Shell FCs are a bigger problem than we think...

[Sotaris]

Why should the initial requirement and the maintenance requirement of member numbers be the same. Seems pointless to only buy a plot with a FC with 4 members if dropping 1 member means you all lose the house you worked towards. I'm genuinely fascinated you can't figure that out.

Welcome to the club. No one understand why he can't figure these things out related to housing.
We got cookies, help yourself.

[worldofneil]

Why should a failed FC with less members than what was needed to create it be able to hold land?

Feels a bit harsh to suggest any FC with less than 4 members has "failed". But regardless, what about a group of 4 friends who form an FC then buy a house... what if one of them leaves? (maybe they fell out, maybe they moved to another server or maybe just joined another FC, why they left doesn't really matter though...)

You're suggesting that they should lose their house and then the only solution they would have would be to recruit someone into their small group of friends. I'm sure that wouldn't feel weird at all having a have a stranger forced into your group just so you can keep your home.

It also wouldn't actually work to stop the "shell FCs". Anyone who has put in enough effort to create an FC, get it up to rank 6, make enough Gil and then actually find and buy the house... an actual four person requirement isn't going to be a problem at all.

Of the top of my head they have at least have two easy options:

A) Just create more alt characters. Any standard account allows 8 characters and once an FC is already formed it's a simple matter to apply to join an FC, especially if you have a house with a placard that they can click. All They would ask to join FC on one character, accept it on the other. Done.

B) Pick up a cheap copy/copies of FFXIV Starter Edition. Using the free 30 days they could create 8 characters and put them in whatever "shell FCs" they wanted. Then they could just ignore the account and never touch it ever again.

So I'm sure now you'll say that the member count should be active members only and from different services account, but that is just not realistic. At times like this where many people are unsubscribed until the expansion, many small FCs would be at risk of losing their house.

[Hoehenflug]

While I've been enjoying the banter and the whole conspiracy surrounding this individual, I begin to wonder if this forum is even moderated since it's crossing the line of personal attacks. I'm not taking sides, this whole situations just puts a bad light on the FF14 community. Just pointing it out from a neutral position, maybe both positions could keep it more game-centered in the future.

That said, seeing this debate unfold in silence, I think it sorta mimicks the overall interest in housing within the community.

On a neutral level, the sides can be split into different partys:
There are people that don't care either way about housing, maybe even owning one.

There are people that dont own a house, usually chasing a Small and complain about the timers.

There are people that own a house and are somewhat involved. Usually chasing for an vertical upgrade (other Small) or horizontal (M,L). Some choose to not occupy multiple houses for reasons such as morality, time, knowledge or dedication.

There are people who have multiple houses, sometimes occupying multiple M's and L's. They don't feel the need to lose the rights in order to make more housing spaces available for whatever reason.

As long as owning multiple houses is strictly permitted, it will be done without sactions. Should it be allowed? To what extend?

I think most people can agree that RMT should be more rigorously targeted.

[MrMagic]

Because the point isn't that they want to change things for the better. The point is they want to punish players they feel are committing wrongs. Seriously that is the only thing they fixate on in these forums. Finding a way to get to and force people who don't follow the rules in their head to give up their houses. If it means making the whole system untenable for the rest of the playerbase, so be it. We're all collateral damage in their war on the 1%.

At least they are consistent. Pushing for more Gil sinks, sure. Let’s throw in auto demolition as well to something that doesn’t need it for good measure. So out of touch.

[Sotaris]

While I've been enjoying the banter and the whole conspiracy surrounding this individual, I begin to wonder if this forum is even moderated since it's crossing the line of personal attacks.

I wouldn't go as far claiming anyone done any personal attacks other than person shall be not be named cry wolf all the time and play the victim card when people critic their ideas.

Also forum is hardly moderated seeing how many trolls we have nowadays.

[Kyssa]

This is rampant on my server. I've sent in numerous reports about a player scoring 7 or 8 plots since July 2nd.

They use their main level 80 to make a guild, get it to rank 6, score plot, hand plot off to a level 2 alt on either same account or second account. Rinse and repeat. Person stays in shell guild only long enough to rank it up to minimum for FC house, get plot, then they hand it off and start again.

Someone we spoke to about this contacted GM's and was told this is just fine.

A level 2, holding a FC w/ a house plot is fine, but my level 27 alt can't even get a room in our FC house? Yeah, I think the intended mechanics of owning a plot is being slightly abused.

[Theodric]

I don't think it's an issue so long as people are actually using the house in question. I use mine every day and I'm in a Free Company consisting of myself, my partner and the alt of a friend whose main character is on a North American server. My partner and I tried to find a FC to join and couldn't find one that clicked with us. I imagine many are in the same position.

A Free Company doesn't stop being a Free Company just because it is small and I don't think people should miss out on being able to get a house just because they happen to be in a small Free Company.

[worldofneil]

Someone we spoke to about this contacted GM's and was told this is just fine.

Yes, because any standard account is allowed to buy 8 FC houses and 1 personal house, per world. There was a temporary restriction on FC houses, but that only lasted one week. For whatever reason the housing mini site was never updated to reflect that the temporary restriction was removed (and since nothing in-game points to that site, most people won't even see it and even know there were restrictions)

A level 2, holding a FC w/ a house plot is fine, but my level 27 alt can't even get a room in our FC house?

That's because the requirements are different.

An FC house needs a FC that is rank 6 or higher, the level of the player isn't important because the house is owned by the Free Company.

For personal housing (FC room, apartment or an actual house) it requires the player is level 50+ and has at least second lieutenant rank with their grand company (also if it's Shirogane then they need to have finished 4.0 MSQ too).

[TaleraRistain]

You have got to be trolling.

Where do you get off trying to call an FC of less than 4 failed? And deserved to lose the land the members worked hard for? My 4-year-old mostly solo (because people stopped playing or left to larger FCs) almost level 30 FC thinks you can stuff your opinion on that. My FC with just myself or one or two others on each night is more active than some larger FCs I've seen. Miss me with this bs.

[Besame]

Because the point isn't that they want to change things for the better. The point is they want to punish players they feel are committing wrongs. Seriously that is the only thing they fixate on in these forums. Finding a way to get to and force people who don't follow the rules in their head to give up their houses. If it means making the whole system untenable for the rest of the playerbase, so be it. We're all collateral damage in their war on the 1%.

It's the Democratic way right??? hehe