You thought that out very well. I have made suggestions about player housing since WoD.
I have not played the games you mentioned, but I have often suggested it be like Hearthfire
I often get content burnout and go to other games then return when the next content patch is released. Player housing would likely keep me playing.
Profession expansion and new ones:
Professions to expand
- Tailoring: Various items in the house or GH made of linens (practical or decorative)
- Mining: Mining stone of various types. (marble, granite, etc.)
- Blacksmithing: Various items in the house or GH made of metal (practical or decorative)
New Professions
- Carpentry: Various item in the house or GH made out of wood (practical or decorative)
- Masonry: Using different types of stone to build structures.
- Sculpting: This would be a sub-profession that branches off of blacksmithing or masonry
3a: Blacksmith sculpting: can make various statues, monuments, and other ornate things of different sizes out of metals
3b: Masonry sculpting: can make various statues, monuments, and other ornate things of different sizes out of stone.
Legendary questline to gain the skill to make sculptures of actual players. Good for a GH
Rooms of a house or GH:
- Trophy room: like in WoD but can also mount legendary items.
- Armory: Display various weapons, Manauqins to mount armor sets on.
- Profession-specific: Alchemy, enchanting, greenhouse, etc
- Class-specific: Mage, warlock, druid, etc.
- Cellar/basement
- Pet arena (like garrisons had. part of the cellar perhaps)
- Other common rooms: Kitchen, dining, living, bedroom
NPCs to hire
- Bard: Provides simple and tranquil music
- Cook: Will make consumables (selected by you) from the ingredients you leave in a specific container
- Pet healer: For the pet arena. (like in garrisons for instant rez.)
- Caterer, Jester, and/or band (not ETC): Temporary, costly, GH only, and significant CD
Economy
- A whole new selection of items to buy and sell on the AH.
- Sculptors can offer their skill to make specific characters if they have the skill.