Dear Devs: PLEASE give us an in-depth breakdown how Ishgard's "lottery" system works!

[Terin]

I have a pretty nice house in-game, which I'm pretty fortunate for. However, I've been hoarding gil, as has my dad, because we're both hellbent on getting certain houses in Ishgard whenever it opens up.

In truth, it would honestly be SO nice if we could actually get houses in the same Ward for once!

I definitely dig the idea of a lottery system, since we can all agree the current system isn't much fun. I'm no doubt in the minority, though, but I've also been a huge proponent of adding SOME kind of means of trading Plots in-game -- largely for the exact reason above, because it would be cool to be in-game neighbors with my friends and fam!

For my part, I'm dead-set on the EXACT plot I want in Ishgard, whenever it opens up. But I'm worried that, because we don't understand the specifics of the "lottery system" that's supposed to be coming, I don't know whether I should continue trying to build up gil, or whether I'm just wasting my time.

For example; do you put up the full amount of gil to purchase a "ticket", and all of the losers are refunded? If so, would that mean someone with a lot of gil could purchase multiple "tickets"? And presumably if that WERE the case, I assume they would be out the gil for all their tickets?

Or does it work on a "per Ward" basis, like "here is a LARGE plot ticket, if you win, the plot you get is random"? Or would it be a "per Plot" basis, where I can buy a ticket for the plot I want, regardless of ward?

There's a lot of forms a lottery COULD take, and honestly it would just be nice to get an idea what it will be, so we can prepare accordingly.

Like I said, just having some amount of expectation would be great, just to mentally prepare for the process if nothing else.

[Moonlite]

I have a pretty nice house in-game, which I'm pretty fortunate for. However, I've been hoarding gil, as has my dad, because we're both hellbent on getting certain houses in Ishgard whenever it opens up.

In truth, it would honestly be SO nice if we could actually get houses in the same Ward for once!

I definitely dig the idea of a lottery system, since we can all agree the current system isn't much fun. I'm no doubt in the minority, though, but I've also been a huge proponent of adding SOME kind of means of trading Plots in-game -- largely for the exact reason above, because it would be cool to be in-game neighbors with my friends and fam!

For my part, I'm dead-set on the EXACT plot I want in Ishgard, whenever it opens up. But I'm worried that, because we don't understand the specifics of the "lottery system" that's supposed to be coming, I don't know whether I should continue trying to build up gil, or whether I'm just wasting my time.

For example; do you put up the full amount of gil to purchase a "ticket", and all of the losers are refunded? If so, would that mean someone with a lot of gil could purchase multiple "tickets"? And presumably if that WERE the case, I assume they would be out the gil for all their tickets?

Or does it work on a "per Ward" basis, like "here is a LARGE plot ticket, if you win, the plot you get is random"? Or would it be a "per Plot" basis, where I can buy a ticket for the plot I want, regardless of ward?

There's a lot of forms a lottery COULD take, and honestly it would just be nice to get an idea what it will be, so we can prepare accordingly.

Like I said, just having some amount of expectation would be great, just to mentally prepare for the process if nothing else.

I bet they haven't finalized it yet even. Didn't they say ishgard would be after 6.1? Which pushes it to march. And I can't imagine it will be on the 6.1 so even later. You could be looking at a 6 month wait. I expect if they even discuss it will be the non-answers in development, not finalized or closer to 6.1 we will discuss it. At this point they keep saying no servers who knows if it won't be pushed back even later.

[Illmaeran]

I don't know whether I should continue trying to build up gil, or whether I'm just wasting my time.

It's probably best to continue hoarding as much Gil as possible just in case. They may address the housing thing on today's Live Letter, who knows? Having a healthy stash of money going into a new expansion and increase in housing is never a bad thing. Who knows how much plots are going to go for? Chances are really good that housing item prices are going to increase with the increased number of people getting houses or relocating to new plots.

If you can't get the exact plot you're looking at but your next-best is available, will you relocate? It sounds like that'll be a significant expense for you if you do.

[LianaThorne]

Lottery system isn't coming till 6.1. Bit early to be worrying about it.

The most likely scenario though is exactly how it sounds. Pay the placard price for the plot you want, your name gets put into a hat and one gets picked after the time expires. Those who didn't get picked would hopefully get refunded the gil they put in. I also would have absolutely no hope in them making it impossible for people with multi-accounts/bots to participate. I fully expect the black market to continue to thrive as well.

In short: prepare for placard camping without the camping and add in 2-5x the amount of people you usually see unless they somehow cap the amount of people who can participate at one time. Prepare for screaming from lots of people if that's the case though.

[Terin]

True, 6.1 is no doubt a WAYS off, but considering how stressful the whole "buying a house AT ALL" process is in FFXIV, the more heads-up we can get, the better, imo.

Like I said, I just really hope I can either get the plot I want, or get a plot in the same instance (ward and sub) as my dad. I can't even imagine how stoked I would be if both, but hey; we're both working up a bunch of gil, in hopes it gives us SOME chance at it!

[LianaThorne]

True, 6.1 is no doubt a WAYS off, but considering how stressful the whole "buying a house AT ALL" process is in FFXIV, the more heads-up we can get, the better, imo.

Like I said, I just really hope I can either get the plot I want, or get a plot in the same instance (ward and sub) as my dad. I can't even imagine how stoked I would be if both, but hey; we're both working up a bunch of gil, in hopes it gives us SOME chance at it!

Better off being there at launch and running to placards than relying on lottery if you're dead set on getting certain plots. Better odds at least. Unless you both have tanks of PCs though I wouldn't shoot higher than grabbing mediums, the bots and FCs will be charging/relocating to the larges first and you'll literally need a miracle to get one. Lottery you'll just be relying on RNG and she can be a cruel lady (i.e. you both end up with nothing or one of you gets one while the other doesn't). Shoot low with placard running and relocate out after the flood calms down and the black market people put theirs up for sale.

Keep in mind, all that this process is doing is removing camping from the equation. It's most likely not going to shorten the time you have to wait because they try to let plots be available for all types of players (no lifers and people who pop on for an hour after work). I would not be surprised if it stayed the same length of time or increased.That's why the hidden timer even exists right now and usually lasts around 10-12 hours. They're just expecting people to put their name in and go about their day and not worry about the plot.

I would absolutely not put stake in them doing a general "ticket" where you win and can pick any plot you want. Like, just don't. LOL. That would just add more problems to the whole thing with people sniping plots from others just out of spite.

[Listrella]

it's not hitting til 6.1, just have a bit of patience.

[Lunalepsy]

I have a pretty nice house in-game, which I'm pretty fortunate for. However, I've been hoarding gil, as has my dad, because we're both hellbent on getting certain houses in Ishgard whenever it opens up.

In truth, it would honestly be SO nice if we could actually get houses in the same Ward for once!

I definitely dig the idea of a lottery system, since we can all agree the current system isn't much fun. I'm no doubt in the minority, though, but I've also been a huge proponent of adding SOME kind of means of trading Plots in-game -- largely for the exact reason above, because it would be cool to be in-game neighbors with my friends and fam!

For my part, I'm dead-set on the EXACT plot I want in Ishgard, whenever it opens up. But I'm worried that, because we don't understand the specifics of the "lottery system" that's supposed to be coming, I don't know whether I should continue trying to build up gil, or whether I'm just wasting my time.

For example; do you put up the full amount of gil to purchase a "ticket", and all of the losers are refunded? If so, would that mean someone with a lot of gil could purchase multiple "tickets"? And presumably if that WERE the case, I assume they would be out the gil for all their tickets?

Or does it work on a "per Ward" basis, like "here is a LARGE plot ticket, if you win, the plot you get is random"? Or would it be a "per Plot" basis, where I can buy a ticket for the plot I want, regardless of ward?

There's a lot of forms a lottery COULD take, and honestly it would just be nice to get an idea what it will be, so we can prepare accordingly.

Like I said, just having some amount of expectation would be great, just to mentally prepare for the process if nothing else.

Wait for the patch notes to come out.

[Jojoya]

Like others have said, SE is very unlikely to release details until just a couple of weeks before any housing changes are implemented. We don't even know for certain it will happen in 6.1. It just seems likely since that's when Ishgard will open.

For my part, I'm dead-set on the EXACT plot I want in Ishgard

Hate to burst your bubble but the player housing in Ishgard is not going to be a duplicate of the Firmament. We were already told the layout will be different and that the Firmament only offers an idea of what the aesthetics will be like.

YoshiP did say that the new district will be available for players to preview in 6.0. Once Endwalker has released, take a look around and decide what plot you'd like to have.

[LisSquid]

I just wonder how they will handle transfers from a lottery lot and a classic lot. I have a house in a classic lot, but will I be able to throw some coins into a lottery? Or relocate from a lottery lot to a classic lot? Classic meaning the system we have on live.

Still wish they would stop trying to make the plot system work and just put in the time to creating instanced "Town Houses" into all the major cities.