beetle Lair

Bounty Point of Interest in the Galawain's Tusks Region

The Context

I was given the direction to make a point of interest for the beetle lair bounty as our bounty system came online. This started with a very simple set of rolling hills, with nothing really going on in the area, so it was a fairly blank slate.

With this one, I didn't make much of a map. Instead I jumped straight into blockout. I pretty quickly settled on an idea that there would be an old set of ruins that beetles had dug through and built a nest on. Working with Seth, the artist, we determined that we would theme it as a major source of water for the people who had lived here hundreds of years ago.

When the player approaches, there's a wide circular arena. I kept the layout fairly simple since it also serves to introduce the new kinds of beetles in this region.

Another possible entrance to the Beetle Lair, which gives the player an option to go left to go on top of the ruins, or to go right and go into the trenches.

The beetles have dug down into the old ruins, creating mucky tunnels. I blocked this out to feel fairly claustrophobic, with crouching tunnels and high walls.

If the player gets on top of the ruins, there are a few different secret chambers and loot spots. I chose paths that weave in and out of each other to create a sense of confusion and a bit of a labyrinth.

As the player continues through the ruins, they eventually find a fallen tower that leads deeper into the beetle's nest. Both paths that lead here have this same effect, with dark tunnels before the main chamber so that there's a sense of contrast when the player enters the main nest.

I blocked this out again fairly simply, but filled it with a ton of beetles to balance it. I kept the beetles from spawning right away because the player ended up fighting in the tunnels more than in the main arena, so they are triggered by the player looting a corpse.

I told Seth that I wanted this place to be as gross as possible, and he really delivered!

The water can be both a hazard and a blessing to the player, since electricity interacts with it: the green beetles have electric attacks, but the player can also use electric attacks to lock down a few beetles at once. There are multiple waves of beetles, increasing in intensity.

I think the space really came together. Since it's right off the main path, it can very well be the player's first major piece of content in the region. And with sunset being the starting time for this region, you can also get this really nice timing where you hit nightfall around the time you enter the nest.

Environment Artist, Seth May