Help me figure out WHERE TO LIVE! (please)

[Cambi]

Hey folks. Need a bit of information and advice. Here's the situation.My wife and I are really into the housing part of the game. She has a decently leveled carpenter, and we both love gathering house items throughout the game. We have massively outgrown our little 1 room hovels, and in the meantime we saved up money to buy one of the nice 5 room houses (either pure money or money + status, we aren't sure exactly which way we'll go).Our quandry is where to live. <u><b>Here are the main things we are looking for in a location:</b></u><ol><li>Convenient location to all crafting (and crafting trainer), bank, and broker.</li><li>Convenient location to travel options for getting out into the world. (Her main is a fury, which does help with transportation.)</li></ol><u><b>Here are some ancillary things were are looking for:</b></u><ol><li>We are wondering if any of the neutral/neutral-ish cities are a viable option. We have good and evil characters, and we'd like to be able to share access to our house to all of our characters (we are on a PvE server).</li><li>It is preferable if you do not have to zone to get into/out of the crafting zone (like you do in Qeynos and I believe Freeport). </li></ol><u><b>Additional Comments:</b></u><ol><li>We recently made some characters in Neriak and loved the layout of the town. The crafting zone is awesome, but the houses are kinda far from the crafting zone (and basically requires a zone via the teleport to get between the two... either that or a lot of running). Our main characters are good, however, so living there is pretty much out.</li><li>What is the viablity of living in Gorowyn or Kelethin? Can the opposite side get into those cities, and thus could they be made trustees to use the house?</li><li>Can opposite side use the crafting stations, get crafting writs, etc?</li><li>Can opposite side set their recall point to Gorowyn/Kelethin if they get their faction up? And how would one get their faction up there anyway if they were from the opposite side?</li></ol>Thanks for your help and advice!

[Ayanae]

<p>My fury moved to South Qeynos awhile back. From what I've seen, there is a broker, banker, mender, and all the crafting stations with the suppliers and work/ rush order pc's in that zone. If you're evil characters are lower level and can sneak around a little, it's a pretty good zone. </p><p>Neriak - Moved one of my characters there right when the city opened. I loved the layout of the crafting stations and the banker, broker all right next to each other. The houses were quite a distance from it, but with the Big Buisiness quest, being able to use the portals made things fine. The houses are cheaper, but noticably smaller than Freeport / Qeynos. I liked the direct portal to Nek / TS on the docks. Downside was the run to the carpet out in Darklight Woods to get to Sinking Sands if you didn't have Call of Ro gate. Also if you plan on going to KP, it's an extra zone to run through instead of clicking the bells in either city.</p><p>I have one lower level character in Gorowyn. The houses, crafting stations, banker, broker, etc are all in the same area, but they are at the very top of the city. At first it can be a little confusing, but it's not bad. I think you have to be an evil character in order to live there, but good characters can walk around the city without aggro from the guards. The houses in Gorowyn are smaller than that of Qeynos and Freeport. Also, getting to other locations in the world without a porter is a little more of a hassle than Qeynos and Freeport. In the bottom front of the city there is a carpet to go to Sinking Sands. If evil, the carpet in SS, allows you go to back to Maj'Dul, Nektulos Forrest, Timorous Deep or Freeport. If good, the carpet allows you to go to Butcherblock, Maj'Dul or Qeynos. On the docks near the carpet (can be good or evil), there is a blue and yellow griffon that takes you to Butcherblock as well.</p><p>Kelethin - never lived there on any of my characters in EQ2. But from running around there occasionally, the houses seem spread out as well as the crafting stations. If you don't have glide or fae fall type abilities, careful running around the ramps. This seems to be the city that is furthest away from the rest of the world. Having a fury character makes things alot easier to get to though.</p><p>Hope that helps a little.</p>

[EQ2Noob000]

Gorowyn for sure.Anyone can use the vendors, crafting area, and brokers here. The bank, houses, crafting stations and broker are all right next to each other. You can go almost anywhere very quickly from Gorowyn. At the docks, you can either fly to butcherblock or SS (which leads right to freeport and darklight).The only downside is that it's a bit of a run to get a good character there. You'd have to get to butcherblock and then run to the griffon to Gorowyn. But, it's very good if you're evil.

[Cusashorn]

<p>the 15 gold a week 5 room houses in Qeynos are still the best options in the entire game. South Qeynos is a completely self-contained city in itself. Bank, Broker, Mender, Tradeskill stations, bells to other zones.</p><p>Don't bother with the 5 room houses right next to Qeynos Harbor. They cost more money for the EXACT SAME HOUSE with no added benefits.</p><p>Throw in the 4 year veteran reward and you knock 15 gold down to 11. Sathirian and Di'Zok Banners from T8 Carpenters can reduce the cost by 0.3% with each one further added to your house.</p><p>If you are evil, then yes, Gorowyn would probably be the better choice, even though the rooms themselves lack customization, and it's still a pain in the butt to even FIND the housing district in Gorowyn.</p><p>Avoid Kelethin. The houses just arn't worth it. No customization, and the largest rooms are still increadibly small. Neriak isn't any better.</p>

[Eveningsong]

EQ2 Traders has several great guides to housing which could probably be useful in deciding where to live.Home Sweet Hovel lists all the addresses available and their various costs/number of vault/broker slots etc. <a href="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/articles/article_page.php?article=g69&menustr=040000000000" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.eqtraders.com/articles/a...tr=040000000000</a>Their Tradeskill Guide page has a section partway down titled Better Homes and Bungalows which has links to a few other guides, including info on house trims, moving, tradeskill status items and other useful topics.<a href="http://eq2.eqtraders.com/articles/article_page.php?article=g5&menustr=040000000000" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.eqtraders.com/articles/a...tr=040000000000</a>Personally all my alts live in South Qeynos at present, although before that I lived in North Qeynos and I like both zones for amenities and location.

[Aurumn]

<p>North Freeport isn't bad either. You get the customizable wall and floor options just like Qeynos (although admittedly, the Q housing is far brighter and homier), we have mariner bells now, there are crafting stations in the shops around the broker. I'm not sure if all amenities are present because I already had the habit of popping into Longshadow Alley for all my tinkering. The priest and mage guilds are also in the same zone which makes for convenient writ turn-ins for my little mages. The big homes are also right on the water. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I'd suggest you tour a couple of your options and see which you like best. Probably look at South Qeynos, North / South Freeport and Gorowyn. </p><p> If in house item sales are a concern, I'd avoid Gorowyn or Kelethin, though. I'll go to the trouble to find a place in Freeport, Qeynos or even Neriak (love those portals), but Gorowyn is terribly confusing to navigate and Kelethin is just a pain to get to, especially for evil toons. That's merely my opinion, though.</p>

[Cambi]

<cite>Mezzmyrelda@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote><p> If in house item sales are a concern, I'd avoid Gorowyn or Kelethin, though. I'll go to the trouble to find a place in Freeport, Qeynos or even Neriak (love those portals), but Gorowyn is terribly confusing to navigate and Kelethin is just a pain to get to, especially for evil toons. That's merely my opinion, though.</p></blockquote>Wow. Thank you for mentioning this. I had totally failed to consider this point. We both like selling things a lot (there was a time when we played before that all we did was craft and sell stuff). So that probably means Qeynos is our only real option (since our main characters are good). <span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>[1]</b></span> Let me make sure I understand a few things:* The Qeynos houses have the most internal customization options for walls/floors/ceilings, etc? * The Qeynos houses are the more "homey" or "attractive" as far as internal design?<span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>[2]</b></span> I was in North Qeynos last night and noticed that they have crafting and bankers all above ground. By that I mean, you don't have to zone to get to them. That is SUPER nice. I hate having to zone to switch between crafting/banking. But are there houses in North Qeynos? I didn't see any.<span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>[3]</b></span> Someone mentioned a veteran item that reduces rent cost. What item is this? I know of status cost reducing items, but I was not aware of outright RENT reducing items. We were leaning towards a pure coin house because we are both pretty low on status, and it seems somewhat convenient to never have to worry about keeping up with writs or whatnot for paying rent.

[Cusashorn]

<cite>Cambios wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mezzmyrelda@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>If in house item sales are a concern, I'd avoid Gorowyn or Kelethin, though. I'll go to the trouble to find a place in Freeport, Qeynos or even Neriak (love those portals), but Gorowyn is terribly confusing to navigate and Kelethin is just a pain to get to, especially for evil toons. That's merely my opinion, though.</p></blockquote>Wow. Thank you for mentioning this. I had totally failed to consider this point. We both like selling things a lot (there was a time when we played before that all we did was craft and sell stuff). So that probably means Qeynos is our only real option (since our main characters are good). <span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>[1]</b></span> Let me make sure I understand a few things:* The Qeynos houses have the most internal customization options for walls/floors/ceilings, etc? * The Qeynos houses are the more "homey" or "attractive" as far as internal design?<span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>[2]</b></span> I was in North Qeynos last night and noticed that they have crafting and bankers all above ground. By that I mean, you don't have to zone to get to them. That is SUPER nice. I hate having to zone to switch between crafting/banking. But are there houses in North Qeynos? I didn't see any.<span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>[3]</b></span> Someone mentioned a veteran item that reduces rent cost. What item is this? I know of status cost reducing items, but I was not aware of outright RENT reducing items. We were leaning towards a pure coin house because we are both pretty low on status, and it seems somewhat convenient to never have to worry about keeping up with writs or whatnot for paying rent.</blockquote><p>North Qeynos contains 2 room houses at the Irontoe Inn. Not worth living there. Even for 2 room houses, South Qeynos is still the best option.</p><p>It's a treasure chest. I forget it's name, but it reduces rent cost by 25%. Looks like a Master chest.</p><p>As far as customization, well the Freeport houses have the same amount of customization, but they have different appearances from Qeynos. Not a bad thing, but the Qeynos 5 rooms houses are still the best option. You don't have to pay status on the 5 room houses. I think it was like 1 platinum to buy, and 15 gold a week for upkeep.</p><p>Oh btw: what server do you play on. I'd be happy to help you out personally if you're on the Kithicor server.</p>

[Tel]

Where are the 5 bedroom non-status SQ houses?According to Home Sweet Hovel the non-status houses stop at 3 room. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />To be on topic here.I currently keep houses in Freeport (north) and Qeynos (South) because I can't keep stuff on the broker in either location.I also have houses in Neriak, Gorowyn and Kelething..South Qeynos is my favorite due to location.  You are very close to banker/broker/mender, but if you want to do tradeskill writs, you just zone into North Qeynos, and go to the "old furniture store" do your tradeskill writs right across the street from another bank. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Qeynos is the best, IMO.  Then Freeport.In order of options and "look and feel" I'd rank them as follows:  Maj'dul (love the look, hate the location), Qeynos/Freeport, Gorowyn, Neriak, Kelethin.

[Cusashorn]

Oh crud that's right. i forgot I have so much furniture to cover the status of my house, that I forgot that I actually had to pay for it at one point.

[Karlen]

<span class="postbody">>>>Don't bother with the 5 room houses right next to Qeynos Harbor. They cost more money for the EXACT SAME HOUSE with no added benefits.<<<The ones right by QH have 6 broker slots, compared to the other big houses in SQ that only have 5 broker slots. I think South Qeynos is the best place for having a house as it is the most convenient place for buying things from other people -- because those other people bought houses in SQ for the same reason.There are crafting tables throughout the zone (usually indoors, make sure to check upstairs) as well as fuel merchants.    With the (relatively) recent addition of broker, bank and bells the downsides of SQ are pretty much gone.For evil-side characters, I recently got a 3-room house in North Freeport which I find quite convenient.   The houses in NF are close to the bell -- from which you can bell to East Freeport for transport out of town or South Freeport for shopping (broker/bank/mender are all right next to SF bell).Personally, when shopping, I rarely visit anyone that isn't based in South Qeynos. </span>

[Blintok]

I second Gorowyndocks have carpet to sinking sands and griff to BBMhousing area has banker/broker and crafting stations.I have had homes in South Freeport and Neriak.The main thing i love about Gorowyn, the 5 room houses are HUGEJust 2 of the my Gorowyn rooms is easily bigger than my whole 3 room house in Freeport.The rooms are oval shaped, 3 large rooms on the main floor, stairs up to a large room and down to a basement room.Did i mention how big the rooms are? H-U-G-E ..not only in floor space but they have to be 40ft ceilings.they have both 5 room houses for either status/pp or just ppTalk to the Sarnak in WFP militia house for quest to betray to Gorowyn.

[Fasci]

Don't dismiss Kelethin so quickly! <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  My 60-ish Dwarf has a three-room acorn that he quite enjoys. The rooms appear smaller when they're empty than they do when you start adding furniture. Don't be deceived; they're really pretty spacious. High ceilings also allow for lofting if you're clever.  That said, it can be tricky placing flat items on the rounded walls. Not impossible-just tricky. And the walls, floors, trim, etc. are not customizable. But they're pretty nice to begin with. /shrugs.Evil toons have almost complete access to the city, except for the Royal Hall where there are high-level guards patroling. And the vendors won't sell to you. As for the city itself, Tunare's Pages is a fairly active crafting house complete with broker right next to the basic inns. The larger housing is simply up a platform (or two, if you want status housing). Even without wings, one can jump down a platform or two without taking serious damage. Getting around the city can be a pain until you learn the shortcuts (like the large branch behind the mages' guild). My biggest gripe about getting around is that the bank is about 5 platforms away from my home. But I run pretty fast. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Getting to or from Kelethin can be a pain, but having a druid for porting makes that easier. Also the addition of the horse transportation system makes it faster to get to BBM, and then it's just a griffon ride to the docks.I suppose if you're selling high-value pieces, people will be less likely to travel to Kele to visit your store than if you lived in, say, S. Qeynos.Kelethin is certainly not for everyone, but if you want something a little bit different it might be for you.  I'd suggest you visit & tour some houses there to get an idea of what you can do with decorating, etc.