Unofficial Player Housing FAQ and Tips
Introduction
Below is a list of questions and answers regarding player housing that have popped up over the years. It's a valuable document in that it should cut down on the amount of searching, posting, and answering that goes into player generated housing.
Please respect the integrity of this document. Stick to the format already shown. Make sure to always post a source for any answers you supply. It doesn't do a lot of good to have Q and A if the person must then make a post on the forums about an answer here, asking the team if it's legit. Link your sources.
House Placement and Exterior
Q: Ok my house is all ready. How do I tell the team where I'd like my house placed? I don't see an area list for Avlis anywhere.
A: A really great way to do this is to take a screenshot standing in front of where you want your house placed, and submit this with your house. If you have something specific in mind, add this into the comments area of your pricing sheet. (If it's something non-standard [I'd like to live in a bird house] make sure you get it cleared BEFORE you submit your house. [Source: [1]]
Q: It's awesome that we can customize the interior of our house, but can we also request a specific exterior for our house, as in say a special tower I saw in 'insert some city here'?
A: The standard answer is no because it takes a lot more of the staff to coordinate this kind of a request, but it is decided on a case-by-case basis. Don't get your hopes up. If you do get your wish, expect it to be VERY EXPENSIVE! [Source: [2]]
Keys and Plot Locks
Q: A door with attributes 'plot','plot','plot','key only' in the pricing sheet costs 100k while an all plot door costs 120k. What's the difference?
A: If a door is not set 'plot' in the toolset, it can be busted in by whatever means: your items are not safe from theft. If a door is marked 'key only' in the pricing sheet, PCs can legally sneak in behind you: your items are not safe from theft. To make sure your items are safe from theft, and are protected from theft under the rules of Avlis, mark your door 'plot' in the toolset, and price it out all plot. [Source: [3]]
Q: Oh I want a ring that opens my house!
A: No. All player housing keys MUST look like a key. The only exception is guild housing where the key can be the guild token, because the guild token is already a part of the pallet. [Source: [4]]
Pricing
Q: So what placables do I have to price out? Do I pay for every candle, plant, and chair?
A: No. You only have to price out p-chests, display chests, crafting plants, crafting placables, doors, and any placable of which you have changed the attributes away from the standard. All other placables are payed for by bulk in the 'Furnishings' cell. [Source: [5]]
Q: What if I change the attributes of a placable to make it weaker? Does the price go down?
A: No. As you change the attributes of a placable away from the standard, either higher or lower, the price goes up the further from the standard the placable becomes. [Source: [6]]
Q: So all doors are priced out? Even a regular, unmodified, unlockable door?
A: No. All regular, unmodified, unlockable doors are included in the 'Furnishings' pricing. If you change the door at all, it then becomes 'custom' and is priced in the 'doors' section. [Source: [7]]
Q: In the pricing spreadsheet, I'm charged 5,000 gold for each tile. You mean for each brick or something?
A: No. Turn on the area grid (On the menu, click 'Environment' -> 'Display Grid'). Each square in the grid is a tile. [Source: [8]]
Q: Uh, so how do I know if my furnishings are low, medium, or high?
A: If your place is a dump:low. If it's got a cot and some amenities: medium. If it's got a bed and some frills: high. [Source: [9]]
Tips for Building
- Save often! There's nothing worse than building something twice.