Perhaps I'm just ignorant because I've only been playing this newly released DLC for an hour, but I shouldn't already have issues with it. My first issue (not 100% certain on this) is that I've read that you are supposed to receive a letter from a courier that which starts the DLC quest telling you to visit the Jarl because he can sell you land, when entering a town or what not, but only if you are NOT the Thane already... I'm almost the Thane everywhere.

Second issue: I understand this DLC was only five dollars but I don't think they're going to change it later either - from my understanding you are able to build three houses in the game now... pretty much in the middle of nowhere but ONLY THREE!

Third issue: they advertised that you get to "design your own house" but from what I've read and have seen, I'm hardly doing any designing, just a lot of labor to add another PRE-SET structure to my PRE-SET house...

Fourth issue: sure they added new materials, such like clay and some stone but in one spot in the world... I traveled to a mine thinking that maybe Bethesda added these new materials with the others or place them in their own unique location... instead of 5 feet away from my house and nowhere else in the world...

Fifth issue: the children! So now you can adopt a child.. that's cool, but what if I wanted an Orc child, or anything besides the pasty Nord children? And why adopt anyways? Is not like they'll grow up and become your partner in crime or anything.. no, they don't age, they don't need food or water, and they can't die at all...

Sixth issue: able to own so many houses, children and servants but unable to own a business?! I only live in one house at a time so what's the point in buying and building so many? They should have allowed to you to build a store instead of just a house, and it's not like your wife and children can't maintain it because I see so many others doing it in every city in the game. The only income I have is what was in the pockets of those draugr.

For now these are the only issues I have currently with this DLC, I'm sure I'll have plenty more within the next hour. "Design your own house" is starting to seem a lot like "sabotage the economy" like Todd Howard said before releasing the game.. pfft..what economy? I'm the only person who actually buys anything in the game..

Wait, if you're the Thane of a hold you can't build a house there? That sounds weird but if it's true I might go on a Skyrim killing spree.

From what I understand you don't get the letter, but can still build a home. Just talk to the Jarl or Steward on your own.

Phew, I need me my homes. I can do without the naked courier running up to me again, as long as I get to do my buidling, I'm all set. Thanks.


I've only began building in Falkreath and that's one of the only holds I'm not the Thane in yet.

Your fourth issues is false. I have founds quite a few deposits of clay and quarry stone.

But I agree, I was hoping for a unique house creator not this pre-built stuff that is not very custom at all.

I have a thief character who wanted a basic house and a secret basemant. Thing is, I have to build the mansion part to get the cellar, so I'm basically advertising that I HAVE MONEY LOOK AT ME AND MY BIG OL HOUSE WITH NO LOCKS OR PROTECTION!

Ahaha, I'm kinda feeling the same way. I expected a bit more customization for certain characters of mine but I guess I'm not to upset about it.

Colour schemes would have been welcome, but then it would not be contextual to Skyrim's culture :3

True, and however many people that would be happy about it, just as many would complain.

As is the case with everything, friend

This is false.


Yeaaaa I was disappointed by this too.


Yea man cause they have infinite time and resources to program all of that. I mean with no possible budgetary or scheduling constraints they must just be slackers to have left all of that out of a DLC. /endsarcasm

...how do you know there won't be a follow-up expansion later that lets the kids "grow up"?

Also, why adopt? For the same reason people play the game... for FUN!

Not everything in the game (or life!) has to "give" you a tangible item reward, you know!

I know. It svcks that you can either have an EXTREMELY modest house, or a gigantic mansion.

Yes, I was hoping to be able to build a cellar with a modest home, but meh. I'm happy with it. It was only 5 bucks.

1. Yes that's how it start's maybe im missing something from this issue. Maybe i think i'm missing you have to become thane?


2. Three Houses that don't have a home, Only thing missing is winterhold, Don't think they will change it, 5 bucks is prob the best offer anything higher is stupid.


3 I Agree, pop up some new Architecture like stone or Wood or something...


4. I don't care, easy to get

5. You get a pet, you can finally hurt their feelings you can give them a sword (Wooden)

6. Your wife owns a buissness. 100 Gold a day, sure i'd like more but i am rich enough as it is

We're not forced to purchase the wing extensions. If you want a happy medium, build the entry way, the main hall, and leave it at that (and the cellar if you like).

Considering we had 5 homes to choose from, each with a different style and feel to them, it hardly seems appropriate to say Hearthfire lets you build a real estate empire like the trailer does, considering it doesn't even add as many homes as the base game already comes with (and this isn't counting the multiple homes you get through guilds).

Add to that, that the only customization the game offers is what extensions you want to build (and limiting you to 3 per area), all of which will probably end up looking identical outside of the towers and a few other things.

When the GameJam video showed the ability to make your own home, I was hoping to be able to make a small cabin, maybe with a hidden cellar like that witch outsider Riverwood, a lonely tower made of stone, a Dwemer styled home carved into a mountain, a nice mansion, or maybe a decent sized home with a farm and windmill. Maybe even the ability to build a wall to protect your home if you feel so inclined, and maybe setting up a trade post that eventually leads to a whole new township springing up around you. You know, a larger degree of variety and customization, with the ability to place these structures in one of several areas per hold to suit our character's unique tastes and sensibilities.

Obviously that's not quite what we got, which is more than a little disappointing.

People can say that it's because it's a small DLC with a small development team, but you know what? If this had come with all the stuff I listed, I think people would be willing to shell out more money for it.

They weren't going to let us build homes in holds that already have one. I think this is mostly a test period, they may add more features later for more customization. Even if they don't I wont mind because at least we can build our own houses, I'm not going to be greedy. Besides, it's still a lot of content for $5.

I'd go in $20 for that, easy, if there were non human kids to boot, but as it stands I'm going to pass until some mods use HF resources to make a better house building package.

You can have a home in the Pale, much closer to Dawnstar, in the base game. You can't build a home in Winterhold (I mean the whole Hold, not just the former city), despite the fact that it's pretty much in the same position the Pale was in the base game.

Probably because they couldn't think of three new room layouts for this fourth home.

It would be fun to be able to build an inn other then a house . You could have random travelers and hire entertainment, serve booze, throw drunks out etc.

Wait, so can you build a house anywhere in one of the 3 Holds, or is it only in one spot that is labelled "land for sale", much like The Sims?

The latter. Each Hold takes a "One-size fits all" approach. If it's good enough for your warrior, it's good enough for your necromancer.

i just wanted to add simple things to rooms, and even that is too much.

2 more maneuquins in my armory? nope,
2 more armor and weapon stands nope

Then quit holding so much loot? That'd be my only solution to your issue.

The only customization you have is choosing which additional wing to attach to the main building, but only after attaching so many other unwanted structures to the main building (which are un-removable). Other than that, you're able to add furniture to all your rooms but only from a pre-set list and any of what you do add to the room is auto placed and unmovable, so the only real customization there is choosing which furniture you don't want in the room.

Because if they were to release a new DLC that allows your children to grow up, it wouldn't work unless you had children in the first place which only comes with HF, therefore if you don't have HF it would be pointless and they wouldn't add the option to adopt because they already have it.