So Much Art From the 2025 Monster Manual

Levistus's_Leviathan · Jan 12, 2025

AstroCat said:
Elmore

Elmore has a ton of art that is of awkwardly posed boring heroes standing in bland landscapes while staring at the camera. Occasionally with a weird dragon randomly in the background. I prefer nearly every previewed art piece to anything I’ve seen by Elmore. Every time I have seen people praise Elmore’s art as the height of D&D art, I have always been utterly baffled. It does not appeal to me at all.

People have different tastes. That’s okay. But your attitude is the problem. You can express your distaste in the art without insulting the people that made it and those that like it.

AstroCat · Jan 12, 2025

MonsterEnvy said:
For comparison here is a Elmore with some Minotaurs.

It's an excellent piece with lots of skill in it. But I don't like it as much for what I feel a D&D Minotaur should be.

I much prefer this style but agree Cowatuars is a bit of the vibe I'm getting. I'd prefer my Minotaurs a bit more ferocious looking.

MonsterEnvy · Jan 12, 2025

AstroCat said:
What's wrong with titillating in fantasy art? It doesn't have to be just curious why it can't be?

I never said anything of the sort. What I said was we have not seen the Succubus's art.

AstroCat · Jan 12, 2025

Levistus's_Leviathan said:
Elmore has a ton of art that is of awkwardly posed boring heroes standing in bland landscapes while staring at the camera. Occasionally with a weird dragon randomly in the background. I prefer nearly every previewed art piece to anything I’ve seen by Elmore. Every time I have seen people praise Elmore’s art as the height of D&D art, I have always been utterly baffled. It does not appeal to me at all.

People have different tastes. That’s okay. But your attitude is the problem. You can express your distaste in the art without insulting the people that made it and those that like it.

Never said the people who made it are bad people, just don't like their art at all. And Elmore was used as one of many who I can become inspired by looking at their art pieces. Art from his and others can really drive the imagination and inspire amazing game sessions. The art I'm seeing from the 2025 MM does the opposite for me, it's embarrassing and makes me want to do something else, like clean the house or take the dog for a walk.

MonsterEnvy · Jan 12, 2025

AstroCat said:
Never said the people who made it are bad people, just don't like their art at all. And Elmore was used as one of many who I can become inspired by looking at their art pieces. They can really drive the imagination and inspire amazing game sessions.

You still repeatedly insulted them and their work. Calling it lazy, equivalent to AI prompts, and various other things.

AstroCat · Jan 12, 2025

MonsterEnvy said:
You still repeatedly insulted them and their work. Calling it lazy, equivalent to AI prompts, and various other things.

I insulted the art, not the people, I don't know them personally. I said it looked bad, like some of the really cheesy ai art from midjourney. Although once and a while I will see a derivative AI art piece that actually looks pretty cool, in a way, some scifi scenes and such.

MonsterEnvy · Jan 12, 2025

Let’s actually compare. What is everyone’s favourite of these Monster Manual Minotaurs.

RoughCoronet0 · Jan 12, 2025

Honestly, Minotaurs are one of those monsters where I prefer the Magic the Gathering art of them. This is from Guildmaster's Guide to Ravinca.

And this is from Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Azzy · Jan 12, 2025

AstroCat said:
Thats ok, the art is still also bad. Sure, some are hell bent on "loving" anything and really anything, they can do no wrong, content wotc 2024 throws their way. Thank goodness I don't feel that kind of social corporate loyalty to wotc or Hasbro. If the content is bad, and it's bad, I don't have to like it. The fear some have is if you don't fall in line and love everything about 2024 modern day wotc, all of sudden you are put in some kind of "others" bucket.

You seem to think that your tastes are some objective truth. I assure that they aren't.

Azzy · Jan 12, 2025

Levistus's_Leviathan said:
Elmore has a ton of art that is of awkwardly posed boring heroes standing in bland landscapes while staring at the camera. Occasionally with a weird dragon randomly in the background. I prefer nearly every previewed art piece to anything I’ve seen by Elmore. Every time I have seen people praise Elmore’s art as the height of D&D art, I have always been utterly baffled. It does not appeal to me at all.

Also, Elmore tended to be really bad with humanoids and with helmets. He had some decent work and some less-than-decent work. And don't get me started on Easeley—I'd take the bad 2014 halfling art over the vast majority of Easley's work.

Levistus's_Leviathan said:
People have different tastes. That’s okay. But your attitude is the problem. You can express your distaste in the art without insulting the people that made it and those that like it.

Right?

So Much Art From the 2025 Monster Manual

Christian Hoffer

Levistus's_Leviathan

5e Freelancer

AstroCat

Adventurer

MonsterEnvy

Legend

AstroCat

Adventurer

MonsterEnvy

Legend

AstroCat

Adventurer

MonsterEnvy

Legend

RoughCoronet0

Dragon Lover

Azzy

ᚳᚣᚾᛖᚹᚢᛚᚠ (He/Him)

Azzy

ᚳᚣᚾᛖᚹᚢᛚᚠ (He/Him)

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