User:Thio/Housing

[i]Disclaimer(s): Yes, I know what the search function is. The average POH post consists of "LOL hoises r kool can i haz dem liek i did in ruenscaep cuz dat wud be kool k thx plzz blizz". This post is a well thought out explanation of one possible way Blizzard could implement player housing. Because I don't work at Blizzard, I don't know the full technological limits of phasing, which is the fundamental system this suggestion is based on. Funding for this broadcast was provided for by gold selling ads and by viewers like you. Thank you.[/i]

Player Owned Housing is interesting in that it was one of the many concepts considered in Alpha but shelved for various reasons, a list that also included Northrend, Hunters, and an extended level cap.

The particular reason against PoHs (as they will be referred to from now on) was spacial constraints. Where the hell are you going to fit a bajillion houses for each of the inhabitants of this game?

That's where phasing comes in.

[b]INTRODUCTION[/b]

POHs could be introduced along with a new "residential district" in each major city. In lore, these areas already exist, so I doubt it could be too tricky.

Ironforge receives the Seventh Depth (look it up on WoWwiki), two levels below the current Fifth Depth of Ironforge, which consists of a circular structure that mirrors the Fifth Depth. The center "ring" of the Depth is the Market Ward, containing items to be sold for player's houses. The outer ring contains the actuall houses.

Stormwind receives the Residential District, located behind the Cathedral and Dwarven Districts and to the east of the Harbor. The district mirrors the rest of Stormwind with a 2x3 grid of blocks to filled with houses and stores, which are scattered throughout.

Darnassus receives the Moon Gardens behind the Temple of the Moon. Teldrassil is bumped out to accommodate this. A plaza is located in the center with stores, and free roaming animals and critters walk throughout the area like in the rest of Darnassus. The houses are spread on the perimeter of the lake that surrounds the plaza.

Exodar receives the Quarters of Light, accessable by a new passage way from the base of O'ros's seat. Like the rest of Exodar, it has three wards, with the center ward containing shops, and the outer wards containing homes.

Orgrimmar receives the Valley of Protection, down a steep crag-slope from the Valley of Wisdom. The Valley contains the northwest coastline of Orgrimmar, with shops located along it. Houses are spread throughout.

Undercity receives the Ruins of Lordaeron, accessible from the current Ruins through the side passages in the courtyard. Shops are located nearest the courtyard, with the houses farther back.

Thunderbluff receives the Golden Plains, cleared of mobs through instancing (not phasing). More on this below. A center village contains shops, with houses spread around the plains.

Silvermoon receives the Magister's Towers, being more like an apartment complex than a housing district. The entrance the the city-wide apartment building may be found in the Royal Exchange. Shops are found on the bottom three floors, with housing being in the towers, accessible through many orbs of translocation.

Shattrath receives the Lower City, again, instanced. Shops are located on the inner rim, and houses on the outer.

Dalaran receives the Housing Floater as well as the Violet Citadel. The Housing Floater is accessible via flying mount or taxi flight from Krasus's Landing. It contains shops in the center and houses on various floating rocks as well as on the main island. The Violet Citadel contains the most expensive housing of all and is in limited stock.

--to be coninued--