Put together to face Karkonos, the fearsome new Behemoth debuting in Dauntless on December 5 as a part of the Dauntless: Awakening replace.
That is the most important replace ever to our monster-slaying, free-to-play action-RPG. That includes revamped development methods, highly effective new weapons, and a brand new Behemoth, it’s a transformative leap ahead. With recent challenges and a community-informed growth roadmap, Dauntless: Awakening units the stage for an thrilling future within the Shattered Isles.
And on the coronary heart of all this lies our latest Behemoth, the fearsome Karkonos. This monstrous creation is the results of months of collaboration between the Dauntless crew and its passionate neighborhood. At present, we’re peeling again the curtain to disclose how the latest addition to the Shattered Isles was dropped at life, from preliminary idea to ultimate in-game implementation. Alongside the best way, you’ll see how neighborhood suggestions helped form Karkonos and why this Behemoth is a testomony to the ability of collaboration.
A Idea Born from Neighborhood
The origins of Karkonos hint again to a neighborhood design livestream, the place Dauntless gamers and builders collaborated in actual time to examine the subsequent Behemoth. The session was a artistic melting pot, with Slayers sharing their concepts for a creature that was each visually hanging and deeply tied to the lore of the Shattered Isles. Some gamers pushed for a towering, alien-like monster with intricate particulars, whereas others advised grounding the design in real-world inspirations for a way of familiarity.
From these discussions, a daring and imaginative idea emerged. Nevertheless, as builders delved deeper into the preliminary sketches, it turned clear that the design felt “too alien-like” and disconnected from the world of Dauntless. Brent Barrett, lead designer on Karkonos, remembers the iterative course of: “The neighborhood’s concepts gave us an exceptional start line for us to iterate on. We wished Karkonos to really feel prefer it really belonged within the Shattered Isles.”
Suggestions from the livestream continued to form the Behemoth’s evolution. Gamers emphasised the significance of a creature that seemed harmful but plausible, inspiring the crew to combine real-world influences. Crab-like parts had been launched to anchor Karkonos visually, whereas its scorpion-inspired tail preserved its menacing edge. These design choices balanced participant creativity with the Dauntless aesthetic, leading to a creature that feels each genuine and recent.
This collaborative refinement course of prolonged past visible design, laying the groundwork for a gameplay expertise as dynamic and difficult because the Behemoth itself.
From Sketch to Savage: The Gameplay Expertise
Whereas Karkonos’ look units the stage, its gameplay is the place this Behemoth really shines. The collaboration with the neighborhood prolonged into early playtests, the place Slayers supplied invaluable suggestions on its mechanics.
Karkonos strikes with a crab-like gait, ahead and backward, however its assault patterns are something however predictable. “Karkonos is imply,” Barrett says with a smile. “Its tail swipes and ground-shaking pincers have nearly no inform, conserving gamers on edge. And it’s not simply one-on-one, it threatens whole groups, forcing coordination and technique.”
Key to the gameplay design was the stability of danger and reward. Moments of vulnerability, like when Karkonos kilos the bottom with its pincers, provide expert Slayers an opportunity to interrupt, however provided that they act shortly and decisively. Neighborhood suggestions fine-tuned these interactions, making certain each encounter feels dynamic and rewarding.
A Problem for All Slayers
Whether or not you’re a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, Karkonos provides one thing for everybody. For knowledgeable gamers, it’s a punishing check of teamwork, adaptability, and precision. Its relentless assaults can goal a number of gamers concurrently, and its potential to Aether cost provides an unpredictable layer of depth.
For newer Slayers, Karkonos offers a chance to sharpen your abilities and expertise the joys of taking down a very formidable foe. Environmental interactions, like avoiding falling particles or discovering openings throughout Aether expenses, make sure the combat stays partaking and accessible for all.
However the rewards are well worth the effort. Slayers who conquer Karkonos can craft armor impressed by deep-sea diving fits, a nod to its undersea aesthetic. This set not solely seems to be hanging however provides the defensive benefits wanted for future challenges.
The Way forward for Collaboration
The creation of Karkonos underscores the unimaginable potential of constructing Dauntless not only for gamers, however with gamers. Via reside design streams, early playtests, and ongoing suggestions, the neighborhood has left a permanent mark on the Shattered Isles.
And that is only the start. With Dauntless: Awakening heralding a brand new period, the crew is dedicated to harnessing the fervour and creativity of its gamers in much more significant methods, making certain the voice of the neighborhood continues to drive the evolution of Dauntless.
Dauntless is again, stronger than ever, with extra particulars about future collaborations on the horizon. Whether or not you’re a Slayer in search of your subsequent nice hunt or a artistic thoughts able to form the Shattered Isles, your enter will assist outline what’s subsequent.
Be a part of the dialog on our Discord to take part in these future collaborations.
Dauntless
Epic Video games Inc.
As a Slayer, you might be all that stands between your world and the Behemoths that search to devour it. Tackle boss-sized monsters, forge highly effective weapons, and craft armour from the very creatures you slay — all in an enormous, free-to-play on-line world.
