I really enjoy player housing in MMOs. I especially enjoy it when you can craft from your home. Long time readers may recall occasions when I’ve turned a character’s house into a crafting workshop for guild members in Runes of Magic and a business/store in EverQuest 2. In EQ2 I went a step further, creating a few guides on how to construct custom objects. I had a ball doing things like that in a virtual world. I enjoy sharing knowledge that might enhance someone else’s gaming experience. Heck, I’m doing the same thing with Star Citizen, except that I’ve evolved to doing videos with voice over narration.
Here's a quick tour of my house right after I purchased it.
How it Works
The other evening I took the plunge and purchased my first house in BDO. As far as I’m aware, there’s no limit on how many homes you can own. The housing systems is a combination of how EQ2 homes are instanced + WOW garrison phasing technology + ArcheAge’s external visibility from within the house. Hands-down, I prefer AA’s non-instanced housing. However, I’ve seen the ugly side effect when a majority of players who want a home can’t find space for it. As such, I think BDO’s is a nice compromise.
Even though housing is instanced, each home can only be owned a limited number of times. This may have to do with supporting the phasing technology? No idea why but it just is. And there aren’t a massive amount of available homes where I’ve checked but always at least something.
Displaying the map in any city, small town or outpost will show if housing is supported in that location. Locations colored blue are available for purchase. The options range from buying a room in an Inn ala EQ2 new player options, to multi-room multi-story dwellings. To purchase the home you click the blue house and a dialog appears with the cost and other options.
Housing serves multiple purposes in BDO. You must decide that purpose during the purchase. If you’re going to have workers, you must provide their housing. You can use it purely as a warehouse facility - your inventory has weight. Or it can be a home for your character, where you can keep furniture that provides buffs, crafting stations, trophies and/or establish a working storefront. I decided on a house where I can craft for my own use - for now. *Smile*
Roleplay Ready
Don't become discouraged if you don't see a house available in the major cities. Check the outlying areas. One of the things I really like about the housing is that locations are all over the place. You really do need to check everywhere - literally everywhere. If you’re into RP and want to have home that represents a struggling farmer or some such, I ran across a run down farm with NPCs milling around, talking nonsense to each other and handing out quests. One was definitely coming off as the outpost buffoon.
I opened the map looking for directions and noticed that you could buy the ramshackle one room dwelling they were in front of, making them your neighbors. NOT. No thanks. But come on, how’s that for RP opportunities?? Needless to say, I passed. I did go inside to have a look around out of curiosity. Nope! I like rustic but not squatter material. I’m a glamping kinda of gal.
Choosing a Location
What I wanted, was what I couldn’t achieve in ArcheAge because of the abysmal issues we experienced during the first day of headstart. I wanted to be near a bustling town or outpost, where I could watch NPCs and other players going about their “lives” while I was in my house crafting. And I found it. Probably the first of several homes I’ll own in BDO.
I opted for a side street in Hiedel, which appears to the be center of the known map if you exclude the desert on the east side. With no fast travel, I’m not sure how long this will be convenient but it’s a start at having a home and learning about the housing system. I also have two workers in the area. One is collecting honey and the other wheat. I have no idea why. It was an option when I was learning about nodes and figured, “meh, why not.” If I don’t need it for alchemy or cooking I’ll sell it.
Decorating
The Conqueror’s package I purchased contained some furniture items. It was getting late by the time I’d selected a location and started learning how to place items. It’s not as intuitive or flexible as other housing systems I’ve encountered. It doesn’t seem to support layering of objecst which lets you design new things by combining others in unique ways. It’s bare bones and straight forward like ROM. Basically, it will get the job done - enough.
I only did the front room. I want to layout the other room downstairs for crafting and the upstairs as personal space. I upgraded the floors and walls, put in some lighting and the furniture you see in the entry way.
I have a few pieces for a bedroom, including the bed. Come to think of it, I believe there’s rest bonus in the game. Perhaps I should have done the bedroom first. Oh well, I’m not in a hurry. I’ll get to it soon enough.
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