On the Move & Erollisi Manor Part Deux

A couple of levels into the Tier 5 Carpentry, I received recipes to make what is my favorite furniture set thus far, the cedar ensemble. Cedar is a rare T5 wood resource.  In my real life tastes, I have many cedar and mahogany items. I love the rich hue and dark coloring. I like to mix them eclectically with lighter colored modern pieces.  The set is very expensive to make no matter how you cut it. It will either be time spent trying to harvest the rare drop or lots of gold spent on the Broker.  For the first 5 piece set I made, I harvested three pieces and purchased the other two.

Absolutely delighted by the finished product, I wanted to display it front and center in my little shop. Moving other displays around to make room, which included having to completely remove one set from the shop, I realized I'd already outgrown the size of my rooms.  The idea of packing up all my items and moving was loathsome.  I'd just finished the Erollisi Manor project.  The last thing I wanted to do was pack and unpack my own house.  

When it took me 2 hours to make room for the Cedar display, I knew it was time to move.  I could bite the bullet now or when the next cool set came along.  With a reluctant and heavy heart, I decided to get it over with now.  And since I have no intention of EVER moving again, I purchased the largest player house available in Halas, which is - you guessed it, Erollisi Manor.

Handy Player Housing Features
EQ2 has implemented very handy features for house maintenance since I last played the game.  There's an automatic pack up all your belongings to move feature, which leaves your items packed into a "moving crate".  Similarly, if you already own a home and go to purchase a new one, since each character is only allowed one home, the game asks if you'd like your old items moved into the new home.  Say yes and viola, you don't even need to return to the old home to initiate the pack up my stuff feature, it does it for you and places the moving crate in the new home.  

Unfortunately for me, none of these features would auto move my items because I'd setup the shop in an alternate character's home.  *Cries big splashy tears*  When I cried about it in chat, guild mates offered to start a moving party and come help.  I declined their generous offer.  Since I was going to have to do it manually like back in the old days of EQ2, I'd rather do it as I decided where each piece was going.

Another excellent feature is the ability to save house layouts, which saves exact furniture and objects placement.  It seems you can save and restore a large number of layouts.  I tested having 5 of them and it worked flawlessly.  A bit later, this feature will prove very handy in my mad furniture gallery machinations. *muhaha*

Return to Erollisi Manor
The Erollisi Manor homes have 6 rooms although the game says 5. There’s a great room and den on the main floor, three large rooms upstairs and one large room on the lower level. In my book that's 6 rooms but I suppose they don't count the great room?  The one room starter house has two rooms but is advertised as one. And I hear the next update is going to add the option for outdoor additions!  Bah, I wish Halas wasn't frozen tundra.  I prefer Qeynos but the Halas housing is too good to pass up.

Moving the shop brick by brick consumed all my play time after completing the decorating project.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be but I also wouldn't call it fun.  After a couple of hours, I added a method to my madness that made things happen more efficiently.

1. Made 3 cedar sales crates.  I was planning to upgrade later anyway for the new house.
2. Placed the crates into the new houses broker slots
3. Packed the old house into the sales crates - put them into the broker but not for sale, grouped into furniture, accessories and lighting
4. Purchased 3 sales boards - one for each floor at the new house
5. Used the sales board on each floor to pull items as necessary for placement into the new floor plan
6. Spare items and sets I don't plan to carry in the future were placed in the basement.  Some time soon I'll use them for a "Bargain Bin" sales promotion.

Using this system, the move and redesign of the shop wasn't as painful as it could have been otherwise.

Grand Re-Opening Imminent
My redesign is almost complete. I'm pleased with the results. The Great Room retains its furniture showroom design with different groups sharing the same space.  The library will showcase casual living that is moderately priced.  It's comprised of bar, kitchen, dining and seating areas. Two of the upstairs bedrooms will be used to display a whole ensemble from a particular tier.  Right now I'm showing Cedar Living and Briarwood Vale Ensembles.  The third bedroom is a secret project that will take quite some time to construct but I can't wait!!!  Accessories are scattered throughout but this time I will have people buy them directly from the crates.  Only furniture sets will be sold direct - hand to hand.  The lower level will house extra inventory and bargain bin sets.  Whew, it took a lot of work getting everything re-situated but I'm glad I moved.

My favorite room in the new shop is the cubby / storage closet off the great room (picture above).  I'll add more as time passes and I discover the "right" pieces.  But what I have for now will have to suffice. It’s rather cute if I do say so myself.  Inside that little space I've fashioned a Steampunk inspired Alchemist's lab.  I’ve seen a few faction recipe items that are must haves.  As much as I abhor quest chains, my little shop is going to get me neck deep in 'em!  The above pictures are a sneak peak at the new showroom.  Stop by too see it in full. *Smile*

Alysiaa's Friendly Furnishings
EQ2 Extended
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Erollisi Manor Homes
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Comments

[Ziyi]

Oooooh new store!
Does that mean I can come by for tea?

I also have a potential customer for you, there's an RP tavern in the works, so loads of stuff will be needed, main thread about it is here; http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2x/posts/list.m?topic_id=2193
We've contributed tables and chairs with our meager carpenting skills :o)

xox
Ziyi and Twinkle
www.qhawks.com

[Alysianah aka Saylah]

Thanks for the heads-up. I will check it out. Sounds like a fun project.

[Saylah]

P.S. Soon Ziyi. I'm headed out of town for a few days. When I return, I have to make a couple of sets for each of the new packages and then, I'll be ready to re-open. But of course, you and Twinkle are welcome to come chat anytime. :-)

[Ziyi]

Is it done yet... is it done yet... is it done yet...
Hihi.

xox
Ziyi and Twinkle

[Ziyi]

Whaaaaa it's so pretty! And gorgeous! And the price books with each set are brilliant!
WHAAAAAA!

I'll be quiet now. And marvel at your shop design. :o)

(whaaaa!)

xox
Ziyi & Twinkle

[Alysianah aka Saylah]

@Ziyi - Thanks! I must say I love the notebook feature and that lil bit of RP flare they've allowed me to include in the shop. It's those small touches that makes the place feel like it's mine.

Sometimes I just wander through the rooms thinking, "Holy shit, I made all of this with these two virtual hands!!!"