Rework the housing system

[Vahlnir]

You're correct in saying the system does favor those who use bots and scripts but I doubt very much it was specifically designed for them.

Yeah, it's more of a flaw in the system than intended design. By addressing one issue they created 2-3 more. Such is the balancing act of MMO design.

[Cylla]

It no doubt that the current situation of housing is favoring bots, scripts, people with handful of accounts to buy up wards.. and for what? Their idea was to stop flippers when they had created this annoying timer. Has it stopped them? No. Just look at reddit, people found a way around it, and it didn't stop people from buying up wards either.

Currently as I type this, I'm sitting at an empty lot that on a timer. Me and one other person, just standing here watching the other person I can tell their using a bot or macro just by the number of times they click, pause, move slightly, and repeat.

Housing system currently in no way promote healthy behavior. From people not sleeping 20+ hours staring at a screen clicking, people cheating, to just players being ugly to other players.

There two things most of us can agree on when it comes to housing.
Current resale timer is doing no good - in my own opinion should just be removed.
Housing itself needs a huge overhaul that benefit the player base as a whole
Think something along the lines of ESO housing system, where any player who wants a house can have one and if a player wants more than one it allow them that option without causing an issue of not enough housing for everyone.

[Jojoya]

It no doubt that the current situation of housing is favoring bots, scripts, people with handful of accounts to buy up wards.. and for what? Their idea was to stop flippers when they had created this annoying timer. Has it stopped them? No. Just look at reddit, people found a way around it, and it didn't stop people from buying up wards either.

It hasn't stopped it but the average player does have a far better chance of getting a house now than they did prior to the timer's implementation. Those who were around when Shirogane was opened remembered what a mess that was.

It will always remain a problem as long as houses are in limited supply. We can keep coming up with ways to change the purchase system but none of them, outside of solving the supply problem, will fix it. Everything thing has its pros, cons and loopholes to exploit.

[Cylla]

It hasn't stopped it but the average player does have a far better chance of getting a house now than they did prior to the timer's implementation. Those who were around when Shirogane was opened remembered what a mess that was.

It will always remain a problem as long as houses are in limited supply. We can keep coming up with ways to change the purchase system but none of them, outside of solving the supply problem, will fix it. Everything thing has its pros, cons and loopholes to exploit.

That is a sad truth unfortunately.
I do remember Shirogane, though I remember the servers crashing hurt more. Those of us that got stuck in a quote of 200+ never even had a chance at that point. Before I was even able to get back in people were calling out all plots being filled.

I don't know that I could agree though on having a far better chance. For someone like me who works a 7am to 4pm shift, and then switches to 10pm to 7am, I can't stand at a plot and wait passed 5-6 hours. Any plot that goes beyond that, is out of range. Since trying to get one, it feels like fighting an army of bots and macro users. And while yes, I could do the same thing since I have a Corsair K95, I won't because SE consider it against ToS and I'm not looking to get a slap on the wrist or a ban.

You're right though, doesn't matter how many ideas we come up with about how to change the system for purchase, timers, etc. Real problem is the supply and until SE willing to fix the supply problem, it only going to get worse with band aid fixes or remain the same. Which is why I didn't bring up any ideas for either but more looking at the supply and demand for housing. So when I said ESO housing system, theirs of course is instance housing. That really seems to be the only option that would solve this problem as well.

I'm aware that people are for the community feel, but as someone who on Goblin which got over populated quickly, the housing wards are still empty even though everyone house but one right now is sold. Only activity here are people standing at the sign trying to grab up the only open plot at the moment.

[Themarvin]

There is plenty of houses... there is 1000s of houses on all servers that is bought and not being used... look at the empty wards... suggesting some rafle or whatever is not the solution, suggest an auto demolition time moved down to 15 days, that way you gotta stay subscribed to keep a house, and if you unsubscribe for a while, it will go instantly in auto demo mode.

Then you got your houses, also put upkeep on houses, so you actually have to work for it, and more on FC houses, meaning x6 times harder to keep as you need if I recall correct 6 people to start an FC, that way you can nullify more 1 person FC's and multiple 1 person FCs on same account/server.

[Ludattore]

So, imagine being like us:

We are 5 friends that have returned to this game and we want to buy an M house, doesn't matter where to, we just want to chill there while waiting for duties or stay at home showing us our d***.

Is that impossible right now? Is it impossible to get a house? Thank you we are so noobs please don't rage me, we need help x)

[LaylaTsarra]

So, imagine being like us:

We are 5 friends that have returned to this game and we want to buy an M house, doesn't matter where to, we just want to chill there while waiting for duties or stay at home showing us our d***.

Is that impossible right now? Is it impossible to get a house? Thank you we are so noobs please don't rage me, we need help x)

Best shot at a house is during ward additions. Also there is a day later this month where a mega demo/poof will take place as a result of the demo time restarting awhile back. There will be plenty of houses with a lot fewer people at each placard. I know the timer sucks but that is probably your best shot at a house until Ishgard.

I would recommend getting any house you can given transfers will probably continue with new housing wards and transfers allow bypassing of the timer which would be a big plus with a medium becoming available.

Edit: With 5 people I'd recommend trying 5 different houses during the demolition poof and hope one of you gets lucky. Hopefully you have the gil for that and that each friend is house buying capable. I know you want a medium but if one is available there will be a ton of people at that location. Perhaps one of you with the gil could camp it with the other 4 trying for others. Remember prime locations will have a lot more people at that house and your chances will be smaller. Camping one in a bad non prime location will probably have very few and give you a better shot.

Note if you score a small and the medium is still on timer you can quickly relocate to it. Chances are though that any medium that becomes available during the poof will probable see someone transfer to it before the timer expires.

[Jojoya]

It's not impossible to get a house but it is definitely difficult on most worlds (I haven't visited the JP worlds for several weeks, a couple of them might still have houses left).

It's extremely unlikely you'll be able to buy a medium house directly. You'd be much better off buying whatever small you can find so if a medium does become available you can relocate to it. It will cost you a bit more but it will improve your chances of getting what you want.

Demolition timers were reactivated with 5.4's release on December 8th. Sometime on January 22nd, we should see a small surge in available houses as the 45 day timer will end on those plots with owners who stopped playing during the demolition suspension and never returned. There's always the chance that a few houses might become available before then so it doesn't hurt to be looking daily.

[ReynTime]

I don't know why people think the current system is better than a lottery for getting your first house. At least with a lottery there wouldn't be unpunished click bots being used to gain advantage...

[Vahlnir]

I don't know why people think the current system is better than a lottery for getting your first house. At least with a lottery there wouldn't be unpunished click bots being used to gain advantage...

Because it increases the competition significantly. It also doesn't fix the underlying problem.