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Tracks Blizzard employees across various accounts.

To celebrate the launch of Book of Mercenaries Cariel, I wanted to share some fun insights from the development of this chapter! Light spoilers below. I hope you'll follow along! https://t.co/IkYVSSlqij

To celebrate the launch of Book of Mercenaries Cariel, I wanted to share some fun insights from the development of this chapter! Light spoilers below. I hope you'll follow along! https://t.co/IkYVSSlqij

  • themattlondon
    Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
    To celebrate the launch of Book of Mercenaries Cariel, I wanted to share some fun insights from the development of this chapter! Light spoilers below. I hope you'll follow along! https://t.co/IkYVSSlqij

    • themattlondon
      Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
      Which came first, the chicken or the easter egg? In this case it was the egg. As the cast for Year of the Gryphon shaped up, we realized it was critical that our warlock mercenary hail from Stormwind (for United in Stormwind)... https://t.co/HcW9SP90Ch

      • themattlondon
        Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
        ...But she also needed to have had run-ins with the Scourge and Kel'Thuzad (for...other reasons). An education at Scholomance Academy was the perfect backstory for Tamsin, so we let Judicious Junior inform our Tamsin design. https://t.co/0DB7hzmCQH

        • themattlondon
          Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
          It was very exciting for the team to bring a diverse cast of human characters center stage in Year of the Gryphon. We worked closely with Blizzard's DE&I Network to ensure that while these characters had flaws and complex inner lives, we didn't slip into stereotypes. https://t.co/ybQ9GODLzN

          • themattlondon
            Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
            The flashback/dream in Fight 1 was the first battle I concepted at the outset of design. It shows how war has transformed these women, changing character class, body, and purpose. The scope of WarCraft is so big, I wanted to explore how everyday Azeroth folk were impacted. https://t.co/323pkeRUXl

            • themattlondon
              Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
              Fight 1 also gave us the chance to see a younger version of Cariel. Kudos to Moon Colony for the incredible work they did on this portrait -- one of my favorite art pieces from the year. https://t.co/OMxdex5xPQ

              • themattlondon
                Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                This POV pivot on Dreadmist Peak was key to the story. Tamsin is the final boss in Kurtrus's book, and Kurtrus is the first boss in Tamsin's. Two chapters later, we see the aftermath of that duel, with Cariel reckoning with her choice to stand against her friend Kurtrus. https://t.co/1o4cUalNQG

                • themattlondon
                  Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                  One of the big creative challenges for Book of Mercenaries was creating fight variety without much eng time. We tried to leverage existing tech from past adventures. In Fight 4, we remixed the "Take Flight!" tech from Belnaara in Dalaran Heist with light tower defense mechanics. https://t.co/MBSHJoU30Z

                  • themattlondon
                    Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                    Fight 4 also highlights one of the cool collaborations Book of Mercenaries did with the Set Design team. As the questlines were developed, there was a lot of creative brainstorming between us. In some cases, like "Defend the Dwarven District," the Book of Mercs plot came first. https://t.co/q4WVIeVebn

                    • themattlondon
                      Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                      In other cases, like "Raid the Docks," the card design guided the story, and led to that awesome Hooktusk cameo in Tamsin's chapter. https://t.co/zWG3QJN9k3

                      • themattlondon
                        Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                        A little game I play with myself: how subtly can I make references to other Blizzard IP? My favorite so far is Xyrella's "Heroes never die!" Her delivery is awesome. But these are strong contenders. https://t.co/UeVyghza9w

                        • themattlondon
                          Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                          There are a number of Mass Effect alumni among the voice cast in Book of Mercenaries, most notably Tamsin (Kimberly Brooks), Rokara (Courtenay Taylor), and Guff (Fred Tatasciore). But Xur'gon might be the most surprising of all. Any guesses who it is? https://t.co/0OXi1h3jmr

                          • themattlondon
                            Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                            And yes, I was starstruck recording of Book of Mercenaries. Blizzard gets the absolute best actors in the business, and if you'd told me that Wakko Warner, Zeratul, Balthier, Noctis, and Winnie the Pooh were all going to appear in a game I worked on, I'd have lost it.

                            • themattlondon
                              Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                              These Fist of Anetheron minions really give a sense of the scale of the enlarged dreadlord. I love the idea that a character is so big and powerful that it has to be represented by more than one thing. Shoutout to Kurtrus's Fay Wray impression. https://t.co/Jz3QZA5H3R

                              • themattlondon
                                Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                                We had a challenge to show ten story arcs when 90% of the journey would be from another character's POV. For the Anetheron fight I wanted to show its importance by flexing many unique Book mechanics: Merc as Hero Power, Merc as Super Minion, and Multi-phase boss fights. https://t.co/4bWXUXV9XT

                                • themattlondon
                                  Posted 3 years, 10 months ago (Source)
                                  A huge shoutout to Nondumiso Tembe who rocks it as Cariel. She takes her role so seriously and has a ton of fun as well, whether that's delving into her character's psyche or shipping Cariel with the other mercenaries. 🤣 https://t.co/LGTeUNlFok

                                  • Cora
                                    Posted 3 years, 9 months ago (Source)
                                    @themattlondon Wait who do we ship her with?!

                                    • RidiculousHat
                                      Posted 3 years, 9 months ago (Source)
                                      @Songbird_HS @themattlondon rokara has a big ship

                                      • paulsworkintwit
                                        Posted 3 years, 9 months ago (Source)
                                        @RidiculousHat @Songbird_HS @themattlondon THE JUGGERNAUT IS UNDER HER COMMAND AND CARIEL WANTS TO SMOOCH THE JUGGERNAUT i should write for hearthstone

                                        • themattlondon
                                          Posted 3 years, 9 months ago (Source)
                                          @paulsworkintwit @RidiculousHat @Songbird_HS Smooching the Juggernaut is a Warrior spell in the next expansion.

                                          • Cora
                                            Posted 3 years, 9 months ago (Source)
                                            @themattlondon @paulsworkintwit @RidiculousHat Spoilers Matt!
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