Creating Foliage Clusters

In the first art pass for The Cosmic Vale, I focused on creating a visually immersive environment that balances natural elements with key Points of Interest (POIs). To efficiently scatter vegetation across the landscape, I developed custom foliage clusters. These clusters allowed me to quickly populate the environment with plants, trees, and more lush elements, making the world feel lush and alive without sacrificing time or detail.

POIs & ROCKS!

To enhance the depth of the environment, I implemented large POI meshes and rocks, placing them to break up the terrain and add visual interest. This approach helped to create a more dynamic and varied landscape, making the world feel expansive and intriguing.

A significant part of the project involved using a modular kit system to design various POIs, including a wizard tower, a chained rune in the swamp biome, and the Alnor Citadel. Each of these locations went through numerous iterations to refine their appearance and ensure they fit seamlessly within the overall aesthetic of the world. Originally, players would encounter an abandoned wizard tower where they were meant to battle a corrupted mage. However, I decided to replace this idea with a Stonehenge POI to better align with the thematic elements of the environment. 

Challenges

One of the challenges I faced was blending the terrain with the foliage clusters to achieve an organic, natural look. It was crucial that the environment felt like a cohesive whole, rather than a collection of man-made elements. To address this, I conducted numerous playtests, running through the environment to inspect the clusters and POIs from various angles, just as players would experience them. This iterative process allowed me to fine-tune the placement of elements, ensuring a harmonious and immersive world for players to explore.