Hello!
Having owned the Hearthouse Tavern for a time, I would like to offer my feedback regarding its design. Especially with the Earthkin Merger on the horizon of completion, I think it would be a great time to see the tavern get some needed improvements! It is a very cozy space for guests, but in my experience, working there was not particularly fun or easy.
My main points:
• The bar area itself is cramped, and badly set up for movement. There are kegs of beer on the ground, and the already poor pathfinding of NWN really struggles to get around with all of the additional fixtures. It would be fun to use the grill in the middle for cooking as well, and it is clickable, but not usable. The bar certainly needs more space, and better organization. Beer kegs on the ground? Verboten!
• My arch nemesis was the bar door. I hate that door! My character constantly got stuck when closing the door, more times than not, I'd say perhaps eight or nine out of ten times I would have to /makesafe because of that door. There is also a liquor tap right next to the door, which is much to easy to accidentally click, instead of the door itself.
• The stairs are a neat look, but difficult to get up and down. This leads to my next area of feedback: The upstairs itself! While it is a cozy space, I found myself never wanting to stay there because of a few things. For one, there is no privacy. Two, it is still in the bar area itself, so there is constant bar chatter and noise! You would never be able to sleep there. If the tavern is to be expanded, I would like to recommend:
- A private owner's quarter.
- An owner's office.
- Rooms for rent for travelers.
- Shops, and one reserved for the owner too! There is no direct way to fund owning the tavern, as far as I know, other than finding a shop elsewhere or adventuring. The NPC behind the bar keeps all his gold!
The seating area of the bar is incredibly beautiful and cozy, and especially with the portal, there is a draw for traffic. I think, with some additions, and QoL improvements for the owners and employees, it would really benefit whomever owns it, to actually want to use it and set up events!
I really adore the Hearthhouse Tavern, and I would love to see some improvements made to benefit the next owners.
Thank you!
Storybook Lass.