Suggestion for Future ESO Houses: Biome Sandboxes

MidnightDuel · February 16

In ESO, players have a wide variety of houses with which to express themselves. Player properties can inspire a range of builds and styles.Conversely, the house can restrict player creativity and originality. For example, nearly all ESO house have interior spaces and/or built-in structures. Currently, players will spend time and precious furnishing slots covering over existing buildings in order to terraform or otherwise transform an existing house into something completely different.

Of the nearly 120 houses, only four (4) have minimal structures (Coldharbour Surreal Estate, Moon-Sugar Meadow, Doomchar Plateau, and Stillwaters Retreat). These four houses offer landscapes where individual player-creativity can be expressed with the fewest limitations. Imagine what players could create if they had more such free-form properties in which to build!

Natural-looking biome environments turned into sandbox houses would give players a head start with their own creative builds. With so many beautiful and fantastic biomes in Tamriel, introducing a series of exterior-only homes, with no pre-built structures whatsoever, would foster a revolution in ESO housing.

The following is a list of suggested sandbox biomes for future player properties:

Barren Sand Dunes landscape, patterned after the deep deserts of Alik'r
Remote Ice and Snow landscape, reminiscent of Skyrim or Wrothgar
Extraterrestrial Space filled with stars, similar to where players meet Khunzar-ri in the beyond
Dense Jungle or deep Swamps of Black Marsh

Players love the freedom that ESO offers to create unique and personal homes. As new properties are added to the game, Biome Sandboxes would be a welcome alternative to inspire and promote the next decade of ESO housing.

What ESO biome would you like to see turned into a sandbox player property?

MoonPile · February 16

Yes I absolutely would love ALL of those!

Barren Sand Dunes landscape, patterned after the deep deserts of Alik'r

Haha, this is one I happened to mention independently somewhere, just recently!
Definitely want, and even better if it has a bit of ocean like Alik'r too.

For empty ice and snow, there is Stillwaters...
But I dislike that you have to go through a huge hallway to get there. Portals would be so helpful.

And more jungle would be awesome – whether Murkmire, Dawnwood, or Elsweyr's Tenmar Jungle.

Environments with empty water and skybox are most helpful:
We don't have any way to create large, natural, swimmable watery landscapes (not even with the Nereid pack), but we can make almost any kind of landscape or structures around existing water in a plot.
(Currently I'm having a lot of fun building something new in Grand Topal Hideaway, but yeah I did have to spend quite a few slots to cover the base house and create a new jungle, essentially.)

Magical skyboxes are another thing we can't really create. (I tried at Blackfeather Court, but of course it doesn't even come close to the real Evergloam.)

I understood from the Devs that they are trying to serve both types of housers: from-scratch builders & decorators, by making more houses that can be suited to both. (It's also clear in the way newer houses are being designed.) I guess some decorators have expressed hesitance or feeling overwhelmed by the blank canvas of those empty plots. So of course it makes sense for them to expend limited resources to do more of what serves a broader audience.

To that end, all of the huge new plants and rocks that have come out recently are really helpful for those of us who do cover-up + from-scratch! My next purchase would be Fogbreak, especially now with those new Tamanu Clusters and Sandstone boulders – I can more easily cover the house and just use the beach and water.

All of that said... I really hope we'll get more empty plots. SO many players around the community have at least one Moon-Sugar Meadow!

LunaFlora · February 16

i do want more Houses with big open space.

but where would they be

Nord_Raseri · February 17

MidnightDuel wrote: »

What ESO biome would you like to see turned into a sandbox player property?

Remote ice and snow, but seaside.The Orc blacksmith house without any of the buildings and add snow and that is my ideal plot of land.

MidnightDuel · February 17

MoonPile wrote: »

For empty ice and snow, there is Stillwaters...
But I dislike that you have to go through a huge hallway to get there.

Stillwaters is good example of a free-form house, but the Markarth Dwarven entrance limits how it can be used. There are also visible structures in the ice and around the sides of the frozen lake. We have so few "winter" homes and none without structures of any kind. Would really love to see more natural snow, a more direct entrance, and nothing to be covered up.

MoonPile wrote: »

I understood from the Devs that they are trying to serve both types of housers: from-scratch builders & decorators, by making more houses that can be suited to both. (It's also clear in the way newer houses are being designed.) I guess some decorators have expressed hesitance or feeling overwhelmed by the blank canvas of those empty plots. So of course it makes sense for them to expend limited resources to do more of what serves a broader audience.

Sorry to say, I've not been inspired by any of the recent Crown-only houses. It feels like they're trying to do too much, when less would be more. While I've bought all the new Crown houses, it's been mostly for storage and easy ports to the outside of the house.

Sadly, I'm less impressed with the new houses coming so far this year. Buccaneer's Bay is derivative at best, and the Night Den is hideous, with no exterior space at all. If the Night Den weren't free, it would be an immediate "pass." I also don't plan to unlock any of the extra rooms for a host of other reasons.

I cannot stress enough that pre-built houses far outnumber the handful of "blank canvas" homes in ESO. Moreover, with so many structural furnishings available in the game now, it seems a shame not to make spaces where players can build instead of endlessly covering up the stuff that no one wants to see.

Ruj · February 17

I'd buy the existing green biomes (Antiquarian, Forgemaster's Falls, Willowpond Haven) without the buildings in them. No structures. Let us build everything from scratch.

With all of the pieces used to build Castle Skingrad. Players should be able to easily and modularly build a castle.

Towers that have open spaces inside so we can have a bedroom in the tower or spiral staircases, etc.

Large transparent-glass gothic arched windows. Or giant gothic arched wooden windows that open/close. The point is to have massive views of the outside from within the castle.

Castle roof pieces (no spikes please)

MoonPile · February 17

MidnightDuel wrote: »

the Markarth Dwarven entrance limits how it can be used. There are also visible structures in the ice and around the sides of the frozen lake. We have so few "winter" homes and none without structures of any kind. Would really love to see more natural snow, a more direct entrance, and nothing to be covered up.
...
I've not been inspired by any of the recent Crown-only houses. It feels like they're trying to do too much,
...
If the Night Den weren't free, it would be an immediate "pass." I also don't plan to unlock any of the extra rooms for a host of other reasons.

I cannot stress enough that pre-built houses far outnumber the handful of "blank canvas" homes in ESO. Moreover, with so many structural furnishings available in the game now, it seems a shame not to make spaces where players can build instead of endlessly covering up the stuff...

I agree with these parts.

The Druidspring Conservatory is a nice blank space, but the round glasshouse furnishing is the most exciting part about it for me. Sad that we can't access the beautiful waterfalls and stream just outside. Also weird that it's 8000 Crowns, more than MSM which has so much more space and water features (albeit brown water) at 6400.

I LOVE Bismuth Steam Baths, love that it's gold-buyable and getting 700 slots in U49. But there are so many good areas to choose from, we end up having to do some railroading and cover-up to fill out our choice area. Too bad the beautiful steam baths are all the way in the back. Likewise the free Wildgrown Chapel is awesome, but will need some railroading and cover-up. And (I) can't complain about Night's Den as free 700-slot storage! xD

So yeah, I was just giving some context I knew of (the Devs seemed to imply more empty plots were not coming soon) but I certainly know nothing of future plans! I really agree with you and wish for more empty plots.

16BitForestCat · February 17

I'm another one who's all in on wanting Evergloam. The Shadow Cleft is my favorite zone in the game because it's both beautiful with that colorful sky, shooting stars, and ancient foliage, and also has the proper spooky vibe for those of us who want our Halloween year-round. I even love the ruined stone towers and rotting cottage in it; they give off that "nature taking back its rightful space from those who would tame it" vibe. Would give anything to make my own spooky scarecrow field and haunted house there. So I was very disappointed that when we finally got an Evergloam residence, it had spirits and the colorful sky, but it's also crammed full of all those Alinor structures and house taking up most of the space that don't even really fit the "sinister wilderness" vibe that makes me think of Evergloam.

MidnightDuel · February 17

MoonPile wrote: »

The Druidspring Conservatory is a nice blank space, but the round glasshouse furnishing is the most exciting part about it for me. Sad that we can't access the beautiful waterfalls and stream just outside.

The removable "Druidspring Gazebo, Round" is far and away the most desirable part of the newest Crown house. That the Gazebo can be moved to another house is its best feature. However, the seasonal zones beg to be turned off and covered over in my opinion.

MoonPile wrote: »

Also weird that it's 8000 Crowns, more than MSM which has so much more space and water features (albeit brown water) at 6400.

The pricing rationale of Crown houses in ESO is as mysterious as the disappearance of the Dwarven race and likewise something players may never truly know. I have my own theories (linking limited-time-only house prices to how close their "for sale" period is to the three Crown sales each year), but value is subjective and something each player assesses upon purchase.

MoonPile wrote: »

I LOVE Bismuth Steam Baths, love that it's gold-buyable and getting 700 slots in U49. But there are so many good areas to choose from, we end up having to do some railroading and cover-up to fill out our choice area. Too bad the beautiful steam baths are all the way in the back.

The Bismuth Steam Baths is one of the best player houses to be added in several years. Not only can it be purchased for in-game gold, but it's more pristine than other houses in that style. Compared to Seabloom Villa, which I found to be a great value as a direct purchase, players don't need to "fix" broken floor tiles or "cover-up" crumbling railing decorations. Bismuth has a good balance of interior and exterior space as well. It's a great home for decorating, though less ideal for doing something "from scratch."

MoonPile wrote: »

So yeah, I was just giving some context I knew of (the Devs seemed to imply more empty plots were not coming soon) but I certainly know nothing of future plans! I really agree with you and wish for more empty plots.

It's impossible to make every player happy. The developers have to balance player satisfaction with production costs and shareholder expectations too. Nonetheless, housing players need to speak up about what they want to see in the game or make do with whatever comes along. That or go play another game.

I for one want to continue to play ESO for years to come. For ESO housing to remain relevant and fun, however, future houses, furnishings, and features will need to give players more creative flexibility. Sandbox-style homes in various biomes afford players the freedom to build and express their personal style using the wonderful housing system found in ESO.

MidnightDuel · February 17

Nord_Raseri wrote: »

MidnightDuel wrote: »

What ESO biome would you like to see turned into a sandbox player property?

Remote ice and snow, but seaside.The Orc blacksmith house without any of the buildings and add snow and that is my ideal plot of land.

Wrothgar is one of my all-time favorite zones, and the world-building was superb! It's really a shame only two houses are located there. There's not even an Orsinium inn room, which I hope will be remedied at some point. While I'd prefer a snowy glade sandbox biome, I'd settle for an Orc-style town house with a rooftop garden in downtown New Orsinium.

16BitForestCat wrote: »

I'm another one who's all in on wanting Evergloam. The Shadow Cleft is my favorite zone in the game because it's both beautiful with that colorful sky, shooting stars, and ancient foliage, and also has the proper spooky vibe for those of us who want our Halloween year-round.

Yes, please! We need more homes in these amazing Daedric realms!

Supreme_Atromancer · February 18

16BitForestCat wrote: »

I'm another one who's all in on wanting Evergloam. The Shadow Cleft is my favorite zone in the game because it's both beautiful with that colorful sky, shooting stars, and ancient foliage, and also has the proper spooky vibe for those of us who want our Halloween year-round. I even love the ruined stone towers and rotting cottage in it; they give off that "nature taking back its rightful space from those who would tame it" vibe. Would give anything to make my own spooky scarecrow field and haunted house there. So I was very disappointed that when we finally got an Evergloam residence, it had spirits and the colorful sky, but it's also crammed full of all those Alinor structures and house taking up most of the space that don't even really fit the "sinister wilderness" vibe that makes me think of Evergloam.

I love the Shadow Cleft Evergloam so much!

My dream home in Tamriel is a Sorcerer's Tower on the border of nothern Bangkorai and The Reach. There's lots of crow themes there, so I always thought that some sort of Evergloam space- via a portal (ala Hunting Glade player home), or "plane-bleed" themes would fit particularly well there.

Sorry if that's too off topic- I saw Evergloam and couldn't resist.

MoonPile · February 19

16BitForestCat wrote: »

I'm another one who's all in on wanting Evergloam. The Shadow Cleft...

This is also slightly off-topic but I hadn't been there in a while, had to look it up and... I forgot about the crow statues! 😍 Oooh I'd love these for housing!

(Also Crow ragpicker assistant pleeeeeaaaasse)

MidnightDuel · February 19

MoonPile wrote: »

(Also Crow ragpicker assistant pleeeeeaaaasse)

A crow deconstruction assistant would complete the collection nicely! I support more Evergloam in ESO, especially in housing!

Another realm I'd like to see made into a house is Mephala's. We have a furnishing pack with the statue and crystals but no home for it yet. The glimpses we see of Mephala's realm are too few and far between.