Personal Research + Influences
I researched different aspects of real life, ideologies, and natural growth, and will show how I applied this to my project.
Colour Psychology
Colour Psychology is the idea that colours have psychological impact in
things like emotion, and their subsequent behaviours. Even though
different colours can evoke different feelings in people, the human brain
usually responds to certain colours in the same ways. It can even change
the way you act. Blue has been reported to lower anxiety (due to its
calming properties), and red can increase heart rate (due to evoking anger
or feelings of danger).
This is used everywhere, from branding to everyday items, so it was very
important to me that I picked colours to reflect what I want the
environment to feel like for players. I avoided using many warm colours, as
they tend to give people energy and excitement which is the complete
opposite of what I need.
For the castle, I'll use brown as my base colour and work around it by
adding purples, blues, and golds as accents. Purple and gold are usually
linked to royalty, due to golds high price, and purple dye being expensive
a while ago due to it being made from shellfish. Brown shows reliability
and stability, a foundation needed to keep a royal group in power, to be
believed in by their people. Because I wanted my natural environment to
be mystical, fantasy, and otherworldly, instead of using green like most
plants are coloured, I decided to use a blue/purple/pink colour-way. These colours also give a calm feeling to the people looking at the environment, which is the feeling I want it to give off. My environment needs to be calm, but also mysterious and magical to reflect the witchy themes in the story. I also want the player to be intrigued by the scenery and fauna, to know the story behind the environment and how it came to be, and to be thrown into a place where nothing seems familiar but at the same time it is weirdly calming.
Colours I Used
- Purple : Mysterious, Noble, Royal
- Blue : Serenity, Lost, Calm
- Lavender : Elegant, Dreamy
- Pink : Earthy, Gentle
- Yellow (Gold) : Hope, Quiet
- Brown : Reliability, Stability
Talismans + Amulets
Talismans are defined as "objects believed to bring good luck or to keep its' owner safe from harm" (Cambridge Dictionary). In the story, the residents of the castle started to make talismans/amulets and hung them on the tree to bring them hope, luck, and the strength to come back to the over world (represented by the ram horn). These exist in almost every single culture and religion. Each of them have different properties, such as protection, luck, and even cures for certain illnesses. The early Christian church completely discouraged the use of magic, however it is to differentiate magical practices with religious practices in these cases. The similarities between early Christmas and witchcraft potions/protection bottles are extremely close.
Witch Bottles were used to protect themselves against witchcraft and other supernatural dangers by mixing ingredients such as urine, hair and nails together, then boiling it.
For a long time, It has been known that witches tend to use unusual ingredients for potions and bottles, especially in folklore and stories.
A lot of practitioners in folk magic and folk medicine back then also made use of amulets and talismans. For this reason, I added talismans all along the tree branches and a large version in the centre of the top tower. I'd like The designs for these to be inspired by Korean 'Norigae', for the colours, use some that look similar to my natural environment and also match the colour scheme of the castle. I'd like to include some symbolism of Egyptian culture too.
Crystals
Crystal Properties
For the mechanics, I made up a system where the crystals represent certain feelings, emotions, or have certain properties that can be removed if the opposite power is used by the main character e.g. Amethyst (Calmness) can be removed by using an angering spell. For this, I needed to research the different properties that crystals have, whilst also making sure they fit in with my theme. This is what I managed to do: (Left to Right)
Amethyst - Bubble of Peace, Calmness | Counter with Anger spell
Sodalite - Truth, Clarity | Counter with Brain Fog spell
Tourmaline - Protection, Detoxification | Counter with Poison spell
Celestine - Higher Wisdom, Peace | Counter with Destruction spell
Fire Agate - Protection, Growth | Counter with Shrink spell
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Test Render - Crystals
The use of crystals and their properties is more recent than the previously mentioned talismans. However, this can be more useful for people who practice modern day witchcraft to learn more about their benefits and how to use them correctly. I originally wanted to keep them all relatively the same colour, but changed it a little. Not only would this make it easier for player to differentiate the different crystals, but also broadens the different properties I could include. Tourmaline is usually black when harvested, however when it is shaped for jewellery it has a very interesting colour, when you shift the crystal the colours change from pinks to greens which I find really interesting. I managed to texture it that way, but I should still try to add the green in somehow. I also made one of them a bright orange instead of the purple/blue/pink colour scheme I have decided on for my natural environment. This is because I wanted it to stand out against the other colours I have used.
Formation of Crystals
The main shape that I used for my crystals is a typical trigonal structure. Because my world is fantasy based, I did not want it to be too accurate, but I still wanted to draw inspiration from how real life crystals are formed. I looked at different types of crystals and their structures to come up with an idea of how I should shape them. Some pointed, some with flat tops so they would not be too repetitive and still have a natural look to them.
Castles + Cathedrals
Jiayuguan Fortress
- The last major stronghold of Imperial China
- Gate of Enlightenment and Gate of Conciliation
- Structure that is similar to most imperial buildings using a red/brown/gold colour scheme
- Designs on fences are very geometrical
- Upturn at edges of roofing, tiered
- Windows with designs
Peles Castle
- Looks similar to Tudor housing from the wooden panelling on the outside walls.
- Neo-renaissance and Gothic Revival
- Collections of many treasures (paintings, armoury, weapons etc.)
- Wood is quite red which stands out
- Lots of patterns that work together
- Pillars and tall, cone roofing on some smaller towers
Mahabat Maqbara Palace
- Euro-Indo-Islamic architecture
- Though it is mainly beige, the immense detailing creates shadows and depth which makes it stand out
- 4 surrounding pillars which give a sense of protection
- Lots of curves and circles that are usually seen in Indian architecture
St. Basil's Cathedral
- Very colourful
- Reminiscent of a decorated gingerbread house
- Curves and jagged edges contrast each other, yet harmonise well because of the colour scheme
- Based on described colours of heaven
- Ornate
- 9 Chapels
Kazan Cathedral
- Very similar to the above
- Red and white mainly, with green details to make it pop
- Lots of curved
- A lot of layers make it look extravagant
Runes
I think using runes instead of the current English alphabet would be cool. Not only does this show that the residents that lived in the castle lived a while ago, but runes are also used in modern day witchcraft, some witches even making their own. I also think it is useful that each rune has its own meaning, so I could use this somewhere in my design to represent what I want to show in my environment.
I would specifically use the Anglo Saxon Elder Futhorc alphabet as it is the most readily available and most unique to me.
