Everquest Dungeons was a bold game idea that presented many challenges. First, it was going to be the first new EQ game in many years and the first to have a modern art style. Second, the core gameplay mechanics revolved around social play and interactions that involved teamwork and synergistic combos. Lastly, the game was a prequel that took place over a hundred years before the present, established EQ universe. To get the team and company excited about the new game, and to inform gamers what the game was all about, I had the idea to create a “promise piece” or key art that would explain and display the overall game idea and art style in a single, epic image.

Over the span of 8 weeks, I worked closely with a freelance concept artist and illustrator, Shan Qiao. It was a daunting challenge because we had yet to design each of the five races of characters that were planned for the game and accompanying enemy Goblin characters.

First, I had Shan create some rough compositions based on the art direction of having an epic battle scene with a member of each race fighting off Goblins and the iconic red dragon, Nagafen. The action oriented key art would also need to show the action of performing combos between the characters such as an Ogre throwing a Dwarf, two Elves using abilities in combination, and a Kerra (cat person) using magical powers to hold off Nagafen.

Below are the two finalists for the composition of the piece. I chose the ones with the Dutch angle to give some tension to the heroes fighting off the horde of Goblins and a dragon simultaneously.

This composition positioned the viewer right in the heat of the battle with the Goblins facing the heroes.

The composition evolved to have the action broken up into three layers: On the right, a Teir’Dal druid summons a fireball above her head while an Elddar archer shoots arrows through the fireball striking down foreground Goblins. In the center, an Ogre tosses a hammer wielding Dwarf at a wizard goblin. In the distance on the far left, a Kerra is the lone warrior shielding the team from the fiery attack of an enraged Nagafen.