Greetings fellow forum bretheren.
Like many other members I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of our upcoming Map expansion. As some members may know in the past I have suggested a new biome in one of my old suggestions lists. In the spirit of excitment and anticipation, I thought I would share a few of my own biome ideas and also welcome others to do the same. A pleasant change from us constantly hearing about technical issues surely? To make a successful and interesting biome it should follow in the same formula as its predecessors. That is, each biome should be unique from each other in terms of artistic design, and natural environmental terrain and land features. The problem is that Funcom did such a phenomenal job with the environmental diversity offered by the existing map, that it is hard to concieve of what else we could use on the new map which would be so different. So here are my ideas. Whether or not Funcom uses these ideas does not matter. It is largely just a bit of fun and a chance to contemplate the possibilities. However they are most welcome to them should they like them. So here are my three (and a bit!) biome concepts:
1. Darkmarsh (Bog biome):
For those of you who have been around the forum a while, this one will sound familiar. Yes it is a re-hash of my previous concept, so I shall utilise much of the original rationale. Yes friends I know that we already have a ‘swamp’ in a manner of speaking in the Jungle biome. However the thing is that it is just not what I personally envision when picturing a swamp or marshland. It is very green, it is light (when its not raining) it is lush and vibrant and teeming full exotic life, and it is bright and colourful. The ‘Darkmarsh’ is what I visualise when I picture a ‘swamp’. It is brown and muddy, it is grey. It is boggy, it is dark, stagnant, miserable and very dank, and filled with slimy wretched lifeforms. A marsh should be dreary, miserable and filled with brown, black colouring and opitomise mud and gloom. Something more along the lines of the pictures below.
2. Ivory Sands (Beach biome):
There are currently two potential iterations of this which I have in my mind for this and shall present each. Both of which are converse to the dark, damp misery of the Bog biome. We had a chance to examine one possibility for a coastline in the original maps Jungle biome, and it was remarkably well done. It showcased murky water, backing against thick trees, vegetation and undergrowth. Now let us explore some other tantalising possibilities for depicting a coastline on the new Map.
The first is on the surface, may seemingly be at odds with the theme of Conan Exiles, but I feel it could work. A warm sunny tropical beach, covered with glistening white sands and palm trees and tropical plants. The ocean water is clear, blue and dotted with coral reefs, and alive with bright colourful fish and seabirds. The ambience should say unspoiled island paradise and relaxation and grass huts. Being a colourful reef which seems to invite inhabitants to wade in, I propose relatively shallow reefs close to the shoreline, before we begin to encounter deeper, blue waters. Noting could disturb this peace aside from groups of marauding exiles, eager to lay claim to this exquisite jewel. But hey, what could be more satisfying than spilling their blood upon shinning sands and tropical coral.
The second posibility was also inspired by a large sprawling white beach (well mostly), but unlike the prior it is treacherous and inhospitable. I envisioned something closer to Namibias infamous Skeleton Coast. While also covered with white sands and surrounded by blue open ocean, this largely dead coastline couldnt be further counter to its predecessors. Largy devoid of tree and plant life, experiencing brutally high and unforgiving temperaures, few animals are hardy enough to call this unforgiving environment home. The long and desolate expanses of beach in this concept are littered with the wood and debris of hundreds of long shattered ships, and the bleached skeletons of dead animals which have succumbed to the hostile environment and terrain. Resources are scarce in this hostile biome, carving out a living is hard. Hostile scavvers and slavers often scout these beaches in search of ‘resources’ to claim as their own.
3. Deathdrop Cliffs (Mountains biome):
While easy to conceptualise, this one was very difficult to find suitable example pictures for. This biome was actually somewhat inspired by the amazing Volcano biome in Conan Exiles. Much like the volcano, I envisioned tall jagged mountains and peaks, and sheer cliff-faces with VERY long drops the the bottom. The face of the often vertical mountain terrain is comprised of narrow and windy paths and rudimentary rickety wooden and rope suspension bridges adjoining the closely neighbouring, almost vertical stoney mountains. Goats, wildcats, birds and other high altitude dwelling forms of wildlide have adapted to this steep terrain and tightly packed mountain cluster. However, beyond their distant surface appearance, the mountains hide secrets. Carving their way through each of the mountains are a network of large, hollow, high ceilinged caverns and antechambers, allowing room for exiles to build well fortified bases within the protection of the mountains. Small, narrow streams of water filter their way through the rock structure, snaking their way down to small lower lying pools. Aside from sporadic crystal stalagtites, the network of caverns is very dark, and lighting is important. The good thing about this biome conceot is that it offers potential for both a high mountaintop, and cave and tunnel network biome in one.
4. Ziggurat City (an area):
Okay so this one is not a ‘biome’ in the conventional sense. It is more of a proposed location within the new map. The awe inspiring Ziggurat from the the opening intro. Despite only making a brief appearance, this location is so iconic and etched deeply into the psyche of much of the playerbase. Call me weird if you will, but I think it would be cool if it were to be the equivalent of Sepermeru on the new map; its central hub of human trade and settlement.
Well peoples…that is all of them. I hope that this did not come across as cheesy. Furthermore, should you have any biome concepts of your own, feel free to put them foward. As usual, tell me what you all think.
PS- Forgive the wall of text.
But so far they have been reasonably well recieved.
It sounds like it would be a very interesting place to visit. Was there a lot of wind on the beaches while you visited?