The upcoming MMORPG New World has introduced new information about housing and finally shown images of the system. It sounds like a dream for role-players and fans of “The Sims.” New World even encourages competitive house building.
How does housing work in New World? Players can buy houses in settlements and decorate them. Housing will be one of the core elements of New World, as several features are built upon it, such as:
- the ability to set a retreat point
- buffs for combat or crafting
- politics and administration of the areas
- participation in the community (through projects and crafting)
Additionally, there is something like “PvP housing,” as the developers revealed in a new blog post. You will compete with other players for the most beautiful house. Only those who put in effort and decorate their home nicely may show it to the public.
If someone builds a shabby shack and lives like a caveman, they do so alone: Their house will not be displayed.
Housing therefore plays an important role in New World, similar to that found in few MMORPGs like Maple Story 2 or WildStar.
You can get a glimpse of the system upon release in May 2020 – or earlier if you want to sign up for the beta. More information about release, beta, and pre-order can be found in our hub:
Everything about houses in the new MMO
Buying houses in New World
How do I get a house? To be able to buy a house, your faction must first own the area, and a company must purchase the corresponding settlement. How that works is explained in our article on player settlements in New World.
Afterward, you need to increase your reputation in the area. This works through daily tasks like missions, killing mobs, working on city projects, and more. With enough reputation and level 20, you can then buy your own house.
These are the differences: There are different types of houses with varying sizes, furnishings, and costs (depending on the location, for example). As an example, the developers mentioned a house right in the city center and others that have balconies with beautiful views.
How many houses can I own? As long as you meet the requirements, you can buy multiple houses. However, there is a maximum that is not yet known.
Rules for homeowners
This is what you need to keep in mind as a homeowner: If you buy one or more houses, you have to pay taxes for them. The amount is determined by the company that owns the settlement. The tax revenues partially cover the costs for the settlement.
If you do not pay the taxes, you will not be immediately kicked out, but you will lose some privileges:
- The retreat into the house will no longer work
- Buffs will be deactivated
- You can no longer place or move decorations
- Friends are no longer allowed to visit your house and it will not be displayed to others
You can still enter the fully decorated house.
Benefits of houses
What are houses for? Game Director Scot Lane revealed to us in an interview what houses have to offer. One of the most important features are possible buffs.
Some of the items you can find, craft, or buy in the open world grant you buffs. These make combat easier by granting you advantages against certain types of opponents or bonuses to crafting.
However, you can only place a limited number of such items in the house. You have to consider which buffs you need at the moment.
Houses are also used for: Apart from buffs, houses give you the opportunity to set them as a retreat point. You can return to the house from any point in the world.
This function is similar to known items and abilities like “scrolls of the city portal,” “return,” or “rest stones.”
However, exactly how the retreat works has not been explained. It is likely that it is a spell with a multiple-second duration, not a spontaneous ability to flee directly from a fight.
Housing with “PvP”: Only the most beautiful are visible
That’s why you should make your house beautiful: In a settlement, multiple players can buy the same house, but each will only see their own instance of the house.
They can then decorate and design it as they wish. But: Only the one with the most beautiful house will have their home displayed to the public in that spot. This is evaluated with a points system where you can see your competition.
You are therefore engaging in a kind of “PvP housing.” Even if New World has been switched from PvP to PvE, there is still a competition for the prettiest porch and the most beautiful garden.
If your house is not pretty enough to be displayed publicly, you can still invite friends and show them the house. With groups of up to five players, you can enter your own instance of the house.
