What Does “Guild Housing” Mean in Practice?
In Ashes of Creation, guild housing does not mean player houses owned by a guild. Instead, it refers to large, guild-specific structures that represent a guild’s presence and influence in the world.
In general, guild housing includes:
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Guild halls
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Guild fortresses
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Guild castles
Each of these serves a different role, but all of them are tied to territory, node development, and guild progression rather than individual player ownership.
Most players will interact with guild halls first, since they are the earliest and most common form of guild housing.
What Is a Guild Hall?
A guild hall is a permanent structure placed in the world that acts as a focal point for a guild. It is not just cosmetic. It represents a guild’s status and unlocks practical benefits tied to guild progression.
In general, a guild hall:
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Represents the guild’s presence in a specific area
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Provides access to guild-related systems and perks
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Offers customization options over time
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Ties the guild’s influence to a node or barony
Most players will think of guild halls as the “home base” for a guild, even though individual players do not live there in the same way they live in personal housing.
How Does a Guild Unlock a Guild Hall?
A guild does not start with a guild hall.
Usually, the process works like this:
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The guild levels up through normal play
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When the guild reaches a required level, the guild master receives a certificate
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That certificate allows the placement of a guild hall
This means smaller or inactive guilds will not immediately have access to guild halls. Most players in early phases of the game will see guild halls controlled by organized, active groups rather than casual social guilds.
Where Can Guild Halls Be Placed?
Guild hall placement is heavily restricted, and this is where many players get confused.
Placement Within Baronies
In general:
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Guild halls are placed within baronies
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Baronies exist within the Zone of Influence (ZOI) of a settlement
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Each barony can only support one guild hall
This means guilds are competing for limited space. If a barony already has a guild hall, another guild cannot place one there.
How Many Guild Halls Can Exist Around a Node?
The number of guild halls that can exist around a node depends on the node’s development stage.
In practice:
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Lower-stage nodes support fewer guild halls
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As a node advances, more baronies become eligible
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Only a limited subset of guild hall locations are active at any one time
Steven Sharif has explained that even if multiple potential locations exist, only a few are available simultaneously. For example, a node at one stage might allow only two active guild halls, while a higher stage might allow three.
This creates competition. Most guilds will need to:
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Coordinate with node leadership
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Act quickly when placements open
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Maintain good political relationships
What Are Patron Guild Halls?
Some guilds can become patron guilds of a node. These guilds are allowed to place their guild hall directly within the footprint of their patron node, rather than in surrounding baronies.
In general, patron guild halls:
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Have different perks compared to barony guild halls
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Are more closely tied to node politics
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Reflect a closer relationship with node leadership
Most players will see patron guild halls as a sign that a guild has strong influence in that node’s governance.
Do Patron Guild Halls Affect Other Players?
Yes, in some cases.
Patron guild halls placed within baronies may be able to confer benefits to surrounding estates in that settlement. This usually requires:
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Investing points into passive abilities in the guild skill tree
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Completing a long quest line
In practice, most guilds will not rush this. It is a long-term investment and usually done by guilds that plan to stay in one area for a long time.
What Kind of Benefits Do Guild Halls Provide?
Exact bonuses may change during development, but in general, guild halls are expected to offer:
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Guild-wide passive benefits
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Access to guild progression systems
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Customization options that reflect guild identity
In future updates, guild halls are also planned to provide additional storage through crafted furniture. This means crafters within the guild may play an important role in upgrading and customizing the hall.
Most players should expect guild hall benefits to matter more at scale, rather than providing immediate power to individual members.
How Do Guild Fortresses and Guild Castles Fit In?
While this article focuses mainly on guild halls, it helps to understand the broader picture.
In general:
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Guild halls are about presence and progression
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Guild fortresses are more focused on defense and territory control
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Guild castles are tied to large-scale PvP and regional dominance
Most guilds will never control a castle. Fortresses and castles are designed for large, coordinated groups that are willing to engage in ongoing conflict.
Common Misunderstandings About Guild Housing
Most players misunderstand guild housing in a few key ways:
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It is not shared player housing
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It is not purely cosmetic
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It is not guaranteed for every guild
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It is not permanent if political conditions change
Guild housing is meant to reinforce the idea that the world changes based on player action. If a guild loses influence or territory, their access to guild housing can change as well.
How Most Guilds Will Actually Use Guild Halls
In practice, most guilds will use guild halls as:
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A symbol of legitimacy
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A coordination hub for members
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A long-term investment rather than a short-term goal
Only a small number of guilds will optimize every passive or benefit. Most players will simply enjoy having a recognizable presence in the world.
It is similar to how most players approach in-game economies. Some players min-max everything, while others just want enough resources to stay active. That is why you sometimes see discussions about things like how players usually manage gold, including mentions such as
buy Ashes of Creation gold from U4N, even though most players earn what they need through regular gameplay.
Final Thoughts on Guild Housing
Guild housing in Ashes of Creation is designed to be:
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Limited
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Competitive
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Tied to social and political systems
Guild halls are not something every guild will have, and that is intentional. In general, they reward organization, persistence, and community involvement rather than raw playtime.
Most players should think of guild housing as part of the larger node and territory system, not as a replacement for personal housing. If you approach it with that mindset, the system makes much more sense.
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