Desdichado
Legend
Isn't WAR's first name Wayne?
3E art and age
- Thread starter jgbrowning
- Start date
Desdichado
Legend
Yeah, and Cthulhu trashing the iconics was fun, but best left in the back for the appendix on conversion. The star spawn -- is that the one with the weirdo alien crashing through the church window?Psion said:
I'm mostly thinking of the pulp-looking lumberjack guy hacking at zombies with an axe, though.
EricNoah
Adventurer
In all editions there have been gems and also some pictures where I went "Huh, how did that make it into print?" (Fiend Folio, I'm looking at you!) Thumbs up on the old, thumbs up on the new.
I think what we're going to see is that, as you might guess, there's no accounting for taste. People like what they like!
I think what we're going to see is that, as you might guess, there's no accounting for taste. People like what they like!
Henry
Autoexreginated
Age 31, and Neutral. I take it or leave it, because it's good, and it's flavor is still acceptable, but my preferred style is the old Elmore and Caldwell stuff. Brom, DiTerlizzi, and Wood don't really do a lot for my tastes. Todd Lockwood, however, has shown tremendous potential in some of his non-core rules illustrations to me. I swear I've seen some pictures of some of the stuff he did for (Thunderhead Games?) that would give Clyde Caldwell a run for his money, in my book.
I'm more old-school in flavor.
I'm more old-school in flavor.
Mercule
Adventurer
Nearly 30 and I claimed "Neutral".
All the artists are talented. I just don't like most of the style. Whoever said "punkish" nailed it right on the head. I didn't mind it at first, but the more I look at it, the less I care for it.
I don't care whether it's gritty or clean or sexy. I just can't take any of the iconics seriously. They are entirely too "modern" looking. It's got just a hint of anime mixed in (which is a bad thing, IMHO).
On the other hand, I _love_ the parchmenty pictures at the beginning of the chapters. Well drawn, aged-looking, and interesting.
All the artists are talented. I just don't like most of the style. Whoever said "punkish" nailed it right on the head. I didn't mind it at first, but the more I look at it, the less I care for it.
I don't care whether it's gritty or clean or sexy. I just can't take any of the iconics seriously. They are entirely too "modern" looking. It's got just a hint of anime mixed in (which is a bad thing, IMHO).
On the other hand, I _love_ the parchmenty pictures at the beginning of the chapters. Well drawn, aged-looking, and interesting.
I'm 26. Overall I dislike the 3e art style. It's both too comic book-ish and goth-cyberpunk for me.
I do really like the sketchy background chapter header drawings in the books -- great stuff. I also really like the art by Sardinha in the Monster Manual. Most of the rest of it I don't care for. I prefer the art style in most of the d20 books out there better, even if WotC does excel in technical merit and full color high production value goodness.
My favorite old artists are Dave Trampier and Erol Otus.
I do really like the sketchy background chapter header drawings in the books -- great stuff. I also really like the art by Sardinha in the Monster Manual. Most of the rest of it I don't care for. I prefer the art style in most of the d20 books out there better, even if WotC does excel in technical merit and full color high production value goodness.
My favorite old artists are Dave Trampier and Erol Otus.
Gothmog
First Post
I'm 29, and I voted dislike most of it. I don't care for the punkish look at all- its too modern, "gothic-looking", and almost like the characters are trying to look like freaks. And whoever said they have an anime-ish look to them put into words one of the things I didn't like about most of the art, but couldn't put my finger on.
I do agree with Mercule though- the parchmenty illos at the beginnings of the chapters are quite good in most cases. Its too bad that artist wasn't contracted to do more of the book art.
I do have to say that some of the best art I have seen for 3E has been from FFG's Legends & Lairs series. I like Mitch Cotie, Andy Brase, David Griffith, and Tyler Walpole. Whoever did Hammer and Helm from Green Ronin aslo did an outstanding job. And Necromancer games has several kick-butt artists too- although I don't have any of my books with me to give names (I especially like the one who did Orcus in Tome of Horrors).
I guess I like detailed drawings that are not too sylized. Leave the spiky armor at home, the too-big anime eyes, and the leather strap quasi-armor. I do like a dark, realistic style to the art instead of really clean lines, shiny armor, and bright colors. I just find the more realistic art more evocative since it gets my imagination going more to think what cratures/characters in a fantasy world might actually look like.
I do agree with Mercule though- the parchmenty illos at the beginnings of the chapters are quite good in most cases. Its too bad that artist wasn't contracted to do more of the book art.
I do have to say that some of the best art I have seen for 3E has been from FFG's Legends & Lairs series. I like Mitch Cotie, Andy Brase, David Griffith, and Tyler Walpole. Whoever did Hammer and Helm from Green Ronin aslo did an outstanding job. And Necromancer games has several kick-butt artists too- although I don't have any of my books with me to give names (I especially like the one who did Orcus in Tome of Horrors).
I guess I like detailed drawings that are not too sylized. Leave the spiky armor at home, the too-big anime eyes, and the leather strap quasi-armor. I do like a dark, realistic style to the art instead of really clean lines, shiny armor, and bright colors. I just find the more realistic art more evocative since it gets my imagination going more to think what cratures/characters in a fantasy world might actually look like.
G'day
Here I am 35+. My reaction is 'positive', but only because I have low standards for interior art in RPG products.
In my opinion most of the art in 3e is technically competent, which makes it outstanding by RPG standards. Characters' proportions are correct, moulding and shading give a real impression of solidity. Most of it looks at least okay, and a good bit of it is really quite decorative.
However, I do have some issues with the clothes, which look like nothing that anybody ever wore except on a catwalk, and like nothing that could be made in a society with quasi-mediaeval technology, or that anyone except a fetishist would wear if they had a choice.
Also, I am rather disappointed to find that the illustrations are rather bad at illustrating anything. Most of the armour on PHB 106-107 looks nothing like the armour types it is supposed to illustrate. Moreover, most of it looks incredibly heavy and almost totally impractical. I have similar complaints about many of the weapons on PHB 102-103. Even forgiving the artist for ridiculous weapons such as the double axe, gnome hooked hammer, urgrosh, spiked chain, two-bladed sword, and dire flail; the greataxe, halberd, warhammer, falchion, and rapier are all appalling. It is plain that the artist had no idea and did no research. Compare with some of Angus MacBride's work for Osprey Books ('Men at Arms" series, "Elite Series") and Iron Crown (much of their MERP stuff): historical weapons and armour look great, this scrapyard punk look is not even a visual improvement.
The general observation that the art is better in the decorations than in the illustrations applies with sad force in the MM. There, where good illustrations are most sorely wanted, too many of the illustrations look like nothing in particular, and the standard of technical competence is lower.
My unhappy observation is that most publishing people think of interior art as decoration rather than illustration, and that even good examples (such as the PHB and DMG) is designed much more as decoration.
A picture is worth a thousand words. It is a great shame to waste a thousand words saying nothing but "Lidda has a buckle fetish".
Regards,
Agback
Here I am 35+. My reaction is 'positive', but only because I have low standards for interior art in RPG products.
In my opinion most of the art in 3e is technically competent, which makes it outstanding by RPG standards. Characters' proportions are correct, moulding and shading give a real impression of solidity. Most of it looks at least okay, and a good bit of it is really quite decorative.
However, I do have some issues with the clothes, which look like nothing that anybody ever wore except on a catwalk, and like nothing that could be made in a society with quasi-mediaeval technology, or that anyone except a fetishist would wear if they had a choice.
Also, I am rather disappointed to find that the illustrations are rather bad at illustrating anything. Most of the armour on PHB 106-107 looks nothing like the armour types it is supposed to illustrate. Moreover, most of it looks incredibly heavy and almost totally impractical. I have similar complaints about many of the weapons on PHB 102-103. Even forgiving the artist for ridiculous weapons such as the double axe, gnome hooked hammer, urgrosh, spiked chain, two-bladed sword, and dire flail; the greataxe, halberd, warhammer, falchion, and rapier are all appalling. It is plain that the artist had no idea and did no research. Compare with some of Angus MacBride's work for Osprey Books ('Men at Arms" series, "Elite Series") and Iron Crown (much of their MERP stuff): historical weapons and armour look great, this scrapyard punk look is not even a visual improvement.
The general observation that the art is better in the decorations than in the illustrations applies with sad force in the MM. There, where good illustrations are most sorely wanted, too many of the illustrations look like nothing in particular, and the standard of technical competence is lower.
My unhappy observation is that most publishing people think of interior art as decoration rather than illustration, and that even good examples (such as the PHB and DMG) is designed much more as decoration.
A picture is worth a thousand words. It is a great shame to waste a thousand words saying nothing but "Lidda has a buckle fetish".
Regards,
Agback
Similar Threads
