Player housing remains one of the most frequently requested, yet unimplemented, features in World of Warcraft, excluding the divisive Garrison system from Warlords of Draenor. A successful housing system must justify its inclusion by providing high Player Utility Metrics without cannibalizing existing world content (the primary failure of the Garrison). This analysis outlines key design principles and integration ideas that would maximize Housing Interdependence Scores and ensure the feature enhances, rather than isolates, the core MMORPG experience.
This report quantifies the justification for player housing based on Player Utility Metrics and Housing Interdependence Scores.
Evaluation Criteria: Player Utility Metric, Housing Interdependence Score, and Cosmetic Customization Depth
A proposed housing system is evaluated using three weighted criteria. First, Player Utility Metric assesses the functional benefits the housing provides (e.g., storage, crafting bonuses) that are relevant to endgame progression.
Second, Housing Interdependence Score measures the necessity of traveling outside the house to interact with other players, zones, or economies (prioritizing high interdependence). Third, Cosmetic Customization Depth tracks the variety and exclusivity of obtainable decorations. High Interdependence is crucial for sociological health.
Decentralization and High Interdependence
The primary flaw of the Garrison was its low Housing Interdependence Score; it provided too much functional utility (banks, vendors, profession trainers) in isolation. The perfect housing system must be decentralized, placing housing plots within existing, active capital cities or contested zones.
This forces players to exit their private instance to engage with the Auction House, trainers, and other players, providing high Interdependence. The justification for the house becomes personalization and storage, not operational centralization.
Functional Utility: Storage and Cosmetic Depth
To achieve a high Player Utility Metric, housing should primarily solve persistent quality-of-life issues. This includes maximized storage space (transmog sets, crafting materials, unique legacy items) and a deep level of Cosmetic Customization Depth, rewarding obscure achievements and difficult-to-obtain items with exclusive decorative trophies. The house should serve as a trophy case and a logistical staging area, justifying player presence without offering game-breaking functional bonuses.
Integration with Professions and Legacy Content
A successful housing system must integrate with the existing economy. Crafting tables should offer only minor, non-essential bonuses (e.g., increased chance for a secondary stat proc), forcing major profession interactions to remain in the capital cities.
Conversely, Housing Interdependence Score can be boosted by tying decoration acquisition (Cosmetic Customization Depth) to specific legacy content achievements, justifying the revisit of old zones for unique decor pieces.
Player Housing Design Feature List: Proposed Metrics
- Location: Dedicated districts within Stormwind/Orgrimmar (High Interdependence).
- Functionality: Expanded Void Storage/Transmog Catalog, cosmetic trophies (High Utility).
- Decor Acquisition: Decoration drops tied to specific Mythic+ keystones and rare World Bosses (Cosmetic Depth).
- Vendor Access: Only basic vendors (minimal utility) allowed in the house instance to prevent isolation.
Conclusion: Housing as a Trophy Case, Not a City
The successful integration of player housing is justified only if the design prioritizes high Housing Interdependence Scores and high Cosmetic Customization Depth.
By positioning the housing system as a personal, customizable trophy display and logistical hub (high Player Utility Metric), developers can satisfy player demand for customization without recreating the isolating failure of the Garrison and ensuring that the social core of the MMORPG remains intact.
