Unveiling the Divine: Hearthstone Developers Discuss Titans and Deity Design
Game Rant interviews Hearthstone developers Luke Mason and Cora Georgiou, delving into the intricacies of introducing the revered Titans into the game and unraveling the creative process behind their inclusion
The Titans, being some of the largest and most powerful entities in the Warcraft universe, have greatly influenced all aspects of the franchise's lore. They have played a significant role in the creation of playable races, the establishment of the Burning Legion, and the empowerment of the Dragon Aspects in World of Warcraft. Now, these god-like beings, known as Titans, are being introduced to Hearthstone in the game's upcoming card expansion.
Game Rant recently participated in a group interview with Hearthstone VFX artist Luke Mason and lead designer Cora Georgiou to discuss the impact of the Titans on the game. Designing Hearthstone cards that accurately portrayed these divine characters proved to be a challenging task, but the developers were confident in their abilities to rise to the occasion. They shared their insights on the meticulous process of crafting the Titans and their formidable Keeper lieutenants, ensuring that their presence in Hearthstone would leave a lasting impression on players.
How Hearthstone Remembered the Titans
In Titans, Hearthstone is introducing 145 new cards. Each class will receive two cycles of Legendary minions: a massive Titan and a mighty Keeper. The Keepers will function like traditional Legendary minions, while the Warcraft Titans have a unique mechanic. After being played, Titans must use three distinct powers each turn before they can attack normally.
However, Hearthstone encountered a problem with the Titans. There is a limited number of them in Warcraft's lore. The Pantheon consists of six Titans, with the addition of the fallen Dark Titan Sargeras making seven. Including Argus, the Unmaker from Legion, Telogrus, the void-corrupted Titan world destroyed by Sargeras, and Azeroth herself, Warcraft only has a total of 10 named Titans. In contrast, Hearthstone has 11 classes with the new Death Knight.
“We encountered this challenge early on during the brainstorming phase for this set. Our goal was to make Titans the exciting new feature of the expansion, but we faced the issue of not having 11 established Titans right from the start. At one point, we even entertained the idea of not including a Titan in every class, but that didn't seem enjoyable.”
Fortunately, Hearthstone has decided to introduce new characters alongside the existing ones. One of them is Amitus, a unique Titan created specifically for Hearthstone's new set. "She's really cool, serving as a peacekeeping Titan," Georgiou shared. "She fills a particular role that I felt was missing within the order of Titans." Additionally, Amitus' design offers a welcomed diversity to the Pantheon, which mostly consists of male characters with long beards. According to Georgiou, Amitus might not be the only original character in the expansion either.
Iconic Titans such as Eonar, Khaz'goroth, Golganneth, and Norgannon easily align with the Druid, Warrior, Shaman, and Mage classes respectively. However, finding appropriate Titans for other classes was not as straightforward. Mason explained that the teams had to determine the most effective combinations for these Titans, as they did not initially come with established class identities.
Georgiou provided an example with the Demon Hunter Titan, which has yet to be revealed. "We found a unique way to represent the Demon Hunter class through a character that may not traditionally be associated with it, but still feels like a perfect blend," he said. Georgiou's enthusiasm is palpable as he anticipates the upcoming Hearthstone release, where players will discover which Titans will be unveiled throughout the month.
"We have the well-known canon Titans, but there are also a few surprises among them. It will be interesting to see if anyone can guess who the Death Knight Titan is. It may not be immediately obvious, but if you think about it, it actually makes sense."
With the Pantheon's lieutenants and creations, there is no shortage of characters from WoW to choose from for the role of Titan Keepers. "We have Titans like Hodir, who embodies the essence of a Hunter," Mason explained. "As the Father of Giants, he brings forth minions that resemble giants!" Keepers such as Freya and Tyr are perfect fits for Druid and Paladin respectively, but players will have to wait and see which other Keepers will make an appearance and how their powers will impact the game. "There are many exciting elements for players to explore and potentially gain a deeper understanding of the Titans and Keepers lore through their gameplay."
Making a Titanic Entrance in Hearthstone
The Titans in Hearthstone are undeniably immense figures, arguably the largest ever portrayed on a card in the game. Mason emphasized that these god-like beings have traversed the cosmos and are now leaving their mark. It was essential to ensure that playing as a Titan evoked a sense of grandeur and awe.
Thankfully, Hearthstone's VFX team was well-prepared to accomplish this task. Mason expressed excitement at the opportunity to surpass the existing magic users who already defy the laws of reality. The stunning visuals showcased by Hearthstone's Colossal minions in Voyage to the Sunken City, as well as the remarkable effects from Festival of Legends, contributed to establishing an atmosphere that truly conveys the Titans' colossal scale.
Norgannon, the Titan of magic and lore, is a god-like being who travels the cosmos in search of various magic systems across different planets. Within the realm of Arcane, one can also observe traces of green with Fel, yellow with Holy, and all other magic types merging into a vibrant display of colorful runes.
The Titans are not the only entities that strive to satisfy both visually and audibly. The Prison of Yogg-Saron, a Legendary location card inspired by the Ulduar raid in Wrath of the Lich King, also boasts haunting effects. It begins with a pristine water pool gradually tainted by Yogg-Saron during his attempt to escape from imprisonment, restrained by these mesmerizing, ethereal chains.
The latest Hearthstone expansion aims to leave a lasting impression on players, whether they're wielding the power of mighty Titans or experimenting with the innovative Reforge mechanic. According to Mason, this set offers a captivating visual experience, perfect for those seeking enchanting sparkles and celestial magic. Enjoy Hearthstone on both Mobile and PC platforms today.
