Nested Lands News

Our team is working hard to prepare the Alpha version of Nested Lands so you can soon immerse yourself in the harsh world of Norovellir! Here are just a few of the most exciting things we did in March:

• Refined the appearance and movements of both players and NPCs, enhancing poses and clothing details to make them more realistic.
  
• Created screen tips, trait descriptions, and lore notes scattered throughout various locations in Nested Lands, allowing you to uncover the secrets of Norovellir.
  
• Added icons for the majority of in-game items, making it easier to identify and manage your inventory.
  
• Crafted captivating Points of Interest, ensuring that each corner of Nested Lands is authentic.
  
• Worked on quests: their names, descriptions, types, tasks, requirements, and rewards to ensure an engaging gameplay experience.
  
• Created brand new shields and swords for thrilling battles with enemies.
  
• Introduced rain animations to our dynamic weather system.
  
• Implemented stealth mechanics, allowing you to approach challenges with guile and precision.
  

There's still more work ahead - for instance, in April we’ll start implementing bigger buildings. Stay tuned for more news about the game and the start of the alpha test!

Many are the threats that await you in the desolate and corrupted world of Nested Lands. Hunger and cold, bandits and maniacs: all are perils you must face in the vastness of Norovellir. Yet, not a single one of them is as dangerous or ever-present as the worst of all: the Death Plague.



[h2]Plague Stages[/h2]

In the game, all characters are susceptible to contracting the plague. That means you, as well as your villagers and even the enemy NPCs can become infected. Because of that, players need to take a variety of precautions to avoid raising their contamination chance and, when all else fails, must search for possible solutions as quickly as possible.

There are three stages to infection: “Spreading”, “Advanced” and “Dying”, with each succeeding stage causing increasingly heavier debuffs to that character, as well as developing additional symptoms, such as violent coughing, skin blisters and marks, and even necrosis in the body. Not to mention, of course, exponentially raising the contamination chance of any other people around that one infected person. If nothing is done, the character will eventually die, leaving behind a plagued corpse, which, while no longer alive, may still spread the disease to any living person that gets too close to it unprotected. To stop a full-blown epidemic in the village, players will have to build one or more Burning Pits, where corpses can be cremated into nothingness.



[h2]Treating the Disease[/h2]

Luckily, treatment of the Death Plague is indeed possible. Through the years of torment and misery, some survivors have learned of a few different options for dealing with such ailment, though some of these means can be exceedingly rare:

• Building Infirmaries and, later, Plague Hospitals, allows for the containment of infected NPCs, as well as slowing down the spread of the plague among other individuals. In addition to that, through the work of appointed Nurses, infected people left there may have a slow chance to recover, gradually lowering the level of their stage infection.
  
• Another building that can help, but this time through prevention rather than treatment, is the Bath House. Hygiene is, after all, one of the best ways to stay healthy.
  
• Plague Masks can be crafted in the Tannery, increasing a character’s overall resistance to being infected by the Plague for as long as the mask is worn.
  
• Plague Medicine is an item crafted in the Apothecary’s Hut, which decreases one level of infection to anyone who takes it. Still, its ingredients are rare, and depending on how many people are infected, a decision must be made: Do you save the ones closest to death, or do you prioritize those that can be fully healed and will then be able to return to their regular duties?
  
• While not certain, there are also legends and rumors of a true cure, hidden somewhere in Norovellir. Some kind of all-powerful medicine which could completely heal anyone infected, no matter how close
  to death that person is. Still, such tales must surely be nothing more than the rambles of the desperate and the mad. Best not to rely on them.
  
• Finally, one could always imprison, banish, or even execute contaminated villagers. The needs of the many, after all.
  

[h2]Plagued Enemies
[/h2]

Still, you are not the only one battling against the Death Plague. All around Norovellir, the factions of enemies which you yourself will be facing are also in constant engagement with the disease. After all, no matter how powerful or influential, no single person is free from the looming threat of corruption. And remember, when facing infected enemies, not only are they physical threats, but simply being near them is enough to raise your contamination chance, forcing you to carefully consider whether to even engage in the first place.

Still, not all enemies will give you the chance for consideration. While no one knows the exact origin of the Infected Savages, these poor and accursed souls were clearly once people. Whether they remain so, however, is a different question entirely. Their minds are gone, and their bodies now follow only the commandments of the Plague: to spread and to kill.



The Death Plague is, without doubt, the greatest and most unrelenting foe that players will encounter while playing Nested Lands. It is unyielding, uncompromising and, most importantly, unending. It will be there from the beginning, but, as we have shown today, shrewd survivors have a multitude of options when dealing with this deadly disease.

If you want to know more about the game, including a few other secrets that may still pertain to the plague, be sure to join our discord server, wishlist the game on steam, and also subscribe to our newsletter, so as to stay up-to-date with all things Nested Lands!

As the alpha test release of the harrowing survival RPG, Nested Lands, looms on the horizon, we ventured into uncharted territory, capturing the essence of this grim universe through a captivating live action teaser. The filming journey was anything but straightforward, presenting us with unexpected challenges and exhilarating moments that pushed our creative boundaries. In this Dev Diary, we'll peel back the layers and reveal the challenges faced during the shoot.



[h2]Crafting a realistic world
[/h2]
In our live-action teaser, we strived to authentically portray the medieval ambiance of Norovellir's brutal post-plague world. To achieve this, we enlisted a team of skilled actors, makeup artists, and costume designers who helped us recreate the brutal medieval atmosphere:

• Our actors are great enthusiasts of medieval aesthetics and history. For the trailer shooting, each of them was wearing meticulously crafted handmade costumes, complemented by authentic props, including real museum exhibits such as pots and helmets. No mass market or factory sewing, only handmade for advanced authenticity!
  
• The blacksmith, a genuine professional, operated in an authentic medieval forge, able to craft real weapons.
  
• Severed limbs, so common in the harsh medieval world, were made by a prop artist who worked on Stranger Things — that's why they look so realistic!
  
• The setting goes beyond mere decoration – we received a special permission to shoot our video in a genuine medieval village in Lithuania, which is under UNESCO's protection for its authenticity.
  
  
  
  

[h2]Unexpected challenges
[/h2]
No filming can go without incident, especially while shooting such an epic video as the Nested Lands teaser. Several extraordinary situations almost derailed the filming process - but we overcame all the difficulties and made a captivating video you will see soon.



For example, during our shoot at the first location, the Bandits' camp, the director of photography decided to bring their car closer to the setting by crossing a small stream. However, he underestimated the softness of the soil, the car became stuck, and the crew had to get it out of there themselves, resulting in the loss of the car's bumper.

Another last-minute setback happened when a café we booked to serve as our base rejected us. Swiftly adapting, we secured the cooperation of a local church and its rector, gaining access to their premises. Our makeshift dressing room ended up being situated in a space originally designated for funeral services. The challenges of filming add a unique twist to the behind-the-scenes tales of Nested Lands!



Despite all the challenges that stood in our way, we shot as much as 500 gigabytes of high-quality footage, and we're currently piecing together a spectacular teaser, conveying the brutal atmosphere of Nested Lands.

Soon you will see it with your own eyes! In the meantime, follow our announcements on the Nested Lands Discord server — don’t miss the release of our epic video and other interesting news about your next favorite game.

In Nested Lands, our aim is to seamlessly connect the survival and management elements and genres into one, thus creating something that is both unique and engaging. In a world that has been devastated by a mortifying disease, players will need to balance both aspects if they hope to stay alive. As we’ve said before:
“You must survive to grow your village, and you must grow your village to survive.”

[h2]The Player[/h2]

Players in Nested Lands will find themselves constantly at conflict with their own needs. Hunger, thirst, warmth, energy, hygiene, and, of course, health and stamina are all parameters which will determine not only the player’s survival, but also how effective they are when doing any other actions.

Gathering food and drink is essential, but keeping warm, clean and healthy are also extremely important in order to explore, fight, and find the necessary resources to facilitate future initiatives. For example, eating a berry or an apple might be good enough not to starve, but, in order to truly conquer famine, players might wish to build a Cooking House, where more developed recipes, which not only sate hunger, but may also aid the player in other ways, such as curing certain status effects or even raise max HP, become available.



In addition to that, recruiting and hiring a good cook will help even more, allowing players to feed more people, further develop their settlement, and focus on other, more pressing matters. Speaking of which:

[h2]The Village
[/h2]
Surviving is all well and good, but a lone person can hardly hope to do more than that. In the desolate land of Norovellir, numbers are equal to strength. After preparing enough, players will want to venture out into the world, searching not only for new items and resources, but also for trustworthy people, capable of both improving day-to-day life in the village, as well as protecting it from those that may wish it harm.



Once recruited, NPCs will be able to undertake a variety of tasks that aid in the growth of the Village. From gatherers and farmers to cooks and blacksmiths, all the way to herbalists and even guards, these people will be the key to having a successful settlement. Still, players must engage with them often, not only to win their trust and help them with unfinished businesses, but also to keep an eye on potential troublemakers. With each NPC having their own skills and traits, which define what tasks they are more proficient in, these villagers may become the most important luxury in Norovellir, or one of its greatest hindrances.

Is that guard only going for a little stroll in the woods, or could he be hiding a darker secret?


[h2]The World
[/h2]
The world of Nested Lands itself is dying, if not dead already. The Death Plague has spread to all corners of the land, becoming a constant danger to even the more seasoned of survivors. If left unchecked, the disease will eat away at the very land, possibly erasing all progress already achieved. Treatment is possible, yes, but with such scarcity of medicine and those capable of creating it, it would be all too easy to become overwhelmed, taking players right back to square one, or worse.



All in all, survival in Nested Lands goes beyond just making sure your character’s parameters are filled out. Players will need to form a network of trustworthy allies, recover resources and treasures, and make sure they are ready for all possible threats.


Preparation is key, and there is no better place to prepare than our Discord server. In addition, remember to wishlist the game on steam, so as to stay up to date on all new information!

As the outstanding medieval world of Nested Lands unravels under our development, we're excited to share the latest news with you!

[h2]In search of unique visuals[/h2]

Pursuing visual distinction, our team is deeply engaged in crafting concept art for NPCs, breathing life into villagers, as well as challenging foes like the Mad Occultists. In our early sketches, we explore the most appropriate vision for each character. The unique personalities of each of them begin to emerge - be it the hardworking residents or the insidious heretics.



To breathe life into the devastated lands, we’ve already designed over 60 unique items. Each thoroughly crafted piece tells a tale, immersing you in the brutal atmosphere of the medieval world.

[h2]Filling in the North Plains[/h2]

The North Plains, one of the four islands of Norovellir, is developing with careful attention to detail. The map is adorned with geographical elements such as rivers and woods, and points of interest, creating a vast and dynamic landscape for exploration.

Behind the scenes, we're hard at work sculpting the narrative. Quests are taking shape, intertwined with compelling NPC storylines. Each character has their own name, origin, and purpose. Also, tutorials are in the making to guide you through the complexities of the post-plague world and seamlessly immerse you in the story of Norovellir. Get ready to uncover tales that shape the very fabric of Nested Lands!



[h2]Bringing life to gameplay[/h2]

In Nested Lands, NPCs are not mere bystanders. Witness enemies adapting to the ebb and flow of battle as they tactically retreat when defeated.

Environmental realism is enhanced, with trees and stones becoming breakable. Equip the right tools and gather essential resources like wood and rocks for your survival journey.

Piece by piece, the gloomy but unique world of Nested Lands is taking shape and is preparing to welcome you, Survivor!

Stay tuned for further news and join our Discord for more information and arts!