Home / Work / Pioneers of Pagonia
Envision Entertainment · 2024 – now
Pioneers of Pagonia
City-builder by The Settlers creator Volker Wertich. I was the main content designer on 9 of its maps.
“…the outstanding game and mission design in the story campaign.”
The maps
9 maps, one line each
Open “How it works” on any map for the design reasoning. Diagrams are redrawn from the released game.
The first map title
From a shipwreck to a working settlement.
The search for the captain
Expansion, exploring and the first real fight.
How it works
- Goal
- Teach expansion, exploring and the first fight.
- Constraint
- Players set their own pace.
- Decision
- One main path, a parallel economy thread, an optional village, and a threat that escalates.
title
One line. details from Sam
title
One line. details from Sam
title
One line. details from Sam
The Meadowsong map
Hidden objectives, two ways to win, a witch boss.
How it works
- Goal
- One map that feels like a full adventure.
- Constraint
- No classic RTS combat; any order.
- Decision
- Three threads from one quest, an infection meter, two victory paths that complete each other.
3 of 4 maps details from Sam
Quests, map logic and level design, including a boss.
A closer look
The Meadowsong map
How I worked
Feature list → flowchart → review
For the story I worked with an external author: I wrote the map briefings and got every line into the game.
Press
What reviewers said
“…it also acts as the game’s tutorial in a completely natural way.”
“Sure, the campaign helps you get started and shows the mechanics in an exemplary way.”
Looking back
What I’d do differently your words
- Fewer “clear every camp” objectives late in a map.
- Shorter boss fights with clearer feedback.
- Fewer pop-up hints at the start.