In a medieval-themed game, the stone walls of a castle courtyard lack detail and look flat. What techniques would you use to enhance the textures and add depth to the environment?

“From a texturing point of view, I would improve the detailing of the texture inside Substance Painter, utilizing the method of large, medium, and small shapes to create the detail. As well, I would add smart masks to really give the texture some edge wear and cavities. Following that I will utilize ambient occlusion as a fill layer and set it to multiply to give it some depth. When placing the texture in the engine, I would use the height map and make a parallax effect for the material to give it even more depth, while keeping in mind of performance. Afterward, if there is enough geo in the wall mesh, I would vertex paint some moss/lichen along the wall, giving it a more aged look. ”

If you had the chance to live inside a 3D environment you created, which one would it be, and what kind of adventures would you have there?

“The environment would be home to a world of low fantasy, where magic and fantastical elements are present, but rare to come by. The environment itself would be an island that physically resembles Sicily. The island would be lush and diverse, political intrigue is ever-present, and ancient secrets remain hidden on the island. As someone who lived on this island, I would traverse the landscape, choose my allegiance with a political faction, and delve into the mysteries that the island has in store.”