A level design exercise that includes a narrative element.

Setting: Located in the bustling heart of a metropolis, a church sits atop a hill with an adjoining graveyard. Tonight the church is abuzz with attendants as it is the cult’s former leaders funeral.

Initial 2D Sketches

Final 3D

Walkthrough

Approach

• The players mission is to investigate the new cult leader, and so has been provided a cult uniform. Given the setup, we would expect player to enter the gate ahead. 
  • Gate is lit.
  • Crowds block both side entrances.

• Arriving at the gate the player is allowed access by the guards as they recognize the uniform.

Lower Graveyard

• The player may immediately try to enter through the next gate, but cannot due to lacking necessary information about the cult. 

• Fortunately a nearby cult member seems to be able to get the player in, but this requires the player to strike up a rapport with them.
  • The cult member’s behaviour should be anxious, evidently fearful of the new cult leader. It would seem that they have slighted the new leader in the past. 
  • The cult member should give a hint that the player  can gather information nearby.

Upper Graveyard

• Cult knowledge is available from a number of sources. All sources incorporate an aspect of the new leaders personality.
  • Widow – Reveals a common habit of her husband, a former cult member.
  • Grave diggers – Reveals knowledge about the cult, they mention the frequency of having to dig graves since the new leader took power.
  • Gravestone – Motto of the cult written on a gravestone.
• Presenting these pieces of information obtained from nearby, the player earns the trust of the cultist, who then escorts the player to the next area.
• On proceeding to the next area the players weapons are taken by the guards who watch the gate.

• In the next area the doors of the church are not yet open and so the player is instructed to mingle. This is a good opportunity to ask higher ranking members about the cults new leader.
  • Each group reveals a different aspect of the new leader.
  • There are whispers of how old leader died.
  • Brown Block Possible Reference:

The Church

• The bell of the church rings signaling the beginning of the funeral ceremony. The doors of the church swing open, light pours out, and the crowd hears a hymn from inside the church. Cult members make their way into the church for the funeral. The player and the anxious cult member follow.

• The player enters the church and views an altar well lit, and hears a full blast of hymn singing. Player enters the church takes a seat.
  • Lighting reference:

• The player can join in the hymn, through choosing verses to sing. After a short while the hymn stops, and with an appropriate procession the main villain enters, and begins preaching. The player has met the villain.