Advice for Coldharbor Surreal Estate build?

MornaBaine · December 2019

Ever since I realized I could use EHT to change the sky and that I could remove all the rocks and trees in the place I've wanted to build a wizard's tower and nighttime forest at the Surreal Estate player house. But I really don't have much experience with building and while I can practice a bit on PTS I really need some pointers. Has anyone built a home there? Tips, advice, and pictures and videos are all eagerly sought! Halp! LOL

bayushi2005 · December 2019

MornaBaine wrote: »

Ever since I realized I could use EHT to change the sky and that I could remove all the rocks and trees in the place I've wanted to build a wizard's tower and nighttime forest at the Surreal Estate player house. But I really don't have much experience with building and while I can practice a bit on PTS I really need some pointers. Has anyone built a home there? Tips, advice, and pictures and videos are all eagerly sought! Halp! LOL

@MornaBaine Surreal Estate is one of the best houses out there. I absolutely adore the freedom. Explore the boundaries, these are huge (upwards and downwards) - see Magic Carpet addon.

I'm dropping the picture of my old tower (I miss it, honest), the wierd angle is due to how tall it was. You can get double that height.

Have a video of the current build, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPWkRJRowFc&feature=youtu.be

MornaBaine · December 2019

bayushi2005 wrote: »

Have a video of the current build, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPWkRJRowFc&feature=youtu.be

OMG what you have done here is amazing! Thank you for sharing. It seemed like a space station to me! LOL I love it! Right now I'm waffling between using Elswehyr or Summerset build pieces for the walls and floors tho I really love what you did with the Dunmer platforms. I think the Summerset would look really pretty in that lighting but also terribly cold.

bayushi2005 · December 2019

MornaBaine wrote: »

OMG what you have done here is amazing! Thank you for sharing. It seemed like a space station to me! LOL I love it! Right now I'm waffling between using Elswehyr or Summerset build pieces for the walls and floors tho I really love what you did with the Dunmer platforms. I think the Summerset would look really pretty in that lighting but also terribly cold.

@MornaBaine Thank you! Actually that space feel was planned. Daedra/Dremora as "alien species" (from "outer space" of Oblivion) invading Mundus... So.. why not

I would vote for Alinor over Elsweyr here. Textures are much more prone to lightning (both reflecting and taking the hue of the lightning you use). Combining Alinor walls with Clockwork platforms (or crates) makes everything much warmer and brings some White Gold Tower associations. Try DwarvenTonal Arcs, they are stunning pieces and go with Alinor well.
If you want it warm and bright, check Culanda Stones. If you would rather have something to flicker on the walls - try Daedric Chandelier, Spiked (smaller than other Daedric lightning but with similar strength, can be easily hidden).
Alinor wrought glass sconces would do great here as well.

Yeah I'm a lightning freak, it changes everything.

Hope this helps.

P.S. If I could buy Coldharbour Surreal Estate 20 times... I would

MornaBaine · December 2019

I'd still love to see what other folks have done with it...as well as some tips on how they did it!

Zypheran · December 2019

Hi Morna,
You should check out this build by @Moon_Sugar . It was probably my favourite wizard's tower build I ever visited.
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/6337230#Comment_6337230

LukosCreyden · December 2019

Sorry, I have no screenshots to hand, but I did a forest in my Coldharbor home too! I find it works nicely going around the outside of the pavement section, with the main build in the middle. For the forest, I just used whatever trees and plants I could get hold of. The variety of colors and sizes actually fit the ambient lighting really nicely. I threw in a pumpkin patch and some light-emitting orbs hovvering between the trees to give it a more mystical feel.

For me, the middle part is a sort of "Necromage's Lab" thing. Along with a stone wall built with those Coldharbor spikey rocks to make a trophy area, I have; crafting areas, the Bone Goliath target dummy set up in a ritual circle type thing, a "bedroom" area for dye station, a kitchen area for provisioning, a library area for furnishing trophies (Vvardenfell map, that kind of thing) and some clutter to make the area look more busy.

Lots of well-placed clutter goes a long way with these kinds of things!

A mage's tower sounds awesome though, so please post pics when you make it!

Miniminotaur138 · December 2019

Towers are perfect for the space!

https://youtu.be/sd25ig89WFo

ZOS_Adrikoth · December 2019

Some cool ideas were shown here, it's nice to see what different players have done with Coldharbour Surreal Estate

deviousthevile · December 2019

I turned my Coldharbour home into a zoo. I use my mounts and pets as the attractions, made a huge aquarium in the middle. I even added in a little hedge maze for the kids to play in. Some day I will have to post pictures.