Rework the housing system

[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.