the placard
2.) You have a faster finger than the multiple other people standing at that placard because of the aforementioned timer.

Further, this will not even be possible for another two months. If your concept of "fair" is to make everything worse, more power to you. But it's my belief that there will be a massive meltdown come Feb 6th when everyone finally realizes how hilarious this is being set up.

It COULD but it was far less likely. Random plots don't open up and stay open till some passerby buys them very often. Most of the time they'll get sold and passed to someone else. Most housing flippers will hold their houses until someone wants to buy them, those houses will NEVER get randomly put back online unless the flipper stops playing or forgets about that particular character and doesn't enter the house.
Now there is NO reason for someone to buy a house from a flipper as a personal house. Likely the flippers will lose interest in that market since it's worthless to them. There are possibly those who will, just out of malice or spite keep logging in and going in their houses to keep them.. but I'd like to think that much effort wouldn't be worth it or won't hold their interest for long.
Your idea of Better is very odd. Why was the old system better? People have been asking for this exact change for as long as we have had demolition.
If you are going to stand in front of a placard all day and everyday until the buying option unlocks you deserve that house. How are you going to know whether you have 10 minutes or 3 days till it expires? that's a lot of time not to play the rest of the game. Everyone has an equal chance of being on when it's available and that's better in my opinion.

Also - I have no stake in this; I have a personal house and an FC house already. I got the one Christmas 2015 by camping all day - so I know first-hand how stupid that system is - and the other just randomly demolished when I was hanging out at a shared estate.

As do I, but seeing others actually getting an equal chance to join the house-owning population gives me hope. This is a step in the right direction if they're going to keep the wards.

[Mesarthim]

houses should only be for FCs.

It's a bit late for that unless you want to anger all existing home owners.

[Enla]

It's a bit late for that unless you want to anger all existing home owners.

This. I think having FC's take the first crack at it is perhaps the kindest compromise to the issue at present. At least until we hear the details of the expanded apartments should they ever actually materialize. Though even then I don't think punishing people after the fact is a wise idea.

[Destati]

I don't think I agree with the FC only purchase restriction on ward release. That's really not fair for individuals, especially those on high pop servers, they're going to be ass out of luck. If they were going to do something like this I feel like they should have restricted it to FC's in primary wards and personal houses in the sub-wards. :/

My thoughts exactly. When we were told that they were implementing measures to make sure everyone a fair chance, I was expecting that. I don't understand how this is fair to individuals. It won't matter if it's a temporary measure; by the time they re-enable personal house purchases all the plots will be sold out anyway, especially on high-pop servers.

The solution they're adding for 4.2 is the right solution. Apartments is what people should buy if they want a personal space, houses should only be for FCs. Thank you devs!

Absolutely not. Apartments are way too small, and don't have yards to decorate or garden in.

[Catwho]

I managed to catch an open plot LONG before the first expanded wards were added and even before housing demolition was added in. (I think someone changed servers.) It was sheer luck, I know, but it's possible if you just keep an eye out on the lists at the aetherytes.

You definitely can't camp a house that way, but if you just want a house, ANY house, then the first thing that opens up should do, right? I am very content with my cottage in the Goblet.

[Darrcyphfeid]

This is fairer than the original system in that nobody has an advantage because of money or computer specs or internet connection or daily schedule (to a point, if you can be on more you'll have more of a chance, but you won't lose out just because you cannot be on when the known timer expires) . Everyone has the same chance to be there when the plot comes up.

I mean, the plot's just going to be there anyway. Individuals are going to watch as people already in the system relocate right in front of them, and as FCs - preexisting and created in the last couple days (flipping FCs is still very much going to be a thing) - pick up some of the new 1,440 plots, and they can do nothing but twiddle their thumbs in front of whatever plot until the houses arbitrarily become available for them to try and buy. Which is probably even worse than Christmas 2015. With that, you knew exactly when the house became available because the icon on the map and the visual indicator in front of you (the house disappearing) changed. I haven't heard mention of anything visibly changing when personal housing gets turned on, so I foresee a return to Raubahn EX. Just sit at the placard and keep mashing X until something different happens... like someone that isn't them getting the plot.

The 6th is a Tuesday. Anyone with responsibilities outside their real life home on that day is probably SoL, assuming personal housing even becomes available Day 1. IIRC the housing demolition Christmas 2015 happened around 3:30pm eastern, and the server itself had come online at 6am.

I think you're referring to the new plots and how the FC's will get first crack and likely buy all the meds and larges and how you wont be able to get one if you don't already have a personal house. True. But as time continues and Houses are moved/abandoned people will have the chance to get meds and larges.

A lot of these people have already been waiting 3+ months though, and that's what really gets under my skin here. Several of my friends got up super early for 4.1 to try and get a house - Shirogane or otherwise - and got messed over hardcore by the network difficulties. I agree with the 1 hour delay, but I vehemently disagree with giving FCs and especially people already in the system advance priority. I mean, yes, you can probably go post on Reddit's housing market thing right now and pay obscene amounts of Gil (or, let's face it, real world currency) to get into the system now so you can get what you actually want Feb 6th, but that's ridiculous. I'm kinda looking forward to the outrage it causes in a schadenfreudist sort of way, because Square deserves a good thrashing and the only way that will happen is if a lot of people get really mad, but I'm also deeply offended on behalf of the people that are about to be led around by their nose (and wind up with nothing).

In fact, I'm so wound up about this that I gave my personal house to a friend just now. Might as well make someone's experience less ass backwards.

[Dustytome]

but I vehemently disagree with giving FCs and especially people already in the system advance priority..

That part strikes me as a little odd. I would think it would be all fc (moving or buying fresh) first and then open up to personal as well, but allowing those already with personal plots to get preference along with the fcs seems off. I think personal plots moving or buying from scatch should be on equal footing.

[Vrankyl]

The reason why it's likely open to personals wanting to relocate is that the relocation system is very possibly still coded as an all or nothing system. Either everyone can relocate, or no one can. Eventually they'll probably fix it, but since it's a new system it's bound to have some kinks to work out.

[Darrcyphfeid]

Pretty much. Relocations are also considered to be different within the system, so... more tomfoolery.

Individuals will be restricted from purchasing plots for personal use for a limited time. You'll still be able to relocate.

Q: Can you relocate if you already own several free company estates?
A: Relocating and purchasing are processed differently, so you are able to relocate.

[Krotoan]

I mean, the plot's just going to be there anyway. Individuals are going to watch as people already in the system relocate right in front of them, and as FCs - preexisting and created in the last couple days (flipping FCs is still very much going to be a thing) - pick up some of the new 1,440 plots, and they can do nothing but twiddle their thumbs in front of whatever plot until the houses arbitrarily become available for them to try and buy. Which is probably even worse than Christmas 2015. With that, you knew exactly when the house became available because the icon on the map and the visual indicator in front of you (the house disappearing) changed. I haven't heard mention of anything visibly changing when personal housing gets turned on, so I foresee a return to Raubahn EX. Just sit at the placard and keep mashing X until something different happens... like someone that isn't them getting the plot.

The 6th is a Tuesday. Anyone with responsibilities outside their real life home on that day is probably SoL, assuming personal housing even becomes available Day 1. IIRC the housing demolition Christmas 2015 happened around 3:30pm eastern, and the server itself had come online at 6am.

I agree that letting FC's go first isn't .. nice. But since there is FC functionality locked behind housing I can see the reasoning, better to give the chance to FCs that NEED (yes need , to stay a viable choice of FC) them with some restrictions (4 players.. this is weirdly worded too, do all 4 people need to be there to buy the house? That might stop some flippers). Was there wording that implied the icon would indicate it was going to be for sale? Does it just show empty? IS there the gavel but you just can't buy it? Those are some questions that do need to be asked. I can see your points, but I really cannot imagine people just sitting at plots and mashing the button all day. As far as we know from the announcement that random timer could be WEEKS. New personal housing is NOT available , only transfers. Restrictions to be released at a Later Date™. FC flipping will still happen but it's very much more difficult now. You cannot just have one account with 8 characters and 16 houses. They would have to buy accounts for each character, this will deter some people. Hopefully they'll find something that will deter further FC house flipping like a majority vote necessary or some sort of GM intervention required through a ticket or something.

A lot of these people have already been waiting 3+ months though, and that's what really gets under my skin here. Several of my friends got up super early for 4.1 to try and get a house - Shirogane or otherwise - and got messed over hardcore by the network difficulties. I agree with the 1 hour delay, but I vehemently disagree with giving FCs and especially people already in the system advance priority. I mean, yes, you can probably go post on Reddit's housing market thing right now and pay obscene amounts of Gil (or, let's face it, real world currency) to get into the system now so you can get what you actually want Feb 6th, but that's ridiculous. I'm kinda looking forward to the outrage it causes in a schadenfreudist sort of way, because Square deserves a good thrashing and the only way that will happen is if a lot of people get really mad, but I'm also deeply offended on behalf of the people that are about to be led around by their nose (and wind up with nothing).

In fact, I'm so wound up about this that I gave my personal house to a friend just now. Might as well make someone's experience less ass backwards.

I tried to transfer on Shirogane house day too: downloaded patch early through a remote connection to my computer. Drove like a bat out of hell home.. hit login and.. error.. then 1000+th place in queue.. everything gone by the time I actually was ingame.
I get how they're looking at the transfer of personal houses as OK.. though I'll agree with you that I don't like it. BUT it's not removing house amounts from the pool since it's only transfers and not new purchases.
Keep in mind that the housing transfers WILL free up houses in other areas on random timers. At some point after 4.2, could be hours or days.. or yes.. months, the transfers old houses will open.

I understand your stance, but I don't think this is a bad move entirely.