Project Overview

Engine: Dying Light Developer Tools

Development Time: 3 months

Home Away From Home is a level I created in Dying Light's Developer Tools. Players are tasked with Finding a group of runners who were trying to set up a new base in a deserted town. However Things take a turn for the worse when the group is found dead and wounded. Now the player must escape the area before they are next.

Home Away From Home

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Design Goals

Multiple Paths

Explosive mechanics

Fun Boss Fight

Initial Design map for the level

Multiple Paths

When designing the map for my level I wanted players to have direct paths to the objective while keeping the area as open as possible. I was also trying to reuse my space more so players could be familiar with the space as they play the level. In the end I created A large exterior space with 3 direct paths leading to the Main objective of the level. These paths cover high ground, mid ground, and low ground give players the freedom of choice. Of course, if players wish to leave these paths and make their own it is possible, but the paths are visible from anywhere on the map thanks to the arrow decals pointing the way.

Each Path has it own benefits of taking them. The low ground provides a scythe to the player and eventually a pistol, the high ground provides a fun zipline progression and eventually the same pistol, and the mid ground gets players to the objective the fastest.

Path choices marked by arrows

Explosive Mechanics

When Action blocking for my level I wanted to create a mechanic that felt new but also felt like it belonged in the game. After some testing I learned that zombies will follow firecrackers, even if they are in danger. Fire crackers also Ignite oil traps. Therefore, I created the mechanic of having players throw fire crackers at oil traps so that zombies would walk into the fire and eventually the explosive barrel next to the trap would kill multiple zombies in the area.

Fun Boss Fight

In addition to the main quest of finding your missing runners and escaping the area, players have access to a fun side quest. In the side quest players will be in an arena themed as a junkyard. In the arena there will be a Goon Boss to kill along with 3 ranged spitting enemies, and some biter enemies as fodder. The arena has several of the oil traps in the area, along with explosives that players can throw. The Goon is weak to guns, however if the players was not able to find the pistol in the level they may use other weapons provided along the way.