Darkpaw Games
2021-2023
EverQuest
Darkpaw Games
February 2021 - December 2022
Environment Artist / World Builder
Roles & Responsiblities:
World Building
Zone Planning
Map Design
Concept Art
Level Design
Modeling & Texturing
Material Creation
Playtesting
Lighting
Particle Effects
Gameplay Set Up
Modular Kit Building
Darklight Caverns
My first fully original EverQuest zone, created in collaboration with designer Erinn Fecteau, was a surreal cave network where players chase a massive owlbear into a hidden, magical world. Inside, bioluminescent mushrooms tower over tiered waterfalls, strange tunnels wind through fungal growths, and giant spiders lurk in the shadows. Building this zone was a blast—especially crafting the layered vertical spaces and whimsical, otherworldly atmosphere that set it apart from traditional fantasy caves.
Ruins of Shadow Haven
This zone was designed as a continuation of the chaos unleashed by the rampaging owlbear, following its destructive path through a reimagined version of the classic Shadow Haven. Based on design briefs from Adam Bell, the goal was to transform the familiar space into a war-torn landscape marked by devastation and resistance. Players traverse shattered architecture, makeshift fortifications, and refugee encampments hastily assembled in the wake of the destruction. The contrast between the city’s former grandeur and its current state of collapse provided a compelling backdrop for environmental storytelling and visual world-building.
Umbral Plains
This was my first zone after joining the EverQuest art team—a reimagining of the classic Umbral Plains, updated to reflect changes in the game’s lore. A key part of EverQuest’s world-building philosophy is preserving the spirit of its legacy zones, so we worked closely with the original layout and iconic details, ensuring long-time players would recognize and appreciate familiar landmarks. For this zone, I created many of the materials using photographs from my home, processed into tileable textures with Substance Designer—bringing a personal touch to a world shaped by both history and evolution.
