-
Hail Guest! We're looking for Community Content Contribuitors to Stratics. If you would like to write articles, fan fiction, do guild or shard event recaps, it's simple. Find out how in this thread: Community Contributions
-
Greetings Guest, Having Login Issues? Check this thread!
-
Hail Guest!, Please take a moment to read this post reminding you all of the importance of Account Security.
-
Hail Guest! Please read the new announcement concerning the upcoming addition to Stratics. You can find the announcement Here!
I never leave first floor of my house i just want a pad with one small out building
The problem with Castle designs is... It's an individual vison of what a castle should be. The only happy players are those that get their entries accepeted, and even then I 100% guarantee it that the winners want to change something to fit with their decor at a later stage...
Devs will never change their mind but... the majority will never be happy with someone elses design. Well done to those that won, to the rest... suck it up..
Customisable is a win for me, if it means 18x18 then so be it.
Devs will never change their mind but... the majority will never be happy with someone elses design. Well done to those that won, to the rest... suck it up..
Customisable is a win for me, if it means 18x18 then so be it.
Castle has to be a "castle" it must have double stairs... not 15 stairs stuck together that's silly... It MUST have a grand entry... must be fortified... must not have "gaps" must be "defensible" ....... Must have a formal good size meeting hall area... It must have a courtyard... must have towers... I do not care if it has teleporters or not but all areas MUST be accessible, preferably by stairs... which MUST be double-wide. I prefer to decide where there are arches or doors not have someone force my layout.
REALLY wanted the design I submitted. Basically.
I know what I do NOT want... I know what I absolutely do not want. Do not want single staircases... do not want 3, 4 or more stairs together... do not want to have a jail or jail doors it's not a prison it's a CASTLE... a home... do not want that horrid iron cemetery fence in my castle... Do not want wasted space in my castle... no water features, no lava features... waste of space IMO can't deco it don't want it... Need to have plenty of space for display and meetings... Do not want only teleporters... each floor MUST have stairs. It must look like a castle therefore must be made of stone. I Prefer the stone we CAN add as that is what we have to work with... so using anything else is well... going to make anything you add look ridiculous and out of place... and just ..... wrong. So it must be made of the correct stone. If we had other material to work with that would be fine... but we don't.
REALLY wanted the design I submitted. Basically.
I know what I do NOT want... I know what I absolutely do not want. Do not want single staircases... do not want 3, 4 or more stairs together... do not want to have a jail or jail doors it's not a prison it's a CASTLE... a home... do not want that horrid iron cemetery fence in my castle... Do not want wasted space in my castle... no water features, no lava features... waste of space IMO can't deco it don't want it... Need to have plenty of space for display and meetings... Do not want only teleporters... each floor MUST have stairs. It must look like a castle therefore must be made of stone. I Prefer the stone we CAN add as that is what we have to work with... so using anything else is well... going to make anything you add look ridiculous and out of place... and just ..... wrong. So it must be made of the correct stone. If we had other material to work with that would be fine... but we don't.
I want something that i can make look different from everyone else. I want to be able to have 2 or 4 tiles open on the south side and east side so i can deco the walls and outside house area. not good at posting pics but these are 2 of my houses one is a keep and one a castle. I didnt make them look better than the original i just make them look different. My houses will never been done so they always look a mess and not very tidy.
i see these are in png should i of saved them a different way? i think jpg?
i see these are in png should i of saved them a different way? i think jpg?
Attachments
also want to say make the west and north walls go all the way to the outside to give us more room. when you cut out parts on the west and north sides it does nothing on the bottom 3 floors but take away space, it might make it look neater on the 4th but not the lower ones.
there's no way I'm going to move/redo castles unless castle plots are allowed. that is my ideal castle lol. there's a lot of good designs but there's always things that i would like to do differently. ive done the stone craft-able stuff but if you double click floor/walls accidently, they can disappear or fall down to lower level. i wish they were more permanent. i like castles with alot of display area. with an open floor plan, the stone stuff can be used, moved to make rooms bigger or smaller as various items are added or removed. open floor plans are good for this. its not a castle plot but closest to one.
see i never use anything but ground floor ...
Lord Nabin
High Council Sage - Greater Sosaria
Professional
Supporter
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Glorious Lord
*looks up from his book in his normal spot in the tavern by the fire*
The true creativity of the community is just starting to scratch the surface on these contests. I like and we saw some little villages or towns on the plots. How about a mountain complete with a cave system to adventure through. A harbor you could have if you lived right on the ocean with your castle. Maybe a mage tower with a reagents garden around it. Orc castle? I am going to draw the line at an Ikea.
Basically I am saying lets see the imaginations run wild with the lot space provided. Make it a castle sized plot contest instead of just a "castle" contest.
Lastly Stratics could always dub out of the 200 plus contributions a "Stratics community castle design winner" Let the community vote on them all, get it down to a top ten for the final vote and the winner gets a nice banner titles "master Architect" or something till the next contest. You get where I am with this.
*taps his pipe & winks at the tavern keeper who promptly sends some over to fills his glass of Good Old Moonglow Red*
The true creativity of the community is just starting to scratch the surface on these contests. I like and we saw some little villages or towns on the plots. How about a mountain complete with a cave system to adventure through. A harbor you could have if you lived right on the ocean with your castle. Maybe a mage tower with a reagents garden around it. Orc castle? I am going to draw the line at an Ikea.
Basically I am saying lets see the imaginations run wild with the lot space provided. Make it a castle sized plot contest instead of just a "castle" contest.
Lastly Stratics could always dub out of the 200 plus contributions a "Stratics community castle design winner" Let the community vote on them all, get it down to a top ten for the final vote and the winner gets a nice banner titles "master Architect" or something till the next contest. You get where I am with this.
*taps his pipe & winks at the tavern keeper who promptly sends some over to fills his glass of Good Old Moonglow Red*
Miretar
Journeyman
I have already identified 3 features that all of these designs are missing. Not all castles were built as fortresses. Some were built as „for show“ castles. I am crazy about the castles of Germany & Austria & hope to incorporate some elements of them into designs.
Lord Nabin you are right—we are only scratching the surface.
Lord Nabin you are right—we are only scratching the surface.
I am in LOVE with the idea of a mage tower with a reagent garden!
Miretar
Journeyman
I love this design but I think I would miss not having a complete fourth floor. We need more levels for roofs.
I save memories in my heart you can't lock them down. Give away your stuff and free yourself
This contest had the most creative designs we have seen. I wont change from what I have, but there were a lot of unique designs.
Looking forward to the Keep Contest!
Larisa
Publishing Manager, Stratics Leadership
Editor
Reporter
Moderator
Professional
Editor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Wiki Moderator
UNLEASHED
If I had the time or the inclination to design and deco my *ideal* castle I would. Thing is, everyone has a very different opinion on what a *good* design is.
I did two designs for the contest. One a stone open concept design to utilize the crafted walls and floors, and one pre-built marble with rooms and stuff.
You can't really nail down a *perfect* design...everyone has their own *perfect*
I did two designs for the contest. One a stone open concept design to utilize the crafted walls and floors, and one pre-built marble with rooms and stuff.
You can't really nail down a *perfect* design...everyone has their own *perfect*
Miretar
Journeyman
And more plots! There can never be enough plots.
Like the mosaics and faux floor tiling in your castle pics. Very nice.
The .jpg format sometimes better for compressing large files. Either format compatible for upload.
These looks usually have a very big problem for UO house replicas:
They are often very difficult to represent over the 4 available levels - and they often have round turrets with the corresponding roofs.
What I also miss are better decorative elements in the house components - other half-timbered components e.g., windows with shutters, large courtyard gates.
What I still miss : steeper or flatter designable roofs
What I would also like to see are building elements for a better oriental style: round domes in different sizes.
And above all - finally an adjustment of the tool in the existing building elements - it is still a mystery to me why some parts are double and triple in it, while in other kits you do not even find parts with windows.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Last edited:
I think it's time to remove the words 'castle' and 'keep' from the competitions that the Dev's have allowed the players to compete in. For some they're limiting the creativity of what can be done with the space. We already have an abundance of choices of castles and keeps. In my opinion this is why Villages did so well in this last round. I think people are thirsting for something.... completely different.
I would love to see different architecture from different cultures. We have plenty of Western European and a small selection of Asian designs. There's a world of other designs that haven't even been touched.
I also think it's time that we as voters need to stop thinking about what we, ourselves, would want. Maybe it's time to think about what new design needs to be added to the pot. Let's look at what we have now and what new variations are needed. We have a gazillion beautiful and functional grey and brown stone buildings that all pretty much look the same. Do we really need another? What architectural styles are we lacking? Regardless of whether or not you personally would use it!
It would be really helpful if our tools could be expanded upon. Marble dome roofs, minarets, Tall arches, tiled walls.... I think this last round has proved that craftspeople have matured to where they're sincere in trying to design award winning architecture.
The appetites have been wetted.
I would love to see different architecture from different cultures. We have plenty of Western European and a small selection of Asian designs. There's a world of other designs that haven't even been touched.
I also think it's time that we as voters need to stop thinking about what we, ourselves, would want. Maybe it's time to think about what new design needs to be added to the pot. Let's look at what we have now and what new variations are needed. We have a gazillion beautiful and functional grey and brown stone buildings that all pretty much look the same. Do we really need another? What architectural styles are we lacking? Regardless of whether or not you personally would use it!
It would be really helpful if our tools could be expanded upon. Marble dome roofs, minarets, Tall arches, tiled walls.... I think this last round has proved that craftspeople have matured to where they're sincere in trying to design award winning architecture.
The appetites have been wetted.
@Amber Witch
1000% Agree
1000% Agree
You think it's an abundance of castles and keeps... However I do not... 1/2 of them are definitely not castles or keeps... they are cathedrals, villas, ruins... monstrosities... some abomination of a jail or something ... not sure what... but not a castle. Few of the current selection is anything I could consider a castle.. and none of them are usable. Hence my castle still being the standard castle still.
Well... what can I say ^^ Architecturally and also linguistically seen in Europe castles and fortresses/keeps are two pairs of shoes, whereby the keep is of course the older pair of shoes.
Keeps are characterized by a very simple construction, while castles already have more ornate building elements.
Oldschool loyalty definitely has its place and finds it again and again among the people. But if we think and act only in this track, we do not develop as a player and we also do not develop the game - especially in such house building contests in no way further. On the contrary - we step on the spot of the convenience and what might inspire people to stay and hold nevertheless, then finds another poor result and the fantasy actually pulls the ass card again
. And that in a MMORG that was and still may be a trailblazer for many others meanwhile 25 years now.
I don't write this just because I won this contest with the Heorot. I'm writing this because it's a fundamental need for me and because the fuss of some people in this event is - to say the least - getting on my nerves This is my personal opinion. No one has to put on further. Since I call here also no names, must not also feel urged to justify.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Keeps are characterized by a very simple construction, while castles already have more ornate building elements.
Oldschool loyalty definitely has its place and finds it again and again among the people. But if we think and act only in this track, we do not develop as a player and we also do not develop the game - especially in such house building contests in no way further. On the contrary - we step on the spot of the convenience and what might inspire people to stay and hold nevertheless, then finds another poor result and the fantasy actually pulls the ass card again
. And that in a MMORG that was and still may be a trailblazer for many others meanwhile 25 years now.I don't write this just because I won this contest with the Heorot. I'm writing this because it's a fundamental need for me and because the fuss of some people in this event is - to say the least - getting on my nerves
This is my personal opinion. No one has to put on further. Since I call here also no names, must not also feel urged to justify.Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
From where you stand in your part of the world, with your thoughts of what a castle 'should be', you are absolutely correct. I respect you, your thoughts and opinions that your castle is your gold standard of what a castle should be. We all have opinions and we should never attempt to belittle another's opinions. To do such adds no value to a healthy conversation and would only stiffle what should end up a learning experience for all that participate. I gathered from the title of this thread that is what the OP wishes.
Again, I'll simply and respectfully state that I think it's time to remove the words 'castle' and keep' from the competition title and that we already have enough choices in grey and brown stone castles and keeps.
Last edited:
In order for me to get what I would want in a future castle design, they would need to make more walls, floors, stairs, etc. craftable as well. The reason there are so many stone castle and keep designs is, as far as I can tell, the people that designed them understood that players would want to set up the interiors the way they wanted, and since the only walls, floors, etc. that are currently craftable are the regular stone, it made sense to make the shell stone.
As someone that enjoys crafting probably a bit too much, I'd love the ability to craft wood and plaster walls (with or without windows), sandstone stairs, and wooden floor tiles. Give me enough advance notice, and I'd be spending the vast majority of my game time gathering resources to make such pieces.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
As someone that enjoys crafting probably a bit too much, I'd love the ability to craft wood and plaster walls (with or without windows), sandstone stairs, and wooden floor tiles. Give me enough advance notice, and I'd be spending the vast majority of my game time gathering resources to make such pieces.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
I agree with everything MalagAste stated.
For the most part I like the original castle design.
Ii don't want internal doors. 1 entry door suffices.
I prefer an open concept. To many small rooms is annoying.
No gates. No waterfalls.
Everybody has their own aesthetic and agenda so it'll be hard to get consensus.
Customizing my own plot is the ideal.
For the most part I like the original castle design.
Ii don't want internal doors. 1 entry door suffices.
I prefer an open concept. To many small rooms is annoying.
No gates. No waterfalls.
Everybody has their own aesthetic and agenda so it'll be hard to get consensus.
Customizing my own plot is the ideal.
- Awards
- 3
What if a design could be altered to reskin all the walls and floors . Like say the winning castle is stone walls, you like the design but want it to be wood or plaster .
Boom
You hit a button and it changes it.
Is this possible ?
Wait let me stop myself right there...
Boom
You hit a button and it changes it.
Is this possible ?
Wait let me stop myself right there...
I like the roofs where I'm able to put alot of garden sheds on.
Oh, the many inappropriate answers I could give.....
I love the arches that Llama made, I like being able to make small scenes on the outside.
Can add a floor to a borg cube.
Spaces that you can use on the east wall. And you can put things on the wall.
Not everybody wants the same thing. Have to choose and do what you can with what you got.
Can add a floor to a borg cube.
Spaces that you can use on the east wall. And you can put things on the wall.
Not everybody wants the same thing. Have to choose and do what you can with what you got.
Last edited:
A way for everyone to get their own design would be best.
If contests are to continue, I would like to see themes for the contest and an anonymous panel (not the Devs or players) that selects the 3 additional winners based on the theme.
Themes could mirror the requests we see in these threads: village, museum, vendor mall, ruins, guild hall, fort, etc.
If contests are to continue, I would like to see themes for the contest and an anonymous panel (not the Devs or players) that selects the 3 additional winners based on the theme.
Themes could mirror the requests we see in these threads: village, museum, vendor mall, ruins, guild hall, fort, etc.
Because of my eye sight I like the walls and floors to be a lighter color. Before I changed my castle to what it is now (Elsa) it got downright depressing even with the lighter color pavers I put on the floor. I need room for all of my sheds, space for crafting where I don't have to run from room to room to get things. Out of 200 entries I came in number 10.
Then I may as well give up as it will take 50 years to get what I want to use for a castle. Seriously... I've tried with each and every contest to get a usable design to pass and win.. yet time after time .. nope... I just want to be able to update my castle. But once again ... going to have to wait.
Still have the same ole same ole castle... probably will till the game dies.
I love your roof top garden idea it's very clever!
I would like to see designs that feature this:
No offense meant here, but your posts come across as very whiny. The vast majority of us are in the same boat as you, our own designs didn’t win. You have a very, very narrow idea of what works for you, which is just fine. However, every castle that does not meet that set of specifications is not unusable… they just may not be ideal for you.
I will continue to advocate for what I have posted several times as my preferred solution. It gives the Devs what they want and as close to a customizable castle as I think we can get. That said, I’m not sure the suggestion of themes for the castle contest decreases your odds of getting what you deem acceptable. A contest for a European Keep theme with 200 entries likely has a better chance of producing something you like than the open format we have now.
I have often thought the same. A contest with a theme. And themes for something we don't have at this point.