The former Witcher 3 director reveals The Blood of Dawnwalker's protagonist lives a double life: human by day, vampire by night. This duality fuels a unique gameplay mechanic, granting increased power at night while imposing limitations during daylight hours. Read on to delve into this intriguing system!
The Blood of Dawnwalker: A Unique Gameplay Mechanic
Day and Night Abilities: A Fresh Take on the Superhero Archetype
Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, former Witcher 3 director and founder of Rebel Wolves, explains their innovative approach to character design. Rejecting the ever-increasing power of typical superhero narratives, Tomaszkiewicz sought a more grounded protagonist. "It’s hard to do those stories because you are just stronger and stronger and stronger," he explains. "So I searched for an idea for the hero, which would be near the ground—or grounded—and needed to solve things in a different way. But, also, I wanted to give some kind of superhero to the players."
This led to the creation of Coen, a protagonist who embodies the classic human-vampire dichotomy. By day, he's vulnerable, possessing the weaknesses of a human. But as night falls, Coen unlocks new abilities and supernatural powers. Tomaszkiewicz draws a parallel to classic literature: "It’s somehow interesting, this duality of the hero, which we know from Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde, for example. It’s something in pop culture that is well known and wasn’t explored yet in games," he notes. "It gives you a different layer to those non-realities, and I think it would be quite interesting because nobody yet has done that. And we will see how people will like it."
This mechanic introduces both opportunities and restrictions. Nighttime combat against non-vampiric foes might prove significantly advantageous, while daytime challenges will necessitate strategic thinking and problem-solving, relying less on supernatural abilities.
Time as a Resource: Strategic Choices and Narrative Impact
Daniel Sadowski, former design director of The Witcher 3, adds another layer of depth with the introduction of "time as a resource." As revealed in a January 16, 2025 PC Gamer interview, this mechanic introduces a time-sensitive element to quests. "It will definitely force you to make choices at some points, like what to do, and what to ignore, because you will also have to choose which content you want to do, and which content you want to ignore, in order to maximise your chances of defeating the main enemy," Sadowski explains. "But you will be able to choose between different ways to approach the problem, and that all ties into the narrative sandbox again."
Players must carefully prioritize quests, considering the potential impact on future missions and relationships. This constraint, Sadowski believes, enhances the experience: "knowing that the time you have is limited could really help crystalise what you're going to do, and why your version of the game's protagonist, Coen, is doing it."
The interplay of these two mechanics—the day/night duality and time as a resource—creates a dynamic narrative where every choice, and inaction, significantly impacts the overall story.
