House Rally #10 (1/18/14) The Medium House – Life in Norrath’s Suburbs!

Welcome to the Homes and Tomes House Rally #10 – Dedicated to the MEDIUM HOUSE!!!

I’m your host Huell Kuerden, and we’ll be looking at some houses tonight that are comfortably sized! Having a couple of extra rooms really gives you enough space to spread out and express yourself – but not so much that you feel like you’re decorating the Coliseum!

These houses are often overlooked, with people jumping straight from a 2-room to a large house, but offer quite a lot, and enough space to do a typical suburban home, with living room, kitchen, bedroom, and study (etc.).

In addition to the standard in-game 4-room houses, there are some under-used prestige homes that can be used to great effect!
As we take a look at these houses, don’t forget to reward the designers by liking creativity and/or style! Try to wait until everyone zones in to Like a house though – otherwise the house can shift in the list and make it hard to find!

Don’t forget though! It means more people will visit and enjoy someone’s hard work!

For anyone new, we’ll be visiting houses via the Housing & Leaderboards selection of the main EQ2 menu. Sometimes the numbers have shifted a little, just ask if you can’t find it!

THIS WEEK WE’LL BE LOOKING (MOSTLY) AT MEDIUM HOUSES, SO SELECT ‘MEDIUM’ IN THE LEADERBOARDS, AND THEN ‘CREATIVITY’ IN THE ATTRIBUTE AREA. This does change, but I’ll highlight it if it does

And now on to this week of Norrath’s Gold! Our first stop is…

Bathhouse and Day Spa (#1 Medium/Creativity) done using the Tower of Knowledge by Tempting

I was very impressed by the work done here. It’s always nice when you can’t easily tell what house was used, and it took me a second to see the Tower in it. By reskinning the Tower with white marble and using Grotto Columns, Tempting gives a European/Southern mansion look.

As you look around the front room, note there are signs above each door/portal telling what services are available. I also like the Poppy/Green Wisp planters and the way the pool is filled in. The raised fountain works well too. Click on the portals to move to the other levels. We’ll start with Blue.

The Blue Portal takes you to a Steam Bath! Smoking Glacial Braziers are used to give the steam effect, and there is even a small control panel over by the door! The entry area uses a Wispy Vampiric Mirror to add to the steamroom impression from the outside.

The Yellow Portal leads to a massage area. A nice tranquil relaxing area without using a lot of brac-a-brak! Again, a nice use of color in the Rose arrangement.

The Red Portal leads to the bath/showers and is very nicely done with curtains, columns and minimal reskinning. There are actually a lot of small details in the room I really liked! The towels on the table, and Naiad shower fixtures are nice touches

This is one of those houses that makes me think of all the things I could do with it! One other interesting possibility – with 4 teleport portals plus the 3 that come with the house, you could have 7 portals! Lots of possibilities.

Would make a great wizards tower – I remember in a book I read that if you can’t teleport, you don’t belong there… One issue I found though! Don’t fall off the portal platforms – there is a very nice unused room on top of the main room. If you fall there, you’re stuck – there are no exits!

Wander a couple of minutes and then we’ll proceed on…

Out next stop is:

Crystal Reef (#3 Medium/Creativity) done using the Halfpint Vale by Lazaris

I always FORGET this is a MEDIUM house! Seems like it should be a Large, but the Halfling Hole only has two rooms plus the ‘garden’.

As you zone in, just take a look around to get the lay of the land. To your left is a dock, and next to it is a teleport pad! Go to The Treehouse.

Here we have a nice little 3-room house by itself, with nice views of the island. Take a look at the three rooms, and then take the portal to the Water Closet.

This is actually directly under the treehouse! I initially thought the windows were to frosted – but then thought, no – it’s a water closet/bath. Does look keen from other places on the island too.

Walk East and visit the comfortable Halfling Hole. Now just wander around! There is stuff everywhere both on land and in the water. There is a beautifully done reef (the nicest I’ve seen) just off the coast!

We’ll stop a few minutes before we proceed!

We’ll now be looking at a conventional house! Take the Leaderboards to:

Secret Santa Lounge (#7 Medium/Creativity) done using the Halas 3-Room House v1 by Frostiliza

Yes – I know Frostfell is over (thank goodness), but this house had some really cool ideas I had to show! I use the Halas houses A LOT so I know them pretty well, and this has things I’ve never seen before!

First, the main room is very conventional – though the Gnomish clock in the skylight is a nice touch! But look closer! Look at the use of the Nektulos Pine Tree on the stair railing! Neat Idea! I thought they were wreaths!
Combined with the bows and the Vale Candelabra (the candles) it gives a great festive feeling to the place! There is also a custom fireplace in the front to block the window.

Now go left into the side room! Snowglobe-lovers should be in heaven now – what a neat look! And take a look under the stairs – the reversed manikin cloakroom is a neat idea if you have some nice cloaks to display!

Heading upstairs are – MORE SNOWGLOBES in the hallway.

But look at the bedroom. The wall freaked me out!!! What a gorgeous, bright room with floor to ceiling windows leading to a faux veranda outside. Neat use of Cloudy Tiles, and the icicles do a nice job of hiding the seams! You can go through the windows to see them more closely!

Wander, and we’ll move on in a few minutes!

Now, go to:

Underfoot Manor (#8 Medium/Creativity) done using the Freeport 4-Room House v1 by Thullen

Here is a complex little house with a subterranean theme – something that is missing from the housing in the game! I was surprised at just how well this worked, as Freeport houses can be challenging to skin!

As you zone, look straight ahead at the little pool and waterfall! Lots of crystals and mushrooms to make the underground Impression work.
Note the rock walls are done with Crafted Altars of the Tribunal, which give a different look from the usual rough stone blocks or tables!

Go left and head down the hall. To the left is a bedroom, again with a nice pool and waterfall! To the left is a sitting room. Check out some of the items – many you just don’t see much!

Now, go up the stairs and take a look at the Toxxulian Guardian – drinking from the stump! What a cool idea! I laughed 5 minutes when I saw it! Just shows you there are some amazing imaginations out there!

Wander around a bit! There is a lot to see! We’ll move on in a few minutes!

Next, head for:

Stadium of the Norrathian Hockey League (#15 Medium/Creativity) done using Personal Planetarium by Mrrshaw

OK – this is a quickie for all you sports fans – but I found a couple of things to note…

First – yes, this IS a MEDIUM house if you can believe it!

Second – It’s a great idea! I loved the skeletal Frogloks as hockey players!
And finally let’s head to:

Gnomeo and Julietta (#16 Medium/Creativity) done using Opera House by Flamesong

Here is ANOTHER grossly underused house! I really like the Neriak look, and it’s a shame more Troub-types don’t make them up a homes. Lots of vertical space for subdivision, and the rooms themselves offer many options! Take a look for a few minutes!

Feel free to ask any decorating questions you may have. We have lots of experienced decorators on the tour, and some will even give you a correct answer if you give them a doughnut! So ask away!

That’s it for tonight folks! Have a great weekend and keep working on those houses! We’ll see you in two weeks on SUNDAY at the next Rally, where we’ll examine LARGE HOUSES!

Thanks for coming along for the ride on Norrath’s Gold!

House Rally #9 (1/4/14) The Small House – You can fit 50 Ogres Inside!

Welcome to the Homes and Tomes House Rally #9 – Dedicated to the SMALL HOUSE!!!

I’m your host Huell Kuerden, and we’ll be looking at some houses tonight that you started the game in!
Remember your very first house? It was likely one like we are showing tonight! These homes are very flexible, and are often overlooked for more statuesque residences.
In addition to the standard in-game 2-bedroom houses, the
Comparing them to my first real apartment, they are larger, better lit, and lack the uninvited vermin of my first abode!!!
As we take a look at these houses, don’t forget to reward the designers by liking creativity and/or style! Try to wait though until everyone zones in to Like a house – otherwise the house can shift in the list and make it hard to find!
Don’t forget though! It means more people will visit and enjoy someone’s hard work!
For anyone new, we’ll be visiting houses via the Housing & Leaderboards selection of the main EQ2 menu. Sometimes the numbers have shifted a little, just ask if you can’t find it!
And now on to this week of Norrath’s Gold! Our first stop is…

A Basement Apothecary: Small Homes #4 (Creativity) done using the Personal Dojo by Rayvenna

This little place works really well! You zone into a small basement room full of stores. By reskinning the Dojo with Finished Stone dividers, Rayvenna achieves a nice basement look.

Also note the ‘beams’ – Narrow Dividers of Banded Sandalwood – which further add to the basement impression!

There are many little details that show a lot of thought into the room, from the clipboard to the Tradeskill Apprentice. The maps and widely assorted barrels and crates complete the room.

To the right is a small greenhouse featuring interesting mushrooms! I thought the use of the Dual Charge Station for artificial greenhouse lighting was neat!
Straight ahead is the apothecary’s office and workroom. The careful decoration of the cabinets adds a lot of visual interest. Note the pattern in the floor!
Next we have a small, twisted Frostfell-based take on Hansel & Gretel… Go to:

Gingerbread Witches Abode (Creativity) done using Personal Dojo by Orpiment

Here is another use of the Dojo, reskinned entirely using Gingerbread! The main room is a simple sitting room with Kobold, which adds a nice growling sound-effect.
Turn around and look at how tiles are embedded in the exit door – you can often get unique effects this way and still have a working portal.
Looking to your left on zone-in is a small bedroom. Look at the construction of the commode – very nicely done even though the candy seat IS a bit creepy!
Going forward, you enter a small kitchen. The cages for dinner guests include Qho as well as others. Tough luck – probably was here harvesting candy apples!
Look at the work on the cabinetry, giving a rustic look using items all characters can make! I liked this since it shows even a down-at-the-heels adventurer just starting out could decorate something nice.
Our next place is one of the offices from the guild hall – again making use of the endlessly flexible Dojo. Note this is a Hall of Fame, not a Small House in the Leaderboards. Go to:

Men’s Room & Apocalypse Shelter: Hall of Fame #103 (Creativity) done using the Dojo by Kehhi

Here we have an attempt at a modern Men’s Room combined with a Guild Office. DISCLAIMER – this is one of mine! If you have sound on the whole place is quite gurgly!

Here the Dojo is reskinned in white tile, with white light provided by Icy Pedestal Tables from Frostfell. These cool little items give off a white, unwavering light that fakes fluorescents quite well. They are covered by blocks of ice to conceal them.

The fixtures are based on Titanium Pitchers, which have the benefit of having a water-effect in them. By the way, you can see in the ceiling a little error I made without noticing – the beams from the Shelter stick through – and I didn’t notice until now!

The large red button is on a sign that provides instruction. I’m not sure if the effect only catches the presser or if it is area effect! Volunteers?

Opening the cleaning closet door, you’ll see a second door. Open it as well. Go into the Shelter and check it out. There is an instruction manual on the control station.

Look left down the room and you’ll see a wall ventilator made with a gear and a rotated fan and round black tile.

Yes – this is where Kehhi thinks up his demented schemes. Here behind the washroom!

And next, we travel to… Another Dojo! And it’s one where for once it’s actually used as a dojo!!! Go to:

Bruisers Dojo: Small Homes #17 (Creativity) done using the Personal Dojo by Xaela

I was so surprised to see a dojo as a dojo I had to include it! Here we have a traditional room without any reskinning.

Lots of tasteful weapons displays make the room interesting – and no, I’m not sure about the fish… I guess if you teach Crane style a fish makes sense! Snatch the Salmon from my hand, Grasshopper?

Some interesting items are used as martial arts gear, take a look! I particularly liked the hanging punching bag using a Chandelier of the Ascent for a Chain!

In the next room is a bedroom, rock garden, and small indoor garden.

As you can see, the original dojo is quite attractive, and offers some nice options for people who want to decorate without going whole-hog and reskinning the place.

It is also one of the most geometrical houses, with everything mostly at right angles (the center panels are slightly off true).

Finally, we have a non-dojo to look at! Go to:

Another Stupid Acorn: Small Homes #3 (Creativity) done using the 2-room Acorn by Kamad

Here we have a standard two-room acorn, which I have to say is one of the hardest structures to work with. DISCLAIMER – One of mine again!

The leaf ramp at the entrance, and the (horrible) ramp to the second story are the main changes to the lower floor. The ramp (actually supposed to be made of rope and wood) is semi-circular and twisted along its length.

This makes putting in stairs very difficult, and here the effort was only partially successful! Around the perimeter are stained glass ovals, which brings up another point.

The acorns are actually multi-sided (more than a dozen). This means flat objects paced on the walls are occluded by the next wall section, making placement a problem. The walls are also not all the same size.

Going upstairs, many of the same problems occur. The round carpet penetrates the wall, and is visible outside through the window. Might be interesting to put a balcony outside.

All in all, Acorns are horrible to work with – but can give pleasing results! Just expect a wee bit more work to get them right!

Savina’s Freeport Apartment: Small Homes #27 (Creativity) done using the 2-room Freeport by Savina

Here is a straight-forward unskinned residence which features on of the great advantages of Qeynos and Freeport housing – the ability to ‘wall-paper’ the walls, ceiling and floor.

In this case, the walls have been redone using the fitted stone block appearance, which I find quite handsome.
By the way, the appearances are different between the two cities. I was disappointed when I noticed you couldn’t get the same block appearance in Qeynos.

The beaming of Freeport apartments offer interesting lost possibilities as well.

Now we move to the OTHER side. Go to:

A Monk’s Sushi Bar and Home: Small Homes #25 (Creativity) done using the 2-room Qeynos by Aileas

Can you believe this house has been up for nearly a year and only had one Like! The décor works really well, and again the walls, floor and ceiling have been papered using one of several wood appearances!

The back room is less ornate, and has been kept very minimalist.

And now on to yet another 2-room, this one in Gorowyn! Goto:

Wiol Ono: Small Homes #26 (Creativity) done using the 2-room Gorowyn by Altareth

This house is limited, but does give a nice clean, very minimalistic Gorowyn room which is clearly intended as simply a portal room. It provides all the basic necessities to make the game easier, and nothing more!

Having said that – I liked the simplicity! Anyone coming in can easily find the broker displays, as well as a guild door.

Whle this is small, the Gorowyn 2-room is very Large to work with, and offers lots of opportunities for multi-stories, lofts, etc. and while multi-sided remains easily skinnable. Maybe the best of the 2-rooms!

Avafia’s Galaxia Laboratorium: Hall of Fame #17 (Newly Published) by Avafia

Added and done ad-hoc! Highly recommended!