Render · Prototyping

Path of Exile Gems

As a creative study we modelled a set of skill gems from the action RPG Path of Exile. Working from in-game references, we rebuilt the gems as real, faceted CAD objects, then printed them as test pieces and rendered them in Blender.

Faceted render of the Bane skill gem, green with swirling core — Skill gem - Bane

Faceted render of the Dark Pact skill gem — Skill gem - Dark Pact

Faceted render of the Enduring Cry skill gem — Skill gem - Enduring Cry

Faceted render of the Ice Nova skill gem, pale blue — Skill gem - Ice Nova

Faceted render of the Cremation skill gem — Skill gem - Cremation

Faceted render of the Flame skill gem, orange red — Skill gem - Flame

Faceted render of the Power Siphon skill gem — Skill gem - Power Siphon

Faceted render of the Quantity skill gem — Skill gem - Quantity

The gems

We modelled a spread of gems, including Bane, Blade Blast, Cremation, Enduring Cry, Flame, Ice Nova and Syphon, each faithful to its in-game facets and colour. Rebuilding stylised game assets as physically believable gemstones is a good exercise in surfacing and material work.

Dungeon render scene

For presentation we staged the gems in a dungeon setting, the kind of place a player might stumble on one glinting in the dark. The scene leans on contrast and controlled light to make the faceted surfaces read.

Sockets and links

To echo the game's mechanics we also designed gem sockets. Each gem has a removable base so it can slot into a socket, and the sockets themselves can be joined with links, the same socket-and-link logic players know, made physical.

3D-printed test pieces

We printed the gems and sockets to check how the geometry translates from screen to hand. The prints confirm the facet work and give us tangible reference for future creative and product pieces.

3D-printed skill gems and sockets laid out as test pieces

Printed gem slotted into a socket joined by link pieces

Services used

Creative CAD and mesh modelling
Procedural gem materials (Blender)
Scene lighting and rendering
3D print preparation

Deliverables

Gem model set
Dungeon render scene
Printable gems, sockets and links

Notable technical detail. The interesting constraint is making stylised game gems look like real, light-catching stones while keeping them printable and slottable, a bridge between screen aesthetics and physical parts.