Game Summary
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The Last Spirit Prison is a single-player mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, set in Shenara Cove. The dark lord aims to breach the last prison of ancient archmages to unleash four dragon spirits on Skyrim. As the Dragonborn, players are approached by a messenger mage seeking help to stop him.
Players must consult the archmage for mission details and a blessing, then enter the first prison gate to obtain a key for the second gate, which holds a weapon that dispels the spirits. This weapon also deals frost damage, aiding in the battle against the dark lord.
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MAP OVERVIEW
Shenara Island | Exterior
I researched cove layouts for inspiration, appreciating their structured designs and beautiful scenery in Skyrim. This allowed me to create natural boundaries with cliffs and mountains, keeping players within the level. After shaping the terrain to rise inward like natural formations, I established the gameplay space and populated the scene. I incorporated prominent landmarks to help players reorient themselves if they get lost.
During this phase, I considered what players would see first and how to guide them to their objective, even with a quest in place.
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Shenara Island (Exterior) Map Overview
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Level Walk-through
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The player starts at the Shenara Cove dock.
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The player is directed to the archmage at the tower landmark ahead to accept the quest and proceed to the last spirit prison on the island.
2a. Along the way, the player meets an alchemist mage seeking help to gather herbs for healing potions. If accepted, the player must fetch herbs growing near the ocean rocks and waterfall. In return, they receive a weapon that siphons health from foes.
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The player approaches the entrance of the spirit prison.
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The player enters the spirit prison.
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Inside, the player receives a custom frost blade to dispel escaping spirits.
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The player encounters the first pillar puzzle, with clues on the surrounding walls. Solving it opens the first gate, leading to a space between the mortal and spirit worlds.
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The player faces restless spirits trying to escape the prison.
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The second puzzle key opens the second spirit prison gate, followed by a larger encounter with restless spirit enemies.
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Before opening the second gate, the player encounters additional spirits.
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The player finds an exit to the exterior where the boss, Kelzur, attempts to unleash the dragon spirits.
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The player confronts and defeats Kelzur, then returns to the archmage to turn in the quest.
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Shenara Island (Interior) Map Overview
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SCRIPTING
Enemy AI Spawn (Ghost Spirits)
I created a custom AI package in the Creation Kit, giving the enemies specific traits and visuals to resemble spirits. Once satisfied with their appearance, I added a faction to keep them hostile toward the player.
I then incorporated VFX elements, including a glowing rune effect on the floor and a spiraling animation, to provide an early warning before the enemies spawned. After these effects were played, the enemies would attack the player.
To activate the AI spawns, I placed triggers that called my scripted functions in Papyrus, activating when the player entered the area.
Two-Phase Enemy Boss Fight
Player exits the prison and reaches the cliff, they encounter Kelzur, a dark lord intent on unleashing three restless dragon spirits.
I created a custom AI package for Kelzur, equipping him with specific weapons and outfits, and increasing his health and damage for added intimidation.
The boss fight has two phases:
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In the first phase, Kelzur attacks with melee strikes and occasionally summons a rain of fireballs. Players should take cover behind nearby structures during these attacks. Once his health reaches zero, he enters a bleed-out stage.
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During the bleed-out stage, Kelzur spawns a ranged enemy to attack the player while he attempts to recover.
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Dungeon Puzzles
The player must pass through two spirit prison gates to reach the boss, each requiring them to solve a dungeon puzzle. These puzzles provide a breather and change the pacing between combat.
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The first puzzle involves turning pillars to match symbols found on the wall.
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The second puzzle features a door that requires a claw, which serves as both a collectible and a key. The player must replicate the symbol structure on the door using the claw.
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CONVEYANCE AND DESIGN GUIDELINES
Landmarks
Upon reaching the island, players are drawn to a large tower landmark that guides them toward their objective and helps them reorient if they feel lost. I’ve also included memorable local environmental landmarks to assist players in navigating and recalling different areas in the world.
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Lighting
I used lighting to guide players toward their goals and capture their attention amid the chaos on the island. To make the lighting stand out, I employed blue fire, which became a consistent element throughout the game, illuminating both the exterior and the interior dungeon.
Motion
To subtly guide players to their objectives, I added various dynamic elements. The direction of the wind, smoke, moving banners, fire, and critters in the environment all help draw players toward their intended paths.
Linear Flow
While Skyrim is an open-world game, most quests follow a linear approach. I maintained this design to ensure players experience the quest and engage in combat without excessive choices that could divert them from the critical path.
Linear Flow
To guide players and maintain their focus, I designed a straightforward kill-the-boss quest with multiple stages that provide a sense of progression. These stages offer clear goals, driving players toward the main objective: defeating Kelzur, the dark lord who aims to unleash three dragon spirits.
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Side Quest
The side quest involves fetching specific herbs to help an alchemist create healing potions for wounded frost mages. This quest encourages players to explore the island, and as a reward, they receive a custom weapon that siphons health from enemies and transfers it to the player.
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Level Playthrough
Shenara Island - The Last Spirit Prison
The player is tasked with helping the frost mages defeat the dark lord Kelzur, who has plunged Shenara Island into chaos. Kelzur seeks to unleash three imprisoned dragon spirits from the last spirit prison into Skyrim.
The player's objective is to enter the spirit prison and acquire a frost blade that inflicts heavy frost damage and can dispel spirits. With the frost blade in hand, the player must stop and defeat Kelzur.
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DEVELOPMENT INFO
Role: Level Designer | Genre: FPS, Fantasy - Adventure | Engine: Creation Kit | Platform: PC | Dev Time: 2 mo