Skyrim "The Dragons Temple"
For this level I am divided the development of this map into 3 passes.
Pass 1: Planning
Pass 2: Layout
Pass 3: Gameplay
Level Map
Pass 0: Planning
To start I used the Adobe Suite apps and started to craft a level map to give me an idea of what I wanted to build. I wanted the basic flow of the level mapped out before I entered the editor and started blocking out the space.
Pass 1: Basic Layout
For this pass I began to turn my top down map into an actual 3D environment you can navigate. I used the Nord kits to create the overall boundaries of the rooms and hallways. After that I tested it by running through the levels to anticipate average play times and made some adjustments based on feedback.
Pass 1 Layout Shots
Pass 2: Set Dressing and Gameplay.
For this pass I focused on set dressing the environment with more detail and altering the player path a little bit. This is where I also use environmental storytelling to guide the player and give them some context on the area they are visiting in the game. I also implemented nav mesh and added a simple enemy with the standard AI from the game.