For me, the descriptions of duergar in various editions tells me everything i need to know about them. Like reading a novel, I can then make my own mental image of what they look like without being limited by art.
The only time art really turned me on to a RPG product was the original Planescape art in 2e. Tony DiTerlizzi's work was and is amazing.
I must admit, the idea of art being limiting in any way to my imagination is wholly alien to me.
Do you imagine that I see an image I like of a svirfneblin and...can't imagine them any way but how they're depicted in that image?
First off, I love Mitch Hedberg (RIP).
They say that when he passed, he was guided to the divine escalator up to heaven. It had a sign next to it, reading, "Escalator temporarily stairs. We're sorry for the convenience, of you still being able to get up there."
Second of all, I know exactly which pen-stylus you're talking about - several companies make it (e.g. Troika). I was looking at that just recently.
Yep. We sell them at my work, though our price for them sucks. I'm going to get a set of the matte black ones soon.
But yes, I'm very picky about such things as well, and almost always prefer metal. If you want any suggestions on mechanical pencils, send me a PM - don't want to derail the thread (too much). The reddit page on mechanical pencils is fun to browse, although it likely won't do wonders for your wallet. My favorites that I own are the Kaweco Brass Special and the Caran D'Ache Ecridor. I also love the Kaweco Sketch Up - just a fun chuck of metal.
Will do. I've only recently gotten past the point of feeling silly spending 20$ at office depot for a single pen.
Another example are notebooks, as you mentioned. I've settled on the Blackwing Slate as my go-to for something I carry around, which is somewhat unfortunate as it is a bit more expensive than average - and far more than the type of cheap notebook you find in drug stores.
Yeah, I have a small collection of hand-made notebooks that I really like, but I really want to get my hands on something a little more purpose built for taking notes over time. Something with some built in organization. I keep thinking about the idea I had to have pages sectioned off and numbered in the first section of the notebook, with say 3 sections per page, and then corresponding multi-page sections further on. So you've got space for the quick notes like names and such with a section number like 1a, 1b, 1c, and you can expand on a given section in the back where maybe there are no numbers but just a place to write in numbers, all in a framework where you can add pages to a section, and easily go back and forth. So, expanded section 1a can grow as your notes about the necromancer whose cult you're pursueing get more detailed, but finding the notes on the NPC crime lord medusa you met months into the game while a bunch of other stuff was also happening is still easy to find, because you just flip through the reference index in the front.
I'm sure one of the various modular notebooks out there could be made to do all that, I just haven't found the best one fro the job yet.
I haven't looked at MotM, but I hear you. The aesthetic (and artistic) experience is part of it, which is also why I relate with folks who don't like whatever the latest art trend is. And also why I'm happy when the alt cover of a new D&D book is not to my liking! (e.g. the Spelljammer set), but sucks when I missed out on an alt cover I do like, but has since risen in price beyond what I'm willing to pay for (e.g. Tasha's).
Oh yeah, some of the early alt covers are gorgeous but I doubt I'll ever pick them up now. First one I got was Eberron. It broke the seal by just being so damn perfect, on the book i'd been waiting for since 2014, both in terms of fitting the setting, and just fitting my personal aesthetic preferences.
I mean, I extend this to other hobbies - I like to collect old 1960s-70s mass market science fiction and fantasy novels, because some of the "New Wave" art is just so fun. In general, when I'm looking for an out-of-print book, I look to see what editions exist so I can get the cover that is most aesthetically pleasing to me.
Oh yeah, genre fiction related art from the last century is so chock full of incredible gems. I wish more novels had chapter art, tbh.
One thing I want to do when I publish my game, is to have a mix of gorgeous fantastical art, and hand drawn in-world scribbling like you see in a lot of Stephen King novels. I'll show you the sign of the Crimson King, sure, but the first time you see it is going to be as it was scrawled on the wall of the building where his servants congregate in downtown New York.
Imagery is just...fundamental to understanding the world, in my experience.