Blizzard WoW Student Contest 2025- Grovebound Heartbeat
"Grovebound Heartbeat", Final Submission
Compilation of my daily WIP recordings, documenting the entire creation of the effect
The custom master material behind most of the materials used for the effect. Setting it up early-on really helped my project pace
My submission for this year's WoW student contest!
"Grovebound Heartbeat: A druid spell that immobilizes and shields the caster as they form a field of roots around them. Allies receive passive healing and stronger waves of healing as the druid resonates with the heartbeat of nature".
I began work on the project on December 16th and have kept meticulous notes on my process for the 1.5 months it took to complete the piece. It really showed me how much I grew since my last year's submission, bringing models, animations, and better production practices to it haha. This year will be the last year I can participate, so working on this really felt like a passion project of a lifetime.
I promise I didn't originally intend to make a green effect again. What started as a fall, harvest-themed druid spell had to be changed to green due to gameplay clarity concerns. It also went through a phase of being a damaging spell, signs of which are still partially present in the spell's resolution. Otherwise, it's been quite the smooth sailing!
I wouldn't have been able to get here without the help and support of some awesome and inspiring folks that I wish to give a special thanks to: Alex Cortes, Alex Warn, Russell Higgins, and Drew Mitchell. Couldn't have done it without your support and wisdom!