Housing invisible timer is dumb, and here's why. [+Suggestions]

[Forien]

1. First Comes, First Served
It's basic. Plot opens, first person to show up buys it. I prefer to not see land opened than to be forced to camp without knowing for how long.

2. Publicly Visible Timer
Like current system, but timer is visible. Let me know if I can get some sleep, make myself a breakfast, walk a dog, meet with friends... or if I need to stay and camp, because it will be opened in 12:23 minutes. Knowing is way better. It still allows more people to notice plot opened and come and would allow people to better manage their time and not force them into unhealthy behaviour.

3. Raffle – Unlimited Entrants, Single Entry
Have a timer, let's say 24h. Anyone can come up to Placard during this time and pay a non-refundable fee (even a full price would work!) and enter a raffle. After timer expires, one of the entrants would be picked as a winner and get the house. Nobody get's money back.

4. Raffle – Limited Entrants, Unlimited Entries
Let's have a timer (for example 24h) and a limit for entries (let's say 100). Anyone can come to Placard and buy however many entries they want (buying 100 entries for small plot would cost over 300 million gil). After all entries are sold, or after timer ends (whichever is first), game selects an entry, and whoever bought that entry gets the plot. Nobody get's money back.

5. Open Auction
Let anyone name a price on a plot, higher bidder gets it and pays what they promised in their bid. Highest bid is always visible. Winner pays, everyone else gets money back (maybe minus some minor fee).

6. Sealed Auction — Vickrey Auction
Let anyone name a price on a plot. No bids are publicly visible. Winner pays whatever second highest bid was. Winner pays, everyone else gets money back (maybe minus some minor fee).


There are probably many more alternatives, that yes, wouldn't necessary be fair, balanced or newbie friendly. But overall would be less irritating for players and would cause less stress, burnt out and health issues.

Also, on top of any change I talk about above, there is ONE MORE IMPORTANT CHANGE that should take place.

One Person — One Plot
One FC — One Plot

Why is it possible for single FC to buy 10 plots withing same Ward? They don't need them. Limit Housing to 1 per account (yes, account, not character) per server and 1 per FC. If any player or FC holds more than one, give them like a months to relinquish excess, and after that just demolish all of them if they still have more than 1.

I know my post will not be popular, especially with players and FCs holding multiple houses and even normal people that already have housing.
But as a new player I feel like game gives me a choice: "trade your mental and physical health for house, or give up on having one". It's not a choice I like to get from a game I like.

Cheers!