LOTR: RTM Durins Folk DLC - Forgotten Biomes

For the Durin's Folk DLC, I was tasked with creating two long-forgotten indoor environments: Celebrimbor’s workshop and a legendary forge tucked deep within the Misty Mountains. Because these spaces primarily serve narrative and story progression, I enjoyed a higher degree of creative freedom with fewer rigid gameplay constraints.

Celebrimbor’s workshop went through several layout iterations to align with the vision of the Art and Game Directors. Once the foundation was approved, I focused on adding intricate decorative elements to the architecture and carefully set-dressing the environment to embed rich, visual storytelling features throughout the space.

The Misty Mountain Forge had just two strict requirements: it needed to match the footprint of the game's other forges, and it required ample space around the anvil to accommodate cinematics and specific gameplay mechanics. Beyond those constraints, the goal was to make the forge feel ancient and ruined. I achieved this unique, time-worn atmosphere by utilizing one of the project's older architectural kits.

To maximize efficiency and adhere to budget constraints, both environments were strategically built using pre-existing assets.

Team:
Game Director: Jon-Paul Dumont
Art Director: Bradley Fulton
Lead Artist: Ryan Buck
3D Artist: Westley Forleo-Maguire
Producer: Polina Dadabaeva
We’re incredibly proud to have contributed to the world of Moria!

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