Unveiling the Genius Behind Meet Your Maker: Exploring the Art of Building, Raiding, and Beyond

Meet Your Maker, an inventive base-building and dungeon-delving game, made a significant impact when it arrived in the Red Sands of post-apocalyptic Earth in April 2023. With its latest major update, Behaviour Interactive has introduced the moody atmosphere of New England into the game, enhancing its already intense player-versus-player experience.

However, this update does more than just introduce dense fog and Dreadshore decoration. Sector 1 now offers a range of new elements that enrich the raiding and building aspects of Meet Your Maker's Outposts. These additions include the spine-chilling Nautilus, inspired by maritime horror, the powerful Sentry Beam trap, and the formidable Ravager guard provided by the terrifying experiments conducted beneath an old New England lighthouse. To learn more about strategies for collecting genetic information or stealing from others in the new Dreadshore expansion, Game Rant spoke with Ash Pannell, the Creative Director of Meet Your Maker.

Drawing inspiration from traditional horror elements, the atmosphere of the Outpost raids undergoes a significant transformation. However, it is the introduction of advanced tools for Builders and Raiders that truly revolutionize the core mechanics of the game. To illustrate, our source divulged details about the innovative trap known as the Sentry Beam. "Designed to establish control over a specific area, the Sentry Beam traps unsuspecting players, creating an element of unpredictability by rebounding off walls," they explained. "This unique feature disrupts established patterns of play and forces Raiders to exercise caution by carefully analyzing the trajectory of the sentry beams."

Handling one trap is not sufficient for those undertaking daring raids on others' Outposts. Enlisting assistance can make these raids easier, but regardless, it remains difficult to steal GenMat from another hoarder. Nevertheless, Pannell shares his personal approach to these challenges.

"When it comes to Raiding, I prioritize a methodical approach. Ensuring that all angles are accounted for and clearing a path for the way back are essential. In order to be prepared for unexpected situations, I always utilize Phoenix Pods when venturing deep into an outpost. Predictably, getting caught out happens frequently! It is crucial to understand the mindset of the Maker, identifying any patterns they employ, and exploiting them using available tools. When faced with particularly daunting obstacles, it is time to roll up my sleeves, unpack the loadout, and select specialized equipment."

Raiders face a formidable challenge when they encounter Builders, players who have ingeniously constructed their bases resembling treacherous levels from Mario Maker, designed to deliver death to Raiders at every turn. In Meet Your Maker's system, it is not uncommon for seconds to pass without a Raider escaping death, demanding both the attacker and defender to undergo extensive trial-and-error. Fortunately, Pannell offers guidance to the Builders as well. Pannell believes that building should revolve around anticipating the Raider's actions. To achieve this, Pannell meticulously crafts an immersive experience, strategically placing traps and guards throughout the entire base. This approach not only aims to minimize casualties, but also to accumulate commendations. Pannell acknowledges the importance of incorporating verticality and expansive spaces, combining soaring structures with tight passages to captivate players. The creators' ability to transform the game's provided tools and assets into extraordinary environments that transport players into otherworldly realms and narratives is truly astounding.

The essence of the game lies in solving problems; from the Builders' tireless efforts to strengthen their defenses, to the Raiders' relentless pursuit of discovering vulnerabilities and devising innovative methods to exploit them. In this regard, Pannell holds an unwavering admiration for the game's vibrant community. The community's ingenuity is duly recognized and rewarded through the game's revamped ranking system, which underwent significant improvements in the form of the Meet Your Maker's Dreadshore update. Pannell enthusiastically revealed that matchmaking has been enhanced and the progression requirements for ascending in rank have been carefully adjusted to facilitate a more gradual pace of advancement.

The aim of the ranking adjustments is to ensure that players are matched more effectively, providing both attackers and defenders with a fair challenge. It also seeks to maintain a sense of progression as players improve their skills and gain experience, motivating them to be innovative in their designs and strategies.

"Our players constantly surprise us with their ingenuity when it comes to base designs, using complex trap setups, clever decoys, and unexpected combinations of elements," he commented. "Likewise, raiders show their resourcefulness by coming up with unique approaches, exploiting unforeseen weaknesses, or using unconventional tactics. It is always exciting to witness the creativity of builders and the determination of raiders to succeed."

Meet Your Maker is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.