Design Notes

February 25, 2025

AQW Housing Spotlight: Total Transformation House by Sylveon

Meet our AQW x Akumi Architect, Sylveon

When it comes to player housing in AQWorlds, some heroes go above and beyond… and today’s spotlight is no exception! Meet Sylveon, fellow adventurer who has spent nearly 1.5 years and countless hours crafting one of the most meticulously designed homes we have seen! This isn’t some typical decorated map though; it’s a total transformation of the Akumi House, built with incredible attention to detail, layering, stacking, and creativity.

Here's the before:

“This house was created solo, starting with the ‘Underwater’ styled room after I saw the murals added in the Voice in the Depths saga of AQW,” says Sylveon. “When stacked on top of each other, they make for a nice, rocky cliff kind of design that completely changes the feel of the house.”

And that was only the beginning. Once Sylveon mastered this creative technique, she set out to redesign every room… each one with a completely different theme!

Starting with the Akumi Ship House, Sylveon painstakingly covered up nearly every part of the original house design 👀 An extremely difficult feat, to say the least!

“You either need very, very large items to do it or a bunch of small items that can cleanly mesh together to create a convincing background,” Sylveon explains. “The hardest room to do was definitely my Fantasy Forest room, because even today, we don’t have enough wall items in the style I want to completely cover up the top half of the screen.”

And yet… Sylveon found a way. Many ways, in fact! So let’s take a tour of the incredible rooms inside this one-of-a-kind home!

Room 1: The Underwater Room

Items Used: 174
Theme: An eerie, sunken ocean landscape
Inspiration: Voice in the Depths saga

This was the first scene built and set the foundation for the entire house. By layering the underwater murals just right, Sylveon created the illusion of a rocky ocean cliffside, making the house feel entirely different from its original form.

But the real flex? The tiny pile of bones beneath the leftmost blue mushroom.

“Each bone is a 1% drop, and there are 13 of them in that tiny pile,” Sylveon reveals. “That was probably the most time-consuming decoration to obtain.” 😱

Room 2: The Darkon Saga Room

Items Used: 30
Theme: A minimalist, haunting Darkon-inspired space
Inspiration: Darkon Saga

A stark contrast to the underwater room, this area embraces an ominous aesthetic, using just 30 well-placed items to maximize atmosphere (and, as we all know, atmosphere is ~very~ hard to come by in outer space, which is where the Akumi Ship House is stationed).

The Darkon room may feature fewer items, but sometimes less is more – and Sylveon totally nailed it! Every choice here was intentional, making this a perfectly balanced and eerie tribute to Darkon and his insane Saga.

Room 3: The Sea Lab Room

Items Used: 43 
Theme: A high-tech aquatic research station
Inspiration: Sci-fi deep-sea exploration

This futuristic lab has a secret detail you might not notice at first…

“The reason for my nameplate being visible in this room is because I wasn’t happy with any position of the leftmost hanging blue light,” Sylveon states.

“So to deal with it, I used my nameplate as the attachment point, and it looks more natural.”

Well this certainly shows a true designer's talent: using GUI in unexpected ways to enhance the overall ambience of the room!

Room 4: The Fantasy Forest Room

Items Used: 118
Theme: A whimsical, magical forest
Inspiration: Enchanted nature

Sylveon saved the best for last – and reveals it was the most difficult room to complete, too! This lush, vibrant space features layered clouds, glowing mushrooms, and dense greenery, but covering up the original house design was a major challenge.

“With the limited cloud quantity that exists at the moment, this was the densest cloud coverage I was able to do,” Sylveon shares. “I think it turned out pretty good for the limited resources I had.”

And tucked away in this enchanted forest is a hidden surprise:

the smallest house item in the ~entire~ game!

“If you look super closely under the chest, there’s a tiny bird—placing it was a nightmare because the editor buttons actually cover it up. So I had to blindly guess and check until it was in a position I was happy with.”

Talk about totally winging it! With patience, precision, and an eagle’s eye for detail, Sylveon managed to nest the tiniest item in AQW history – truly a tweet-worthy triumph! 🕊️

A Masterpiece in Home Makeovers

Sylveon’s house is an impressive home transformation that just goes to show how AMAZING ourcommunity is! With a mix of patience, creativity, and insane attention to detail, Sylveon turned a standard house into an immersive, multi-themed experience.

Which room is YOUR favorite? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to stop by Sylveon’s home to see her Total Transformation House in person!

Battle on!
Beleen, Sylveon, and the AQ3D team

February 11, 2025

AQW Housing Spotlight: Shadowfall Fortress by Garkoks Dran

A Home Fit for an Undead Overlord... with a Hoarding Problem

For 14 years, Garkoks Dran has been perfecting the ultimate lair – one that blends the eerie majesty of Shadowfall with the undeniable reality of a hero’s hoarding tendencies. This ever-evolving stronghold on the Artix Server has been built, rebuilt, and rebuilt again, proving that persistence… and maybe a touch of necromantic magic… truly pays off.

A Gift from Gravelyn… With Unexpected Consequences

The premise of Shadowfall Fortress is simple: after years of unwavering service to the forces of darkness, Gravelyn extended an invitation for Garkoks Dran to take up residence within Shadowfall. Oh wow, what an honor! However, no one—not even the Empress of the Shadowscythe herself—could have predicted just how much stuff one hero could amass.

Treasures? Check. Legendary artifacts? Check. Trophies from conquests across Lore? Check. An army of pets, ancient forbidden technologies, and enough furniture to clutter every possible space? Check, check, and check!

And yet, despite the fortress’s impressive gothic grandeur, there is one glaring oversight…

…

a single shower.

Just one shower?! For an entire undead stronghold!?! Oh the horrors – and the stench! 😱

The Trials of an Unyielding Architect

Building and maintaining a lair of this magnitude is no easy feat. Over the years, Garkoks Dran has painstakingly placed down hundreds of items, only to have to replace them again due to glitches, bugs, and the occasional unexpected house guest who just wouldn’t leave. Friends Only Plague, anyone?

Some of the rarest pieces have been collected using IODAs, with one elusive prize still missing: the Chairman Platinum statue. Even with a fortress this massive, house space is always an issue, as every new addition pushes the limits of what Shadowfall can hold.

And let’s not forget the mysterious floor-eating glitch in the Garden2 room, where items sometimes seem to vanish into the abyss. Here’s hoping that issue gets fixed before another precious relic disappears forever! 😳

Visit the Fortress… If You Dare

Garkoks Dran’s Shadowfall Fortress is a must-see for any player housing enthusiast or aspiring dark overlord. Whether you come for the eerie ambiance, the jaw-dropping decor, the floor-eating mysteries, the insane amount of gold,

or just to witness the sheer magnitude of loot-hoarding in action, this legendary lair is a testament to dedication, creativity, and an undying love for undead aesthetics.

So the next time you find yourself wandering the Artix Server, take a trip to Shadowfall Fortress… but be warned: there’s only one bathroom, and the line might be centuries long.*

Battle on!
Beleen, Garkoks Dran, and the AQW team

* Ladies! We certainly know all about those century-long lines waiting for the Women’s Restroom, don’t we 🤭

January 28, 2025

Sandsational Spotlight: the Djinn Palace by Enkanomiya

Djinn and Tonic

The Sandsea has always been a realm of wonder and intrigue in AQWorlds, with its alluring stories, breathtaking maps, the beloved Bupers Camel*, and, of course, the enigmatic Djinn. For Enkanomiya, the appeal of the Sandsea storyline and Crulon’s impeccable designs made choosing the floating Djinn Palace as their forever home a no-brainer. Built in 2018, this house isn’t just a place to hang out—it’s a full-blown immersion into a world of desert magic and hospitality.

The Djinn Palace on the Artix Server isn’t just stunning on the outside; the interior design is a testament to creativity and crazy attention to detail. After three days of meticulous decorating—and many hours of “does this look better here or there?”—Enkanomiya crafted a masterpiece featuring:

• A Shisha Room: Perfect for those chill weekend vibes under the moonlit sky.
• A Lounge Area: A cozy hangout spot for adventurers needing a breather from their quests.
• A Yulgar-inspired Inn: Complete with the Apophis Chantress serving up drinks to weary travelers.

And don’t forget the hidden surprises! 

• If you go in through one of the golden doors, there just might be a giant sandsea dwelling crocodile waiting for you.
• Did you know that the moon changes phases within each room you enter of the Djinn Palace?

Oh wow, it’s these small, mystical touches that make this house feel—and look!—magical!

A Genie-us Touch

Enkanomiya’s Djinn Palace is a testament to the magic of the Sandsea and the endless creativity of our players. Whether you’re lounging under the stars, dodging crocodile encounters, or marveling at the shifting moon phases, the Djinn Palace is an oasis of imagination that never ceases to inspire!

So the next time you’re on the Artix server, swing on by this sandsational spot. Just don’t get lost in the sands of time 🕌🧞‍♀️🌙

Battle on!
Beleen, Enkanomiya, and the AQW team

* Do you know the story of the Bupers Camel? Here’s the DN post about it from 2011!

January 08, 2025

Housing Spotlight: The Fallen Fortress of Sepulchure by Zenshin

A House Inspired by the Anime “Overlord”

It’s 2025, and y’all are already blowing our minds with your creativity! That being said, you have to check out Zenshin's creation, The Fallen Fortress of Sepulchure on the Artix Server. It is soooo much more than just a house – it’s an actual experience! With inspiration taken from the infamous Great Tomb of Nazarick in the anime “Overlord,” this house brings dungeon-like exploration to AQWorlds. Every room in the house is meticulously designed, incorporating monsters, traps, and stories that unfold as you explore its dark halls. Whether it’s the terrifying Body of Despair or the elusive Throne Room, this house offers all players a deeply immersive adventure!

Overlord Overview: Concept and Design

The Fallen Fortress of Sepulchure started as a tribute to Overlord, specifically the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Zenshin, a huge fan of the series, wanted to recreate the dungeon-like atmosphere of the anime, filled with powerful monsters and relentless NPCs. Every area in the fortress has its own backstory and purpose, creating a living world where visitors can feel the tension of wandering through a dangerous and mysterious place.

Seriously… have you ever seen a place like this before?!

Each room has been customized to enhance the feeling of dread and mystery. Zenshin cleverly uses house items to hide the usual game aesthetics, like arrows and NPC interaction bubbles, to create an anime-like atmosphere. The result is an amaaaaazing environment that feels more like an art piece than a house!

I’m going to let Zenshin take it from here and tell the tale of each and every room… 

Area Name: Entrance of Despair

Description: This area is the entry to the castle.

Commentary: This area in the house is nothing special. I just put some items that I think would be best as guards outside. Still, these guards will put anyone into despair just facing them. 

Area Name: Body of Despair

Description: An area full of monsters that will rip any intruder that enters the area into shreds.

Commentary: This room is one of the rooms that is difficult to put some non-guard/guest house items on, evident by that unnatural placement of that stone on the pavement.

Area Name: First Room — Lascivia's Domain

Description: After defeating Lascivia, Zenshin copied its soul and turned it into a Room Guardian.

Commentary: One thing I love about this room is the Ebil Corp Jack Sprat Guard that looks like the Death Knights in Overlord. I originally wanted to put a bunch of them for each side, but placements looked unnatural so I decided to just put 3 on each side. 

Area Name: 2nd Room — Titan's Garden

Description: An area of infinite space that will trap anyone for eternity and will have to face the Titans guarding the area.

Commentary: This is one of the trap rooms I mentioned above. I didn't like the separation of customizers in this house so I decided to transform them into trap rooms. 

Area Name: 4th Room — Leanan's Domain

Description: A beautiful room with a gorgeous guardian. This room can continuously spawn Overdriven Energy Elementals.

Commentary: This room is incomplete and will definitely undergo some changes in the future. 

Area Name: 5th Room - The Blood Garden

Description: A room that insta-kills any living things. Any living intruders who enter this area will have their blood sucked dry by the guardians and blood butterflies. This is also a room with infinite space.

Commentary: The second trap room. I love the idea of putting trap rooms in my house. Of course, The Great Tomb of Nazarick also has traps inside.

Area Name: 6th Room — Training Room

Description: The place where Zenshin's subordinates train to level up and acquire new class skill or racial skill.

Commentary: This is one of the areas in the house that I don't want to change very much from its original design. 

Area Name: 7th Room — Treasury

Description: A room full of gold. A decoy room for greedy intruders.

Commentary: The easiest room for me since I didn't have to think very much for the placements of the gold items. Also, I could've used Dragons as guard to follow those fiction tropes of Dragons guarding treasures; I went with guards with no hands anyway so they don't accidentally use the infinity gauntlet 😏.

Area Name: 8th Room — Unbalanced Monsters

Description: The Final line of defense against intruders before the Throne Room and reach the players.

Commentary: My 2nd fav room and 2nd most difficult room to make. The inspiration of my house is what made this room difficult. I wanted this room of the house to be the 8th room and I will not have it in any other room — this was on my mind when I built the Throne Room, which is the room next to it. It was difficult for me to look for items to cover the statue of Sepulchure and the undead guards because I've used all my pillar items. I wanted to place the monsters in a way that looks natural to go with the background.

The 8th room is my version of the 8th floor of Nazarick — that's why I bothered numbering the rooms. The monsters residing on the 8th floor of Nazarick are one of Overlord's biggest mysteries. The 8th floor is the strongest and final line of defense of Nazarick, the monsters on that floor are said to be able to rival and beat the strongest NPC created by the guild Ainz Ooal Gown. And that is why I made sure the monsters I put in this room scream POWERFUL.

Area Name: Throne Room

Description: The Players' Area.

Commentary: My fav room and most difficult room to design. Just like the 8th room, this is the room that I don't want to have in any other room. The room it resides in is the perfect place. The throne room in Nazarick is on the Final Floor, so I also want my throne room in the Final hidden room. It's the perfect place after the Treasury and 8th floor.

What made this room difficult to make is how it won't allow me to place the items the way I want. There were so many trials and errors, I didn't even want to touch one part of the design after finishing it. A great example is how I couldn't put 3 midnight pillars close together side by side without glitching. Every time I move some items, it moves on its own, so I was only able to place 2 midnight pillars together.

And although this room is my favorite room, this room is not complete yet.  I'm planning to remove the two Sky Obelisk items and replace them with better pillar items in the future. I really hope they turn Dark Marble Column in the Floor Item shop into stackable.

All Hail Zenshin, the Overlord Architect! 

As you can *clearly* see, The Fallen Fortress of Sepulchure is a masterclass in house design, blending Overlord-inspired lore with intricate dungeon mechanics. Each room tells its own story, from the despair-filled halls to the final line of defense before the Throne Room. Zenshin’s dedication to detail is evident in every corner of the fortress (and commentary, too!), creating an unforgettable experience for players and visitors alike. It’s crazy to think that this house is STILL evolving, and yet it stands as a shining example of how creative AQW houses can be. And ofc how creative our amazing players are :)

Head on over to the Artix server and be sure to visit this incredible fortress at /house Zenshin —just be prepared for the insanity that hides inside!

Battle on!
Beleen, Zenshin, and the AQW team

PS: Think your house can top this? Prove it by submitting your housing creation here or on Discord!

November 26, 2024

Player Housing Spotlight: Showcasing Your Amazing Creations

Celebrating the Creativity of our Community 

Player housing is much more than just a fan-favorite feature in Artix Entertainment games – it’s an infinite canvas for creativity and storytelling! From cozy cottages to sprawling cities to crazy cars made entirely out of couches (yup, that exists in AQ3D), our players have built incredible homes that reflect their personalities and passions and… probably some secret obsession of stacking chairs in ridiculous ways. This is why we are thrilled to launch our Player Housing Spotlight, a new initiative to shine a light on the best and most unique player-built spaces in AQ3D, AQW, and ED.

But this isn’t a contest per se – it’s a celebration of the amazing imagination and hard work from our fantastic family of gamers from all around the world! So if you’ve crafted a house you’re proud of – oooor just want any excuse to show off your masterpiece, be it majestic or meme-worthy or mystifyingly bonkers – this is ~your~ moment to shine!

What We're Looking For

We want to see your most incredible housing creations! Whether it’s a seasonal-themed manor, a seaside mansion, a house with a serious Moglin infestation, a dragon made entirely of teddy bears, a floating castle that rains gold coins, a house shaped like a teapot, a house that looks like a sandwich, a sandwich that looks like a house, a home filled with memes, a home MADE of memes, a dungeon disco aka a Knightclub, or really truly any place that tells a story, we’re here to see ~and~ celebrate your creativity!

Submissions should include:​

• 🔢 At least 4 screenshots of your house or housing creation
• 👑 Your character name
• 🪧 Your house name
• 🐲 Your server (if applicable)
• 🗓️ The year your house was built
• 💁‍♀️ Did anyone help build your house with you? Shoutout to your friends!
• 📚 A short story about your creation. What inspired it? Did something funny or unexpected happen while building it? Is there any lore / story around your build, or are you just a mad lad with big brain energy unable to control your boundless imagination?!
• 📝 Any other fun facts you’d like to share? Such as, “this took me 100 hours!” or “I used 5000 items and nearly broke the game!” etc, etc.

📸 Already have screenshots of your humble abodes or heroic architecture? Awesome – send them our way! Or take new ones to showcase your latest masterpiece. Or hecc, why not both!!

Where to Enter?

Discord 👾 or in the comments on Artix.com 🐲 

The Grand Prize? Community Recognition!

The real reward here is having your imaginative house featured on the Design Notes for the whole world to see! (so long as they see my shoutout on Twitter, ofc.) Being spotlighted on the DNs and Socials isn’t about winning; it’s about celebrating the incredible creativity of our players. Seeing your house on the Design Notes is a badge of honor that shows our spectacular community – and unsuspecting onlookers – what makes you and your creation so special.

The Player Housing Spotlight is all about showcasing the talent and passion of our wonderful players. You all NEVER cease to amaze us! We cannot wait to see your builds and hear the stories behind them! From hilarious mishaps to heartfelt inspirations, every house tells a tale, and we’re here to share it all with the world.

Ready to show off your home? Send us your screenshots and details for a chance to be featured on the Design Notes! 

What are you waiting for? Let’s build something amazing together!

…and by that I mean, YOU build something amazing, and I’ll post about it on the DNs :p

Battle on!
Beleen and the Artix Entertainment team

👾 Housing Spotlight Discord channel here

~or~

Upload your screenies & story to this Artix.com DN post