Hail, Pathfinders!
The Gauntlight stirs, and so do we. In this update, we share our progress on three distinct levels and their creative process. Grab your torches and let’s get started!
First, we’re thrilled to share more progress on our levels, starting with the Mitflit Camp in the Fogfen Ruins.
For the Mitflit camp, we wanted to create something that feels tribal and sloppily put together by these mischievous creatures! With hoarded junk scattered throughout the camp, items gathered from nearby peasants and adventurers.
We also took strong inspiration from the mitflits’ love of insects and their ability to control and raise them. This influenced the overall architecture of the camp. We wanted it to feel almost insect-like, with elements of bug parts incorporated into the design.
Conveying their mischievous personality was key and led to the idea of covering the camp in graffiti made by the mitflits. One fun idea was to have this graffiti created using fluorescent insect juice, which felt like a strong visual representation of their character.
For the servant quarters, we went for a more classic abandoned dungeon feel, with castle-like walls and architecture. We incorporated elements of Victorian design to reflect Belcorra’s visual identity. The goal was to add touches of elegance here and there, as it felt fitting that Belcorra would want even the servant quarters to appear somewhat prestigious.
The challenge was not to go overboard, since we still wanted the area to feel much more humble than the Haruvex Manor on Floor 4.
For the mood, we aimed to keep the zone dark and eerie, as it marks the heroes’ first step into the dungeon. The level is also filled with torture devices, giving players an early glimpse into Belcorra’s sadistic nature.
Let's do one more floor reveal for today, the Temple.
For this floor, we wanted to convey Nhimbaloth’s essence through the environment. So we decided to lean into the void and decay as a representation of the Goddess of Despair. The swamp will be visible below the level (under the bridge in this case), while all the void visuals will occupy the upper part of the environment. In other words, the level is split in half, with swamp at the bottom and void at the top.
We also added Nhimbaloth iconography throughout the temple! skulls with moss, her star-shaped eye, her color palette, etc.
We worked hard on getting the floor design and materials right to express the void within the floor itself. We took inspiration from obsidian and added subtle moving clouds inside the stone, like nebulae.
We are also happy to share updated concept art for the alternate outfits for Amiri, Kyra and Ezren. We’re curious to read which are your favorites.
The Ghost Queen herself, risen from death to enact her vengeance, is also taking shape. We are thrilled to wrap this update with a first look at the 3D render for Belcorra!
That’s it for today! Thank you as always for your support! Join our official Discord server and follow us on social media to stay up to date on all things Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults.
~ The Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults Team