We’re excited to bring you a new dev diary and to reconnect with you through this latest update. In previous diaries, we discussed the creation of certain types of raiders, how they were shaped by gameplay needs, narrative inspiration, and more. In this entry, we’ll continue exploring the creation of raiders, focusing on those most closely tied to Old Joe, a character you met in the demo, as well as those responsible for transportation and construction within the Imperial colonies of the Galaxy of Neterun.
Old Joe presents himself as the Imperial’s right-hand man in the vast exile colony of Neterun. Under his command are a number of raiders who, shortly after their birth, chose to align with Old Joe for protection, aiding him in his efforts to maintain order, conduct trade with space stations, and more. For this reason, we wanted to design raiders who were recruited almost immediately after their creation. We started with the base body model and enhanced it with various weapon types.
Through this approach, we aimed to reflect the concept of raiders who never sought their own path in Neterun. Traumatized by the Extraction and its aftermath, they essentially become empty vessels from birth. These raiders assist Old Joe not out of loyalty or ambition but because they feel they have no other purpose in the Galaxy of Neterun beyond serving the strongest.
Old Joe has little patience for newborn raiders who fail to find their own way. Many perish on dangerous missions, while a few manage to rise to powerful positions despite their harsh start. Those who succeed evolve, acquiring formidable weaponry, heavily armored bodies, and advanced ships, becoming the Imperial military force within the colonies.
And what about transport and construction? Drones are often used, but Old Joe also employs raiders who are unfit for combat or the collection of sonic matter, assigning them to cargo ships. We decided that these ships wouldn’t have traditional raider bodies but would instead be integrated into the infrastructure of Imperial bases and stations.
After extraction, their brain waves are diminished but not entirely gone. These cargo ships haul materials, perform tasks at space stations, and handle trade operations. They are functional consciences, trapped in metal cages from which they will never escape.
With that, we’ve reached the end of this diary. We hope you found it intriguing and look forward to the next update.
Farewell, raiders!
