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January 21, 2025 14 min read

How to Create Adventure Webtoons: Epic Journeys in Vertical Format

Master adventure webtoon creation with world-building techniques, journey structure, and vertical scroll pacing that makes every expedition thrilling.

Adventure webtoons are about discovery—new lands, hidden dangers, personal growth through hardship. The vertical scroll format transforms these journeys into something tactile: readers descend into dungeons, climb mountains through upward reveals, and traverse vast landscapes one scroll at a time.

The format makes the journey physical. Use it.

The Adventure Webtoon Advantage

Vertical Discovery

The scroll creates natural exploration mechanics:

Descent as Exploration: Scrolling down feels like going deeper—into caves, dungeons, mysterious ruins. Unknown territory reveals progressively.

Reveal Control: Unlike page turns, you control exactly when readers see the next wonder or threat. No peripheral vision spoilers.

Journey Momentum: Continuous scrolling creates the feeling of forward motion. Travel sequences gain inherent movement.

Scale Through Space: Long scrolls with small figures against vast backgrounds communicate epic scale better than any wide panel.

Adventure-Specific Challenges

Understanding what the format tests:

Wide Landscapes: Epic vistas need creative composition. Vertical panoramas, segmented reveals, or rotated perspectives solve horizontal limitations.

Party Dynamics: Adventure parties with multiple characters need clear visual hierarchy. Who leads, who follows, who speaks when.

Complex Geography: Maps and navigation across horizontal terrain require thoughtful panel design.

Simultaneous Events: Party splitting creates parallel storytelling challenges in vertical format.

World-Building for Vertical Scroll

Environmental Storytelling

Let the world speak:

Layer Reveals: Show environments through progressive discovery:

Approach from distance
Entry details
Interior reveals
Hidden depths

Environmental History: Backgrounds tell stories:

Ruins suggesting past civilizations
Nature reclaiming structures
Signs of previous travelers
Evidence of danger

Scale Establishment: Show how big your world is:

Tiny figures against massive structures
Long vertical drops
Extended travel sequences
Layered backgrounds with distant features

Location Design

Making places memorable:

Signature Silhouettes: Each major location needs instant recognition:

Distinctive architecture
Unique geography
Memorable landmarks
Consistent visual language

Environmental Challenges: Locations present obstacles:

Weather and climate
Terrain difficulties
Local hazards
Resource scarcity

Discovery Rewards: What explorers find:

Hidden treasures
Ancient knowledge
New allies
Story revelations

The Living World

Environments that feel inhabited:

Creature Design: Fauna that fits:

Ecosystem logic
Danger gradients
Behavioral patterns
Visual consistency

Civilization Traces: Evidence of people:

Trade routes and paths
Settlements appropriate to region
Cultural artifacts
Local customs

Environmental Progression: World changes as journey advances:

Climate shifts
Civilization presence
Danger levels
Resource availability

The Journey Structure

The Call to Adventure

Opening your quest:

Establishing Normal: Show what protagonists leave behind:

Home environment
Relationships
Daily life
What they stand to lose

The Inciting Event: What forces the journey:

External threat
Internal need
Mission assignment
Discovery or mystery

Stakes Communication: Why this journey matters:

Personal stakes
World stakes
Time pressure
Point of no return

The Road

Journey pacing and structure:

Travel Sequences: Movement between locations:

Montage panels for time passage
Journey hardships
Character bonding moments
World reveals during transit

Encounter Design: What they meet along the way:

Allies and enemies
Information gatherers
Resource opportunities
Character test moments

Milestone Structure: Breaking the journey into stages:

Clear objectives
Achievement feelings
Revelation points
Rest and recovery

Rising Challenges

Escalation through the journey:

Difficulty Progression: Threats grow as journey advances:

Early challenges teach skills
Mid-journey tests competence
Late challenges push limits
Final trial requires everything

Resource Management: Adventure practicalities:

Supplies and scarcity
Equipment wear
Party condition
Strategic choices

Revelation Pacing: When mysteries unfold:

Early hints and clues
Mid-journey revelations
Late story twists
Final truth reveals

The Destination

Reaching journey’s end:

Approach Sequence: Building to arrival:

Visible goal in distance
Final obstacles
Anticipation building
Scale of destination clear

Climax Structure: The final challenge:

Everything learned applied
Character arcs converging
Maximum stakes
Decisive moments

Return or Continuation: After the destination:

Changed protagonists
New equilibrium
Seeds for future adventures
Satisfying closure

Party Dynamics

Visual Character Hierarchy

Managing multiple adventurers:

Formation Patterns: Who appears where:

Leader positioning
Role-based placement
Rotating focus
Clear panel hierarchy

Individual Moments: Ensuring all characters matter:

Solo panels for each member
Skill showcase opportunities
Personal story threads
Distinct reaction shots

Group Shots: Showing the team together:

Consistent positioning
Height and size differentiation
Silhouette clarity
Personality in posture

Character Archetypes

Adventure party standards:

The Leader: Who guides the group:

Decision moments
Responsibility weight
Growth through leadership
Visual front positioning

The Specialist: Unique skill providers:

Moment-to-shine setups
Knowledge reveals
Problem-solving focus
Competence display

The Heart: Emotional center:

Bonding scene anchors
Moral compass moments
Conflict resolution
Reader connection point

The Wildcard: Unpredictable element:

Tension creation
Comic relief
Unexpected solutions
Growth potential

Conflict and Bonding

Party relationship development:

Internal Tensions: Healthy party conflict:

Goal disagreements
Method disputes
Personal friction
Trust issues

Bonding Moments: How parties become families:

Shared hardship
Mutual saving
Vulnerable moments
Celebration together

Growth Arcs: Party members changing:

Individual development
Relationship evolution
Role shifts
Dynamic changes

Action in Adventure

Encounter Variety

Different combat types:

Environmental Combat: Using surroundings:

Terrain advantages
Environmental hazards as weapons
Escape using environment
Strategic positioning

Creature Encounters: Fighting fauna:

Behavior-based combat
Size and power variety
Pack dynamics
Boss creatures

Humanoid Conflict: Fighting people:

Motive-driven opposition
Combat style variety
Potential for diplomacy
Recurring enemies

Trap Navigation: Environmental dangers:

Detection sequences
Triggering and consequences
Clever solutions
Character skill showcases

Adventure Combat Pacing

When to fight:

Encounter Frequency: Balancing action and exploration:

Major combat per story arc
Minor encounters between
Tension without exhaustion
Rest between battles

Fight Duration: How long battles last:

Quick encounters for travel
Extended boss battles
Appropriate panel investment
Reader engagement maintained

Stakes Variety: Different reasons to fight:

Survival
Resource acquisition
Protection
Story advancement

Vertical Exploration Design

Dungeon Descent

Going down:

Depth Communication: Showing descent progress:

Level indicators
Increasing darkness
Rising danger signs
Architecture changes

Room-by-Room: Dungeon exploration pacing:

Entry reveals
Exploration sequences
Challenge encounters
Treasure/information rewards

The Depths: What waits below:

Boss encounter setup
Final revelation
Maximum danger
Escape tension

Vertical Landscapes

Using height:

Mountain Ascent: Climbing sequences:

Progress visible against mountain
Altitude challenges
View rewards
Summit approach

Tower Structure: Vertical buildings:

Floor-by-floor progress
Rising challenges
Height-based pacing
Top destination

Cliff and Canyon: Sheer environments:

Vertical traversal
Falling danger
Spectacular views
Scale emphasis

Horizontal Adaptation

Making wide work:

Segmented Panoramas: Breaking wide views into vertical strips:

Progressive landscape reveal
East-to-west progression
Moving focus
Assembled understanding

Angled Perspectives: Using diagonals:

Landscape tilted for vertical
Dynamic travel angles
Depth through perspective
Movement through angle

Strategic Wide Panels: When to go horizontal:

Major landscape reveals
Party lineup shots
Map/navigation moments
Scale establishment

The Long Campaign

Episode Structure

Multi-arc adventures:

Arc Design: Complete mini-journeys:

Clear arc objectives
Self-contained stakes
Character development
World-building progress

Continuity Threading: Connecting arcs:

Overarching mystery
Recurring characters
Growing threat
Character relationships

Cliffhanger Craft: Episode endings:

Discovery reveals
Danger establishment
Relationship shifts
Question posing

Long-term Pacing

Sustaining epic journeys:

Power Progression: Character capability growth:

Skill acquisition
Equipment upgrades
Experience application
Challenge scaling

World Expansion: Broadening scope:

New regions
Deeper lore
Larger threats
Greater stakes

Relationship Depth: Developing connections:

Party bond strengthening
New relationship addition
Conflict and resolution
Trust building

Common Adventure Webtoon Problems

The Travelogue Problem

When journeys become boring:

Symptoms:

Readers skip travel sequences
No tension between destinations
World feels empty
Encounters feel random

Solutions:

Every location advances story
Travel has built-in challenges
Environmental storytelling constant
Character development during transit

The Party Problem

When characters blur together:

Symptoms:

Readers can’t remember who’s who
Characters serve identical functions
No individual story threads
Party feels like one entity

Solutions:

Distinct visual design per character
Unique skill showcases
Individual subplot threads
Solo moment panels

The Scale Problem

When epic feels small:

Symptoms:

World feels limited
Stakes don’t escalate
Destinations underwhelm
Journey feels short

Solutions:

Long travel sequences with detail
Environmental scale emphasis
Growing challenge difficulty
World-building in backgrounds

The Goal Problem

When journeys lack direction:

Symptoms:

Readers don’t know destination
Motivation unclear
Progress unmeasurable
Investment low

Solutions:

Clear quest objectives
Visible progress markers
Regular stake reminders
Milestone achievements

Creating Your Adventure Webtoon

Concept Development

Building your journey:

The Quest:

What must be achieved?
Why does it require a journey?
What makes it difficult?
What’s the reward?

The World:

What environments exist?
What dangers await?
What wonders to discover?
What rules govern this world?

The Party:

Who undertakes this quest?
Why them specifically?
What do they each bring?
How do they relate?

First Arc Planning

Your opening expedition:

Scope:

One clear destination
15-25 episode arc
3-5 major encounters
Complete mini-journey

Goals:

Establish party dynamics
Show world basics
Demonstrate tone
Hook for continuation

Avoid:

Too many locations
Full party from start
Complete world explanation
Maximum challenge immediately

For creators mapping complex adventures with multiple locations, character parties, and interconnected storylines, Multic’s visual planning tools help track journey progress and party dynamics—keeping epic adventures consistent across dozens of episodes.

Adventure webtoons transform the scroll into a path forward. Each finger swipe carries readers deeper into unknown territory, over the next hill, toward whatever waits beyond. Make every scroll a step worth taking.