Decorations

Most of these decorations can be seen on the decorating website through their Gundabad reputation or through their instances. Some screenshots are pulled directly from there. Many of the decorations can also be currently viewed inside the kinhouse.

Geode Barterer

When it comes to the geode barterer, there are going to be many players who are going to find the concept frustrating. Not only is there an imbalance over converting the more common geodes into the rarer ones, but there doesn't seem to be anything that acknowledges the amount one would collect. All the items will require the same amount regardless if you are wanting a jasper pedastal or a quartz. There was a preview of a better future when Erebor Housing was shown on Bullroarer, but we are unsure when and by what margin this will take effect. My notes will reflect when they require the rarer material, but it will not hinder my grading.

• Servant of the First Crafter Statue (9/10) - Although the item does not retain the original height of Tamindur as seen from finishing "The Awakening" quest in Gloomingtarn, it does have all of its features: detailed stone outfit, glowing eyes, and beard.

 

• Stonejaws Crystals - Small (6/10) - Although cheap to obtain, the smaller version is simply that - small. It might add some flavor to your house if you barter for one with mere agates, but the size might be disappointing.
• Stonejaws Crystals - Short (4/10) - A disappointing piece that somehow costs more than the small counterpart. The short version appears to be something even a dwarf would trip over. It is not worth getting.
• Stonejaws Crystals - Irregular (3/10) - Although the higher price of retrieving this item might lure you into bartering for one, the crystals are narrow and hold no proper shape or pattern. The only good things about this piece are its decent size and furniture status. It is not worth getting.
• Stonejaws Crystals - Large (9/10) - A must-have for every house owner, this item is relatively fair in its price for such an extravagant piece. Although it is restricted to a yard slot, the brimming crystal is about four times taller than you and slants ever-so-slightly out of a rocky base - perfect for sticking behind a Visiting Banker.

• Stonejaws Stalagmite - Small Crystals (3/10) - As much as I enjoy having more stalagmites, the cost and effort for getting this piece over its larger version isn't worth getting.
• Stonejaws Stalagmite - Large Crystals (9/10) - If you ever wanted to add to your dwarf-cave, this would be a great addition to have. Taller and more stalagmites than its smaller versions, bigger crystals, and furniture status makes it great to have.

• Basalt Formation - Thin (3/10) - All the basalt formations require the same amount. So why buy the smallest one they have when they are all required to be slotted in the yard? With only a few pillars sticking higher than the rest, this one isn't worth getting.
• Basalt Formation - Small (6/10) - The small version holds strong at a decent height and great when not wanting to blow the balance out of your yard placements.
• Basalt Formation - Angled (9/10) - Freakishly huge and great for jumping around, the angled edition is the one everyone should get for the sheer thrill of making the neighbors wonder about you.
• Basalt Formation - Rocks (9/10) - Designed differently than their standing pillars, the rocks spread out as far as the others are high. The interesting thing about this piece is that the "rotating aspect" is off-center by about 30m. This allows you to spin and extend it beyond the normal yard limitations.

• <Geode> Trophy: Wall-Mounted (8/10) - Designed identical to the Dwarrogleam Shadowbox that can be crafted by Jewellers, these geodes are placed on a slightly-smaller frame than one would expect. Their size might be little, but they are decently priced for one that has an over-abundance in geodes (especially in Agates or Quartz).
• <Geode> Trophy on Pedestal (8/10) - The geodes are a little more expensive are now the same price - thanks to Update 32 - than their wall counterparts, but they are decently made with a proper stand and golden plaque (despite it having nothing written on it).

Regional Quartermaster

If you aren't using your Silver Coins of Gundabad in buying crafting recipes, you are going to be collecting a bunch of different housing decorations. There is a large selection with several unique pieces that are great for any house and some not-so-great options that are carbon-copies of each other. There are over 60 decorations to get all requiring between 40 to 100 coins each. Since there are around 280 quests, each rewarding three coins or more if you have the special toolkit equipped, it is possible to obtain most of these pieces on one character. Any additional ones can be bartered for by earning more coins through the dailies.

 

• Ivy-covered Stone Troll - Headless (4/10) - You would think this would be more akin to the trolls you find in Ettenmoors, but it isn't just his head missing. He doesn't even have arms, shoulders, or barely a stomach to speak of. Since you have an abundance of other trolls to choose from, I do not recommend this piece.
• Icy-covered Stone Troll: Sitting (7/10) - This silly troll forgot his sunblock. He crawls on his back while attempting to stop the sun from shining on his body.
• Ivy-covered Stone Troll - Pointing <Direction> (8/10) - Both of these pieces are great to have. They are equipped with armor, decently-sized, and great pieces to highlight a certain decoration in or out of the house.
• Ivy-covered Stone Troll - Hunched-Over (7/10) - It is harder to tell what this troll is doing as it is crawling close to the ground, but it is a good stepping piece with the grass going over his shoulder.
• Ivy-covered Stone Troll - Falling Down (7/10) - I love how this troll twirls his hand over his head like a ballerina, but the developers failed to give him any substance. You can walk right through him! Whether or not this is a good thing is entirely up to you.

 

• Large Dwarf-made Finial (6/10) - A very large globe with a nice platform, this piece can be great to add to your house if you can find a good place to put it.
• Ornate Dwarf-made Finial (5/10) - Imagine the above Finial without the platform. There is enough of a unique design that keeps this thing interesting, but its dwarf stature prevents it from being great.
• Grey Dwarf-made Finial (4/10) - Designed similar to the Moria Ornamental Urn that was provided by Filbert Fig, this finial might have been a good piece if it wasn't for its unique color.
• Tall Dwarf-made Finial (3/10) - The tall figure of this finial doesn't provide any sort of uniqueness over the other ones. There are two smaller spheres instead of one big one and the extended base is flat and boring.
• Black Dwarf-made Finial (6/10) - A great piece with contrasting black tones, this piece is a well-rounded decoration that can be placed in many avenues.
• Simple Dwarf-made Finial (1/10) - Do not get this item. The developers were being cheap with this piece by cropping off half of the full version. Shamefully, it still costs the same as the other. Even if you didn't choose to simply lower the other one to copy what you achieve here, I see no benefit in its design.

• Dwarf-Made Mountain Relief (6/10) - Unlike the Relief From Gondamon you can get at the Skirmish Camp Cosmetics Vendor, this one is twice as large and twice as cool. The design fits well whether its hanging on the wall or flat on the floor. The one problem with this decoration that it merely buffers the Gundabad color scheme. It does not seem to add much to the room that other wall decorations can provide.
• Dwarf-Made Arch Relief (9/10) - There are a lot of things you can do with this piece. Not only can you cover it over your housing chest, but you can also set it up so you can walk underneath it. This concept is great as long as you position it right so you don't glitch through the borders. Despite that, the design and look of it is great.
• <Shape> Dwarf-Made Dias (9/10) - Whether you are choosing the simple platform design, detailed one with four grey dwarf-made finials in each of the corners, or the ornate one with three globes all positioned on a side, there is one thing you have to know about these pieces: they can be slotted in the floor. For this fact alone, they are all worth getting.

 

• Basalt Brazier - Basin (6/10) - Standing at about the length of two dwarves, this average basin is a good addition to any room. It is not too tall, too thin, too fat, too bare, or too fancy. It is just right. It is identical to the Light from Gundabad housing teleportation piece.
• Basalt Brazier - Fancy Post (7/10) - The only difference that makes this one fancy over the other is that it has basalt and Gundabad sigils around the base. It is slightly taller overall, in stone and crystal. However, the entire piece isn't stretched as thin as the very fancy post. It is a good medium between the two.
• Basalt Brazier - Very Fancy Post (8/10) - This piece is great to squeeze between two items that are close together. Not only does it have the standard glow of the standard basins, but it also has the golden Gundabad basalt all around it.
• Basalt Brazier - Large Basin (9/10) - Large and in charge, this piece is great when you want to give movers a hard time. An interesting thing about the basin is the fact that there is a distinct difference in the golden patterns between the front and back of the decoration.
• Basalt Brazier - Fancy Basin (6/10) - This is your standard basin like the one listed above except for the fact of a few extra tiny basin pillars that surround the base.
• Basalt Brazier - Post (5/10) - Unlike the other posts, the entire base is stripped bare to its three circular stone layers. It is slightly smaller but built wider than the fancier versions. This one is great to have when you don't want the golden apparel.

• Map of <Location> (5/10) - As much as I approve of the elaborate designs the frames have around each of these maps, the standard size and infamous layout of the zones will bring back haunting memories of your time trying to navigate through the areas. The only redeeming ones might be Map of Delvings of Gundabad and Map of Mount Gundabad for their overworld views. For a selective option, Map of Clovengap might have enough color to bring out the room.

 

• Dwarf-Made Garden Column (4/10) - This decoration stands very tall in any yard slot. The problem is it doesn't really provide much to your garden display. There is a sphere on top with some interesting fading colors around its base, but it isn't very pretty to look at in the middle of your tiny little garden make-up.
• Dwarf-Made Garden Finial (6/10) - This is what you get if you fed a dwarf too much - one giant sphere. That's about all it is. It is about twice the size of the Ornate Dwarf-made Finial, but can still be slotted as furniture inside your house too.
• Dwarf-Made Garden Trilis (6/10) - Taken directly from the vineyard in Clovengap, these trellis hang over your head pretty high compared to your standard decoration. Similar to the Pillar-Supported Walls you can obtain from Three Peaks mission room, there isn't much you can do with this item other than adding some environment to your yard. It is too bad you can't put up any vines around this piece.

• Resonant Mirror - <Direction> (6/10) - The infamous echo-horns from Gloomingtarn can now be yours for a whopping 100 Silver Coins of Gundabad each. I've bartered for the Vertical one, but failed to find a good reason to put it anywhere in the house. You could place it outside to add to any basalt decorations you might have nearby. Otherwise, I don't see a reason in getting one of these when you have a perfectly good and usable Large Moria Mirror you can slot from the Anniversary Event. I'm not even sure what the differences are between the Vertical and Rotated.
• Gundabad Light Mirror (7/10) - This is a fairly decent piece that replicates the proportions of the ones seen in Mattugard. One side shines a mirror while the back holds a rusty golden base. It would be a nice addition to the large number of stone trolls you can barter for, but it can also be placed in a room decked for the dwarf overlords.

• Replica <Type> Sarcophagus (3/10) - If you ever went through the House of Rest in Gundabad, you know full well how dull and boring the sarcophagi (or sarcophaguses) can be. Each one is meant to be designed to fit a dead dwarf if you can believe it. The Detailed Black version has swirls shaped like sea-shells on top. The Detailed version is grey with a flat slab over it. The Black one appears to be covered over with a shiny layer of obsidian. The ornate has unique star-shaped patterns slightly elevated over it. These pieces will do well if you are setting up a tomb full of dead things. Otherwise, I'd prefer the Dwarf-made types for a little extra flavor.
• Replica <Type> Dwarf-Made Sarcophagus (8/10) - Although not specifically named for its grey exterior, the standard one of these has a stone dwarf holding a sword on top with some writing above his forehead. On the other lid, the Black version also has a stone dwarf, but this one holds a helmet in his arms while the writing is now placed below his feet. Instead of looking like a giant box with some silly designs and colors, there are some awesome additions to these two pieces.

• Drake Skull (9/10) - While looking over the number of wall decorations you can hang in your house, I noticed a lack of pure skeleton trophies. Not only is this brilliantly crushed from a drake's head with long horns, but it also has a nice wooden base. Definitely a great addition to any home.
• Mosaic - The King's Justice (6/10) - As seen in Chapter 10.2: The Mystery of Zul-mazal, this piece of history is now yours for the taking. The problem? It isn't exactly the right size. Unlike the large map format of the Mosaic - Durin & Motsog piece you receive from completing the Epilogue, this housing decoration is the size of a small painting. In either case, it will still make a fine edition when properly placed in a room.
• <Type> Gundabad Chandelier (8/10) - All three of these chandeliers hang beautifully up on any ceiling. The small one has eight chained together with their position rotating counter-clockwise as you move downward. The standard chandelier has four stars in each corner with another one slightly lower in the middle. The large version simply is one white star very similar to the Purple Moria Crystal from the Anniversary Event. However, we must address the size of the pieces. Their ornaments fit entirely inside the little purple square slot you see in your house. Think of whatever you might be getting and shrink it about 50%. Despite this, their white shine and shape will be a wonderful edition to your house.

 

• Replica of the Black Block (6/10) - Ok, so this housing decoration is a tad more special when comparing it to the Large Blacksmith's Anvil you can grab at any Rohan Housing Furnisher. It has a cute little hammer attached on the side and is supposed to be a replica of the great iron anvil on the Stone of the Wakening that gets taken from Gloomingtarn by the Angmarim. Sadly, it really doesn't add much to your room. Do take note that it is also half the size of a dwarf (which makes perfect sense when you think about it).
• Ornate Dwarf-Made Chest (2/10) - Do not be fooled by this decoration. It doesn't do anything. You can't open it. You don't see coins inside. It might as well be a place for your bum. However, it is the chest you see inside Zul-mazal. So if you want to replicate what happens when Durin places the Grey Hammer into the middle slot, you are welcome to do so. Just take note that the piece is slightly smaller than what you see in the instance.
• Replica of a Dwarf-Made Callbox (4/10) - The thing you interact with to call the portable Tardis in Deepscrave, the housing decoration is well-designed with crystals sticking out on both ends of the device. However, you cannot interact with it. If you don't mind this fact, it would make a good decorative piece. Place it by that useless Secret Keyhole that goes nowhere you got from the Quartermaster in Erebor.
• Replica Hobgoblin Throne (9/10) - It took me awhile to remember where I saw this piece before. It is what Warlord Dushtalbuk sits on at Shakhajat in Stonejaws. Quite a fancy decoration if I say so myself. As if Ausma and her crew forcibly ripped the throne out of his fortress, this thing can be a masterful focus point for any large room.

• Ornate Pillar - <Size> (8/10) - First off, all three of these pillars stand pretty tall compared to anything else you might have. They are so large that they are designed for your yard only. The small one is black and gold with a slight ornamental sphere appearance near the top. The large keeps to a more square finial design with some gold stripes that go down its side. The huge one has some sort of combination of the two and more as it towers over any area with its fat legs on the bottom. Depending on your tastes, any one of these would do great for your front yard.
• Grey Hammer Replica (7/10) - Considering the importance of such a weapon, the Grey Hammer should be something awesome you can hang up on your wall. However, there is no sort of baseboard or plaque placed around it. This means that the hammer should mold with some other decoration you might have in the room (like that ornate dwarf-made chest that you probably shouldn't buy). Put it into one of the cavern pieces and pretend it's some dwarvish "Hammer in the Stone" story. If you are creative enough, you'll find this thing to be more flexible in its arrangement.
• <Size> Basalt Basin <Type> (9/10) - I don't care which of the four you decide to buy as long as you get one of them. These freakishly enormous decorations are actually designed to bring envy to your dwarvish neighbors in the new Erebor Housing. You may think you can fit a Large one inside a standard house, but you would be wrong. Instead, put a Huge one in the Shire neighborhood and have hobbits screaming, "The Flowers Are Coming!" As for the types, I prefer the stylized version over the standard since the crystals extend a little more outward. Take note that the large version is for a huge yard slot and the huge version is for an enormous yard slot.

Mission Quartermaster

Gundabad has come out with 37 new missions to tantalize your curiosity. Now that the system is tied with the Allegiance system, there is a good chance you will get an abundance of tokens you won't be using. This means that there is a good chance you will be able to buy every one of the slim rewards the dwarf has available. The Cold Drake Trophy is a definite-must, while the stone trolls are essentially the same as the ivy-covered ones from the other quartermaster. They all still look like they could be part of a ballet recital and you can still walk right through the Ivy-covered Stone Troll - Falling Down decoration.

Allegiance Quartermaster

Contrary to how the other quartermasters work, the Allegiance one requires you to continue doing missions as long as you want more decorations. This isn't inherently a bad thing since the deed requires a total of 160 missions. Completing the 5 daily missions and 20 weekly missions from Zova will get you enough currency for at least one decoration. I recommend using the 500 reputation tokens to fill up your reward track to level 20 for a total of 40 tokens. Convert the rest as needed.

• Painting - <Type> (9/10) - All three paintings are wonderfully made. Ibdekh-buzru has a overhead shot of the moots on top of the hill in Welkin-lofts. Zidir-Nesad shows off the three crystals high above Steepset. Abkan'aban has a clear picture of the white stone that might have seen during one of the load screens. They are very large and held in some fantastic frames. However, do know that while Ibdekh-buzru and Zidir-Nesad have silver borders, Abkan'aban's frame is gold.

 

• Stonejaws Flowstone - Cone (8/10) - You have the option to barter for three different flowstones. The cone version is very similar to the pillar except that it tapers off at the top like an ice cream cone. It will barely fit inside a house with a tall roof.
• Stonejaws Stalagmite - Large (8/10) - Standing tall enough to almost touch the roof inside the kinhouse, this decoration retains the sparkling Halls of Memory purple specks you see all around Stonejaws rock background. The four close-knit stalagmites are enough to bring some color to a larger house.
• Stonejaws Stalagmite - Small (6/10) - Standing about as tall as a high elf, these small pointy lumps has a lot to be desired. They still sparkle like you would expect from stalagmites excavated from the Stonejaws, but their weak stature barely provides enough for a dwarf-cave. Instead, these would make a great substitute in placing inside some sort of hidden cellar or storage room in a much smaller room you might find somewhere (like in the Shire).
• Stonejaws Flowstone - Pillar (8/10) - Unlike the flowstone that gets smaller the higher you go, the pillar keeps its body steady all the way up. However, the top of the piece is built as if someone came along and chopped part of it off. There is a slight indentation that doesn't quite appear natural for its structure. Whether or not you approve of this is entirely up to you. It can still be positioned in a way so the pillar inserts itself into the ceiling.
• Stonejaws Flowstone - Cascade (8/10) - Here is another insanely large decoration with a series of pillars that connect near the base. The flowstone has a rather clear yellow substance like the others and gets smaller in stacks like a wedding cake.

 

• Zaram-Mekhem Replica – <Direction> Stone (4/10) - After seeing the ward-stones in Gloomingtarn for myself, I had expected these newly added decorations for 40 tokens each to be worthwhile. Unfortunately, they have been shrunken to a much smaller size than any of the other rock formations you find from Gundabad. This makes the writing barely legible. Considering that it only fits outside in a yard slot, the smaller adjustment simply wasn't needed. There is barely any difference between the two stones other than the way the stone folds near the top. They don't even ward off your nosy neighbors. Because of these reasons, these pieces can be a hard sell for anyone looking for something to use their precious tokens on.
• Silver Drake Trophy (9/10) - Although the silver drake is no different in shape than the much easier-to-obtain cold drake, there is something distinct in how the entire piece comes together. Perhaps it is the illusion of the decoration's rarity when you cut down the beast for the jewel quest in Welkin-lofts. Or maybe the texture of the mouth simply has a better reflective property than its generic counterpart. In either case, this item will certainly be a boon to a hunter's trophy wall.
• Two-Headed Troll Trophy - Green (8/10) - The expressions of the heads on this piece makes it all worthwhile. It looks like they are either screaming out in terror or in frustration. Their eyes and tongue both glare out at you. The wood seems to glisten with an unusual yellow color. If I had to only choose between the green and yellow, this one would be the better option.
• Two-Headed Troll Trophy - Yellow (8/10) - This piece has more of an oozing green color than a pure yellow one. What's nice about the decoration is that it holds the same expressions as the green one but change some of their physical features. They both appear to have bigger noses and eyes pulled slightly higher up. It would work well to get both of these troll mounts if possible. It also appears to be mounted on top of some redwood.
• Two-Headed Troll Trophy - Tan (7/10) - You might ask yourself why didn't they just name this one grey instead of tan. Well, they reserved that color to the one you can obtain from the instance. Instead, this dull version simply has two heads that are identical to each other. Well, almost identical. The left one's lower lip is covering up some of his teeth. The wood itself is colored brown. It does make a fine addition to balance the collection out if you manage to hang all four pieces up. However, I would have liked a more colorful expression, more akin to the troll you encounter in Glimmerdeep (which I can say here without the word being censored).

 

• Durin's Forge Replica - Small (8/10) - Considered as the interior house version, this piece has been shrunken down to size like the Throne of Isengard you get from The Tower of Orthanc Shadow Wing tier 2. It is still a beautiful piece with a small flame that animates nicely in the center.
• Durin's Forge Replica - Large (8/10) - Considered as the outside yard version, this piece is a direct replica of Abkan'aban in Gundabad. As if pulled directly from its place in Glommingtarn, the decoration will consume any and all things around its vicinity. You could say it will dwarf whatever you have. It is definitely a piece built for Erebor Housing.
• Zidir-nesad Throne Replica (9/10) - Another piece you can collect as if it was pulled directly from Gundabad, the throne from Steepset has all of its Zabad'ibin jewels in place. Although you can attempt to place it inside the house, I'd generally reserve it for a huge yard slot unless you live in Erebor Housing.

Instances

There are three instances currently available for Gundabad. Assault on Dhurstrok has a wide-range of books you can collect and a couple of armour pieces. Den of Pughlak has quite a few colorful bushes and grass pieces you can obtain. And for right now, House of Rest appears to only drop cosmetic pieces. Since these pieces are obtained by sheer luck, I can't recommend which items to get. However, I can still give you a list of what you can get and why they are worth adding to your house.

Assault on Dhurstrok

• Two-Headed Troll trophy - Grey (9/10) - The decoration is very similar to the other two-headed trophies you can obtain from the Allegiance quartermaster. These heads are stripped from Gadh-and-Shum, complete with their magic-glowing eyes. The wood behind their heads is of your typical variety with a black metal bordering all around it. You could say that the decision in adding this piece to your room was already set in stone.
• <Type> of Books (8/10) - Depending on the layout of your house, you'd definitely want at least one of these decorations put somewhere. You have a tall stack of books with about a dozen stacked on top of each other and one opened on top. Precarious stack looks like two interwoven with each other. Large Stack of Books has three piles built up around an open book on the floor as if someone started to create a fort. Large Pile of Books contains a ton of books thrown on top of each other as if they were being prepared to be burned. Scattered Books is less dense and appears to be a random selectment of literature thrown about the room.
• A Library in Shambles (8/10) - Unlike the book collections, this one truly has a bunch of random assortments in the pile. You'll have what you see in the Large Stack of Books with a combination of broken pillars, ladders, and debris. This isn't meant for the clean and appropriate. Stick this decoration somewhere that is meant to be messy and destructive.
• <Type> Armour (2/10) - There are two more things you can get inside the instance: Armour Pile and Rusty Amour Pieces. Imagine if you took off all the armour from one of those stone trolls and threw them on the floor. That's what these look like. So, why would you replace a decoration slot you can put a stone troll wearing the armour with just the armour pieces? It doesn't make much sense to me.

Den of Pughlak

• <Color> Fungal Bush (8/10) - Purple, Light Green, Dark Green, or Pink - any four of these bushes will definitely add color to any room. Although they do take up a furniture slot, you can raise it a little higher off the ground to give it more fluff. If you are really daring, you can choose to make them float in the air. You can decide on how many you want to add.
• <Color> Fungal Grass (6/10) - There are two decorations that are similar to the bushes but cut in half. The Pink and Light Green Fungal Grass are optional pieces you can slot if you are unable to obtain the others.

Seasonal Barterer

Every now and then there will come a time a new seasonal barterer will appear with new items. Myrtle Mint, our current one, now offers a lumberjack collection. With it are four new floor pieces: Large White Fur Rug, Large Fur Rug, White Fur Rug, Fur Rug. As much as we all like to have more rugs, these probably should go back to the Austin Powers movie they once came from. They are all technically white with the standard one having a little bit of brown color on top. The large ones are more of the right size if you do decide to barter.

Bundle

There is one last piece I must add to this post. A Light From Gundabad is the housing decoration you receive when buying the Ultimate Bundle of Gundabad. It is like a standard shrunken basin with a handful of glowing crystals on top. This is definitely something you would add simply for its functionality alone.

 

2022-01-03