Thread: Support for FCFS housing in 6.1

I support Lottery, but only if it's limited to the new Ishgard housing for the first 3 to 5 months as a trial run, before any decision is made on if it expands beyond the Empyreum.

Pros:
1. Less people clicking plots for the duration of the hidden purchase timer (which can be as long as 24 hours)
2. Less traffic in the open plot areas, as there's no need to linger once you've put a ticket in
3. A cap to how many tickets a single person can put in for the lottery (I'd reject the idea if more than 1 personal and 1 FC ticket were allowed at a given time per person)
4. Reduces the likelihood of excessive server queues during new ward releases. (the only plus to having it as a system, instead of a semi-optional feature)

Cons
1. Removes the option to show support for those who may be house hunting, as there's no longer a reason to linger at the plot and therefore no need for people to show support for friends who may not be in the same Free Company as yourself, or might even be on another server entirely.
2. The Limbo period of the plots, as it looks like the lottery process will take much longer than the maximum 24 hour timer of the standard Hidden Timer plots (one of the biggest reasons that I don't like the Lottery system)
3. Heavily favors larger FCs, so the small FCs that are made of Friends and possibly Family will suffer from the Lottery System. (yet another big reason I don't like the Lottery System)

Opinions on the changes to Housing:
Housing tends to be a major factor for a lot of people, both solo players and community people, so I feel that there should not be a preference in targeted groups shown when adjusting housing systems. Favoring any one group will make the others unhappy over time, and it would only lead to more redesigns of housing if a focus group is involved. Some people want to play with just people they know, others want to stay off to the side and have friends scattered across Data Centers instead of all on one server. Small Free Companies are being ignored in favor of the larger groups, which means those smaller FCs who may be made of a group of close friends and/or family members would have a harder time getting a plot when facing Larger FCs who can devote dozens of players to a single plot.

In regards to the Ward Distributions, I am Strongly in favor of separating FC and Personal housing from each other so that Personal house hunters will have more of a chance at obtaining a house. I feel like the separation is a good move, and will improve the conditions for people who seek to obtain a personal house, or who don't want to be part of an FC just to have housing. I can see that system freeing up plots over time, as more and more solo players will be getting their first house with that system. Unfortunately, it doesn't really help Small FCs because they'd still be competing with the Large FCs, which often have more people to spare for attempting a plot purchase.

Originally Posted by Skoll_the_Sun-chaser

I can see that system freeing up plots over time, as more and more solo players will be getting their first house with that system.

How does more players owning a house make more plots available? That makes no sense.

The only way more plots will become available is if players either start quitting the game in large numbers (leaving their houses to demo) or SE adds more wards.

Originally Posted by Skoll_the_Sun-chaser

Unfortunately, it doesn't really help Small FCs because they'd still be competing with the Large FCs, which often have more people to spare for attempting a plot purchase.

More players to spare does not equal more gil to spend on all the entries, nor does it mean sufficient trust between officers and members that one side isn't going to screw over the other. Large FCs are usually an officer clique with a bunch of random members no one else really knows.

You're also assuming those members are willing to give up their single entry for the lottery to their FC over using it for the chance to buy their own house or relocate their existing one.

Most large FCs are already going to own a house. They're not going to be competition to you unless you're trying to go after a prime plot (which would be a mistake for a FC trying to get their first house).

The competition you need to worry about are the close knit small to medium FCs with wealthy members. They've got the trust factor to share the gil needed for multiple entries.

I am going to say it
The sole reason they don’t care large FC in theory will have advantage simply they know their name layer base well.
Fundamentally, current generation of gamers are self centric.
The chance each players using their only one vote for FC housing is low.

Originally Posted by Shibi

A lot of them will happily pitch in to help the FC on the thought it will help them rise in the ranks, be liked more, get a warm and fuzzy in an otherwise grey life, break into a clique... or whatever. Yep, it's 100% as you say



Ultimately their true reason, if they examine their hearts, is they are doing it for themselves to earn favour with the Leader and Officers.

And yeah, a lot of what Jojoya says in their second part. For sure.

We are not in the time of FF11 and pre Woltk WoW where FC/guild has significant meaning.
Especially rank in FC literally means nothing.
We are also not talking about pinch in Gil to buy FC house.
This is different scenario.
Each players now have only one shot for a house until next ward release and who know when will that be.
You are speaking like old time where leaders and officers is impactful because of loot council.

Originally Posted by Shibi

As a guild leader in a few games in the past, one being a fairly large one too, and as an FC leader of a small FC here; you underestimate their (how can I word this politely) strong desire of a whole subset of members to want to garner favour with the leadership of the FC. (that was a lot more than the 2 words if I were to say it the normal way)

That type of subset is a lot smaller than it was in the past. The MMORPG player base is aging as younger players are more likely to be playing other games. Surveys show the majority of MMORPG players to be 30+ now and older players are unlikely to care about buying favor within a game social group because they usually collapse sooner not later.

The just updated special site for patch 6.1 now says the following for Empyreum:

Thanks to tireless volunteers from near and far, Ishgard's once-ruined Firmament now boasts a host of facilities─including a brand-new residential area, Empyreum! During the first round of sales, empty plots will be distributed via lottery system, so those who yearn to live amidst the grandiose stonework of Eorzea's ice-crowned city-state will want to visit the plaque of their favorite property to enter.

It sounds like they've decided against using First Come First Serve in Empyreum for now. Whether this is going to apply to wards in all housing districts is something we do not know at this point.

We'll have to look forward to the Live Letter next week, and probably a developer blog or news post on Lodestone the following week, for more details.

Originally Posted by Jojoya

The just updated special site for patch 6.1 now says the following for Empyreum:


It sounds like they've decided against using First Come First Serve in Empyreum for now. Whether this is going to apply to wards in all housing districts is something we do not know at this point.

We'll have to look forward to the Live Letter next week, and probably a developer blog or news post on Lodestone the following week, for more details.

Seems like the developers have decided to side with the majority of the playerbase and implemented a system that's fair for everyone and grants each player an equal chance at housing.

Bravos!