An interesting art comparison

[Tsillanabor]

That was awesome. I sometimes look back fondly on the old amateur art style.

 

[Dragonbait]

What, no topless AD&D Marilith?

I greatly dislike the new maraliths. They are more accurate from a biological standpoint (being reptilian and all) but they are outsiders. They have no reason to have a biology.

Oh yeah, as for the Glabrezu, I agree with the others. As much as I like DiTerlizzi's (spelling?)art, his Glabrezu was the worst with that black chiuaua design.

 

[Arnwyn]

Some definite improvements, but the 2e art was pretty good.

No question, the 2e vrock is the most superior picture of all the vrocks. I also prefer the 2e chasme (but the FC1 chasme is quite good as well). I'm torn on the 2e and FC1 Nabassu.

I do like the 1e Juiblex.

 

[heirodule]

I like the 1E chamse best.

What strikes me is how OTT all the teeth have become:

Babau
Bar-Lgura (the 3E and FC1, teeth destroy the comparison to an oranguatang).
Fraz-urbluu (How much deception can he wreak if he can't even get words out of his mushmouth)
Jubliex (why does an ooze have teeth?)
etc.

 

[Mercule]

Mixed bag, really. I like some from each edition best.

I will say this, though: Having color in the MM is a good idea. I've complained about 3E art and said I don't care if we have color, but it really does make things look more finished. The question occasionally is whether the subject was worth finishing.

 

[Sejs]

Little known fact, but originally hezrou were intended to draw upon peoples' inherent fear of muppets.

"Hi mom!"

Back in the day, demons were a lot more friendly and approachable. "Hey there, you must be new. I'm Nalfeshnee. Let me show you around the place a little."

You know, I'm sure there's a joke in here somewhere about wrist dropping (oh, get her), but I just can't bring myself to make it.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

I know the quality of the art has improved over the years, but I still love the old DCS III art from the 1E books.

 

[Captain Howdy]

I don't like the new, muscular Orcus. Too buff, he needs to be a big evil slothful potbelly that laughs as he eats your SOUL!

...Other than that, I think the new art is vastly superior (yeah, I like the skinny Vrock, they seem more birdlike and cruel now).

 

[Shade]

I'm glad that the nalfeshnee and bar-lgura have been working out, and lost those man-boobies.

Speaking of which, succubi got the shaft.

 

[gizmo33]

What strikes me is how OTT all the teeth have become:

Me too. It's comic book art 101. It's not longer about any sort of subtlety in the drawing. Big teeth make you feel menaced. A fore-shortened scene of a super-hero punching shows his fist 10 times as big as his head. I don't have an opinion on it for comic books, but I don't care for the style in DnD.

I especially noticed the teeth on Fraz. You have to "imagine" Fraz speaking and trying to weave his web of deception. A four-year-old can be scared of the big teeth in the new drawings. Bigger, louder, bright colors, pin-heads on huge muscular bodies - to me it seems cheap and repetitive. 3E art has always made me cringe. At least the demons don't have flat-top haircuts and wear biker-goggles.

I'm sorry to hear that Orcus has been dieting and working out. I guess he's hoping to get a spot on the Real World.