D&D 5E Toward a new D&D aesthetics

[Weiley31]

I'm not gonna lie: I REALLY like the old style DND art from like 2E, Dragonlance, Elmore, and a number of artists from that era that are..............seen with a frown on here because of what was once a "questionable" style, in today's world, when compared to back then.

Mostly because, I grew up in the mid 80's/ all of the 90's and this is the art that my mind just associates with Fantasy Art/Dungeons and Dragons and what not. I'm not opposed to newer art these days, but there was something, stylistic wise, that just "clicks" and feels different back then compared to now.

Yet I like the more funny/cartoon style of the black/white art of like 1E/OG I think it is, but 2E art, and heck even 3E was something at times.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Now: BRING ON THE CHEESECAKE!

its probably a hot take, but I think what we call beefcake/cheesecake art, the fake-oil paint style with ridiculous attires and action scenes, would still be viable if they'd just bring more diversity in terms of body shapes, genders and skin color. Give us a muscular woman choke-slamming dinosaurs in a sorcerer's tower to save a hairy dude with a bald head! The appeal of that genre (at least to me) is ''perilous, over-the-top-dramatic adventuring made sexy'', not ''sexy adventuring''.

Closer to a multicultural, diversity-positive, van paint job at a Manowar concert for retired WWE wrestlers than a Danielle Steel for grungy teenagers vibe

 

[Weiley31]

Oh hey, I own this hardcover! Honestly, the art in this book is just amazing!

Even though I got the Dungeon Crawl Classics in PDF format from Humble Bundle, I'm buying this particular hardcover version because it's my fave cover.

And it was a hard pick to choose because there's a number of DCC main books that have some great alternative covers.

 

[Stormonu]

@vincegetorix - got ya covered:

 

[Mind of tempest]

@vincegetorix - got ya covered:

View attachment 154150

looks like a terry P cover.

 

[Scribe]

Even though I got the Dungeon Crawl Classics in PDF format from Humble Bundle, I'm buying this particular hardcover version because it's my fave cover.

And it was a hard pick to choose because there's a number of DCC main books that have some great alternative covers.

You’re no hero.

You’re an adventurer: a reaver, a cutpurse, a heathen-slayer, a tight-lipped warlock guarding long-dead secrets. You seek gold and glory, winning it with sword and spell, caked in the blood and filth of the weak, the dark, the demons, and the vanquished. There are treasures to be won deep underneath, and you shall have them.

And sold...

 

[Vaalingrade]

You call that a Cheesecake mate? Hahaha, No that's not a cheese cake.

That's a Cheesecake
View attachment 154147

~Heavy breathing noises~

It's Disney unless you draw it without the crust.

 

[Minigiant]

I personally never liked any editions aesthetics that much. But I never hated any other them either

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I personally never liked any editions aesthetics that much. But I never hated any other them either

Yeah, there is stuff I really like in the last few editions, for sure, but the overall look of dnd has never been what grabbed me.

 

[Minigiant]

Yeah, there is stuff I really like in the last few editions, for sure, but the overall look of dnd has never been what grabbed me.

Yeah. D&D art never gripped me. It always felt like it was trying to replicate something that doesn't match the game or force a look on the game based on personal preferences.