I wanted to share this I came across recently as a perfect, albeit infuriating, example of why the current Free Company (FC) housing system is so frustrating for the general community.
Here we have a Rank 6 FC called "HOUSING DENIERS" with only 4 members (the absolute minimum required to purchase land). They have claimed a valuable LARGE plot, which provides significant in-game benefits, notably the Submarine Workshop.
This is what we commonly refer to as a "Solo FC" or "Alt FC"—a company created by a single player using alternate characters to circumvent personal housing limitations and claim a valuable FC plot.
It is technically a legal maneuver, but it’s an outrage. With the current housing scarcity, especially on congested servers, seeing a plot—which is supposed to benefit a large community of players—used by what is essentially one person feels like a slap in the face. The FC's very name, "Housing Deniers," shows they are aware of the problem and are actively mocking the system and the players struggling to find a home.
The Current System Rewards Hoarding
This system actively rewards the hoarding of property and punishes genuine, large, and social Free Companies. My point is simple: We need changes to both the access requirements and the mechanics that tie high-value FC activities to a limited resource like housing.
Suggested Policy Reforms
1. Decouple Workshops from Housing
The single biggest reason for "Solo FCs" is the need to access Submarine and Airship Workshops. This essential functionality must be decoupled from housing:
Implement an FC Workshop Hub: The game should introduce a dedicated port, hangar, or similar facility where all Rank 6+ FCs can access a Workshop-like area to manage their Submarines and Airships.
This would make the necessity for FCs to acquire housing much less stressful and significantly less privileged. All FCs should have equal access to this content.
2. Stricter FC Housing Requirements
If housing plots are to remain limited, the requirements for those plots must reflect a genuine community need based on size:
Minimum Member Requirement: The current 4-member requirement is easily exploited. This should be scaled based on the plot size:
Small Plot: Minimum 4 active members (current requirement, for small groups).
Medium Plot: Minimum 8 active members.
Large Plot: Minimum 15 active members.
Stricter Activity/Demolition Rules: FC houses should require proof of a truly active roster to prevent auto-demolition. The system should require a number of unique member logins that matches the minimum member requirement for that plot size (i.e., a minimum of 4 unique members for a Small plot, 8 for a Medium, and 15 for a Large must enter the house or log in within the 45-day window).
We must stop allowing a single player to lock away an entire FC plot, its benefits, and the opportunity for a real FC community to thrive.
Continue reading...
Here we have a Rank 6 FC called "HOUSING DENIERS" with only 4 members (the absolute minimum required to purchase land). They have claimed a valuable LARGE plot, which provides significant in-game benefits, notably the Submarine Workshop.
This is what we commonly refer to as a "Solo FC" or "Alt FC"—a company created by a single player using alternate characters to circumvent personal housing limitations and claim a valuable FC plot.
It is technically a legal maneuver, but it’s an outrage. With the current housing scarcity, especially on congested servers, seeing a plot—which is supposed to benefit a large community of players—used by what is essentially one person feels like a slap in the face. The FC's very name, "Housing Deniers," shows they are aware of the problem and are actively mocking the system and the players struggling to find a home.
The Current System Rewards Hoarding
This system actively rewards the hoarding of property and punishes genuine, large, and social Free Companies. My point is simple: We need changes to both the access requirements and the mechanics that tie high-value FC activities to a limited resource like housing.
Suggested Policy Reforms
1. Decouple Workshops from Housing
The single biggest reason for "Solo FCs" is the need to access Submarine and Airship Workshops. This essential functionality must be decoupled from housing:
Implement an FC Workshop Hub: The game should introduce a dedicated port, hangar, or similar facility where all Rank 6+ FCs can access a Workshop-like area to manage their Submarines and Airships.
This would make the necessity for FCs to acquire housing much less stressful and significantly less privileged. All FCs should have equal access to this content.
2. Stricter FC Housing Requirements
If housing plots are to remain limited, the requirements for those plots must reflect a genuine community need based on size:
Minimum Member Requirement: The current 4-member requirement is easily exploited. This should be scaled based on the plot size:
Small Plot: Minimum 4 active members (current requirement, for small groups).
Medium Plot: Minimum 8 active members.
Large Plot: Minimum 15 active members.
Stricter Activity/Demolition Rules: FC houses should require proof of a truly active roster to prevent auto-demolition. The system should require a number of unique member logins that matches the minimum member requirement for that plot size (i.e., a minimum of 4 unique members for a Small plot, 8 for a Medium, and 15 for a Large must enter the house or log in within the 45-day window).
We must stop allowing a single player to lock away an entire FC plot, its benefits, and the opportunity for a real FC community to thrive.
Continue reading...