Housing Roulette was an absolute trash idea.

[LianaThorne]

Yes. You didn't mention the positives of the system, such as fcs having priority for a few weeks to get the bigger houses they want instead of these empty fc wards full of smalls that nobody is bidding on. Or the fact that you couldn't use alts to improve your odds because alts can't be logged in at the same time. Or the fact that when new wards were released there was no RNG involved and you would just buy a plot if you were there first. Or the fact that if you managed to get any plot you could relocate easily instead of being stuck in a region you dislike.

1. FCFS only benefits those who are able to wake up at 4 AM and have a powerful PC. Yes it's more convienent to have FCFS so you can just go boop and placard and be done with it but it also enables those who bot to just teleport there and buy them before other people even load in.

2. If we're gonna have instant relocation then it absolutely can't be attached to placard spamming because it's an actual kick in the face to those trying to win the plot to have some random come up and take it like that, coming from someone who used to do it often. The housing system back then encouraged it.

Reverting back to the old ways is not going to fix any problems and forcing people to sit at a placard for hours to have a chance at housing is ridiculous. At least everyone has the same chance to win it and isn't stuck fighting auto-clickers or dealing with people sniping a plot because they want to move for the 10th time that month. (calling myself out here lol)

[Carin-Eri]

So you're saying people with jobs should just not show up to work and get fired to have a shot at a house? Not GUARANTEE, mind you, just a [i]chance[i/] of getting a house?

You think being able to log into a video game at 5-7 AM (depending on your timezone) is agency? Is "sacrifice" that should be rewarded? Is somehow effort deserving of award?

The people who liked the old system were the people who could do that with impunity. The new system is fair to everyone. It's clearly not "equality of outcome", since not everyone wins. So it's not socialism or Marxism or whatever you're trying to present there. "But it's only one or two days a year!" "...which are always weekdays when people have work, school, or family stuff. Yeah, let's tell people the only way to enjoy a video game is to not have a life."

The new system is fair to everyone and gives every one a shot. It doesn't play favorites, and it doesn't reward non-effort, unhealthy (and for many people, not an option) "sacrifice". It give everyone an even footing. That's the entire point of it.

Couldn't agree more!

Between working 08:30 - 18:00 five days a week and a very busy family life I have precious little time to devote to actually being in-game.

I have no experience of attempting to purchase a plot/house via the old method but, from what I've read and understand of it I wouldn't have stood a chance due to the narrow window of opportunity. And to be honest, I don't think I'd have wanted to try - I really can't see that I would've wanted to spend the little time I do get to be in-game stood clicking a placard.

I'll admit, I'd only been trying for a house for a few months and didn't have any luck until they increased the Wards - but the fact is, I was at least able to try. I could place a bid and then carry on with my life knowing that, win or lose, at least I was given the opportunity to try.
And thankfully, I did get there in the end. With the addition of more Wards I was able to bid on a small plot I wanted in, an area which is not in high demand (The Goblet) and won my house as the only player actually bidding on that plot.

[dwodmots]

I dunno, I like both systems. I got my personal house with the old system and won the FC house with the new lottery.
Both seem to work fine for the purpose of getting me houses. :^)

[Dhalya]

Unpopular opinion, but if they are going with this limited supply route, I'd love the housing to be MUCH harder to get.

Either be locked behind some grind, or be drastically more expensive, or both. Also there should be a progression system that you can first only own a small and then upgrade.

The way it is now, every rando who finished ARR can participate, me as a veteran player already have alts with a house because its just so damn cheap and accessible.
Adding the lottery system further increased demand, because it is so easy to try out for a house that everyone, even people that don't really care about this content participate.

I do think that people should be awarded for extra effort just as they are in every other part of the game - collections, achievements, gearing, glams, gil making all require extra effort to have more of it, why should housing be equal chance for someone that hardly logs in and was just like meh lets give it a shot. Then their plot will remain half empty and locked for years.

Ideal scenario would be instanced housing for everyone, but I guess they can't handle instances with 400+40 custom item placements per person.

[LianaThorne]

Unpopular opinion, but if they are going with this limited supply route, I'd love the housing to be MUCH harder to get.

Either be locked behind some grind, or be drastically more expensive, or both. Also there should be a progression system that you can first only own a small and then upgrade.

The way it is now, every rando who finished ARR can participate, me as a veteran player already have alts with a house because its just so damn cheap and accessible.
Adding the lottery system further increased demand, because it is so easy to try out for a house that everyone, even people that don't really care about this content participate.

I do think that people should be awarded for extra effort just as they are in every other part of the game - collections, achievements, gearing, glams, gil making all require extra effort to have more of it, why should housing be equal chance for someone that hardly logs in and was just like meh lets give it a shot. Then their plot will remain half empty and locked for years.

Ideal scenario would be instanced housing for everyone, but I guess they can't handle instances with 400+40 custom item placements per person.

Pretty sure they used to be more expensive and then people complained.

Also, demo is back on so anyone who did just buy a house and dip will lose it shortly. I expect a wave of abandoned plots to erupt within the next couple weeks or so ngl.

[MrJPtheAssassin]

At the end of the day, I just wish they at least kept their promise of having a mix of FCFS wards and lottery wards. I don't know why that changed or why they went back against that but I rather had the choice of what system I wanted to interact with. It wouldn't solve anything ofc but having options are always nice to have. I still think both systems are trash and do nothing to solve the housing issues, these lottery lovers will never change my mind on that. Yeah, it's better than FCFS for most but I rather them spend the time making a real solution to the problem instead of making another feelbad system. Say what you will about the lottery it is still a feelbad system that makes most of the player base feel bad week after week bc rng wasn't kind to them. They replaced a feelbad system with just a more convenient feelbad system. It gets tiring and dishearting looking for a plot week after week to find hardly anything after the first cycle of new wards added and the ones you do find after the first lottery usually have 50+ ppl bidding so the odds of you winning are even lower than the first cycle. If they were more frequent when adding wards to the game I don't think it is as bad but they are not. We most likely won't see any more wards added time 7.1 which is a year and a half way.

[Dhalya]

Pretty sure they used to be more expensive and then people complained.

Also, demo is back on so anyone who did just buy a house and dip will lose it shortly. I expect a wave of abandoned plots to erupt within the next couple weeks or so ngl.

I truly hope so, however only those, that truly quit for 1.5month or more will be demolished. I believe many people have active sub and hold their houses because giving them up is a waste.
Can't find newest info about how much gil you get back for relinquishing the land willingly, but probably 0% (or best case 80% from plot,0% from permit).
If it at least fully covered the costs, some people might give it up after they realize they dont use it at all.

[MrJPtheAssassin]

I truly hope so, however only those, that truly quit for 1.5month or more will be demolished. I believe many people have active sub and hold their houses because giving them up is a waste.
Can't find newest info about how much gil you get back for relinquishing the land willingly, but probably 0% (or best case 80% from plot,0% from permit).
If it at least fully covered the costs, some people might give it up after they realize they dont use it at all.

I believe you get around 80% back of the plot's cost if you let it get demo. What doesn't make sense to me is I believe you get nothing back if you relinquish the house yourself. You would think they would reward you for giving up the house willingly but nope the only way to get your investment back is to let the auto demo take the house. I could be wrong ofc since I haven't relinquished a house since SB but back in SB they didn't give you back anything. If that has changed then that's a good thing at least.

[LianaThorne]

I believe you get around 80% back of the plot's cost if you let it get demo. What doesn't make sense to me is I believe you get nothing back if you relinquish the house yourself. You would think they would reward you for giving up the house willingly but nope the only way to get your investment back is to let the auto demo take the house. I could be wrong ofc since I haven't relinquished a house since SB but back in SB they didn't give you back anything. If that has changed then that's a good thing at least.

Correct outside of transferring to new servers. If you relinquish your plot you get full plot price back + extra for lost furniture. They reward you for moving to help populate.

Moved my alt off Zurvan today to Marilith and was reimbursed the full price of my mansion + extra.

[Pablomaldito]

Correct outside of transferring to new servers. If you relinquish your plot you get full plot price back + extra for lost furniture. They reward you for moving to help populate.

Except DO NOT actually relinquish your plot or vacate your apartment before transferring. Keep them in your posession, and when you relocate, they will automatically be demolished/vacated, and you will receive your compensation. If you relinquish before transferring, then the transfer process will see nothing to compensate you for.