Building an Authentic Bohemia in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

The duty of authentically recreating fifteenth century Bohemia for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is one which’s half cautious forensic work, and half respectful inventive interpretation. To study extra, we sat down with senior recreation designer Ondřej Bittner to learn the way the staff at Warhorse Studios went about crafting an authentically immersive world in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, accessible as we speak. 

Bittner explains that the staff begins with the geographical knowledge, as a result of not so much has modified relating to the formation of hills, valleys and rivers.  

“Then, there are the navy maps created in the mid-Nineteenth century. They often have the structure of pretty static villages,” Bittner says. “This was fairly a standard factor to do in European navy historical past. Whenever you construct an military that has tons of of 1000’s of troopers, you want actually good maps with particular person buildings, logistical factors, roads and so forth.” 

As soon as the top-level geography, settlements and structure of fifteenth century Bohemia have all been established, the staff then turns to the dwelling curators of these buildings that survived to the fashionable day. 

“You possibly can discuss to the individuals taking good care of these castles or church buildings, and see if they’ve any materials on a selected constructing,” says Bittner. “Generally they do, generally they don’t! In the event that they don’t, then you must reconstruct it from extra basic information in regards to the time.” 

Some facets of this historic forensic work are trickier to deal with than others. One such instance is the clock tower that was as soon as located in the primary sq. of central metropolis Kuttenberg, however has lengthy since been misplaced to historical past. 

“We all know there was a tower there, however it burned down,” explains Bittner on researching this explicit lacking piece. “Whenever you take a look at woodcuts from the sixteenth century you’ll be able to see how town regarded from a hill, however there’s not often any element. We’ve got to analysis how clock towers from that interval would have regarded, after which reconstruct it.” 

Fortunately, a few of the interval’s most extraordinary structure has survived intact into the fashionable age. Take into account the Sedlec Ossuary, for instance, the extraordinary chapel adorned with the bones of greater than 40,000 individuals.  

Buildings like these aren’t simply eye-catching points of interest for vacationers and avid gamers alike, in addition they present a wealthy supply of environmental storytelling that helps the staff perceive the outlook of a long-gone medieval inhabitants. Attitudes in the direction of dying veered extra in the direction of the macabre then, and had a profound affect on artwork and structure. 

The pure environments of medieval Europe present one other atmospheric playground for the studio to discover. Close to Trosky Fortress, the intimidating centerpiece of the sequel’s storyline, lie the Apolena Rocks. One of these sandstone rock formation is a standard sight throughout the Czech Republic, forming maze-like constructions related to all method of native legends. 

“A lot of the panorama of Bohemia – even in the fifteenth century – is sort of inviting,” says Bittner. “I might say it’s fairly mellow however this space instantly feels harmful, as if unhealthy persons are hiding out right here. That’s mirrored in the music design and all method of issues, and it’s a spot that’s allowed us to do one thing particular.” 

Whereas the geography hasn’t modified a lot over the past 500 years, civilization’s affect on the pure habitat has been sharply felt. Even half a millennium in the past, people have been planting forests for the specific objective of de-forestation, changing lots of the pure tree and bush formations in the method. 

“Generally we do need a clearly outlined forest and so we now have these areas,” explains Bittner. “Then we now have extra pure forests primarily based on analysis about biodiversity and the varied crops and flowers which are nonetheless right here. This often hasn’t modified.” 

As an alternative, a lot of medieval historical past’s impression on the Bohemian panorama has been buried underground. It’s right here in the dumping grounds of medieval Europe that Warhorse has found a goldmine of data because it seeks to recreate an genuine illustration of fifteenth century life. 

“You possibly can study so much about human civilization when you look in the trash bin!” says Bittner. “Our researchers will go to dump places and take a look at what individuals have been throwing out. Are there numerous pottery shards right here? In that case, pottery was in all probability fairly frequent. The composition of clothes additionally tells us extra about these individuals.” 

“I gained’t go into ugly particulars, however the seeds have a sure benefit relating to archaeology too, as they’re non-digestible!” 

By combining this form of painstaking analysis with a ardour for telling tales in a novel interval of historical past, Warhorse has created an genuine and immersive world in contrast to another in RPG gaming. It’s a world you’ll be capable to expertise for your self when Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on Xbox Collection X|S as we speak.