Saturday, October 26, 2013

House Rally (10/26/13): Creepy and Horrible Houses

Welcome to the Homes and Tomes House Rally #3 – Creepy and Horrible Houses (All homes are in the Hall of Fame)


I’m your host Huell Kuerden, and we’ll be looking at some pretty horrible stuff tonight! Housing doesn’t have to be all clean and beautiful to be fascinating! As we take a look at these these houses, don’t forget to reward the designers by liking creativity and/or style! It means more people will visit and enjoy their work! And now on to this week of Norrath’s Gold!

Chapel of Anashti Sul (by Jazabelle)

Lavastorm Winter Retreat

• In the entrance, notice the motif that is set. Look at how the square painting frames work with the black tile. The same effect was used to give additional beaming at the top.
• Interesting use of multicolored glass tile! Where have I seen that before…
• Note the use of rotated draconic vases as door handles.
• Enter the main chapel by way of the buried teleport pad.
• I particularly liked the inverted double eerie green candelabras. They look great.
• The use of a slanted raised ceiling gives much more interest.
• Strategically placed magic-mouths add atmosphere, as do the plushies.
• Take the door to the outside and wander the graveyards…
• Look in each of the scratch-built crypts. Two lead to portals to other themed house, and one to a sitting room.
• Lastly – note the use of fog generators for that graveyard feel!

Now on to:

Zombie Island (by Latiz)

Tenebrous Island Refuge

• We’ll stop here for a moment, as I thought this was quite creative! The extensive use of pets made this really creepy!
• Note the embedded magic mouths throughout the area to add spice.
• This is a really very simple but effective approach, wander a couple of minutes and explore!
• I never cease to be amazed at what people think up!

Next we’ll visit what I think is a classic Vampire Estate…

Vampire Estate (by Nazthul)

Freeblood Lair

• This is a very nice example of conventional decorating! No massive re-skinning, just piping up a standard Freeblood Lair!
• Note the use of lighting to give that Disneyland Haunted Corridor look! It works well!
• In an example of out-of-the-box work, you can take the teleport portal directly ahead on the balcony, and port out of the house down to the moors by the sea. Nice!
• I liked the extensive use of statuary and carefully placed portraits to give more of a crypt feel. The use of eerie red candelabra and red hangings really adds effect!
• Downstairs is the crypt with coffins, and to the right a small creepy shrine!
• Wander a bit to get the feel of this place!

Finally, we’ll look at a place that I thought had a great feel!

Dark Spirits (by Tharskus)

Uncanny Estate

• Look up at the blue misty tiles – a wonderful creepy effect.
• Check out the cold room via the portal – it has one of the best dioramas I’ve seen!
• Wander and check out the various elements here.

Extra: Gdoinye's Crypt of Vampiric Comfort

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