Guild Wars 2

What do you guys think about player housing? I’ve seen it a lot in many MMOs and i believe it gives the game a certain “I feel at home” vibe. In addition, it provides tons of customization and lets you feel unique allowing you to show everyone what you have accomplished on your “journey” throughout the game. Do you think we will ever see player housing in Guild Wars 2?

It is a “maybe” future addition, or so it seems.

It is something I look forward to. There are many good ideas (some of them my own) going around.

I want it. I want it now. Soon. Please. Please can I have it. You can have my money if I can have it? Especially if it’s as good as Rift’s. That looks pretty good for customisation.

It was supposed to be in the game already. Then it was supposed to come a short while after launch. Now, it’s not even worked on.

A big letdown, but what can you do about it…

ThiBash.5634:

It was supposed to be in the game already. Then it was supposed to come a short while after launch. Now, it’s not even worked on.

A big letdown, but what can you do about it…

Player housing was never a promised thing, Arenanet said it was something they would look into post release.

In saying that, there are many things (such as mini games) which were meant to be included in initial release and we still havent seen 7 months down the track…

I`d personally rather guild halls first then personal housing.

Player housing would be awesome if it allowed customization. I need more frivolous activities that give me a break from the core content!

ANet could do an overhaul of the home instances, make it a bit more home-y. Otherwise kinda seems like a lot of work which could go into other things (guild halls).

I wouldn’t mind seeing housing. I liked housing in LOTRO, though it was a bit limiting. Rift has a really detailed housing system, but that was almost too work-intensive for me. In Rift, if you want an actual “house” you basically have to build one from scratch, as very few dimensions offer a ready-made house to furnish and the ones that do are mostly ugly or too small. I’d like to see something between the two games’ options here. I’d like a decent-looking house that I don’t have to build board-by-board and yet more customization than LOTRO’s decoration hooks offered.

i’d love to see it happen but ONLY…and i stress “ONLY” when the rest of the game is fixed and refined the current game as it stands, because that’s still in an unpolished state.

It seems as if most players would like something that they can call their own in the game and with that comes the potential to make money (if that is what Anet wants), and if not it would certainly only increase the player base in the game which itself rewards the creators. I’d say put SOME KIND of player housing/hall into the game as to give us an idea of how that will work and then tweak it as the game progresses.

I’d rather have a guild hall. Guilds need a place for members to gather and hangout like in GW1.

DaShi.1368:

I’d rather have a guild hall. Guilds need a place for members to gather and hangout like in GW1.

I agree, it would be a great addition. I was looking forward to player housing, however its been brought to my attention the idea of these “Guild Halls” which sound very interesting. I think the mechanics behind both ideas would be the same, that they go hand-in-hand. I believe that if they do indeed release either, the other should follow close behind.

I really enjoyed player housing in Starwars Galaxies, though I was well aware of the damage that system did to the game world. I had thought that our home instances like in Divinities Reach growing and filling out as you accomplished things in the game would have been a decent housing system as it wouldn’t clutter the game world but would still offer a place to show your characters growth and achievements. Even a picture of Tybalt hanging in the tavern would have been nice but the only thing I’ve noticed about my home instance was that they took out the dye vendor after launch.

When it comes to ‘housing’ I would rather see the Guild Halls before any personal housing.
- Give me the ability to build toward a tricked up GH with crafting area, personal and guild bankers, Trading Post npc, and asuran portal.
- Give me mini-missions that the guild members must do to earn these things and other perks for their GH, instead of the influence system, because GHs need to have a purpose for being in them.
- Give me Guild accomplishments/rewards/statuary/flags/emblems that we can display in our GH.
- Give me the ability to throw a real party in the GH for my members, complete with a feast, booze, fireworks, box o fun, keg brawl, etc that works toward a Guild Party Animal accomplishment.
I could go on, but mostly, just give me a Guild Hall before personal housing. And if it comes to personal housing, please NOT like LoTRo, where houses remained abandoned, design hooks were limited, and absolutely nothing was a draw to the housing area except your additional storage.

I would love housing EQ2 style, which Rift housing is based off being they hired Emily Taylor from EQ2 to do Rift. In EQ2 you didn’t have to build your house from scrath, though and I like that.

To me, Divinity’s Reach is ready made for personal and guild housing, just have to make all those doorways into instances. Would certainly open up for crafters to make house items, and things to sell on the gem store.

Chorel.1720:

I`d personally rather guild halls first then personal housing.

Guild Halls serve no purpose for the individual player.

The game can benefit enormously from personal housing. From both a player perspective and a monetary perspective for Anet.

Players love personal housing. They like their personal space within the game that makes the game seem more immersive and feel more like they are a part of it and their surroundings.

There’s nothing like going “home” after a day out adventuring, emptying your bags, maybe placing a new trophy on the wall or a table for a deed you have accomplished. Standing by the fireplace, wondering if you should have your crafting alt make a new rug for the floor in front of it.

The increase for crafting (especially since crafting is now being ruined by ascended pieces – look at jewelcraft). From tapestries from tailors to furniture from artificers, bowls of fruit, cooked turkeys and hams, bowls of green beans from cooks. Weapon and armor displays from their respective crafts. There is something for every craft.

Mannequins that hold and display complete sets of armor you’re not using. You can have a whole room just for your mannequin displays.

Weapon racks that serve the same purpose. Trophies for doing deeds out in the world instead of 2 achievement points.

Bookshelves displaying your snowglobes from Wintersday 2013, Wintersday 2014. Knick-knacks and trinkets earned and picked up in your travels. Collectibles and silly stuff. Where you can look and reflect on your time spent playing your favorite game.

The possibilities for the gem store are limitless, I won’t even go into that.

Anet, don’t waste Dev time and money on Guild Halls, spend in on personal housing.

An aspect that will tie the player to the game in a personal way and make them not ever want to abandon it.

All you guys make great points:
- We need somewhere to show what we have accomplished and what better way than a house where all of your achievements can be displayed.
- In addition to storage in the bank, we could have storage at our homes which would add another aspect of realism to the game.
- We have great crafting professions in the game which i think should be used for more than JUST what your wear and use as a character. If they were also used to bring life to your very own house, it would allow for unbeatable customization.

I believe this is the most PROBABLE way to approach the next big update for Guild Wars 2.

So now, where do you guys think they should have the player houses/guild halls? Instances or maybe even in some cities? Divinity’s Reach came into mind when i think of player housing especially, since its environment feels like the best place to build a house.

Ohhh man I hope ArenaNet is looking at this and they will add this in the future!

Reason why is because it adds the immersion plus having your own housing just improves the aesthetics of the game.

ThiBash.5634:

It was supposed to be in the game already. Then it was supposed to come a short while after launch. Now, it’s not even worked on.

A big letdown, but what can you do about it…

Huh? No, Anet never even hinted that it would be in the game by now, or at release or anytime soon. They said they would very much like to do it and it’ll most likely happen down the road – no timetable at all.

Proof otherwise?

Jandus.2834:

Huh? No, Anet never even hinted that it would be in the game by now, or at release or anytime soon. They said they would very much like to do it and it’ll most likely happen down the road – no timetable at all.

Proof otherwise?

House System
Most MMORPGs don’t pay attention to players’ houses, but Guild Wars 2 does. All players have a house respectively in their capital after their characters were born and their house is connected with their personal biography. What’s interesting is that characters of different personalities will have distinct houses. Things inside the house are defined by players and character attributes. As long as players play the game all the time, their house will have inside changes constantly. Furthermore, the game offers abundant house ornaments and players can also gain rich booty in the adventurous journey to decorate their house. In a word, players are able to create their unique house by means of item combinations.

Source: http://news.mmosite.com/content/2010-11-12/guild_wars_2_unique_character_selection_and_house_system.kittenml

Ree Soesbee: Your home instance (which consists of an area about the size of a city block, within your character’s racial city, where you have the racial equivalent of a house – a lab, for the asura, for example – several streets, some merchant’s areas, and other city-like things) will reflect your character’s victories, their accomplishments, and the people they meet in the game.

Source: http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/29/guild-wars-2-personal-story-massivelys-interview-with-ree-soes/

This is talking about the instance we get for our personal story, but that instance does not reflect our character’s victories, accomplishments etc. leading readers to believe there will be expansion on the personal housing question.

He mentioned that there will be no Guild Halls on release as we want to make Guild Halls a great experience and not just a “place”. We will introduce player housing at some point after launch, and at that time we will also implement guild halls.

Source: http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/18447-guild-info-discussion-thread/page__st__180#entry887047

Posted by ArenaNet see post #207

player- and more important guild-housing is the only thing(s) im actually missing in this game atm :P

Well, they wold just need to add some customization options for our home instances – problem solved. I think they may get to it at some point.

Jandus.2834:

ThiBash.5634:

It was supposed to be in the game already. Then it was supposed to come a short while after launch. Now, it’s not even worked on.

A big letdown, but what can you do about it…

Huh? No, Anet never even hinted that it would be in the game by now, or at release or anytime soon. They said they would very much like to do it and it’ll most likely happen down the road – no timetable at all.

Proof otherwise?

It was advertised during the first or second Gamescom.

For Player Housing honestly all they need to is rework the home instance a bit and BOOM there it is. And yes it’d be nice to have Guild Halls.

I would love to see player housing, but not guild housing, to all those saying yes to guild housing i’ve noticed most of you want a “city” for your guild, with trade post, bank, portals ect…. hell to the no! if you want a guild hall (city) stay in LA and just chill with your guild there

unless you all can come up with a good idea for guild housing (not just take everything from the city and put it in your guild leaving cities empty) then i doubt Anet will ever give it to you.

Ah, I remember. Once I created an Asura just because the ‘player house’ was announced to be a personal lab. I’ve got heavily disappointed when I discovered that it inhabitates only some people to which I can’t even speak.

Nothing personal, nothing indidividual. After that disappointing experience, I deleted the Asura.

Seezungenschleuder.8319:

Nothing personal, nothing indidividual.

Sounds like the Personal Story in this game…

Yea the home instances are wasted efforts for now…

I’d settle for a copy of fractal lobby for our house. Just something we can put furniture and trophies, if only for ourselves. I love the idea from a different game of having maniquins that allows you to quick swap armor O.o

I feel that guild halls should be priority over player housing, I don’t mind if they add player housing only if they address the more important things first ie bugs, exploits, ect.

IMO player housing is a waste of resources. I will not say “no, do not put it in” but I will say, if they decide to do it, that is has a really low priority on the list of content and features to be put in the game.

Weebitt.3157:

I would love housing EQ2 style, which Rift housing is based off being they hired Emily Taylor from EQ2 to do Rift. In EQ2 you didn’t have to build your house from scrath, though and I like that.

EQ2 stands as the best player housing system I’ve ever encountered and I love it to death. The only problem with it is that nobody stays in towns and when new players come they’re completely deserted because everyone is hanging out in their house/guild hall.

I’m all for it if they allow us to display trophies. Not so much into the furniture and whatnot. If I want that, I’ll play The Sims.

But, to be honest, I’ll have to say no. Housing tends to kill communities if I recall what happened in DAoC.

It turned entire cities into ghost towns.

I love player housing. As a couple people have mentioned, EQ2 has by far the best player housing of any MMORPG. However, EQ2 launched with their system. In my experience when games simply add player housing later; its kitten gimicky content. The engine most likely does not support a good system for player housing and they wont really allot of time nor money creating it. Because its often kitten it usually turns into a huge dissapointment and a huge waste of effort by the developers because no one likes it.

If GW2 adds player housing later I hope it is very very well done because if its going to be kitten id rather they not add it at all.

I like the idea of having guild castles or something like that. Something big that the guild can call home. I’d prefer that over player housing for individual players but if they decide to have both then that’s cool.

I’d rather see guild halls that can be used by several players instead of housing that will only be used, and seen, by one player.

It would be nice but I not really something that should be a priority.

Halanna.3927:

Jandus.2834:

Huh? No, Anet never even hinted that it would be in the game by now, or at release or anytime soon. They said they would very much like to do it and it’ll most likely happen down the road – no timetable at all.

Proof otherwise?

House System
Most MMORPGs don’t pay attention to players’ houses, but Guild Wars 2 does. All players have a house respectively in their capital after their characters were born and their house is connected with their personal biography. What’s interesting is that characters of different personalities will have distinct houses. Things inside the house are defined by players and character attributes. As long as players play the game all the time, their house will have inside changes constantly. Furthermore, the game offers abundant house ornaments and players can also gain rich booty in the adventurous journey to decorate their house. In a word, players are able to create their unique house by means of item combinations.

Source: http://news.mmosite.com/content/2010-11-12/guild_wars_2_unique_character_selection_and_house_system.kittenml

Ree Soesbee: Your home instance (which consists of an area about the size of a city block, within your character’s racial city, where you have the racial equivalent of a house – a lab, for the asura, for example – several streets, some merchant’s areas, and other city-like things) will reflect your character’s victories, their accomplishments, and the people they meet in the game.

Source: http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/29/guild-wars-2-personal-story-massivelys-interview-with-ree-soes/

We will introduce player housing at some point after launch, and at that time we will also implement guild halls.

Source: http://www.guildwars2guru.com/topic/18447-guild-info-discussion-thread/page__st__180#entry887047

Posted by ArenaNet see post #207

These! Especially the first one was got me so excited for GW2 and like the “Manifesto” it pretty much was ignored and pushed to the side. I remember during BWE when we could grow plants for dyes, and that was taken out, too. The Personal Instance just deterioted. <sad face>

In EQ2 one of the fun parts of having a house, is to show off. I loved visting other people’s homes to see what they did with them. You could tell where in the world these people had been and what quests they’d completed by the items displayed.

Acutally it’s been shown that housing improves retention rather than driving people away.

Guild Halls in EQ2 is what made populations disappear in the towns because guild halls had all the amenities of the town and there was no reason to use the ones in the cities. I would strongly suggest that amenities be limited in guild halls to things like whole party transporters for guild groups. And, yes, I have to agree in DAoC housing did affect towns because housing was not intergrated in the towns and had their own out of the way locations, and if you wanted to purchase from a player, you had to go to their house to buy. Nice for the people selling, not so great for the people buying; and definately caused a population depetion in towns.

A well intergrated housing system that works with cities are the way to go.

Weebitt.3157:

I would love housing EQ2 style, which Rift housing is based off being they hired Emily Taylor from EQ2 to do Rift. In EQ2 you didn’t have to build your house from scrath, though and I like that.

I also adored the housing in EQ2; placing trophies and crafting household items was remarkably fun.

Not likely to happen as it is a pain in the proverbials to implement well, with only a handful of the player population actually feeling strongly (or at all) about it.

Despite cheaper storage and processing have you noticed a decline of housing in MMO’s? There is a reason for that.

Decline in housing? No, more only a few MMOs that had it, and the ones that did not I just considered “lazy”. To give players a world to experience, and have them all homeless is a design flaw as far I’m concerned. NPCs have homes, even animals and other creatures have caves and holes, only players are excluded…..I find that odd and incomplete.

I hope, if nothing else, we get Guild Halls like we had in GW(1). Player housing would be good, too, I guess, but Guild Halls are great.
Most of the cities are deserted, anyway…now….but when (if?) ArenaNet finally releases all the mini-games, I am sure the cities will be populated, with housing or without.

I hope we get player housing before guild housing- honestly individual players need some attention too- if housing/halls get brought out, hidden behind massive unlocks that only mega guilds have access to I will through a hissy fit.

I’d love to have my own house in-game. Give my inner packrat someplace to fill with junk and mementos of my travels.

People keep saying GW2 has nothing to do at end game, I know with EQ2 and UO, housing was a big thing for me to do at end game and a great place to put my money.

So basically please can we get housing!

The fact that you get ‘trophies’ for certain steps in your personal storyline suggests that at one point, they had a lot of plans to make houses feel more like home.

I would love to be able to rent one of those houses in Divinity’s Reach. But it would be a lot of work for a really pointless feature.

I would rather have a major Guild Castle, in which you could have your own personal suite.

Gaslov.9164:

I would love to be able to rent one of those houses in Divinity’s Reach. But it would be a lot of work for a really pointless feature.

The game has quite a few useless features at this point, some which are designed to simply chew up your time and be tolerated. Player housing, however simple, would not be tolerated, it would be appreciated. Really all they need to do is like I mentioned above, to fill out our home instance since that was the idea to begin with anyway, then give us one room in the tavern or room to put those trophies and and gear for different builds in…and a little coffee table to visually sort out all of those different currencies so I can budget for Ascended gear, then I can kick that table over and log off.