The Case for Instanced Housing

[HadesNight]

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I absolutely support any improvements to the housing situation as long as SE doesn't touch the existing housing. Make Ishgard instanced, add gardens to Apartments. I support it but not at the detriment of what I've worked hard to accomplish in the game over the last 4 years.

I value my housing situation far more than any other kind of content in the game. They have nerfed everything that I personally find enjoyable (ie crafting), so housing is all I have left. They definitely need to go to instanced housing and make it something people want, but leave physical wards alone.

[kaynide]

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Just curious, what is it that you have accomplished? And I don't mean that in a mean spirited way! I mean that as in, you've obviously spent time and effort into your house and you are proud of that...so what is that? To you, what is important and is it impossible to replicate in an instance?

For example, did you and friends get houses next to each other? Or like your FC house and your house are near?

[HadesNight]

Just curious, what is it that you have accomplished? And I don't mean that in a mean spirited way! I mean that as in, you've obviously spent time and effort into your house and you are proud of that...so what is that? To you, what is important and is it impossible to replicate in an instance?

For example, did you and friends get houses next to each other? Or like your FC house and your house are near?

I don't mind answering in the least!

I started this game in 3.4 as my very first MMO and am not a battle inclined person, I've been in love with crafting and being self sufficient from the start. I've worked through becoming and oldschool omni-crafter, someone that leveled before it was nerfed so everyone can do it and can make their own macros based off of their own stats (not throwing shade, there just used to be a difference back in the day!). I knew housing was expensive, so I've spent hours of my life selling, watching the market and manually crafting by hand for the sole purpose of my current housing situation.

At first I made and solo leveled FCs so I could help my large FC charge grade 3 buffs everyday for it's 512 members and that felt really fantastic. I was able to give back to the people that made this game fantastic for me and then I made community gardens where people without houses could come and grow in my gardens for free, providing the special soils as long as they brought seeds and now I host housing events and RP events in the houses I've decorated for that purpose.

The physical plots that I own are all next to eachother in game and it's my community that the people I care about come to hang out with me and craft, or just sit and vent about life, or come to afk because they like my music and I did it all by myself, for myself and my friends.

Then two of these houses that are right next to eachother won the SE housing contest, and that felt like an accomplishment because I'm a designer that uses the full space and doesn't block off 95% of the house to make one really detailed room (again not throwing shade providing context) At the time it felt like SUCH a major win to get acknowledged not once, but twice in that contest when I thought my design style wasn't as good as what was popular then. That was a real personal self confidence boost and sure that's silly but it meant something.

My housing situation is really important to me and I love housing, so that's why I completely support SE fixing our housing situation and giving everyone a chance to have a house in some for. But not if that means wiping away my physical plots.

I would feel like all my hard work over the last 3-4 years was for nothing, and an instanced plot would not be the same regardless of the ability to throw up decorations in a new space. Sure it's selfish, but I'm advocating for a solution where we all win and people who were here first, playing this game longer aren't punished.

[Waaltar]

For the existing housing, they should let us pay a price for forever housing that is a little overpriced so they can expand access to housing by being able to afford to create more wards for everyone.

I think that's the simplest fix really.

[Brynne]

I'm in favor of any form of instanced housing. I think improvements to apartments could really work - if they were to make purchasable upgrades (gil sinks) and spaces where outdoor furniture could be placed, as well as access to features like crossbreeding gardens and workshops for FCs, it could be a real housing solution for many. I know of some people who would give up their houses in the wards for this kind of system, and others who would love to participate in that neighborhood feel if they could find a plot. Having both options available would certainly go a long way towards easing the housing crunch in the NA and EU communities.

At this point, I don't think SE would replace the current system, but having the instanced option improved upon is a really good idea.

[Divinemights]

Please!! Stop ask for instance housing because there is no server technology to backup the amount of players. FF14 has garden decorations and there is not possible yet for sever to handle those changes. Even WOW can only limited the specific structure type when those introduce Garrison. Just ask for expansion of apartment instead, ask the right question

[Packetdancer]

Also, I’m of the mind that the housing wards should be limited to FCs only, and even then with rather strict requirements. Like for a Large house, I think it’s would be totally fair to require 8 different accounts (not characters) enrolled in the FC..and said 8 members have to have played in the past 45 days. Theoretically should be easy since larger FCs should have more than this 8 minimum. Make it 6 for medium and 4 for small.

See, I'd flip this; make the housing wards for individuals only, and give FCs instanced housing. (Ideally, make the FC instanced housing an airship, because yes airships good more airships please.) That way any FC has access to the workshop system and space for garden plots (greenhouse on the airship!); not being able to get a house doesn't lock them out of participation in those systems.

Additionally, change up apartments. Make apartments have a rooftop garden space (where you can put outdoor items, garden, etc.), and make apartments with larger layouts available. A luxurious penthouse where you can have multiple floors, things like that. That way, players who can't get a house in one of the wards still can have access to do all the decorating they want to, as well as having access to gardens and whatnot; a scarcity of housing plots can't cut them off from those systems.

Meanwhile, you can still have the 'neighborhood' feel of the housing wards for those who really want it in personal housing. For all I thought the neighborhood stuff was obnoxious in terms of the scarcity compared to the instanced housing in WildStar or SWTOR or whatever, when I finally did get a house I had a couple of my neighbors see a new house go up and someone in the yard working on things; they came over with housewarming gifts, and I made new friends. (One of whom I periodically run roulettes with!) That made me come around a bit on the neighborhood thing; I think there is some value to a housing plot having an actual presence, not just being off in its own little instanced bubble where you don't have neighbors.

The problem right now isn't that housing is a scarce resource. The problem is that housing is a scarce resource which is not optional if you want to do gardening or FC workshop things; entire other systems—systems which can generate rare materials needed for various desirable craftable objects, no less—are gated based on owning a house. And that is a serious problem.

[HadesNight]

The problem right now isn't that housing is a scarce resource. The problem is that housing is a scarce resource which is not optional if you want to do gardening or FC workshop things; entire other systems—systems which can generate rare materials needed for various desirable craftable objects, no less—are gated based on owning a house. And that is a serious problem.

I agree with this sentiment from your post. This is exactly it. Workshops, Gardens and Aether wheels shouldn't be restricted to owning a plot. I know a ton of people that feel like they are missing out on these opportunities and THAT is what makes them salty about not getting a house but they could care less about decoration.

If SE started by making these things accessible openly without a plot, it would help those people that just want access to the amenities. I know probably 3 players that would relinquish their houses that they don't use/decorate if SE could do this.

[kaynide]

Please!! Stop ask for instance housing because there is no server technology to backup the amount of players. FF14 has garden decorations and there is not possible yet for sever to handle those changes. Even WOW can only limited the specific structure type when those introduce Garrison. Just ask for expansion of apartment instead, ask the right question

...have you played many MMOs with instanced housing? WoW is a horrible thing to compare to as the backbone it’s running in is ancient. Guild wars 2 has huge instanced areas for their equivalent of FCs with tons of placement options. The gardens are non issue when it’s instanced because they only load when people are in said instance. Garden/outside furnishing is no different than interior when it’s all instanced.

An expansion of the apartment setup only bandaids the problem. People want houses with yards. I had the option to get an apartment for ages and held out for a house. Real life I have a house because I like having a yard. I have no interest in a rooftop garden.

That said, I would love to see that as an option for instanced housing.

[kaynide]

See, I'd flip this; make the housing wards for individuals only, and give FCs instanced housing. (Ideally, make the FC instanced housing an airship, because yes airships good more airships please.) That way any FC has access to the workshop system and space for garden plots (greenhouse on the airship!); not being able to get a house doesn't lock them out of participation in those systems.
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The problem right now isn't that housing is a scarce resource. The problem is that housing is a scarce resource which is not optional if you want to do gardening or FC workshop things; entire other systems—systems which can generate rare materials needed for various desirable craftable objects, no less—are gated based on owning a house. And that is a serious problem.

I love the idea of an airship being an option for an instanced house (FC or otherwise).

And also agreed, housing should be its own thing with nothing connected to it. Chocobo stables, gardening etc should be available in other locations. Even at worst put those things at Gold Saucer or some such.