In the immersive world of Destiny 2, dungeons stand as self-contained challenges, intricately tied to the broader narrative of the Destiny universe. These dungeons are not just about the storyline; they are rich with unique gameplay mechanics, intense boss battles, and most notably, themed loot that many players eagerly seek. To conquer these high-level challenges, players must use their wits and collaborate with a highly coordinated team. However, for the most seasoned gamers, there’s the added challenge of attempting to complete these dungeons solo, making it one of the most rewarding experiences in Destiny 2.
From a game design perspective, dungeons in Destiny 2 are a testament to creativity and innovation. Upon entering a dungeon, players are immersed in a world filled with mystery. There’s no guidance or waypoint to lead the way; instead, players must rely on their intuition to navigate through the complex environment. This involves solving puzzles, battling enemies, and facing high-stakes boss encounters, all contributing to the thrill and satisfaction of the experience.
The latest addition to Destiny 2’s dungeon roster is Vesper’s Host, introduced at the beginning of the Revenant expansion earlier this month. This new dungeon continues the tradition of engaging and challenging content. Vesper’s Host transports players to an abandoned Braytech space station, which is under threat from a mysterious anomaly. As Guardians delve deeper into this eerie setting, the atmosphere takes on a chilling horror theme, adding a layer of tension and excitement.
Inside this captivating environment, players have the opportunity to discover a new set of armor and a collection of weapons exclusive to this dungeon. Among these treasures is the Exotic Sniper Rifle, Ice Breaker, a beloved weapon from the original Destiny game, now updated with new perks to enhance the Destiny 2 experience. With both new and returning items up for grabs, now is the perfect time for players to dive in and test their skills against the challenges that lie within Vesper’s Host. For those who haven’t kept up with Destiny 2’s evolving dungeon design, Vesper’s Host promises a delightful surprise.
To better understand the intricacies of Vesper’s Host, several key designers and developers from the Destiny 2 team shared insights into the core elements of this dungeon. They discussed the process of drafting and crafting such a unique experience and highlighted the distinctive features that make Vesper’s Host stand out as one of the most mechanically innovative dungeons in the game.
Delving Into Dungeon Design
Before a dungeon enters the detailed planning stages, several high-level decisions must be made regarding its setting and how it fits into the existing collection of dungeons, as explained by Destiny 2 Design Lead Brian Frank. The team strives to create contrasting themes and settings for each dungeon. The previous dungeon, Warlord’s Ruin, featured a fantasy-style setting with medieval architecture and snowy landscapes, which starkly contrasts with Vesper’s Host’s hard sci-fi design.
Ryan Baker, Senior Environment Artist on Destiny 2, explains the creative process behind Vesper’s Host: “Guardians have explored Braytech facilities before, which typically felt clean and sterile. Our goal was to take something familiar and twist it into a new context that felt fresh and exciting. There’s an underlying theme of space madness, with the Fallen weaving a complex web under the influence of an alien mind, leading to a containment breach that has swept through the station.”
The intention was to create an atmosphere where players feel like they are stepping into a crime scene long after a catastrophic event has occurred. This approach enhances the narrative while providing a visually arresting environment for players to explore.
Navigating the Unknown
Destiny 2 excels in guiding players through its environments with subtle cues and intuitive level design. A hidden ledge or strategically placed light can hint at the correct path. However, this mastery is not always used for straightforward guidance. Players often encounter misleading paths that lead to traps or dead ends, encouraging exploration and quick thinking. These deceptive paths add an element of thrill without significant consequences, except for those aiming for a flawless run without any deaths.
Baker elaborates on this design philosophy: “Using Revenant’s horror theme, we approach the dungeon like writing a film script. The environment serves as the player’s journey, where we create tension and provide moments of respite to take in the scenery. Just like a well-crafted horror movie, too many traps or jump scares can become tedious. We carefully space out these elements to keep the experience engaging.”
He continues, “For instance, after a frantic second encounter, players engage in a spacewalk for the second traversal, offering a brief moment to breathe and absorb the story. Just as they grow comfortable, lightning bolts from the anomaly introduce a new hazard, ramping up the tension.”
Introducing a New Encounter
As players make their way through the haunting corridors of the station, battling waves of enemies and mastering the dungeon’s mechanics, they eventually reach a boss room. Boss encounters are integral to the dungeon experience, with three distinct battles usually included in each dungeon.
The typical setup involves a large enemy immune to damage. Players must engage with specific mechanics or objectives to unlock a phase where they can inflict damage before the enemy becomes immune again. This cycle repeats until the boss is defeated, making for a challenging first run.
Chris Manprin, Design Lead on Destiny 2, explains the design process: “We begin designing encounters by defining an experience statement, which captures the player’s fantasy for the encounter in a single sentence. These statements guide key design decisions, including narrative, boss behaviors, puzzle mechanics, and map layouts.”
In Vesper’s Host, one of the standout encounters is with Raneiks, a Servitor that can transform between one large sphere and nine smaller ones. This encounter emphasizes area-of-effect damage over targeting a single large enemy, a first for Destiny 2 dungeons.
Manprin explains, “In the Raneiks Unified encounter, being swarmed is a core part of the experience. This theme is reflected in many elements of the encounter design. Players are trapped in a confined space filled with enemies. Upon being teleported outside, they are immediately surrounded by Shanks. Raneiks bombards players with bombs, and even in death, Raneiks multiplies. Every element of this encounter ‘swarms’ the player.”
The unique design of Raneiks encourages players to experiment with their arsenal, an exciting prospect in a game with over 1,000 unique weapons and countless perk combinations.
Julia Condemi, Designer on Destiny 2, adds, “We’re always looking for ways to respond to the evolving meta and create experiences that feel fresh. With Raneiks, we wanted to build a boss that would reward players for using their knowledge of the game’s sandbox and their weapon collection in new ways. You might find that Grenade Launcher you’ve been neglecting or those Heavy weapons with the One for All perk are perfect for this encounter.”
A Worthy Contest
Vesper’s Host also marks a milestone as the first dungeon launch to include Contest Mode, a heightened difficulty challenge available for the first 48 hours. Traditionally reserved for Destiny’s raids, this mode adds an extra layer of challenge for players eager to complete the dungeon at launch. Contest Mode acknowledges the enthusiasm and skill of the Destiny 2 community, providing an official challenge for the game’s most dedicated players.
Brian Frank explains the decision: “We wanted to amplify what was already happening in the community during new dungeon launches. Historical completion times indicated that we needed to increase the difficulty to make the event worthy of the caliber of teams attempting it on day one.”
Contest Mode introduces a competitive edge, pushing players to quickly develop strategies for overcoming Vesper’s Host’s unique mechanics. Unlike raids, which require a full team of six, dungeons are designed to be completable solo. This solo challenge is one of the most demanding achievements in Destiny 2 but remains possible for those who master the encounters, sandbox, and build crafting.
Manprin adds, “Every encounter is designed with the intent that a single player can complete it with mastery. Mechanics that lean too far into coordination or complexity are adjusted to consider the solo experience. The addition of Contest Mode allowed us to branch difficulty settings for normal and contest modes, enabling independent tuning of boss health.”
Breaking the Ice
Dungeons in Destiny 2 are not meant to be completed just once. They are designed for repeated playthroughs, offering a variety of loot, including armor and weapons, as well as one Exotic weapon with a rare chance to drop. In Vesper’s Host, the coveted Exotic drop is Ice Breaker, a Sniper Rifle reintroduced from the original Destiny.
Longtime fans have eagerly awaited the return of Ice Breaker, and the team felt that Vesper’s Host’s final encounter was the perfect opportunity to reintroduce this iconic weapon. Chris Proctor, Senior Design Lead, shares, “As we approach Destiny’s 10th Anniversary, we’ve looked at weapons that players remember fondly, and Ice Breaker is at the top of that list. Given its strength in endgame PvE content, it’s fitting that it comes from a challenging PvE source like Vesper’s Host.”
The team invested considerable effort into updating Ice Breaker to align with Destiny 2’s sandbox while retaining the feel of the original. The result is a weapon that incorporates high ammo uptime and ties into both Solar and Stasis elements, enhancing its appeal and effectiveness.
If you’re seeking a new challenge in Destiny 2 or aiming to obtain the coveted Ice Breaker Exotic, Vesper’s Host is now available to explore in Destiny 2: Revenant.
For more information, you can visit the official Destiny 2 page at Destiny 2.
This journey through Vesper’s Host reflects the depth and creativity that Destiny 2 continues to offer, providing both seasoned players and newcomers with captivating content and rewarding experiences. Whether you’re tackling the dungeon solo or with a team, prepare for a thrilling adventure that tests your skills and strategy in the ever-evolving universe of Destiny 2.
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