In today's Talk with Designers, we bring you an exclusive sneak peek at two highly anticipated heroes! We'll be sharing our current progress in designing these characters, as well as new info about the Clashfronts game mode. This content will all become available to you in future updates or seasons, so please stay tuned!
Exclusive Sneak Peek on Popular Heroes
Lorsan
Players in our communities have been clamoring about Lorsan, so today we bring you the latest news on him!
Idle Animation Design
You're likely already familiar with Lorsan's traits. In the main quest of the Starter Story, he was lively, cheerful, and free-spirited, so we chose to incorporate his signature gestures into his idle animation.
As a Windwhisperer like Bryon, Lorsan can hear even the faintest of sounds, which inspired us to give him an ear-tilting listening gesture in the design.
Additionally, as a pupil of Arden, the Oak Sage, Lorsan often fiddles with his staff and orb, reflecting his teacher's habits.
Ultimate Design
Given Lorsan's Windwhisperer identity, we're focusing on his unique techniques. By listening carefully to his enemies' every move, he can uncover their weaknesses. He then uses magic to summon tornadoes that link enemies together, causing them to share damage when one of them is hit.
For example, if you want to target Chippy and Hammie on the enemy team, you can use Lorsan's Ultimate to link them, causing one to take damage whenever the other does. During battle preparation, you can adjust Lorsan's position to choose which two enemies to link.
We're still in the early stages of designing the animation for his Ultimate, so the visual effects we can share are only a conceptual overview. The final in-game effects will definitely be polished and refined.
Keep in mind that Lorsan is still in the initial design phase, so there will be adjustments and improvements as we move forward. We're excited to share the current state of his development today, but we also want to leave some elements to your imagination, giving you something to look forward to!
Shemira
The second character, Shemira, belongs to the Graveborn faction. While Shemira is formidable and courageous, she also harbors softness and love in her heart. She is the wife of Niru, and some of you may already be familiar with her from AFK Arena.
Since Shemira was such a beloved character in AFK Arena, we were extra careful when making adjustments to her design for AFK Journey. We put a lot of effort into transforming her 2D model into a 3D rendition, fine-tuning details like the shape of her weapon, her accessories, her eyes, and more. Now, let's check out the specifics!
Idle Animation Design
First off, we wanted to highlight Shemira's confidence and strength as a female Graveborn hero. In her idle animation, she maintains a calm yet slightly aggressive stance, giving off a feeling that something big is about to happen.
At the same time, we aimed to show her gentle, delicate side. By having her interact with her weapon, we reveal this softer aspect of her character when her defenses are down.
Additionally, Shemira's resilience after a traumatic past has only made her stronger and more reliable, hinting at her occasional powerful outbursts.
Ultimate Design
For Shemira's Ultimate, we kept some of the iconic elements from AFK Arena while emphasizing her unique characteristics. She swings her weapon in all directions, releasing ghosts that spread across the screen, dealing damage over a wide area.
Her Ultimate is still in the early stages of animation design, so we can only share a conceptual overview of the visual effects. Don't hesitate to let us know if you have any fun ideas or feedback!
Note: The above content is still a work in progress, and the final in-game version may differ.
Clashfronts
This season, we're introducing a new Guild-based multiplayer mode called Clashfronts! You can find this mode located right next to Battle Drills in your Guild Hall!
First, let's take a look at the Clashfronts map. Players can deploy their hero groups on various grids once a day. At a specific time each day—like in the evening—battles will occur based on how different Guilds have deployed their forces on the map. Guilds that place their groups on the same grid will battle it out against each other.
Next, we wanted to ensure that players with various playstyles could contribute in their own unique ways, so we've introduced the Vanguard role in Clashfronts. Vanguard players can deploy more hero groups in battle, taking on greater responsibility, along with additional duties during the battle phase. Be sure to check it out once the mode goes live!
Players who aren't appointed as vanguards can deploy fewer teams, but they'll still have plenty of opportunities to shine! The main idea behind this game mode is to provide players with a competitive experience that is both engaging and easy to enjoy.
In future updates, we aim to enhance the interactive experience for players. First up, we're introducing a Friendly Duel feature that lets you spar with your friends, and we're excited to roll this out soon. Later, we'll also be adding a one-on-one mode for Honor Duels. We hope these new features will bring even more fun and excitement to your journey in Esperia!
Ending Remarks
That wraps up this issue of Exclusive Sneak Peek! We'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share your feedback on character designs, gameplay features, or any other suggestions in our community. See you in the next issue!
