FAQ: The Kingdom of Ehb

The Kingdom of Ehb:

Q: What’s the back-story?

The background and story for Dungeon Siege was written and conceived by award winning writer Neal Hallford.

At the western frontier of a long-dead Empire, a thriving kingdom has so far avoided the catastrophic fate of their Imperial predecessor. But, when primitive scavengers known as the Krug begin forming armies to pillage the countryside, it becomes clear that someone or something has initiated a turn for the worse.

Q: How is the main character involved?

The life of a humble farmer is irrevocably changed as peaceful farmlands are beset by marauding Krug, casting the character, and all that is held dear, into a desperate struggle for survival.

The call to glory is one that only the simple farmer is uniquely qualified to answer. Courage and wits may be all that holds the kingdom from the brink of disaster. The player must quickly decide how best to unlock the mysteries and challenges that may unfold, and whether to seek the assistance of other heroes or head out into the world alone.

Q: Where does Dungeon Siege take place?

Dungeon Siege takes place in the Kingdom of Ehb, a land rich in history. Here is a short introduction:

Only three hundred years old, the Kingdom of Ehb is one of the youngest states bordering the Plain of Tears. First settled as a trading outpost on the fringes of the Empire of Stars, Ehb later achieved temporary status as a military protectorate and province when the 10th Legion migrated westward. After the catastrophic War of Legions led to the collapse of the Empire, the stunned province of Ehb was set on an irrevocable course toward independence and kingship. Protected by a ring of superb fortifications and heir to the 10th Legion-arguably one of the best trained armies in the world-the Kingdom of Ehb has, so far, been shielded from the raids and invasions that have devastated many of its neighboring states on the Plain.

Within Ehb’s borders, there is an astonishing diversity in geography and cultures. Most inhabitants worship Azunai, an ancient god of the pre-Imperial Agallan Peaks. Dwarves and men live together in harmony and bow to the same king. Sorcerers are also more accepted than in other countries, thanks in large part to the efforts of Merik, Grand Mage and Warden of Shadows of the 10th Legion. And in the heart of the kingdom, a strange and often contrary race called the Droog is allowed a degree of autonomy, despite its sometimes troublesome alliances.

It is a country in search of an identity, caught between the glories of a fallen past and the potential for an even greater future. Despite several crises, Ehb has never fallen to an enemy. But at any time the course of events could turn down a bleaker path.

Q: How can there be no loading screens?

The Siege Engine uses a sophisticated technique we call continuous world technology. As the player moves through the world, terrain, objects, sounds, items, weapons, monsters, everything that can be seen and interacted with, is continuously being loaded into the computer’s memory so the player can interact with it. Then, as the player advances even further into the world, areas which are no longer visible are released from the computer’s memory, and only important information is maintained in the event the player chooses to explore those areas again. A close analogy to this is the way music is streamed off of a music CD, but unlike music streaming technology the Siege engine allows the player to move about in a 3D world and head in any direction they choose, including straight up or down.

Q: What will the world look like?

The Siege Engine allows for almost any kind of fantasy world to be created. This includes terrain and structures that can extend from the deepest dungeons to the highest mountaintops. The worlds we have created for Dungeon Siege, the Kingdom of Ehb and the Utraean Peninsula, have both been handcrafted and detailed with lush forests, and dark and gloomy dungeons, and of course populated with creatures good and bad. In designing these worlds we aimed to take the player on a fantastic journey to the most outrageous and exotic locations that we could think of, including massive ice caverns and hot deserts with deep chasms and incredible vistas.

Q: What kind of lighting is there?

The world of Dungeon Siege is lit by an ambient light that changes with the time of day. In addition to the outdoor day and night cycle, there are several kinds of indoor lighting systems. First there is a static lighting system to illuminate a room with specific color to match the mood, and a dynamic lighting system for spells and other moving light sources. Each of these systems was designed to provide a balance between performance, flexibility and visual effect. The Siege Engine also supports negative lights, which allow the designers even greater creativity when looking for a specific type of light effect.

Q: Will buildings or terrain block the player’s view?

Trees and bushes will automatically fade out of view as the player travels or moves the camera. The roof and upper floors will gently fade away when buildings are entered. Similarly the world above will slowly fade away when dungeons and mines are entered. Passageways and doors will automatically fade out of the way to provide a clear view.

Q: Will there be weather?

The Siege Engine allows for rain, fog, snow, smoke, sunrays, and more. The Siege Engine is very versatile at setting the mood in the world using visual environmental effects. This all boils down to a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.

Q: How will time pass?

Time moves faster at a rate corresponding to 1.5 minutes of real time per one hour of game time.

Q: What will the world sound like?

The audio landscape of Dungeon Siege is as rich as the visual landscape. With a backdrop of orchestral music created by the award winning Jeremy Soule the player will hear the sound of the rain falling, wind whistling through the trees, the battle cries of their foe, and the crackle of a spell as the player battles their way through the Kingdom of Ehb. Frank Bry, a highly respected and veteran sound designer, is providing the rich tapestry of sound effects that cover the expanse of the huge Kingdom of Ehb. For those with sound cards that support EAX, the sounds are enhanced to create an even richer experience.

Q: Who will be in the world?

Throughout the player’s travels will be many friendly and hospitable folk, and a wide variety of monsters. Some of these friendly people may join the player’s party, while others may be shopkeepers or various townsfolk. Besides a variety of friendly NPC’s there is a huge number of evil monsters that the player will encounter spread throughout the world, from snow covered mountains to dark and treacherous dungeons. These evil creatures can fly, swim, crawl… and come climbing right out of the ground.