[REQUEST] OLitD: Looking for brainstormers!

[Khyrpa]

The mountains would be cool too, but it doesn't quite fit the setting and outdoor levels are hard to optimize and make look realistic at the same time.

Mountains would be extremely cool if done well, it could perhaps require some custom models and depending what kind of skybox you would use, the optimization of lighting could become hard. But outdoor areas are in no means something you should avoid implementing, just be sure the player doesn't have to stick in them for too long.
Here's a boring picture of a sunset:

Spoiler below!

I don't know if these help or anything, but I'm still going to give you some of my thoughts.

Try and avoid straightforward puzzles where you notice nothing scary is going to happen until you complete something. Don't let the player rest and think for too long! Necessary resting and peaceful mood should imo be implemented to transitions between spooky areas.

One interesting scenario would be falling or in any other means getting stuck into somewhere forcing the player to actually think they have no way out. Could be hard to time right, but try to shock them with something when they get frustrated or lose focus and then let them continue further. Things happening without the players own interaction (picking up objects or colliding with certain areas) could be interesting.

Since your map seems to have something to do with thunder, perhaps create a shadow of a man when lightning hits at some part to scare?

Create an illusion that makes the player feel like something invisible is keeping an eye on him? Like for example: when player looks at certain direction, give him damage and push him somewhere. Perhaps if the player tries to look for tinderboxes from shelves and such could also be a good time for a surprise to that point he no longer wants to look.

Fake run scene? Sounds to create a runaway scene into perhaps an dead end or something...

Story wise I tried my best, but just couldn't figure out anything remarkable. Maybe use notes to describe mental breakdown for Dale H. Shaw when he sleeps inside the castle. Not the traditional "I see ghosts" type, but something more sophisticated... It could be interesting to follow the progress of someones mind when he proceeds to explore a mysterious castle. When it comes to the point that Shaw toys with dead bodies or something and the player might feel the urge to stop following, force him to continue (somehow the urge to explore further can decrease when you know you can always turn back and run away, might be the opposite too though...)

You wanted brainstorming, I tried! Good luck with your project