Solution to the Housing Problem: Instanced Housing!

[Kaiproberts]

First off, the only reason I play FFXIV is for housing. I don't participate in the combat or other content whatsoever. The only reason I like housing in this game is because so few games have non-instanced housing. Instanced housing would be completely worthless to someone like me. That being said, I would rather them devote server space to more wards instead. Island sanctuaries will not be a housing fix and I hope people don't think it is.

[Coletergeist]

Last thing I want in an MMO is everyone sequestered off in their own little pocket dimension. Congrats, the world's dead now.

Go play a lobby game like Monster Hunter if you want this experience.

Have you seen current housing wards? I already feel like all my neighbors are dead because I sure as hell never see them.

Like never.

[LaylaTsarra]

Have you seen current housing wards? I already feel like all my neighbors are dead because I sure as hell never see them.

Like never.

Went to a club last night on Sophia in Mist the house was congested there were so many people in it and tons outside. I live in housing wards but yeah they can certainly be empty at times if you're hanging out at your house.

[YukikoKurosawa]

First off, the only reason I play FFXIV is for housing. I don't participate in the combat or other content whatsoever. The only reason I like housing in this game is because so few games have non-instanced housing. Instanced housing would be completely worthless to someone like me. That being said, I would rather them devote server space to more wards instead. Island sanctuaries will not be a housing fix and I hope people don't think it is.

why

can't

we

have

both?

[HeyMcFly]

Yes because just like in real life, everything is given to you... No need to pay, no need to do anything other than push a few buttons and there ya go, you get a house. No


No to FREE housing, Yes to SE opening up more districts.

So, I'm going to point out, there's nothing wrong with just giving people houses in a video game.
OP never said anything about free houses though.

Back to your original post; I think instanced housing should 100% be a thing- personally, I think it should feel like a proper reward & have unlock tiers like beast tribes/ doman enclave/ firmament type deal- a progression based system set on the players donations.
Like you start out with a tiny plot/ island but the more you contribute the more is unlocked- gardening, bigger house, etc.

A little grind wouldn't hurt anyone, I agree- but the neighborhoods are dead. Most apartments are locked or if open, are empty. (atleast on my server) How often do you see wards full of people on a regular basis? Neighborhoods are a waste of resources imo. Everyone has asked for larger item space & more decoration- Many people want instanced housing because alot of folks have felt the frustrations of not being able to get their own house & deal with the limitations of an apartment/ FC room.

SE can implement a system that completely overhauls the current housing system from apartments to s, m, L houses. Put a notice out for everyone & a news letter that people need to pull out their items & can get a refund on their apartments & houses. For players who don't log on in this time, have their items put on the house NPC & held until the player can finally pick their items up.
--Wards & apartments should now be dedicated to instanced housing- A player can have an FC plot dedicated to the amount of FC members they have- like a guild hall (Similar to Guild Wars system, idk if you're familiar but it was a large world surrounded & modeled after different themes like ancient jungle ruins, a desert/ oasis, a european style castle, a temple dedicated to the god of Death, etc)

I've played many games that had various types of housing, for me the reward is the decorating & making something awesome each time.

TL; DR there is no reason obtaining a house should be a struggle at any point in a video game. A regular joe should be able to get the plot they want, a little grind doesn't hurt. I'm sure somehow, small indie company SE will manage. Hrothgar ears be damned.

[Martynek]

That already takes place in housing. You make it sound like we are asking to turn this into a solo player game and over-exaggerating the issue.

You can go and visit housing neighbourhoods. Not comparable.

What if I want to live as a hermit in my own isolated house? What if I don't want to be part of a neighborhood (implying this even exists lol lmao everyone is just in their own little space never interacting with eachother). Why is that a problem?

Play a singleplayer game if you want to be completely alone.

[Coletergeist]

You can go and visit housing neighbourhoods. Not comparable.

Sure, visit a ghost town. Fun. Much social. Much wow. Much neighbors.

[Amenara]

You can go and visit housing neighbourhoods. Not comparable.

Gonna go out on a limb and say you could probably go and visit instanced houses as well, just instead of having a bunch constantly loaded in a ward it would be randomly going to houses through an NPC or whatever system they come up with. Wildstar even did instanced neighborhoods so you could have multiple houses in an instanced area, maybe that would be an option as well.

SE can't/won't add enough server hardware to support sufficient wards for everyone to have a house and making instanced houses potentially makes that a possibility.

[ForteNightshade]

Last thing I want in an MMO is everyone sequestered off in their own little pocket dimension. Congrats, the world's dead now.

Go play a lobby game like Monster Hunter if you want this experience.

You mean how the vast majority of "neighborhoods" feels right now because nobody actually cares to hang out and socialize with said neighbors? As for the world at large, the only zones active are Limsa and whichever area has the latest tome gear. Every other city hub is all but empty nowadays because we have virtually no reason to go there.

If Instanced Housing were implemented, it wouldn't suddenly kill off the Limsa AFK scene. After all, people like to show off. That being said, if people prefer hanging out at their houses, why shouldn't they?

[Likethewind]

XI has it and that game is 20 years old. You get an upper level patio, first floor, and full mog garden.