The Making of: Malice

Hey guys, once again its SorcerousSteve here with my latest map: The Shores of Malice entrance to the Malice Dungeon (final love quest location)!
The Shores of Malice are located on the banks of Stormwater Lake on the northern section of Drachvald bounded by the treacherous peaks of The Sirens.

Players on the love quest line will arrive by boat from Spite.


Inspiration for this location was drawn from the Washington State Coast.


Utilizing Gaia, our new water system, improvements in our lighting systems and our ever present attention to detail all come together in an effort to create the most natural organic looking scenery possible.


Ruins dot the ancient mountain range just up the trail from the Entrance to Malice.


Many of you who have visited Ravensmoor may be familiar with an island not too far off shore where a troll lurks and countless players have bravely fought to their deaths. Well many of you will be pleased to know that the Shores of Malice will have another such island where fellow Avatars can come test their wit.

That's it for now folks, be sure to check out the Shores of Malice, coming soon!

Esteben Zaldivar
Level Designer

 

Really loving all the new areas keep the posts coming!

 

This looks great. I like the ruins on that Island.

 

It's magic , real beautiful !

 

That first picture says it all.

I really like how you captured my expression with the dungeon entrance.

 

Fantastic. Wow effect! Great designed! But also here: Please, continue with hidden walls/doors/traps. Areas should be worth to explore and filled with live and objects (e.g. see how Fallout 4 is doing. Behind each corner is something to find/pickup/read....Please, do not create a dungeon with empty rooms filled with a few monster (like Ravensmoor which is really emtpy and poor of objects).

 

Thank you fellow Avatars!

 

It looks quite expansive which is really great, cant wait to have a walk around it once its done

 

This looks good

If you want some suggestions for beaches since I live in the area, well a little more north...

You can add a lot of gravel to beaches for some different looks...although there are beaches with sand, there is also a lot of gravel beaches.(small stones)

 

That is so pretty. I like the openness of it and of course the mystery.

 

@SorcerousSteve Not only are you a fantastic artist, but you also have an uncanny way of describing these new scenes in such a way that makes me want to login right now and go explore them!

Keep up the great work man.

 

Thanks guys!

Thanks rune_74, its always good to hear from people who actually live in some of the locations that inspire me!

 

super nice! great job once again

 

Hey guys, SorcerousSteve chiming in with an update on Malice now focusing on the interior Dungeon and its surrounding chambers including the Well of Sorrows!

Malice is populated by the vengeful dead, an army being raised to sweep down over the lands of the living and avenge Anapa and the injustices done to him and the dead of the Drachvald.


It is here in the Well of Sorrows where Sequana sits on a platform held wrapped there by magical chains.


Initial layout and brainstorming, the start of an iterative process. For all you Lord British fans, those rough drafts on the right were drawn by Lord British himself to provide me with some guidance.


Halls of crypts and chambers filled with hundreds of bodies have come to be known as The Warrens, it is here where the dead congregate in enormous droves
waiting in their hope for release.


The Warrens have been largely inspired by the Paris Catacombs.


An underground river has created this vast chasm once the site of rituals for the undead.

Stay tuned for more on this work in progress: Malice.

See ya next time!

Esteben Zaldivar
Level Designer

 

Very nice!

The world is starting to expand and grow in very interesting ways. I can't wait to see this in person.

 

GJ !

 

Nice work once again!

 

Looks like a great dungeon!

 

Hey folks SorcerousSteve once again to give you the latest on Malice!

Malice Throne Room: Home to the Throne of Malice and the center of the Undead Army.


The Halls of Malice are filled with chambers that served as a final resting place. Above is a huge furnace room that lies in the heart of Malice where bodies would have been incinerated.


A laboratory where bodies would have been experimented on and prepared for their eternal rest.


Chambers of Ritual.


At the entrance of Malice you catch a glimpse of the teeming life located just above on the surface. A direct contrast to the dungeons of the City of the Dead.


Just as a refresher for all you guys this is what the exterior map/entrance to Malice will look like: aka Shores of Malice.




The Well of Sorrows, a pivotal moment awaits the Avatar here that may forever change his life.

Esteben Zaldivar
Level Designer

 

Very Cool!!!!

I especially find piles of skulls creepy, glowing mushrooms to be a nice touch, and the massive crystals at the end to add a fun, organic, and inspiring cathedral effect at the end.

Great work, Esteben!