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1 year ago ::
May 09, 2012 - 2:35PM
#11
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Date Joined:
Jun 29, 2008
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Lots of great artists out there...
The orc art and the mongol warriors I am going to ignore because I don't like the concept they were based on. I think D&D should do their own orcs (pig-faced yay) instead of copying greenskins. I also don't want to see the cultures of D&D being copies of real world cultures, so the mongol concept doesn't work for me at all.
As for the others:
Environment: Sara Forlenza... the environment feels like D&D to me... I'd happily place that refuge in any mountains.
Hall of the Dead: None of the images feel really D&D to me, but Demaret gets pretty close.
Interior: Christopher Bradleys image feels very D&D to me. The cat annoys me in some inexplicably way though... it doesn't feel like it belongs. Otherwise, just perfect.
Equipment: Jonathan Moore's image feels very D&D to me. If all equipment were to be presented like this I would be a happy gamer. The axe makes me want to create a character that swings it. Spikes on helmets though I will never understand unless fitted on a battle rager.
The Character Initiative
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Every time you abuse the system you enforce limitations.
Every time the system is limited we lose options.
Breaking an RPG is like cheating in a computer game.
As a DM you are the punkbuster of your table.
Dare to say no to abusers.
Make players build characters, not characters out of builds.
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1 year ago ::
May 09, 2012 - 3:22PM
#12
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Date Joined:
Jun 27, 2011
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Man! So many were so good!!! I know this is probably too many, but what the hey--I really liked these: Anna Stienbauer Shaman
Nacho Molina Shaman
Asier M Lopez Shaman
Benjamin Guldemond Shaman
Brandon Donovan Shaman
David Vargo Shaman
Filip Burburan Shaman B&W
Filip Burburan Shaman Color
Guido Kuip Shaman
Henri Kutvonen Shaman
Ivan Dixon Shaman
Jesse Parrotti Shaman
John Barry Ballaran Shaman
Liz Clarke Shaman
Mark Molchan Shaman
Sara Forlenza Shaman
Steve Palenica Shaman
Subroto Bhaumik Shaman
Patrick Stacy Shaman
Nate Hallinan Shaman
Beth Sobel Cook
CJ Derra Cook
David Chen Cook
Jan Filippelli Cook
Jonathan Moore Cook
Milivoj Ceran Cook
CJ Derra Environment
Colin Boyer Environment
Sara Forlenza Environment
Shane Madden Environment
ZnY Klaus Environment
Hall of the Dead None
I like Both of the Interior Drawings
Carlos Cara Guard
Dallas Williams Guard
Immar palomera Guard
Jacob Atienza Guard
Lukasz Jaskolski Guard
Michal Teliga Guard
Jonathan Moore Equipment
Can't we find room for all of them? Just a note--I realize art has a lot to do with presentation of a version--but a variety of art styles can appeal to a wider variety of people. Just a thought, but a broader selection is better than a narrow one. While I think the art for 4e is good, it is almost all too much the same. Just something to think about.
Thanks for asking our opinions! It was fun to look at all the awesome art!
"The worthy GM never purposely kills players' PCs. He presents opportunities for the rash and unthinking players to do that all on their own." --Gary Gygax
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1 year ago ::
May 09, 2012 - 4:18PM
#13
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Shamans Mark Molchan - There is a strong sense of the shaman being connected to the scene and the other characters. The pose is strong with a sense of motion, without being too flashy. Cooks Mads Johansen - I like the non-chalant look on the cook's face, despite the horrific act that occured moments before. He looks like he is having a conversation with someone off screen, making him more connected with his environment. Environment Zny - Despite being a static scene, the piece has alot of dynamic energy. You can practically hear the wind howling. Hall of the Dead David Demaret - The building is imposing and majestic with good proportion. The carrion birds and figures on the road makes it look more like a moment in time, rather than a static model. Interior Christopher Bradley - I really like the high level of detail. It feels like it could really exist. Town Guard Michal Teliga - Those guards look like tough customers. Their faces are very expressive (especially the archer), and it looks like the first-person newcomer is not welcome. Bonus points for a polar bear adorable enough to hug as it is mauling you  Equipment Jonathon Moore - The equipment looks like it is part of the scene, rather than from a catalog. A nice level of detail, including scratches on the blades.
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1 year ago ::
May 10, 2012 - 4:17AM
#14
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Date Joined:
May 18, 2003
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Lots of great artists out there...
The orc art and the mongol warriors I am going to ignore because I don't like the concept they were based on. I think D&D should do their own orcs (pig-faced yay) instead of copying greenskins. I also don't want to see the cultures of D&D being copies of real world cultures, so the mongol concept doesn't work for me at all.
Don't have the time to review them all again, but I think my problem with a lot of the presented artwork (especially the shamans) is what you are describing.
I his art challenge Jon did not say what real life culture the presented one was originating from. He also did not say what kind of race his "monsters" are. Yet, the *artists* took those pictures, used their kognitive schematics and put them race&culture into it (say "mongol" and "orc"), and added all the little details they assume with the chosen category. Some even added titles like "orc chaman" or something like that into their picture.
And guess what? That's repetitive and limiting creativity. When we want to display new monsters and new cultures we have to take what Jon gives us as hints in his descriptions and pictures and DO NOT use our old categories. We don't know if the monsters really eat other humanoids. We don't know if themonsters or the culture are patriarchal or matriarchal or neither (the monsters do not show huge dimorphism, so the females might be as well-trained as the males and vice versa). We don't know if the monsters are ferocious or peaceful. We don't know whether the culture follows mongolian or norse clothing traditions. We have to work with what we are presented. And add little details on top of that based on what image we draw from our tiny bits of information. Regardless of what we think their categories would be.
And this is - I guess - the one true reason that Jon had to see so many hairy "orcs" with un-flat faces doing typical orc things. (The worst one being the beautifully rendered titular image imo, but I won't get into too much negativity here)
Nothing against the general artistic skill and style. I loved most of them, really
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13 months ago ::
May 23, 2012 - 3:54PM
#15
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Date Joined:
Feb 17, 2008
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I am my favorite D&D artist.
Author of Elementalism in Atlas Games' Occult Lore. 
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