Forsaken Stronghold Improvments
Kallipsoe
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As I toured the notable homes I realized that some homes "Hunding's Palatial Hall" out shined many of the other homes. With the view, two story house, barn, stable, tower, large open space, pool and balconies the Hunding's Palatial Hall is one of the best "if not the best" house for the money.
But as I toured the house I will buy once it goes live "Forsaken Stronghold", I feel like it needs a lot of work if it will go as the same price as Hunding's Palatial Hall.
First. The area to the east of the Stronghold is sunken down and the view to the east that looks like a river is hidden from view. The whole area feels a little claustrophobic. I feel like it would be hard to do anything with this area because it will be away from view from the stronghold. I would like to suggest that you remove the rocks or trim them down a little and give us a view of the river and waterfalls to the east from the ground. With a view I feel like we will be able to do more with this space, as it currently stands It is nothing more than a hole in the ground and will be nothing more than a waist of space.
Second. The tower, should be accessible like many of the other towers so we can view the area to the west. This will also help in reducing the claustrophobic feel of the stronghold.
Third. This staircase is off centered and leads to a awkward little hallway to nothing. I know you can't change this without changing the structural integrity of the stronghold and that probably could not be accomplished before homestead goes live. Another suggestion would be to add a trap door in the back area that leads into a small dungeon "What is an Orc Stronghold without a dungeon"? This will give this area a purpose and overall would make the stronghold more appealing so that it can compete with Hunding's Palatial Hall.
Edited by Kallipsoe on January 23, 2017 6:20PM
But as I toured the house I will buy once it goes live "Forsaken Stronghold", I feel like it needs a lot of work if it will go as the same price as Hunding's Palatial Hall.
First. The area to the east of the Stronghold is sunken down and the view to the east that looks like a river is hidden from view. The whole area feels a little claustrophobic. I feel like it would be hard to do anything with this area because it will be away from view from the stronghold. I would like to suggest that you remove the rocks or trim them down a little and give us a view of the river and waterfalls to the east from the ground. With a view I feel like we will be able to do more with this space, as it currently stands It is nothing more than a hole in the ground and will be nothing more than a waist of space.
Second. The tower, should be accessible like many of the other towers so we can view the area to the west. This will also help in reducing the claustrophobic feel of the stronghold.
Third. This staircase is off centered and leads to a awkward little hallway to nothing. I know you can't change this without changing the structural integrity of the stronghold and that probably could not be accomplished before homestead goes live. Another suggestion would be to add a trap door in the back area that leads into a small dungeon "What is an Orc Stronghold without a dungeon"? This will give this area a purpose and overall would make the stronghold more appealing so that it can compete with Hunding's Palatial Hall.
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david19979✭✭✭I agree with everything above, and it's true, there should be some kind of dungeon level or cellar under the stronghold. Some kind of hatch into the tower would be great too, instead of climbing all the way around the building. Also, there is a floating box in the first big room which cannot be removed.Edited by david19979 on January 23, 2017 6:26PM1 -
Yolokin_Swagonborn✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭@Kallipsoe
So you can't get to the tower? Are there invisible walls? If so could you take a screen shot and add it to my Invisible Walls Thread?
I am trying to get all of the intrusive invisible walls that aren't necessary edited so that we have more creativity with our houses.0 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »@Kallipsoe
So you can't get to the tower? Are there invisible walls? If so could you take a screen shot and add it to my Invisible Walls Thread?
I am trying to get all of the intrusive invisible walls that aren't necessary edited so that we have more creativity with our houses.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn
I should have been more specific in my post about the tower I was referring to. There are no invisible walls I have found in the stronghold as of yet.
The tower I was referring to is the one by the front gate "picture attached". The tower by the gate is not accessible, it has no doors or hatch that allows you to get to the top. The other tower "beside the stronghold" allows you to get to the top with a rickety board bridging the gap from the stronghold to the tower. I was requesting a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the gate. It would also be nice to have a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the stronghold instead of running through the stronghold to get to the top also.0 -
Yolokin_Swagonborn✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »@Kallipsoe
So you can't get to the tower? Are there invisible walls? If so could you take a screen shot and add it to my Invisible Walls Thread?
I am trying to get all of the intrusive invisible walls that aren't necessary edited so that we have more creativity with our houses.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn
I should have been more specific in my post about the tower I was referring to. There are no invisible walls I have found in the stronghold as of yet.
The tower I was referring to is the one by the front gate "picture attached". The tower by the gate is not accessible, it has no doors or hatch that allows you to get to the top. The other tower "beside the stronghold" allows you to get to the top with a rickety board bridging the gap from the stronghold to the tower. I was requesting a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the gate. It would also be nice to have a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the stronghold instead of running through the stronghold to get to the top also.
But you can currently build a staircase up to it right?
I agree it would be better if there was an access hatch build in but at least you can build to it.1 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »@Kallipsoe
So you can't get to the tower? Are there invisible walls? If so could you take a screen shot and add it to my Invisible Walls Thread?
I am trying to get all of the intrusive invisible walls that aren't necessary edited so that we have more creativity with our houses.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn
I should have been more specific in my post about the tower I was referring to. There are no invisible walls I have found in the stronghold as of yet.
The tower I was referring to is the one by the front gate "picture attached". The tower by the gate is not accessible, it has no doors or hatch that allows you to get to the top. The other tower "beside the stronghold" allows you to get to the top with a rickety board bridging the gap from the stronghold to the tower. I was requesting a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the gate. It would also be nice to have a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the stronghold instead of running through the stronghold to get to the top also.
But you can currently build a staircase up to it right?
I agree it would be better if there was an access hatch build in but at least you can build to it.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn let me go try that and Ill be back if there is an invisible wall preventing us from getting in the tower.0 -
Yolokin_Swagonborn✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »@Kallipsoe
So you can't get to the tower? Are there invisible walls? If so could you take a screen shot and add it to my Invisible Walls Thread?
I am trying to get all of the intrusive invisible walls that aren't necessary edited so that we have more creativity with our houses.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn
I should have been more specific in my post about the tower I was referring to. There are no invisible walls I have found in the stronghold as of yet.
The tower I was referring to is the one by the front gate "picture attached". The tower by the gate is not accessible, it has no doors or hatch that allows you to get to the top. The other tower "beside the stronghold" allows you to get to the top with a rickety board bridging the gap from the stronghold to the tower. I was requesting a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the gate. It would also be nice to have a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the stronghold instead of running through the stronghold to get to the top also.
But you can currently build a staircase up to it right?
I agree it would be better if there was an access hatch build in but at least you can build to it.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn let me go try that and Ill be back if there is an invisible wall preventing us from getting in the tower.
If there is, please post a screen shot. I am going full stop on these invisible walls that are really going to kill creativity when this goes live.
Having a fun idea get crushed by the existence of an unnecessary invisible wall is going to be really spirit sinking come launch.2 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »@Kallipsoe
So you can't get to the tower? Are there invisible walls? If so could you take a screen shot and add it to my Invisible Walls Thread?
I am trying to get all of the intrusive invisible walls that aren't necessary edited so that we have more creativity with our houses.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn
I should have been more specific in my post about the tower I was referring to. There are no invisible walls I have found in the stronghold as of yet.
The tower I was referring to is the one by the front gate "picture attached". The tower by the gate is not accessible, it has no doors or hatch that allows you to get to the top. The other tower "beside the stronghold" allows you to get to the top with a rickety board bridging the gap from the stronghold to the tower. I was requesting a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the gate. It would also be nice to have a door that would allow you to go to the top of the tower by the stronghold instead of running through the stronghold to get to the top also.
But you can currently build a staircase up to it right?
I agree it would be better if there was an access hatch build in but at least you can build to it.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn let me go try that and Ill be back if there is an invisible wall preventing us from getting in the tower.
If there is, please post a screen shot. I am going full stop on these invisible walls that are really going to kill creativity when this goes live.
Having a fun idea get crushed by the existence of an unnecessary invisible wall is going to be really spirit sinking come launch.
@Yolokin_Swagonborn There is an invisible wall in the middle of the tower. You can build up to the top of the tower in order to gain access to the tower however you can only go about halfway on the top of the tower before you hit an invisible wall. The attached screenshots show me at the limit of advance due to the invisible wall.1 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭I built over the large rock on the east side of the Stronghold to find waterfalls and a river view on the other side. I don't know why this view has been denied to us. Please ZOS remove or trim the rocks so that the area around the Stronghold feels and looks more open.1
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aurethilSoul ShrivenI have to agree with everything the OP wrote. I know this is the house I will be using, but if it is the same price as the hunding hall it certainly isn't on par with it. The cellar/dungeon would be really great!1
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Osteos✭✭✭✭✭
✭I was going to buy this house until I previewed it. The staircase basically takes up the half of the downstairs and leaves a weird useless hallway around it. I agree that the towers need access also.Edited by Osteos on January 24, 2017 6:48AMDAGGERFALL COVENANTNA PCFormer Vehemence MemberOnistka Valerius <> Artemis Renault <> Gonk gra-Ugrash <> Karietta <> Zercon at-Rusa <> Genevieve Renault <> Ktaka <> Brenlyn Renault1 -
BlackSparrow✭✭✭✭✭
✭Have to disagree. Forsaken Stronghold is easily the most " bang for your buck" house in the entire game. It's got a massive, multi-level yard, a two-level tower, spectacular view of a waterfall from said tower, back-side staircase up to a large second-floor balcony, multiple entrances, spacious interior equivalent to a manor's interior, and a unique design seen nowhere else in game.
Honestly, I would say it could be priced to match one of the manors, and that wouldn't be overpriced. Hunding's has maybe half the space, and the only thing it has over the Stronghold is a fancier Redguard design and a private beach.
So nope. I'd say the Stronghold is perfectly fine as it is.
Edited by BlackSparrow on January 24, 2017 7:02AMLiving vicariously through my characters.
My Girls:"If you were trapped in your house for, say, a year, how would you pass the time?"
Nephikah the Houseless, dunmer assassin: "I suppose I could use the break. I have a lot of business holdings now that need management."
Swum-Many-Waters, elderly argonian healer: "I think that I would enjoy writing a memoir."
Silh'ki, khajiit warrior-chef: "Would this one be able to go outside, to the nearby river? It's hard to fish without water!"
Peregrine Huntress, bosmer hunter: "Who is forcing me to stay inside, and where can I find them?"
Lorenyawe, altmer mechanist: "And why would I want to go outside in the first place? Too much to be done in the workshop."
Lorelai Magpie, breton master thief: "I'd go nuts. Lucky for me, I have a little experience sneaking out!"
Rasheda the Burning Heart, redguard knight: "I would continue my training to keep my skills sharp."
Hex-Eye Azabi, khajiit daedric priestess: "I suppose it would be lucky, then, that I built a shrine to Mephala in my backyard."
Yngva Stormhammer, nord bandit (reformed...ish): "I hate being inside even when I'm not forced to be. GET. ME. OUT."
Madam Argentia, vampire dunmer aristocrat: "I suppose it would be more of the same. I have a rather... contentious relationship with the sun."
Mazie gra-Bolga, orc scout: "Uh... I'd have to house train my bear..."
Felicia the Wanderer, imperial witch-for-hire: "What Lorelai said."
Calico Jaka-dra, retired khajiit pirate: "This one would like a rest from her grand adventures. Her jewel shop runs out of stock!"
Shimmerbeam, blind altmer psijic: "Provided that I am confined to Artaeum, I do not think I will want for things to occupy my time."
Shauna Blackfire, redguard necromancer: "Sounds like paradise. I hate people."
Kirniel the Undying, cursed bosmer warrior: "I would feel useless, not being able to fight."
Echoes-from-Dragons, argonian who thinks she's a dragon: "All the better to count my hoard!"
(Signature idea shamelessly stolen from Abeille.)6 -
BlackSparrow✭✭✭✭✭
✭(Accidental double post. Please ignore
) Edited by BlackSparrow on January 24, 2017 7:01AMLiving vicariously through my characters.
My Girls:"If you were trapped in your house for, say, a year, how would you pass the time?"
Nephikah the Houseless, dunmer assassin: "I suppose I could use the break. I have a lot of business holdings now that need management."
Swum-Many-Waters, elderly argonian healer: "I think that I would enjoy writing a memoir."
Silh'ki, khajiit warrior-chef: "Would this one be able to go outside, to the nearby river? It's hard to fish without water!"
Peregrine Huntress, bosmer hunter: "Who is forcing me to stay inside, and where can I find them?"
Lorenyawe, altmer mechanist: "And why would I want to go outside in the first place? Too much to be done in the workshop."
Lorelai Magpie, breton master thief: "I'd go nuts. Lucky for me, I have a little experience sneaking out!"
Rasheda the Burning Heart, redguard knight: "I would continue my training to keep my skills sharp."
Hex-Eye Azabi, khajiit daedric priestess: "I suppose it would be lucky, then, that I built a shrine to Mephala in my backyard."
Yngva Stormhammer, nord bandit (reformed...ish): "I hate being inside even when I'm not forced to be. GET. ME. OUT."
Madam Argentia, vampire dunmer aristocrat: "I suppose it would be more of the same. I have a rather... contentious relationship with the sun."
Mazie gra-Bolga, orc scout: "Uh... I'd have to house train my bear..."
Felicia the Wanderer, imperial witch-for-hire: "What Lorelai said."
Calico Jaka-dra, retired khajiit pirate: "This one would like a rest from her grand adventures. Her jewel shop runs out of stock!"
Shimmerbeam, blind altmer psijic: "Provided that I am confined to Artaeum, I do not think I will want for things to occupy my time."
Shauna Blackfire, redguard necromancer: "Sounds like paradise. I hate people."
Kirniel the Undying, cursed bosmer warrior: "I would feel useless, not being able to fight."
Echoes-from-Dragons, argonian who thinks she's a dragon: "All the better to count my hoard!"
(Signature idea shamelessly stolen from Abeille.)0 -
MLGProPlayer✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭This house suffers from the same problems as Mathiisen Manor. Massive house for a bargain basement price but not very functional.
It's absolutely massive (probably the biggest house in the entire game), but it has annoying little quirks. The main room in the house is the size of a *** basketball court. That *** is going to be impossible to decorate. It should have been broken down into at least 2 rooms. Then there is the little hallway running around the staircase (wtf is this supposed to be? I guess it works as a kitchen storage or something). Finally, having no entrance into the watchtower from the bottom floor is just silly. The exterior is also quite boring with no cool natural features (just gray rocks).
Overall, it's a great value home. You're getting arguably the biggest house in the game for 1.28 million gold. But I still prefer some of the smaller large homes like Strident Springs and Hundings.Edited by MLGProPlayer on January 24, 2017 8:23AM1 -
Totes-Bode✭✭✭I was going to buy this house until I previewed it. The staircase basically takes up the half of the downstairs and leaves a weird useless hallway around it. I agree that the towers need access also.
I liked this house except I felt the staircases in the front were frankly hideous. But in regard to the hallway, I thought it made for a really nice pantry.1 -
BlackSparrow✭✭✭✭✭
✭Totes-Bode wrote: »I was going to buy this house until I previewed it. The staircase basically takes up the half of the downstairs and leaves a weird useless hallway around it. I agree that the towers need access also.
I liked this house except I felt the staircases in the front were frankly hideous. But in regard to the hallway, I thought it made for a really nice pantry.
Agreed. I love the little hallway. If I had gotten this house, my thief would have hung a hammock there and used it as a hidey hole to shirk her chores.
Edited by BlackSparrow on January 24, 2017 2:08PMLiving vicariously through my characters.
My Girls:"If you were trapped in your house for, say, a year, how would you pass the time?"
Nephikah the Houseless, dunmer assassin: "I suppose I could use the break. I have a lot of business holdings now that need management."
Swum-Many-Waters, elderly argonian healer: "I think that I would enjoy writing a memoir."
Silh'ki, khajiit warrior-chef: "Would this one be able to go outside, to the nearby river? It's hard to fish without water!"
Peregrine Huntress, bosmer hunter: "Who is forcing me to stay inside, and where can I find them?"
Lorenyawe, altmer mechanist: "And why would I want to go outside in the first place? Too much to be done in the workshop."
Lorelai Magpie, breton master thief: "I'd go nuts. Lucky for me, I have a little experience sneaking out!"
Rasheda the Burning Heart, redguard knight: "I would continue my training to keep my skills sharp."
Hex-Eye Azabi, khajiit daedric priestess: "I suppose it would be lucky, then, that I built a shrine to Mephala in my backyard."
Yngva Stormhammer, nord bandit (reformed...ish): "I hate being inside even when I'm not forced to be. GET. ME. OUT."
Madam Argentia, vampire dunmer aristocrat: "I suppose it would be more of the same. I have a rather... contentious relationship with the sun."
Mazie gra-Bolga, orc scout: "Uh... I'd have to house train my bear..."
Felicia the Wanderer, imperial witch-for-hire: "What Lorelai said."
Calico Jaka-dra, retired khajiit pirate: "This one would like a rest from her grand adventures. Her jewel shop runs out of stock!"
Shimmerbeam, blind altmer psijic: "Provided that I am confined to Artaeum, I do not think I will want for things to occupy my time."
Shauna Blackfire, redguard necromancer: "Sounds like paradise. I hate people."
Kirniel the Undying, cursed bosmer warrior: "I would feel useless, not being able to fight."
Echoes-from-Dragons, argonian who thinks she's a dragon: "All the better to count my hoard!"
(Signature idea shamelessly stolen from Abeille.)0 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭BlackSparrow wrote: »Have to disagree. Forsaken Stronghold is easily the most " bang for your buck" house in the entire game. It's got a massive, multi-level yard, a two-level tower, spectacular view of a waterfall from said tower, back-side staircase up to a large second-floor balcony, multiple entrances, spacious interior equivalent to a manor's interior, and a unique design seen nowhere else in game.
Honestly, I would say it could be priced to match one of the manors, and that wouldn't be overpriced. Hunding's has maybe half the space, and the only thing it has over the Stronghold is a fancier Redguard design and a private beach.
So nope. I'd say the Stronghold is perfectly fine as it is.
@BlackSparrow I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree on this. Where I do believe the price tag on the Stronghold is fair, Hunding's is the best "bang for your buck" and the price tag on it should go up if nothing is done to improve the other notable houses.
I did not get enough time to fully measure the two up due to the server just going down. However my initial test show that Hundings actually has more space than the Stronghold. From the furthest point the Stronghold is 8 1/2 board planks by 7 1/2 board planks "hitting the invisible wall on each end". Though there are a lot of buildings to work around, the space in Hundings ran from 13 board planks to 9 board planks.
Hundings has everything that the Stronghold has and more space for the same price. I would put Hundings over any of the manors. If I did not play an Orc and was dead set on the Stronghold I would chose Hundings over it and so is over half my guild.
If I could choose only one thing for ZOS to do in order to boost the property value of the Stronghold, it would be to remove the rock wall on the east side of the Stronghold so the view of the waterfall could be seen. Without standing on your tip toes from the tower.
Once the server is back up I will do a more accurate measurement comparing both properties.Edited by Kallipsoe on January 24, 2017 6:19PM0 -
Elara_Northwind✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭I hated this house, until I spent hours upon hours decorating it (it was certainly a challenge at first lol) now I feel some strange kind of attachment to it I won't be buying it myself, its not really my kind of style, but I still like it 
I do think it is VERY dark, and could probably do with a tad more natural light coming through the windows, and there is a random little box floating around in the big room downstairs, but if I were an Orc, I would be very happy with this house, and the garden is great too!Sorcerer, Templar, Wolf Collector, Housing Addict!
GM of Salted Wings Tavern and Salted Wings Housing 🏠🌻
'A House is Built with Boards and Beams, a Home is Built with Love and Dreams'
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ElaraNorthwind0 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭MLGProPlayer wrote: »This house suffers from the same problems as Mathiisen Manor. Massive house for a bargain basement price but not very functional.
It's absolutely massive (probably the biggest house in the entire game), but it has annoying little quirks. The main room in the house is the size of a *** basketball court. That *** is going to be impossible to decorate. It should have been broken down into at least 2 rooms. Then there is the little hallway running around the staircase (wtf is this supposed to be? I guess it works as a kitchen storage or something). Finally, having no entrance into the watchtower from the bottom floor is just silly. The exterior is also quite boring with no cool natural features (just gray rocks).
Overall, it's a great value home. You're getting arguably the biggest house in the game for 1.28 million gold. But I still prefer some of the smaller large homes like Strident Springs and Hundings.
I completely agree with you. I like the Stronghold and will purchase it, however there are so many small things that annoy me about the Stronghold. I feel with a few minor changes it would be a great house and I would even be willing to pay more for it if they made those changes.0 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭I hated this house, until I spent hours upon hours decorating it (it was certainly a challenge at first lol) now I feel some strange kind of attachment to it I won't be buying it myself, its not really my kind of style, but I still like it
I do think it is VERY dark, and could probably do with a tad more natural light coming through the windows, and there is a random little box floating around in the big room downstairs, but if I were an Orc, I would be very happy with this house, and the garden is great too!
Yes, I would also like there to be more natural light coming through the windows. I would also either want the ability to place fire places or have one added to the large room on the west side of the Stronghold in the large open room.1 -
Elara_Northwind✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭I hated this house, until I spent hours upon hours decorating it (it was certainly a challenge at first lol) now I feel some strange kind of attachment to it I won't be buying it myself, its not really my kind of style, but I still like it
I do think it is VERY dark, and could probably do with a tad more natural light coming through the windows, and there is a random little box floating around in the big room downstairs, but if I were an Orc, I would be very happy with this house, and the garden is great too!
Yes, I would also like there to be more natural light coming through the windows. I would also either want the ability to place fire places or have one added to the large room on the west side of the Stronghold in the large open room.
Yes, a fireplace would look great in that big room The one in there at the moment is quite oddly placed. Edited by Elara_Northwind on January 24, 2017 6:38PMSorcerer, Templar, Wolf Collector, Housing Addict!
GM of Salted Wings Tavern and Salted Wings Housing 🏠🌻
'A House is Built with Boards and Beams, a Home is Built with Love and Dreams'
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ElaraNorthwind1 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭david19979 wrote: »Some textures near the stairs inside are still flickering since day 1.
I honestly never noticed this, but now I can not unsee it. I provided in game feedback, I hope this and the floating trunk gets fixed before it goes live. I also noticed a urn on the fireplace mantel. I don't know if it is suppose to be there or if it is an oversight. I cant remove it with the editor or interact with it.0 -
kojou✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭I like the old run down castle feel to it (Forsaken Stronghold). If feels like a place that an adventurer could acquire and spend quiet days away from people that want to send him/her off to find their lost lute or pet scamp. Not to mention all the places to set up statues monuments etc. I actually like the fact that there are rocks and multi level grounds. It gives plenty of room to make some really cool garden designs.
I too spent a lot of time decorating it and it actually really dresses up nicely.
Redguard homes in general seem a little stuffy and pretentious to me, but the beach at the Hundings place is kind of nice. The overall feel of the architecture doesn't suite my characters though. My characters prefer forests and mountains over deserts.
Playing since beta...0 -
Kallipsoe✭✭✭ztyhurstub17_ESO wrote: »I like the old run down castle feel to it (Forsaken Stronghold). If feels like a place that an adventurer could acquire and spend quiet days away from people that want to send him/her off to find their lost lute or pet scamp. Not to mention all the places to set up statues monuments etc. I actually like the fact that there are rocks and multi level grounds. It gives plenty of room to make some really cool garden designs.
I too spent a lot of time decorating it and it actually really dresses up nicely.
Redguard homes in general seem a little stuffy and pretentious to me, but the beach at the Hundings place is kind of nice. The overall feel of the architecture doesn't suite my characters though. My characters prefer forests and mountains over deserts.
I do like the old run down castle feel and I do like the mountain environment. However, to me it feels like the stronghold was built in a crater and not in the mountains. Being at the top of the mountain I would like to have at least one scenic view instead of tall rock formations on each side. I still believe if they just trimmed the rocks on the east side a little it will accomplish this. But being at the top of a mountain I would want to look down at the world.0