Rework the housing system

[Syraxis]

Everyone knows it's bad and basically nobody is happy with it. I know there's tons of other posts saying the same thing but it's bad enough to warrant a constant reminder that it's a terrible system. It's disrespectful of player time to ask them to sit in front of a placard for hours and hours on end, expecting them to spam clicks on something without mechanical assistance, only to have it either not work when someone else happens to click it in the few milliseconds before another person or it's swiped up by someone who already owns a house, thus repeating the process of having to wait for several hours. It also doesn't help when there are people starting FC's that own the majority of wards to either sell to other players or simply to hoard them and prevent others from having them. This current system does not work.

With the amount of players playing, there straight up isn't nearly enough housing, and the most logical fix for this would be instanced housing (not some lottery or raffle system, the rng is part of the problem) or the addition of several new wards while also preventing players from using FC's to own all of them. It's completely absurd that this has been happening for so long with no fixes.

[Caitsithhh]

Then don’t spam placards. There’s instanced housing...called apartments. Just because people want something doesn’t mean they’re entitled to it. You’re allowed instanced housing already, housing is limited and that’s its charm, and no bit of content is guaranteed just by paying a sub. You are expected to work and earn all the content you consume whether it be easy or not.

They have heard the crying about all the different issues since forever. They would of done something if they could by now. So chill on thinking your two cents are going to chance anything. Wait or quit, your options...take em or leave em

[Syraxis]

This is an unhelpful reply that doesn't elaborate on the issues or discuss them, and only exacerbates the problem(s). Most players, including myself, want more than a single small room and an actual house, and none of the current system allows any concept of work or effort to earn a house, simply astronomical luck. If you have anything relevant to discuss I would love to hear it.

[Taebok]

You are expected to work and earn all the content you consume whether it be easy or not.

"Work" and "earn" in a video game where you sit on your backside and press "I win" buttons LOL

[tdb]

To be fair I don't think the devs expected players to click placards for hours on end. They probably expected you to go to the placard, find out it's not available yet, and come back later after doing some other stuff and maybe visiting other placards. It's clear they didn't understand just how badly some players want houses and also underestimated the impact of bots. They should have just implemented it as a straight up lottery which I feel the timer system is intended to be.

[Jojoya]

It's clear they didn't understand just how badly some players want houses and also underestimated the impact of bots. They should have just implemented it as a straight up lottery which I feel the timer system is intended to be.

I'm certain they do understand how badly many players want a house else we wouldn't have seen 2 ward additions already this expansion. But knowing there is a problem doesn't create solutions that can be implemented on demand.

I'm not certain how you're equating the timer system with a lottery. A lottery would also be a mess since there could be drawings week after week with no winner (we see that happen all the time with Jumbo Cactpot, which is a lottery). The player base would end up even unhappier about that than they are with the timer. At least with the timer they know someone will be getting that house when it expires and with luck they will be that person if they're present at the right time.

We know Ishgard housing is coming after the Restoration is completed on all worlds. Let's see what it does to address the current problems.

[tdb]

I'm certain they do understand how badly many players want a house else we wouldn't have seen 2 ward additions already this expansion. But knowing there is a problem doesn't create solutions that can be implemented on demand.

I find it hard to believe they'd design a system as unfun as the current timer on purpose if they knew how players would use it.

I'm not certain how you're equating the timer system with a lottery. A lottery would also be a mess since there could be drawings week after week with no winner (we see that happen all the time with Jumbo Cactpot, which is a lottery). The player base would end up even unhappier about that than they are with the timer. At least with the timer they know someone will be getting that house when it expires and with luck they will be that person if they're present at the right time.

Hmm, not sure what would be the correct term. Raffle? Sweepstakes? But I mean giving the plot randomly to one player among those who registered interest in it (which is effectively what happens with the timer, if everyone clicks at an equal frequency). In another thread I suggested a system where a timer for the raffle would be selected and announced when the plot frees up, and at that time players would have 5-10 minutes to register their interest before the winner is chosen. This would allow players to plan their schedules and do something productive (in game or out) while waiting. Of course it would likely cause more players to show up, and some are unhappy that they can't "earn" a house through sheer perseverance in a mind-numbingly boring task.

[Syraxis]

Hmm, not sure what would be the correct term. Raffle? Sweepstakes? But I mean giving the plot randomly to one player among those who registered interest in it (which is effectively what happens with the timer, if everyone clicks at an equal frequency). In another thread I suggested a system where a timer for the raffle would be selected and announced when the plot frees up, and at that time players would have 5-10 minutes to register their interest before the winner is chosen. This would allow players to plan their schedules and do something productive (in game or out) while waiting. Of course it would likely cause more players to show up, and some are unhappy that they can't "earn" a house through sheer perseverance in a mind-numbingly boring task.

I'll say that a raffle still sounds like it'll have the same issues. The problem with the current system isn't just there not being enough plots but the rng on when plots can be bought. Players are already upset with this borderline random decision of who can and can't own a house, and another kind of rng probably won't sit well with people. Personally, if the devs are going to keep insisting on non-instanced housing, I'd like to see far more plots, an actual measure to ensure that a person isn't using FC's to own entire wards, and probably even a monthly gil tax for owning plots. I know that last part probably isn't preferable but it'll help diminish the amount of people that have taken multiple/many plots already, but a lot of the issue is not knowing what the devs are capable of/willing to do.

[ramsesh]

We know Ishgard housing is coming after the Restoration is completed on all worlds. Let's see what it does to address the current problems.

This is incorrect. We do not know it’s coming because there’s been no official release or statement.

I don’t care if the game hints at it—they are awful and bait, so until it’s been confirmed officially, this is still a rumor.

[tdb]

I'll say that a raffle still sounds like it'll have the same issues. The problem with the current system isn't just there not being enough plots but the rng on when plots can be bought. Players are already upset with this borderline random decision of who can and can't own a house, and another kind of rng probably won't sit well with people. Personally, if the devs are going to keep insisting on non-instanced housing, I'd like to see far more plots, an actual measure to ensure that a person isn't using FC's to own entire wards, and probably even a monthly gil tax for owning plots. I know that last part probably isn't preferable but it'll help diminish the amount of people that have taken multiple/many plots already, but a lot of the issue is not knowing what the devs are capable of/willing to do.

Yes, a raffle system does not address the insufficient amount of housing. But until a sufficient quantity can be provided, or if for some reason it can't, I think a raffle would be more fair and enjoyable than the current timer system where you have to camp the placard for hours. You might not have any better chance at getting the plot, but at least you'd only have to spend a few minutes on it.