Dauntless: Awakening is coming on December 5th, and the team is taking us into the new Behemoth, Karkonos, and more about the game’s huge update.
In a new blog over on the Xbox Wire, Phoenix Labs’ Alex Price details how the community played a big role in many of the new changes in the update, including Karkonos. Initially, there was a community design live stream with Dauntless players and devs throwing out ideas for a creature that would feel part of the lore of the Shattered Isles. The Behemoth should be memorable and visually striking. Some asked for an alien. Eventually, designer Brent Barrett says these suggestions were the jumping off point to go striking but not alien. They wanted to ground it in something that took inspiration from the real world and made it fit the world of Dauntless.
“Players emphasized the importance of a creature that looked dangerous yet believable”. Enter crabs. And scorpions. Both of these creatures influenced the final design, from the shell and armor it provides to the pincers and the scorpion-like tail. In the blog we get to see some of the concept art and how the design was refined over time and how the community's influence continued in playtesting.
The battle with this new Behemoth offers significant challenge, targeting multiple players at the same time, and intentionally offering few tells. and then there are the Environmental dangers and useful elements. This giant creature threatens the whole team, so you'll have to practice and adapt together.
When the update hits on December 5th, Dauntless: Awakened will offer new weapons, a completely revamped progression system, and “transparent” loot boxes, which have garnered controversy.
