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The Making of: North Shattered Hills

Discussion in 'Developer Work and Blog posts' started by SorcerousSteve, Aug 31, 2017.

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  1. SorcerousSteve

    SorcerousSteve Developer Emeritus

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    Hey guys! SorcerousSteve here to give you an update on my latest map: North Shattered Hills!
    This scene is located just south of the base of the Pillars of Night that cut through South Paladis.
    Long ago, a mage messed with something man was not meant to mess with. His bad magic shattered his tower and the ground beneath shook and crumbled. What is now left is this massive crater and destroyed forest as far as the eye can see.
    [​IMG]

    The epicenter of the crater with the remnants of the destroyed wizard's tower in the center.
    [​IMG]

    Remnants of the explosion still linger and a greenish cloud still fills the bottom of the crater.
    [​IMG]

    Looking West off in the distance lies a nearby village which was destroyed by the cataclysmic explosion.
    [​IMG]

    Numerous tunnels make their way in and out of the crater especially in areas where the earth underneath has capsized.
    [​IMG]

    Stay tuned for more updates on North Shattered Hills!

    Esteben Zaldivar
    Level Designer
     
  2. Barugon

    Barugon Avatar

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    Cool!
     
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  3. Beaumaris

    Beaumaris Avatar

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    Looks cool! SOTA's Tunguska.
     
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  4. Tahru

    Tahru Avatar

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    One word, BEAUTIFUL! These posts makes me so happy to be a member of dev+.
     
  5. Proteus Tempest

    Proteus Tempest Avatar

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    Interesting. Looks like another mystery to explore.
     
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  6. istyrl

    istyrl Avatar

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    Very nice!, I may send you some slides on geology though, careful with the consistency :D

    I am kidding, this is great anyway, as a geologist, I am always (too) critical on geological features in video games
     
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  7. Ancev

    Ancev Avatar

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    awesome stuff!
     
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  8. Earl Atogrim von Draken

    Earl Atogrim von Draken Avatar

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    Awsome stuff @SorcerousSteve
    Let me ask againb, when will YOU redo brit fields :p?
     
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  9. Ancev

    Ancev Avatar

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    I wouldn't mind if there was a 2nd banker in the same enclosed area as the public vendor in brit fields.
     
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  10. majoria70

    majoria70 Avatar

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    Great work SorcererousSteve. I love the way the mountains look.

    I know you are a world builder but can you check who'll be doing fishing and agriculture updates in September? There is nothing showing anyone is even planning or working on these updates. Fishing has been pushed and pushed.
     
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  11. SorcerousSteve

    SorcerousSteve Developer Emeritus

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    Yes!
    Definitively, I took heavy inspiration from the Tunguska Explosion event! What an interesting phenomena!
    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Jens_T

    Jens_T Avatar

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    This looks nice! Looking forward to explore it.
    The looks also remind me of the Mount Saint Helens sight.
    One remark - it would be nice if there were no tall living trees around the crater but only bushes, grass and perhaps young saplings.
    I don't know if the assets allow it, but the crater to me looks more like from an eruption and less from an explosion. With an explosion crater I would assume that there are no big stone-needles (unless the rocks are of very different density / strength) but a clean cut "hole".
     
  13. Alley Oop

    Alley Oop Bug Hunter Bug Moderator

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    i think you already have an asset that looks like fireweed...
     
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  14. Browncoat Jayson

    Browncoat Jayson Legend of the Hearth

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    How "long ago" are we talking? Because history in SotA is kind of funny.

    I'm assuming this has to be relatively recent, since there has not been enough time for new trees to grow straight and the broken ones have not either regrown or decayed and subsumed. The green cloud has to be magical in nature not to have dissipated, however is it negatively affecting the vegetation from regrowing?

    Definitely interested in exploring those ruins. Mages have the craziest stuff!
     
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  15. SorcerousSteve

    SorcerousSteve Developer Emeritus

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    Hey guys! SorcerousSteve here to give you an update on North Shattered Hills!
    This week I have started polishing up the worldbuilding on the map and started spawning resources and creatures!

    Below we can see the ancient remains of the Wizard's Tower that blew up and caused the immense crater. At the epicenter of the explosion green goo and irradiated earth can be seen, this source of black magic has also given growth to extensive vines and roots that have taken over the center of the crater.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Sunset at the heart of the crater with the Pillars of Night in the background.
    [​IMG]

    An abandoned village to the Northwest that now lays in waste. A chunk of the old wizard tower can be seen in the background having been tossed by the explosion all the way over here.
    [​IMG]

    Several buildings lay in ruin as pieces of rock and debris got flung out.
    [​IMG]

    Meanwhile down at the crater Underdwellers have made home in some of the tunnels, a pair of bloody feet can be seen leading to one of the tunnel entrances...
    [​IMG]
    Keep an eye out for North Shattered Hills coming this R46!

    Esteben Zaldivar
    Level Designer
     
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  16. Carlin the Druid Archer

    Carlin the Druid Archer Avatar

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    Hi @SorcerousSteve , looks great!

    Are there any special treasures that can be found hidden in locations like this? Like 'once per player' finds where you find a treasure chest? Or is it just the usual grinding on monsters and respawnable loot?

    I find these scenes can look good but don't have anything special from an interactive point of view about them.
     
  17. Rentier

    Rentier Avatar

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    all the scenes new made in R45 had some treasurehunting in there and quests, so I am sure they will do the same here
     
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  18. shathiell

    shathiell Avatar

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    Loved the demo during the telethon. Keep up the good work @SorcerousSteve
     
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  19. redfish

    redfish Avatar

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    It'll be interesting to see what type of resources can be found around the crater
     
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  20. majoria70

    majoria70 Avatar

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    I really love the look of this scene. Great job SorcerousSteve. I wish we could be adding some different types of fish to all the new areas as they are built. The fish in Ravenswood look so very cool. Several new people have mentioned them to me. So please *hint* *hint* to other devs we need our fishing updates.
     
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