Devlog Tales of the Ancients

Devlog #3

Handcrafted Worlds vs Procedural Convenience

Devlog atmosphere • concept frame

Devlog #3

Handcrafted Worlds vs Procedural Convenience

Procedural generation solves many production problems. We chose not to rely on it.

Open world
World — handcrafted landscape

Why Handcrafted Matters

A handcrafted world allows for intentional space. Every road, ruin, and settlement exists for a reason — authored rather than assembled.

Scale Is Not the Goal

Early prototypes with larger, less defined spaces felt hollow. Reducing scale increased density of meaning.

Environmental Storytelling

History is implied through architecture, layout, remnants of conflict — and absence as much as presence.

The Cost

Handcrafted worlds demand discipline: limits on scope, clear priorities, and the willingness to cut.