This week we have a special treat for you – ph4at 13wtz. Thanks to the generous support we have received from those who have backed Grim Dawn through our website and the Kickstarter campaign, we have been able to employ two full-time artists and this has allowed us to expand the amount of unique art we’ll have for environments, enemies and, of course, equipment.
Until recently, our artists have primarily been working on enemy models and environmental art as those assets need to be built first so that they can be passed off to animators and designers, who then perform their part in getting the enemies working in-game and/or using the assets to build the world itself (as seen in some of our earlier environment previews). The item art tends to happen last because all the rest of the work necessary for getting equipment into the game can be done with placeholder art. So, as you may have noticed over the past couple months, significant progress had been made on designing a large number of unique items, creating database records, and configuring stats to get the items hooked up to loot tables, ready to drop in the world.
It has been exciting recently to test the game and see uniquely named items dropping with alluring blue text and impressive array of bonuses. However, without unique art, a bit of that magic was missing. It is exhilarating to see this final piece of the puzzle falling into place at last as our artists sculpt the unique models and effects for epic items.
We have put special attention into crafting epic armor and weapons that reflect the history of Cairn. Many include descriptions of their origins or the sometimes infamous figures who wielded them. Below is smattering of items to give you a taste of what is to come; the shots were taken in the editor.
Witchstalker
A legendary weapon among professional witch hunters, the Witchstalker employs dark magic to battle the foul abusers of magic.
Elementium
This shield is a relic from a prior age, when the old gods were said to be more active in the world. It has been blessed by a Templar of Menhir as a bulwark against the elements and survived through countless battles.
Anarchy
This once holy scepter has been twisted into its current form after being anointed with the living blood of Ch’thon. It is now a tool of chaos and any who dare wield it should do so with caution.
Reaper’s Touch
An ancient implement of ritual sacrifice, forged by a long-dead people, this primitive weapon has lost none of its potency. The chill of death can still be felt emanating from the blade.
Boltspitter
There are many crossbow designs, but none as efficient at unleashing a burst of bolts as the Boltspitter. Unfortunately, the inventor of this fine weapon was slain by a jealous competitor before it could be taken to mass production.
Nether Crown
The Nether Crown was once worn by the first and only Arcanist king of Cairn, King Samuel Drake, before he was stripped of his title and executed for heresy by the clergy.
I suppose now you want the stats? If you are eager to see them, call it out in the comments below. Let us know how pumped you are. Maybe I will “accidentally” post them over the next few weeks. 
Interested in more? Check back on 12/02/12 for the next update (Happy Thanksgiving in the meantime, America).
Feature for future expansion perhaps.