Regarding references, I previously talked a bit about terrain, and now it's time to share the story of the heart of every diorama – the buildings!
As you've probably noticed, I have a deep passion for medieval architecture. It's a subject that has fascinated me for many years. So, it's hard to say that when working on Outside the Blocks, I did any research because, in reality, this research has been a lifelong endeavor. Wherever I go, if I encounter an open-air museum or an old town, I always make sure to carefully observe and document what I see.
One of the most amazing places I've had the opportunity to visit was Troyes – a small town in France renowned for its beautifully preserved timber-framed buildings. In fact, Troyes became one of the key inspirations when I was working on the modular system in OtB!
In designing the building blocks, I gathered 1,750 references of interesting buildings, which I meticulously analyzed and broke down into appropriate modules. I can confidently say that the vast majority of them could easily be reconstructed my game!
Of course, Outside the Blocks wouldn't be complete without captivating props and small-scale architecture. For this, I drew inspiration from visits to Polish open-air museums that document everyday life from various historical periods. I’m sure many of you, looking at these photos, will immediately associate them with The Witcher.
I’ve already managed to model some of these elements, but there are still plenty that are patiently waiting in the backlog.
I hope you share my love for the medieval era, and that you’ll have a blast designing your own dioramas – something I’m excited to see happening very soon!