Cities And Housing Archive

H O U S I N G R E V A M P B R A I N S T O R M

NPC City Development and Brainstorming

Original Concept thanks to: JeffroTGIF

Introduction: Ever since the creation of player cities, many flocked away from being close to the NPC cities, to have a little place of their own, with a congregation of friends and people under a common roof. For many, it was, and still is a great concept that many clearly enjoy.

Unfortunately, many player cities are ruins, and abandoned ghost towns full of empty buildings with players “missing in action”, many of which probably left SWG altogether. Large metropolises are only inhabited with a few people, and many older players reminisce of the nostalgia of having a frontier home in the wild without so many comfortable, easy-to-get amenities like shuttle ports.

Many, like myself, miss the old, bustling NPC cities that were public congregations of people of different guilds, species, and faction. I’m sure that many others would appreciate a return to NPC cities, for a community, and to enjoy many unused amenities in the NPC cities…

The main problem is that the game has no real incentive to return to the city, because they are nearly empty, with a few exceptions. Plus, player cities provide nicer amenities.

With the new CURB coming, and the changes with it, many advantages of player cities won’t be so significant. The new merchant bazaars will be able to see a vendor’s wares inside the NPC CITY, without having to shuttle to a cities to shop around. The later solutions in the thread will make NPC selling even easier as well.

The solution, is to utilize the NPC cities that we’ve already been granted with, along with very widespread changes. I believe these changes could be answered with a third expansion, as the solutions are very feasible mechanically.

The high-rises (server mechanics): In many metropolises, like Coronet and Theed, along with regular cities like Nashal and Mos Espa, have large buildings, and even sky-scrapers already in the game. The problem is, that they are just shell models just to add decoration to the area.

Many MMORPG’s use in their cities, instanced servers that provide apartments, homes, suites, and other living quarters to live in.

The most ingenious thing about “instanced servers” is that they don’t take any “power” away from the regular server we currently are on, but instead, each little room in the building is its own little server that is separate from the city server, like the Corellian Corvette. Though you would have to load in from your own room to the city, it would mean no extra lag from the city into your home, or from your home into the city, and you can’t see activity from the city from your home. But a replacement will be explained later on.

The lobby could be accessed from the city, with a lobbyist who collects your rent resides in. From there, there is an elevator, from which you access your home, and “load out”.

Depending on the planet, the architecture of the inside will vary. I believe the lobby should resemble the NPC theater, with very ornate decorations, and dark, conservative colors, with marble and granite. Cheaper buildings will have less décor, and just basic designs.

The rent of your home depends on how nice your suite is. The uppermost suite of the tallest building in Coronet could range in the millions per week, and a modest room in the city could be equivalent to the cost of a large home. Even the cheapest NPC building will be pricey, so rural home living is still viable.

Not only will location determine cost, but so will décor in the home. In “Everquest 2”, one can customize the wall, ceiling, trim, and floor to different textures and designs for a fee. The more elegant, the pricier. The most expensive should result in an upgrade fee in the hundreds of thousands, but the pattern can be permanent, and can be “reserved” so one can switch freely between patterns they have already bought without an extra fee.

The price of the building will also determine how spacious it is, along with its item capacity. The fee should increase by how many rooms one has. A larger room addition should cost more than a small room addition. One can choose between pre-made blueprint designs on their home as well. For a great fee, one can get a balcony as well…

Balconies: A balcony should be small, despite any type of upgrade. One must remember though, that the room is just as attached from the city server just as much as the Dathomir section is from the Naboo one. So, the city must be fake, when seen from the balcony. Windows could be fashioned in the same manner. Larger windows cost more than smaller ones.

Crafting Opportunities: In the lobby, a building bazaar can list all the available items in the building for sale, and will tell the buyer where to pick up the item in the building. The suite vendor can also choose to have their items available on the upcoming city bazaars.

Convention Centers: For a large fee, one can rent a room from purchase to server reset to hold meetings, or parties in… Can follow a blueprint of the current city hall.

Politicians: A ballot box is placed in the lobby, and the politician (who lives in the building), can run for landlord. They are responsible for adjusting the costs of rooms, etc (a minimum safeguard is placed to prevent exploits), but they must manage the costs to pay for the building’s massive total upkeep costs. It takes a majority (<50%) to oust a landlord, and a vote takes place each month

A tenant who fails to pay their fees can be evicted, or the landlord can pay their dues until the tenant can pay them back. The landlord can also customize interiors, hallways, and convention centers.

Buildings:

Loyalist (Imperial): The Empire rewards loyal urbanites, and under their Commission of Housing Development will pay 20% of the building’s upkeep. Any signs of contraband will result in a varying fine.

Rebel: The Rebels award those who help their cause generously. By storing illegal weapons, spices, and illegal refugees in the basement and holding areas, the Rebels will pay a reward, that will increase based upon how much you “help”

Random Imperial searches are conducted on all buildings. A random (20%) chance of being caught with smuggled things will result in a fine based on how much has been smuggled.

Smuggling more will result in a larger reward, but if it fails, a larger fine…

Neutrals get no reward, but no penalties

Furniture: All buildings come with a toilet, shower, and small bed.

New furniture would be nice…

All items can be stored in depositories within your homes wall (a big safe), that can be made more spacious depending on price. The limit should be generous, yet should be practically finite.

Please add any comments here. Thanks for reading!