I had avoided getting an additional stronghold beyond the Nar Shaddaa one (which I had obtained for free by being subscribed during the relevant period, years and years ago) because I just knew that I’d fall down the rabbit hole of decorating. I used the nightlife event to buy various cantina-themed items and was basically satisfied with my sparse den of sin.
But then I gave in and bought another stronghold because of the bonuses strongholds give to conquest. And by “another stronghold” I mean seven more. I told myself I’d just unlock the rooms, use the bonus, and be done with it. But I obviously fell down the rabbit hole.
Now, I don’t have a ton of cash – not a lot of credits, not a lot of cartel coins. I can buy everything I need, but not everything I want. When the newest fashion comes out, I stalk it on the GTN until the price becomes reasonable. Decos are worse – you always need multiple copies.
For that reason, I turned to Tor-Decorating and the list of decos by source, particularly non-cartel sources.
Here are my current favorites (color coded by level of annoyance to me).
Most items other than taxidermy stuff (yech) can be bought for credits by a newcomer. You don’t have to have even started the onslaught quest line. Just drive over there on your spaceship and pick up some items. I like the hunter’s rug and the blooming tree.
You have to use a toon that has done the mek-sha story line (or at least gotten to Mek-sha in the story?) and then complete a small quest line to access the vendor. Pretty easy and it unlocks about 6 purchasable-for-credits items that look piratey enough for a Tat or Rishi stronghold.
You don’t need special tokens, just cash, for some of the decorations from this vendor. Of particular interest: Makeb Pergola, Makeb Canopy.
Ossus (Vendors)
There are two vendors of note on Ossus, one of which is very, very annoying.
Vendor 1 (planetary vendor) takes Tech fragments and doesn’t require rep. I am unsure whether you need to have completed the Ossus story to access this vendor. However, if you are flush with tech fragments and want some Yavin-appropriate decos, this is the way to do it. You can also buy as many torches and columns as you want, which comes in handy.
Vendor 2 (rep vendor) takes credits + Ossus fragments which are gained by doing dailies. You cannot access the Ossus dailies without having done the story (not sure how much of the story you have to do). The Ossus fragments stay with the toon that earned them, and are not legacy currency (this is annoying). At least the pub and imp side rep, while called different things, is actually the same rep pool, so it does not matter which side you quest on.
These decos are primarily good for the Yavin temple. There are also Republic and Imperial soldier disguise terminals. I love disguise terminals, so I will continue to farm this annoying rep.
For House Inrokini!
This flashpoint boasts 12 decorations, and one drops off each boss, including the bonus boss, in solo mode. Stealth is mandatory due to the volume of trash. I use my shadow with a dinky lvl 10 companion and can kill everything without heroic moment or kolto stations. Takes about 15 minutes, most of which is walking in stealth past trash.
Decorations include pretty fountains, an enormous bar that can be used on a centerpiece slot, and various resort-themed lighting and plants. I have used items from here in just about every stronghold. The fountains are great for Alderaan.
Similar to House Inrokini: use stealth, a drop off every boss, 20 decos in all. There are 6 deco-bosses if you count the two mini bosses (those two zealots hanging out together.
In my opinion the fp is more difficult than inrokini and takes more time – and I find the decos less desirable.
A deco drops off each boss/paladin, even in solo mode (4 decos). It is stupid easy in solo mode. Stealth is optional – every time you open a door it breaks you out of stealth which is annoying and slow. I tend to roflstomp it with my guardian. I could see a commando or other strong aoe class also dominating it.
There are 23 decos in all! Decorations are mostly tech-based. This is how I intend to decorate my Rishi air balloon.
CAUTIONARY NOTE: Spirit of Vengeance and Secrets of the Enclave have tasty looking decos but they are not a guaranteed drop, even in veteran or master mode. You could kill all the bosses and walk away with one or zero decos. Boooo. That is why they are not included in this list.
Aaaand that’s my list. Come by Halleli’s Hideout on Star Forge to check out my Nar Shaddaa den of iniquity.
