Fist off, i know this is a pretty requested feature already but i still wanted to analyze the whole idea and point out a view things.
Also, while writing all this down i realised that this feature would really need a lot of resources and wouldnt be implemented very easily so i dont expect it to be implemented any time soon but i still like the idea very much!
Some might say “yeah it would be great but there are way bigger problems in the game”
To that i say, yeah youre right but i will try to explain what would be the benefits that could come from that feature.
But first i want to list a view problems the game has (not for everyone ofc, but at least for some of us!):
- some feel like there is not much to do at endgame (that they like)
- with living story, too many skins, filling up your bank and inventory
- its hard to keep track of the living story and get what is going on sometimes
- little reason to do personal story
- very view ways to be creative (its a rollercoasterride where you can enjoy the action but not create, construct or design anything)
- not really a problem but… traveling fees prevent from exploring the world.. kinda
Now for some questions that might come up:
Why should they add housing? how does arenanet benefit from it?
- money sink
- cashshop items
- improved reward system (trophys, etc) for living world, personal story, open world, ideally WvW and PvP too
Should it in any way be connected to guild halls?
Should it even be replaced by guild halls? maybe. For now though i will assume that they add it in separately. I think it would be a nice feature if you could visit the home of every member of your guild through a special portal inside the guildhall.
A single house or whole home instance?
I say keep the home instance and add player houses to it that tha player can buy (for a lot of oney ofc)
Will it seperate the players?
Maybe, but isnt it annoying to load into LA anyways because it just takes way to long with all the characters that have to be loaded…? Also, i think if they do it right it would not have much impact. There should be things that you can only get in a city or at least not in your home (e.g. tradepost, mystic forge, guild vendors, Fractals…)
Ports into cities (also to guild halls oneday maybe) should be free from there.
Living story events will still happen in the main cities most likely.
So yeah, i think it won’t be too bad.
Features i’d like to see:
1. Trophies
- the living story does already reward unique items, some of them could be placed in your house/home instance
- the personal story could reward unique items, friendly npcs (already implemented i think) and trophies for it
- the open world, jumping puzzles, hidden treasures, “quests” could give trhophies for your house/home instance
- achievements could give trhophies for your house/home instance
2. Mannequin / armor rack
- finally a place to put all your saved up skins and items that fill up your inventory
- More ways to evolve your chars and get connected to them (in a way)
- increase the interrest for the living world story
3. NPCs/special features and services
- you unlock these during your jurneys through the world of tyria and the story by rescuing or helping them for examlpe
- npcs that are in some way interresting to interact with (know lore secrets, are related to you, can give you hints)
- simple vendors (Leather Bags, salvage kits, gathering tools,…)
- special vendors (karma vendors, laurel vendor)
- very special vendors (furniture vendor, color vendor, townclothes vendor,…)
- bank npc
- portals / waypointservice / npc that ports you to specific locations for free
– in personal story choose e.g. Vigil -> npc that ports you to Vigil Keep and Fort Trinity
– to guild hall (maybe…?)
– to all the main cities - already in the game: crafting nodes
4. Creativity
- choose your own house
– based on your race (adds more reasons to twink)
– standard home, noble home, home in the sewers,… - place objects, furniture, plants,… where you like
- paint objects
5. Bookshelves
- stores lore/Encyclopedia that you can find in the open world (for example)
- your own diary (personal story)
- keeping track with the living story with books/cutscenes like the one from Marjory Delaqua
- a better place to put those shortstories they keep uploading (that many don’t even know exist)
6. Shop for upgrades (thats where it gets interresting for anet)
- is a grat opportunity for anet to get players to buy stuff
- items can be sold in the cashshop or…
- from vendors (moneysink)
- upgrades like flags, furniture, paintings, vendors,…
Tell me what you think!