New house appreciation thread: Willowpond & Sword Singer

MotherOfMoss · March 11

I'm sure this has been done over on the PTS forums already, but I don't have PTS so I've missed out.

I have, however, just been to preview the two new houses... and while they are tragically big and thus will cost a fortune and be less than satisfying to furnish, they're still very nice, and that warrants saying!

What's particularly nice about them for me is that both make excellent use of their surroundings and frame a proper view of the world outside (particularly the Willowpond house in Blackwood – once I had entered I didn't want to leave. The Vunalk ruins in the distance on the other side of a lake were incredible.). This is something I have been hoping to see more of, since basegame homes in particular more often than not just block out what could be a lovely scenery outside. That's felt like such a missed opportunity, so it's nice these houses seize it.

What's more, the entrances of both houses also lead straight into a spacious exterior. Always appreciated. I also like the verticality that both have, particularly Sword Singer. (I often build altitude differences in those houses that have none – here's hoping the "ceiling" of the open space won't hang too low in these so we can still build upwards. Can't really test that in preview.)

Willowpond also seems to introduce not only those long-coveted flowering water lilies but also new big trees, which is always nice. Special extra points for the frogs, they made my day

LunaFlora · March 12

yea i love Willowpond Haven too!
im so happy it has the banking building from Leyawiin.
and the water lillies are amazing.

and Swordsinger's Redoubt has a lovely cave.

MickeyBN · March 12

Are these houses actually available yet? Thought I read somewhere they were being released sometime after U41 patch

MotherOfMoss · March 12

They're not available to buy yet (so we also can't see the price yet), but if you walk up to them in the world map, you can enter and preview them already.

Directions, if you wish:

Sword Singer Redoubt is on the (east?) edge of Satakalaam in Alik'r. The entrance is a big facade overlooking the town.
Willowpond Haven is accessed by a boat which you can find north of the Vunalk wayshrine in Blackwood.

ghastley · March 12

Any word on the usability of the two towers inside Sword Singer? I took a quick look on PTS and they appeared to be dead space.

Ugrak · March 12

The only thing I dislike about willowpond is that the waterfalls are really loud. Same issue in most homes with waterfalls really. They look nice though, but I'd prefer if they were pushed back somehow so the sound doesn't become so dominating.

MotherOfMoss · March 13

ghastley wrote: »

Any word on the usability of the two towers inside Sword Singer? I took a quick look on PTS and they appeared to be dead space.

I think they're inaccessible yes

didn't look at them very closely though but I don't recall seeing any doors leading to the top.

SeaGtGruff · April 6

I saw a streamer checking out Willowpond Haven the other night, just before it became available, and thought it looked lovely. I bought it tonight and was checking it out myself afterward. I love that it has two houses, as well as a cave! It would make a beautiful guildhall.

Ruj · April 7

I love WillowPond Haven.

But the building's layout isn't for me. I'd love to build my own place from scratch... without having to spend precious item limit on covering up the buildings already there.

This happens in a lot of homes.

We have Moon Sugar Meadow, but no other blank slot homes that have greenery around them :c

Katheriah · April 7

I love the new houses, but let's be honest... The prices are just too much, even with crown discount.

Wildberryjack · April 7

I really like them both and planned to get at least one of them but I may end up not doing so. The reason is two-fold. First off these huge notables are just so expensive, being crowns only. The other reason is because these huge ones can be a nightmare to properly furnish with the furnishing limitations.

It sure would be nice if they started making Classics and small houses again that we could buy with game gold. Also, I'd love to see a new class of house, Tiny. It can be the size and limitation of an Inn room but set out in the wilds in small caves off waterfalls, small islands in the middle of rivers, places like that.

BlueRaven · April 7

I like the Sai Sahan statue but I wish the special effects on the base was not there.

While I would also like to see other “companion” statues, I guess I would be a bit disappointed there is no “good guy” representative statue for the AD faction.

Edit: Sorry, ignore the above post. “Sword singer” the house, not Sword Singer Sai Sahan. Completely fumbled that.

freespirit · April 7

Both nice BUT as per usual too big, too expensive! 😕

@ruj maybe take a look at Hunter's Glade next time it's available, when cleared, it makes a nice building plot, the entrance can be disguised fairly easily to hide the room and tower without sacrificing too many spaces,

My only moan is that the light there is a bit odd.

SilverBride · April 8

I've only seen Willowpond and probably won't get it because it's just too big. I do love the cave but the waterfall is so loud I don't think I could stand being next to it for very long.

Ruj · April 8

freespirit wrote: »

@ruj maybe take a look at Hunter's Glade next time it's available, when cleared, it makes a nice building plot, the entrance can be disguised fairly easily to hide the room and tower without sacrificing too many spaces,

My only moan is that the light there is a bit odd.

Unfortunately, I really hate the lighting in Hunter's Glade.

I've looked at the house so many times thinking the same thing, but there is no way to get the aesthetic I want with that sky/lighting :c

I keep thinking about the Forgemaster house without any buildings. Plopping down a little wooden cabin in that area would feel so serene and remote.

I love the docks, but I would remove all the other buildings.

cyberjanet · April 26

Wildberryjack wrote: »

It sure would be nice if they started making Classics and small houses again that we could buy with game gold. Also, I'd love to see a new class of house, Tiny. It can be the size and limitation of an Inn room but set out in the wilds in small caves off waterfalls, small islands in the middle of rivers, places like that.

You have my vote. I'm terrible at housing and the notable homes are just out of my league. I've already bought all the staple homes, and some of the classics, I would love more staple homes and I like the idea of the tiny cave.