On Destiny 2, Kelsey designed quests, progressions, rewards, and other systems that probably require a flowchart or spreadsheet. She is fulfilled when driving collaboration with partner teams to build features that leverage everyone's strengths and give her a chance to learn something new.
Here are some releases that feature her work:
Check out her interview in a Destiny 2 Developer Livestream:
Releases Detail
Keep reading below for more information on selected releases.
Destiny 2: Renegades
In this release, Kelsey owned the Syndicates reputation systems as well as the progression, unlock, and equip of Renegade Abilities.
Syndicates
Kelsey was feature owner for Syndicates reputation system in Star Wars collab Destiny 2: Renegades. Drove collaboration with partner teams including design, engineering, art, and UI/UX.
- Designed reputation system, vendors, ally system, and rewards for all three Syndicates
- Worked closely with World Art and UI/UX to build out each Syndicate "den" in the Tharsis Outpost social space
- Collaborated with Narrative and Player Journey quest designer to ensure systems design aligned with Syndicate personalities, narrative, and quest objectives
Renegade Abilities
Kelsey owned the unlock, upgrade, and equip systems for Renegade Abilities, which are in-activity abilities designed for the Lawless Frontier game mode in Destiny 2: Renegades.
- Worked closely with Activity and Sandbox designers on upgrades for 9 Renegade Abilities which can be upgraded 6 times each. This means there were 63 total versions to design and implement!
- Designed and built the in-activity vendor for equipping Renegade Abilities, working closely with Tech Design to ensure player choices are applied to the activity
- Designed and implemented four vendor subscreens for upgrading Renegade Abilities, as upgrades and unlocks are linked to Syndicate and narrative progression
Monument of Triumph
Monument of Triumph was a massive collaboration between all Destiny 2 teams to bring one final update to the game. Consequently ownership was more diffuse, as everyone worked together to load balance and support each other's features. Here are some of Kelsey's contributions:
- Set up end-of-activity rewards system for Sparrow Racing League, including Sponsored Weapon bonus loot. Worked closely with Weapons team to align on weapon foundry sponsorship fantasy for weapon rewards
- Built 10 attunement vendor subscreens for many activities across the game, which allow the player to increase the likelihood of receiving specific weapons as activity rewards
- Aligned with Sandbox and Narrative teams to notify players of new subclass abilities via vendor narrative text and map icons
Into the Light
Into the Light was an update available to all players which called upon all fireteams to regroup and defend the Last City in anticipation the release of Destiny 2: The Final Shape.
- Built the Holofoil weapons system, which introduced rare visual variants of weapon rewards to Destiny 2
- Designed and implemented the introduction quest and tutorials
- Planned and built vendor contents for Shaxx, which included reputation rewards and unlocks
Episode: Revenant
Episode: Revenant was the second Episode released the year of Destiny 2: The Final Shape. Players took up the mantle of "Slayer Baron" as they hunted the leader of an undead army.
- Owned the main story quest, collaborating closely with Narrative and Activity Design disciplines to ensure the quest delivered the narrative as well as introduced the main features and activities of Episode: Revenant.
Season of the Wish
In Season of the Wish, players make a deal with the spirit of a deceased wish-granting creature to save her eggs from corruption, in exchange for one final wish.
- Owned the main story quest for the season, working closely with Narrative and Activity Design disciplines to deliver narrative as well as introduce and tutorialize Season of the Wish features.
New Player Experience
Kelsey cut her teeth at Bungie on the new player experience team. This team made targeted updates and improvements to the new player, or "New Light" experience of Destiny 2.
- Owned starter builds for Arc 3.0 and Solar 3.0 reworks, collaborating closely with combat team to choose starting abilities for six subclass builds
- Designed and authored a collection of quests that introduce New Lights to exotic armor, reinforce subclass keywords, and get players thinking about buildcrafting
- Collaborated with Guardian Ranks feature owners to update the New Light experience to incorporate and tutorialize the Guardian Ranks feature
- Built and updated atoms for Ikora Rey vendor, where players can acquire subclass items
- Authored frameworks documentation on implementation and best practices for Destiny 2 tutorials