For this week’s developer diary, we wanted to change gears a little bit and give everyone a preview of some of the creatures and locations you will encounter as you explore Badia de Cara.
The Port of Rulun
The Port of Rulun is located on the southern edge of the Silent Plains, and is one of the only major ports on the continent of Kingsreach. Operating outside the authority of Thronefast and its soldiers, the port is populated by a variety of colorful characters – travelers, pirates, merchants, and others all mingle within its streets.
We are still working on building out this port town and adding more details, but here’s an early look at some of the areas within it:
Creatures of the Bay
Below is a small sample of some of the NPCs that you may encounter as you explore Badia de Cara later this year. Note that the screenshots below are showing the models before animations are applied to them, so their default posing will look different (better) when you encounter them in game.
The Mawnok
The volcanic island of Kosa Ull is home to the savage Mawnok. This primitive tribe of wolflike humanoids have claimed the island and its jungles for their own. Mawnoks live in small villages and sustain themselves through hunting and fishing. The arrival of visitors to their island often results in a joyous celebration where the whole tribe shares in the feast after the new prey is hunted down and mercilessly slaughtered.
The Kosa Panther
Inhabiting the jungles alongside the Mawnok, these large and cunning predators can often be seen stalking their prey. Swift and agile, their rending claws and biting fangs often make short work of anyone foolish enough to challenge them.
The Badia Shark
On a clear day, the shores of Kosa Ull can be seen from the Silent Plains, which might lead would-be explorers to wonder why they simply could not swim across to the island. That is, until they take a closer look at the water and what swims within it.
Don’t feed the sharks.
Of course, for those who are willing to brave the sharks, even more mysteries, treasures, and dangers will be found lurking within the depths of the bay.
Around the Team – What we’ve been working on this week
Design and Narrative
- Continuing population of Kosa Ull in Badia de Cara
- Baseline testing for Unified NPC templates and core combat mechanics
- Initial testing for new/updated Warrior abilities
- Completed first pass on itemization updates for Combat and Progression, preparing for second pass.
- Continuing work on Mastery for Cleric, Druid, Shaman
- Continued work on NPCs and Dialogue for the Port of Rulun
- Initial implementation for Warrior Mastery, prep for functionality testing for Mastery UI.
- Prep for implementation for Paladin and Direlord base kits and Mastery
Worldbuilding and Environment Art
- Continued finalizing set dressing for Mawnok villages
- Continued finalizing Rulun building interiors and exterior set dressing
- Added shipwrecks and ruin areas to undersea biomes
- Finalizing concept work for Faerthale City structural elements (walls, gates, walkways/bridges, and towers)
- Finalizing small player boat for import and testing
Character Art and Animation
- Continuing animations for Sharks
- Continuing animations for Hydryn
- Continued modeling/texture work for minor/ambient BDC creatures
- Detailed modeling/texture work for Siren
- Beginning texture work for Coastal Khroon
Programming
- Continued implementation of additional item stat options
- Finishing hookup of Mastery persist layer and UI functionality
- Finalizing Mail system UI, database hookup, and initial testing.
- First pass testing for mastery code
- Prep for testing 3D NPC movement
- Locking in default underwater visual filters and lighting
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