Ophiactli - Monster Hunter Fan Design
Beauty Render
Marmoset Viewer
Posed Turntable
Finished Turntable
Showcase of Jaw Mechanics - Frill Retracted, Halfway Closed, Fully Closed
Focused Beauty Renders
ZBrush Bust Turntable
Finished ZBrush Sculpt
Beauty Render for Website Homepage
Link to a recorded presentation of my work and the process of creating this design as a part of IGDA Baltimore (2025)
Ophiactli: from the Aztec deity Cipactli and the Greek word for serpent/deceiver.
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"A leviathan native to Scarlet forest. Ophiactli is primarily a fish-eater, well adapted to it's water-rich environment and is most commonly seen during the fallow, where its red scales blend with the algae blooms and it can scavenge the waterways in peace. When faced with danger, Ophiactli often rely on their bright coloration and modified jaws to intimidate the threat before retreating to a safe distance, preferring to fight at a distance utilizing its long serrated tail and pressurized jets of the water it stores in its throat."
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I've been a fan of Monster Hunter since the 4th generation, and to celebrate the release of Monster Hunter Wilds in spring of this year I wanted to try my hand at designing a monster that could reasonably slot into 'The Forbidden Lands' in which Wilds takes place. The Scarlet Forest immediately grabbed me, and I wanted to create a creature that slots into that ecosystem without necessarily upending it. I knew at the outset that I didn't want to upstage Uth Duna or Lagiacrus so I elected to go for something much more lightweight and push it into a piscivore niche, something that hadn't been explored in the Scarlet Forest's official roster. From here I pushed more for a Gharial or Tomistoma look, straying away from the hippo and saltwater/nile crocodile niches that the other dominant predators in the region have already claimed, and pulled in further inspiration from fish and snake species for the display structures. The scaled hood and utilization of pressurized water jets in defense was lifted from spitting cobras, and the modified jaw was lifted from the Sarcastic Fringehead fish.
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As I was in the process of modeling out the design I was approached by Ryan Griffin on behalf of IGDA Baltimore, and was asked if I'd be interested in giving a presentation on my process of designing creatures. I accepted and have the recording of my presentation linked as a part of this piece, as it has, to me at least, become a key part of this project.
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Special thanks to Chris Sulzbach, and Ryan Griffin for their advice and feedback throughout this project!
Chris Sulzbach: https://www.sulzbunny.com/
Ryan Griffin: https://zerostrike.artstation.com/
