In Minecraft Pocket Edition, we have encountered some truly remarkable fantastical narratives and expansive adventure maps, but few can compare to the vastness of Drobnovia. Here lies a collection of fantasy RPGs crafted within Minecraft. Described as having an “epic storyline with an MMO RPG feel,” this project is primarily the brainchild of two builders and designers, Azounstone and Dasaster.
These maps span entire nations and continents. They feature monumental tales and hundreds of characters, all interwoven in complex relationships. These are stories of heroism, magic, monsters, and insurmountable evil. Players embark on quests, assisting locals in banishing the darkness that threatens their world.
Essentially, the only thing these RPGs lack is consideration for your free time. When am I supposed to find moments to do anything else when these lands still require saving!?
The series includes three adventures: The Knights of Drobnov I, “The Golden Cup of Kurasta,” and “The King of Shadows.” Azounstone dedicates 60 hours each week to these projects, while Dasaster invests over 30 hours. Some of these endeavors take up to a year to complete, meaning thousands of hours go into developing these ambitious RPGs.
Every quest must be coded, every building placed, and every line of dialogue written. It’s challenging to convey the sheer scale of these maps without doing them a disservice: they offer adventures that dwarf many retail games in my collection, all constructed within Minecraft Pocket Edition.
So why does Azounstone undertake such a commitment? It’s hardly a small investment of time…
There are numerous NPCs to interact with. Meet Grace, the woman who runs the inn and tavern. She’s quite optimistic! Considering she has no body.
“My granddaughter is the simple answer,” explains Azounstone. “I’m an elderly man, 52 years old and retired. My granddaughter, with whom I share a close bond, discovered Minecraft; she visits me every weekend and said, ‘Oh, Grandpa, we should play Minecraft!’
She showed me videos from Azounstone on YouTube created by players showcasing how they build their own worlds. So, Azounstone found a builder to assist him, Dasaster, and together they began working in October 2014 to create something that would eventually become The Knights of Drobnov I.
They spent eight months (!) releasing The Knights of Drobnov I, learning how to write, build, and engineer along the way. Naturally, Azounstone’s granddaughter, Vera, lends a hand in creating and finding quests: one quest is dedicated to Stampy Longhead, thanks to her.
Azounstone’s personal influence stems from his past as a “hardcore” gamer, having played Everquest 2 very seriously several years ago. Inspiration comes from various role-playing games, and both Azounstone and Dasaster take breaks after each release to see what others are doing in different games for fresh ideas.
In Azounstone’s own words, “there’s only so much time you can tell a player to grab something new and pick something up for themselves,” so he has to get creative in designing and writing quests—especially since the maps include hundreds of them.
“It’s Vera who deserves the credit, as without her, none of our maps would exist.”
The primary focus is on the main storyline initially, but soon you’ll find yourself lured into smaller side quests. There’s much more than just defeating the bad guy. In fact, there are even “legendary quests,” devilishly difficult tasks reserved for the bravest adventurers. Honestly, it’s surprising I’ve managed to carve out time to write this article amidst all the happenings.
But that’s not all! Azounstone is crafting stories that unfold between the maps. In “The Golden Chalice of Kurasta,” the team’s second map, side quests will carry over into “The King of Shadows,” and the titular “King of Shadows” may reference characters you’ve encountered before. The storytelling weaves a network throughout the series, connecting characters, relationships, and their narratives back and forth across each RPG.
With coding windows open on one screen and Minecraft on another, Azounstone works diligently to input code into command blocks scattered throughout the map. He does this manually for every quest in the game—from minor side quests to the main storyline and unique legendary quests.
However, while Azounstone and Dasaster are the key figures behind the map creation, they are not the only creators involved.
“A lot of credits go to the Minecraft PE community because they create fantastic builds,” explains Azounstone. “We communicate with builders and ask if we can use their creations, and the response is usually ‘yes, of course, you can.'” Both Azounstone and Dasaster also construct their own buildings, but drawing inspiration from the community is crucial to how such a small team can produce something so impressive.
They are also committed to their community. Both Azounstone and Dasaster spend time on their forums, listening to feedback and creating video walkthroughs for each main storyline to assist players who might be stuck. There’s no shame in using one! I won’t judge you! Much.
There’s another member of the team: bikerchic44. Once Azounstone and Dasaster finalize everything, bikerchic44 goes through it, testing each quest to ensure everything functions correctly before they release it all.
Impressively, many buildings aren’t just facades—they can be explored for new quests, resting spots, and that handy shop run by those unfriendly faces. Get ready!
Azounstone emphasizes that despite the enormous time commitments he makes to the project, these RPGs are collaborative efforts. “I’m incredibly grateful to Dasaster, because without her, there wouldn’t be any maps, as she works full-time alongside me. This is a joint effort, and she is just as vital to the project as I am. Also, bikerchic44 deserves immense gratitude for all the time she spends testing our maps before release.”
“Ultimately, however, Vera should be thanked, as without her, none of our maps would exist.”
So, Vera: thank you for introducing your grandpa to Minecraft! He, along with you, Dasaster, and bikerchic44, have created some of the most impressive maps filled with grand adventures awaiting discovery in Minecraft. Now, if you’ll excuse me: Drobnovia still needs saving!
Does anyone have a few hundred spare hours?
