GAME INFO

Genre: Action MMORPG
Platform: Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / PC
Initial Release Date: June 20, 2013
Module Release Date: June 26, 2018 (PC)

CONTRIBUTIONS
Position: Staff Game Content Designer

• Designed and implemented Castle Ravenloft epic 5-man dungeon​
  
• Designed, and implemented the non-repeatable Castle Ravenloft story instance
• Supported the content team with troubleshooting, debugging, and bug fixes on some of our more technical content like Barovia adventure zone Heroic Encounters

Castle Ravenloft - 5-Man Epic Dungeon

Arc Games - Neverwinter - Castle Ravenloft - Development Blog
Arc Games - Neverwinter - Castle Ravenloft - Art Blog

Content Type: 5-man Epic Dungeon

Responsibilities:

• Pitched, designed, implemented, and acted as vision holder for Castle Ravenloft, a 45 minute epic 5-man dungeon
• layout, encounters, scripting, cutscenes, writing, achievements
• worked closely with environment artists, systems designers, animators, and FX artists to realize a vision that both suited Neverwinter's gameplay needs as well as the thematic narrative needs for this iconic DnD setting

Background & Lore:

"Castle Ravenloft was built atop the ruin of an older fortress by artisans, wizards, and workers loyal to Strahd’s family. Strahd rewarded the castle’s genius architect, Artimus, with a crypt in the castle’scatacombs. The castle was named after Strahd’s mother, Ravenovia, who also lies entombed below."

Adventurers have collected the three artifacts necessary to defeat Strahd; the Tome of Strahd, the Sunsword, and the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind. After freeing Ireena from Strahd's clutches, they seek toleverage the artifacts to defeat Strahd in his own home to give Barovia a reprieve from his reign and Rictavio a chance to leave the cursed region.

Design Goals

• Adapt the Curse of Strahd source material in a faithful way that also plays to the strengths of the minute to minute Neverwinter experience
• Heavily feature Stahd von Zarovich as a constant presence - blur the line between dungeon and final boss
• Leverage interesting spaces in DnD campaign dungeon and turn them into set piece moments for interesting pacing
• Develop interesting ways to introduce enemies into the playspace beyond simple placement - ghost vignettes, werewolves jumping through windows, cavalry charging, decorative suits of armor coming to life

Dungeon Metrics

• Level: 70
• Total Item Level: 14,000
• Players: 5
• Class Roles: 1 Tank, 1 Healer, 3 DPS
• Bosses: 3
  
• Playtime: 30-45 minutes
• Critical Path: 6,000 ft (5:00 moving time @20ft/s)

Content Walkthrough

1. Castle Bridge

Players make their way towards the towering castle and approach a long bridge that leads to the castle courtyard. After defeating wights protecting a closed gate, Strahd arrives on the back of his nightmare and charges towards the bridge, knocking any players down in his way as the gates open for him. Mounted skeletal nights greet and charge players as Strahd cycles between one of 8 positions on either side of the bridge, casting Ardor as he taunts players, floating out of reach. Once players defeat the 4 Skeletal Riders, the portcullis at the end of the bridge opens, allowing them to proceed to the corral for the first boss.

Objectives

1. Approach the Castle Bridge
2. Defeat Strahd's Mounted Skeletal Riders
3. Proceed into the Castle Courtyard

Encounters

1. Wights
2. Mounted Skeletal Knights
3. Strahd casts Ardor

Scenes

1. Castle Ravenloft establishing shot

2. Castle Courtyard

Players enter the Castle Courtyard and approach closed gate. The Sisters of Strahd appear. and attack. When players defeat the sisters, one survives, steals the Sunsword and flees into the castle, closing the gate behind her. Players must find an alternate way inside Castle Ravenloft. They fight their way through Vistani Thugs to the northern end of the courtyard, and discover an alternate route inside.

Objectives

1. Defeat the Sisters of Strahd

Encounters

1. Vistani Thugs
2. Boss 1 - Sisters of Strahd

Scenes

1. Boss 1 intro
2. Sister of Vengeance steals sword, flees

3. Entry & Guests' Hall

Players enter the castle and fight several groups of Strahd Zombies as Strahd greets them and beckons them to the Ballroom.

Objectives

1. Defeat Strahd's minions in the Entry
   
2. Defeat Strahd's minions in the Guests' Hall
   
3. Meet Strahd in the Ballroom

Encounters

1. Vampires
2. Vampire Spawn
   
3. Undead
4. Animated Executioner
   

4. Haunted Ballroom

Players enter the ballroom to find dozens of spirits blissfully dancing, indifferent to players' presence. Strahd welcomes players from a choir loft above. Groups of Barovian party guest spirits stop dancing and attack players in succession. When players defeat all of the spirits, Strahd's playing intensifies as he animates a massive suit of armor that attacks players.

Objectives

1. Defeat the party guests (Barovian Nobility Spirits)
2. Defeat the Suits of Armor
3. Defeat the Acrolith
4. Follow Strahd

Encounters

1. Spirits of Barovian nobility
2. Animated Suits of Armor
3. Boss 2 - The Acrolith

Scenes

1. Boss 2 Intro
   

5. Hall of Faith

Players enter the Hall of Faith which is lined with Knight statues that turn to face players as they pass. When players attempt to interact with the chapel door, the statues begin to animate and attack players in escalating fashion—groups of 2, and 3. When players complete this encounter, the two remaining statues animate (non hostile) walk towards the chapel door, and open it for players. There is a total of 14 statues. Two static statues will never animate for combat. From the remaining 12, random groups of 2, 4, and 6 will be selected for combat to add some replayability interest.

Objectives

1. Open the chapel door
   
2. Defeat the animated knight statues
   
3. Proceed into the Chapel

Encounters

1. Animated Suits of Armor
   
2. Animated Executioner
   
3. Wights
   
4. Hellhounds
   

6. Chapel and South Spire

Players enter the Chapel, a very dark and foggy room filled with bats. They use the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind to illuminate the room and disperse the bats. The fog dissipates and the camera shakes as the symbol radiates light from the altar. Werewolves begin bursting into the chapel through the windows from the Chapel Gardens and attack players. After players defeat the Werewolves, they enter the South Spire and ascend the staircase to floor 2 of the castle.

Objectives

1. Use the Holy Symbol of Ravenkind at the altar to illuminate the chapel
2. Survive the Werewolf onslaught
3. Follow Strahd to the Second Floor
   

Encounters

1. Vampires
2. Vampire Spawn
3. Werewolves
4. Wolves

7. Study

Players exit the South Spire and fight their way to the Study, a puzzling room filled with vampires, zombies, and the odd mimic and treasure chest. Many enemies are staged on chandeliers or bookshelf tops. Players can read from tomes distributed through out the area that allow them to boost themselves up to the top of these surfaces.

Objectives

1. Pursue Strahd
   

Encounters

1. Undead
2. Vampires
3. Vampire Spawn
4. Shadow Demons

8. King's Hall

A small elbow shape room filled with sleeping Animated Executioners precedes the King's Hall. The constructs do not attack, however, their intermittent gaze can paralyze careless players. Players enter along hallway with a beautiful rose window at one end situated above the castle's portcullis. As they approach the window, they see the Sister of Vengeance attempt to wield the Sunsword only to vaporized by its power. The Sunsword drops to the ground and introduces itself to players.

Objectives

1. Pursue Strahd
2. Reclaim the Sunsword
   

Encounters

1. Sleeping Animated Executioner

Scenes

1. Sister of Vengeance raises the Sunsword above her head and is vaporized by it

9. Throne Room

Players enter the throne room and mow down hordes of depraved creatures, empowered by their new Sunsword abilities. As they get closer to Strahd's throne, the count flees in frustration, challenging players to meet him in the North Tower Peak.

Objectives

1. Confront Strahd
   

Encounters

1. Vampires
2. Vampire Spawns
3. Wraiths

10. North Tower Peak

After pursuing Strahd up the South Spire, players reach the Tower roof. They traverse a short, narrow bridge and enter North Tower Peak. Strahd attacks and the final boss battle begins.

Objectives

1. Confront Strahd on the Tower Peak
2. Defeat Strahd

Encounters

1. Strahd Von Zarovich - Boss 3

Scenes

1. Boss 3 Intro
   
2. Boss 3 Defeat
   

Initial Planning & Level Layout