Getting a New House Feels Impossible

[Gula]

Gotta agree with Ethan, botting for housing is nothing new. People set themselves on busy, so they can't be interrupted, then bot to their hearts content.

The sad part is a lot of the people botting for housing are legitimate players and not gold farmers who have been driven to near insanity trying to get a house, the result is pushing legitimate players into cheating. I remember complaining in my FC on a different data center about having to compete with bots for a home, and one of my FC members advice was to PM me on discord where and how to bot like the people I was complaining about saying it's the only way to get a house.

I blocked him of course, but it was crazy to see a top tier savage raider advise me to use a bot to get a home... It was honestly shocking for me to me to hear that, I'll just stick to complaining in the forums and in game about the housing situation instead of cheating.

You blocked him, but he's telling the truth. Unless you're on a JP world where plots are plenty, you're going to be fighting with multiple people botting at the same time. But it's a lot like mods. SE will absolutely tell you you shouldn't, but they can't monitor you and force you not to. Therefore, it will just be a thing until a true solution comes along.

It sucks, I report, but truthfully, how can you prove it?

Unless it's something like a website's open script, they can't hack your screen and say, "there's the traitor your majesty!"

[Awha]

Gotta agree with Ethan, botting for housing is nothing new. People set themselves on busy, so they can't be interrupted, then bot to their hearts content.

The sad part is a lot of the people botting for housing are legitimate players and not gold farmers who have been driven to near insanity trying to get a house, the result is pushing legitimate players into cheating. I remember complaining in my FC on a different data center about having to compete with bots for a home, and one of my FC members advice was to PM me on discord where and how to bot like the people I was complaining about saying it's the only way to get a house.

I blocked him of course, but it was crazy to see a top tier savage raider advise me to use a bot to get a home... It was honestly shocking for me to me to hear that, I'll just stick to complaining in the forums and in game about the housing situation instead of cheating.

Sadly, it is the truth if you want to increase your chances of getting a plot you either bot or stay up for hours trying to snag one yourself. It was honest and helpful advice that they gave you. Complaining only gets people so far, and people have been listing off complaints for years regarding housing and SE has done very little to change it so it is safe to assume SE is either fine with the current system and the lengths it drives people or they simply do not know how to go about offering a salutation to the problem. Either way players should just try to make the best out of the given situation instead of complaining or belittle those that resort to botting to get a plot. Better to work smarter not harder when the system is stacked against you.

[Missbone]

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Long story short your FC mate was right and blocking him for offering you a reasonable advice and fair chance to get a house is a bad character move on your end. Also just because you bot a plot it doesn't mean that you automatically win, i see often enough no lifers on my server competing against 10 or more other ppl (some of them are bots of course) and winning the plot. So its still possible, all you need to do is sitting 12h straight in front of your screen, clicking the card nonstop and get a bit lucky. If thats ok for you np, but dont mad at people that refuse wasting their lifetime for such bullshit system that treats them like a bunch of brainless monkeys.

Of course i dont report plot botters, for me this people where smart enough to find a acceptable solution for unacceptable situation. Reporting and punishing people for having a life is not right.

[Chalabo]

I joined the forum finally for the first time because my frustration over housing has reached it's climax. I already posted the suggestion in a different thread, but really why are automated systems being allowed? As a PS4 player, it is frustrating going with little sleep and continuously mashing buttons only loosing plots to people that set up some automated system on their PC. Instead new buyers and relocaters interacting with the placard within a set 12-24 hour timeframe (instead of the devaluation countdown) to be entered in a lottery for the plot would be fairer plus we'd be able to get back to actually playing the game instead of spending so much time standing by placards.

[Chalabo]

.......Of course i dont report plot botters, for me this people where smart enough to find a acceptable solution for unacceptable situation. Reporting and punishing people for having a life is not right.

I agree with not reporting them, but still makes a flawed system even more unfair.

[Awha]

I agree with not reporting them, but still makes a flawed system even more unfair.

What is fair though?

[Missbone]

As a PS4 player, it is frustrating going with little sleep and continuously mashing buttons only loosing plots to people that set up some automated system on their PC.

Dont ask me how, since i dont play on console, but i have heard and read several times that there is also some kind of automatation for people using a controller. I have no idea if that works with every controller or need a an additional addon for that on your console, but it seems possible doing something similar on the console.

[Gula]

Also just because you bot a plot it doesn't mean that you automatically win

This. This here, is solid. If you have 10 people at a placard and 8 are botting, 1 will win. That means all the other people lost. Did they lose because they botted or chose not to? No. They lost because of the system they have to deal with and that single person be they botting or no had the magic click.

[Jojoya]

I already posted the suggestion in a different thread, but really why are automated systems being allowed?

They aren't allowed. They're against the Terms of Service. But that doesn't stop those who want to cheat from doing so and it can difficult for SE to detect whether the player is using an automated script or if they are doing it manually themselves.

Lotteries have been brought up before, with all the pros and cons listed. They aren't going to improve your game experience when the core problem is there are not enough houses on NA servers for those who want them.

You don't have to stand at a placard clicking for 12 hours straight to get a house while ignoring the rest of the game. If you want to be playing the rest of the game, go play it. You could always check back at the plot once an hour and spend a few minutes clicking before going off to do something else. There's always that chance the timer will expire while you're there and you'll be the lucky one to get the house. We've seen the stories of players who come to complain that they spent 8 hours camping just for someone to show up and start clicking then get the house when the timer expired 5 minutes later.

Up to you what you want to prioritize. Rather than spend all your time placard camping, wait for Ishgard housing to open when your chances of getting a house will be dramatically improved. Get an apartment to sate your urge to decorate, there are some amazing things being done in the small spaces. Get a couple of flowerpots if you want to grow things. You won't be able to crossbreed but you can grow for yield/HQ plus you can grow the decorative flowers that can't be grown in the outdoor gardens.

[Awha]

Lottery system will lead us back to this point but instead of bots people will complain about RNG. If it has a chance to roll zero someone will.

No system outside instances expandable housing that has all the functions of a house gardening, work shop etc . . . Will ease the issues we are having. The issue is supply does not meet demand and people are upset. Your lottery system for some will just be as bad, I do not think many would be in favor of going from a system where they have a bit of control and influence over to one where they have no control over. Our current system blows, but SE has had years to fix it, and they have chosen not to. Maybe they are holding out for when they need an infusion of players idk, but people should not bash those willing to try and game a broken system.