Imagine owning your own piece of Tamriel real estate in Skyrim. The Hearthfire DLC makes this dream come true. You can buy land, build a home, and even adopt children to create your perfect family.
The Hearthfire DLC lets you manage your own property in Skyrim. You can choose from three locations: Heljarchen Hall, Lakeview Manor, or Windstad Manor. Each offers unique features and customization options.
Building a house in Hearthfire is more than just construction. It’s about creating a home. You can adopt children and watch them grow in your home. Decorate your home with handcrafted items and hire stewards to manage your household.
Key Takeaways
- Hearthfire DLC allows players to purchase land and build their own homes in Skyrim
- Three locations are available for building: Heljarchen Hall, Lakeview Manor, and Windstad Manor
- Players can adopt children and raise them in their newly built homes
- Houses can be customized with various wings, additions, and furnishings
- Stewards, carriage drivers, and bards can be hired to help manage the homestead
Introduction to Hearthfire DLC
Hearthfire, the second official DLC for Skyrim, came out in 2012 for Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3. It brings a new way to play by letting you buy land, design, build, and care for your own home in Skyrim.
What is Hearthfire DLC?
Hearthfire changes the game by focusing on personal stories instead of the main quest. You can build a house, gather treasure, and even adopt children. You can buy land in the Pale, Falkreath, and Hjaalmarch to start building your dream home.
Key Features of Hearthfire DLC
Hearthfire adds many cool features to Skyrim:
- Build your home from a simple cottage to a big mansion with an armory, lab, stable, garden, and more.
- Use new tools like the drafting table and carpenter’s workbench to build and furnish your home.
- Adopt children and raise them in your home, giving you a sense of family in Skyrim.
- Hire stewards to manage your home, keeping it running smoothly.
- Have personal bards for entertainment and a lively home atmosphere.
- Use carriage drivers for easy travel to and from your home.
- Deal with events like skeever infestations, giant attacks, kidnappings, and bandit raids to protect your home and family.
Platform | Metacritic Score |
---|---|
Xbox 360 | 54/100 |
PlayStation 3 | 69/100 |
Even though Hearthfire got mixed reviews, it’s still loved by many. Critics said it lacked customization and creativity. But for those who love building a home and family in Skyrim, it’s a great addition.
Building Your Homestead in Hearthfire DLC
The Hearthfire DLC in Skyrim lets you build your own home. You can choose from different locations, materials, and designs. This way, you can make a home that’s truly yours.
Choosing a Location for Your Homestead
There are three great places to build your home in Skyrim’s Hearthfire DLC:
- Heljarchen Hall in The Pale
- Lakeview Manor in Falkreath
- Windstad Manor in Hjaalmarch
Each place costs 5,000 gold and has special features. For example, Heljarchen Hall lets you build a grain mill. Lakeview Manor has space for an apiary. Windstad Manor has a fish hatchery.
Acquiring Building Materials
To build your dream home, you need various materials. You’ll need quarried stone, clay, and sawn logs. These can be found by mining, excavating, and chopping in Skyrim.
Material | Source | Cost |
---|---|---|
Quarried Stone | Mined from stone quarries near the homestead | – |
Clay | Excavated from clay deposits on the property | – |
Sawn Logs | Chopped from lumber mills | 20 logs for 200 gold |
Iron Ore | Mined, purchased from blacksmiths or general goods merchants | Varies |
Other materials like goat horns, glass, and straw are needed for decorations. You can mine, harvest, or buy them.
Constructing Your House
After buying your land and gathering materials, start building. Begin with a small home and add more as you go. You can build a big mansion.
The Drafting Table helps plan your home. The Carpenter’s Workbench is for building. The main hall has a dining area, bedroom, and cellar.
Customizing Your Home with Wings and Additions
As your home grows, add up to three wings. Each wing has special features like an Enchanter’s Tower or Greenhouse. You can also add gardens, animal pens, and more outside.
Here are some wing options for each side of the main hall:
- East Wing: Library, Armory, Kitchen
- West Wing: Enchanter’s Tower, Greenhouse, Bedrooms
- North Wing: Trophy Room, Storage Room, Alchemy Laboratory
With 27 wing combinations and exterior additions, you can make a unique home. It will show off your character’s style and needs in Skyrim.
Furnishing and Decorating Your Homestead
After building the main hall and wings of your homestead in Skyrim’s Hearthfire DLC, it’s time to make it cozy. You can craft many furnishings and decor items. This lets you create a home that shows off your style and adventures.
Crafting Furniture and Decor
Use the interior workbench to craft things like chairs, tables, and chests. You can also make display cases and divine shrines. To make these, you need specific materials like iron fittings, straw, and glass.
- Iron fittings
- Straw
- Goat horns
- Glass
Some notable items you can craft include:
Furnishing | Materials |
---|---|
Fireplace | 1 Sawn Log, 4 Quarried Stone |
Alchemy Lab | 2 Sawn Logs, 2 Nails, Glass, Quicksilver Ingot, Iron Ingot |
Shrine of Akatosh | Iron Ingot, Flawless Amethyst, Corundum Ingot, Amulet of Akatosh |
Smelter | 2 Iron Fittings, 5 Iron Ingots, 6 Clay, 4 Quarried Stones |
Armorer Workbench | Sawn Log, Iron Ingot, 2 Quarried Stone |
Hiring Stewards to Help Furnish Your Home
If crafting everything yourself is too much, you can hire a steward. Any housecarl or follower can be your steward. They can buy furnishings for you, making it easier to decorate your home.
Stewards can also get animals for your homestead. This includes cows, chickens, and horses.
Adding Special Features like Shrines and Display Cases
To make your homestead even more special, add shrines and display cases. Shrines to the Divines give blessings and bonuses. Display cases let you show off your treasures and weapons.
You can also add mannequins, weapon racks, and taxidermied creatures. These features make your homestead truly yours, showing off your journey in Skyrim.
Conclusion
The Skyrim Hearthfire DLC brings a new way to play, letting you build and customize your own home. You can make a space that shows off your character’s personality and story. This makes the game even more fun and personal.
While it’s not as detailed as some mods for PC players, it’s still great for console players. You can pick where to build, piece by piece, and decorate with items you’ve made. It adds a new layer to the game.
Even with some limits on building styles and bugs, Hearthfire makes you feel like you own your home. You can even start a family and do domestic tasks. It’s a great choice for anyone wanting to dive deeper into Skyrim’s world.
FAQ
What is the Hearthfire DLC for Skyrim?
How many locations are available for building a homestead in Hearthfire?
What materials are needed to build a homestead in Hearthfire?
How do you customize your homestead in Hearthfire?
Can you craft your own furniture and decor in Hearthfire?
Is it possible to hire help to manage your homestead in Hearthfire?
What special features can you add to your homestead in Hearthfire?
Source Links
- https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/The_Elder_Scrolls_V:_Hearthfire
- https://www.thegamer.com/skyrim-hearthfire-housing-guide/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elder_Scrolls_V:_Skyrim_–_Hearthfire
- https://gamerant.com/skyrim-dlc/
- https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Homestead_(Hearthfire)
- https://www.cbr.com/elder-scrolls-skyrim-hearthfire-build-home/
- https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Furnishings_(Hearthfire)
- https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/User_blog:The_Milkman/Skyrim_DLC_Review:_Good,_Not_Great
- https://www.gamegrin.com/reviews/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-hearthfire-review/