Brad Jacobs
Designer
Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep
Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep was Borderlands 2's largest DLC and was completed on a very tight schedule. Our goal was to create a complete game experience that could stand on its own, separate from the main game. I was responsible for creating the two forest maps, The Dark Forest and The Immortal Woods. Working closely with Mission Designers, Combat Scripters, and Enemy Designers, we were able to bring the forest to life.
Revealing a new location is critical to establishing a sense of place. The Dark Forest is revealed with a vista, while Dragon Keep Castle looms in the background.
I wanted to differentiate the Immortal Woods by creating a sense that players had traveled deeper into the woods.
By creating large trees and rock structures, along with a color palette shift, I was able to create the foreboding atmosphere.
The Tree of Life was a critical story beat. Working with artists and mission designers, we were able to present a meaningful plot twist to players.
Once players emerge from the Immortal Woods, they must cross a chasm into the Dwarven Mines.