This is the blockout for the Sawmill POI I created for We the People, a post-apocalyptic, realistic extraction shooter currently in development at Small Indie Company.

For this location, I experimented with a different approach to my blockout workflow. Instead of starting with terrain, I first built a POI kit made entirely from primitive geometry: structures, industrial components, platforms, and support pieces that matched the gameplay needs of a large-scale sawmill facility.

Using this kit, I explored multiple layout compositions, focusing on player flow, varied combat spaces, and clear navigation reads. Once the layout felt strong, I sculpted the terrain around the POI, shaping elevation, water features, and traversal routes to create a natural and believable environment.

The final stage involved set dressing, gameplay refinement, and iteration based on testing. Small adjustments to cover, building shapes, and sightlines helped tighten the encounter design and elevate the overall readability of the space.

One of the biggest challenges for this POI was learning how a real sawmill operates. Understanding how each building connects and how the flow of materials moves through the facility was crucial for making the location feel authentic and grounded. Translating that logic into a blockout that also supports strong gameplay required a lot of research and iteration.

My favorite part of this project was creating the entire kit of structures from scratch. Crafting modular pieces, experimenting with silhouettes, and seeing the layout come together through kit-based design made the process both efficient and creatively rewarding.