D&D General Art Thread! What does a D&D wizard look like?

[Distracted DM]

The original "magic user" class has been broken into so many categories over the years, that I guess I wizards is a bookish caster. I draw inspiration from many sources.

For an example of a younger, physically fit wizard, Harry Dresden comes to mind.

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Yeah, not D&D IP, but he is certainly what I picture most adventuring wizards to look like.

Fom the real world...

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Michael Scot

Famous Chinese Wizard:
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Xu Fu. This dude's life reads like a D&D campaign. Court sorcerer, alchemist, and explorer tasked by the Emperor of China to find the Elixir of Life.

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The Witch of Endor. Consulted by Saul (in contradiction against his own laws against sorcery) to contact the soul of Samuel for guidance in preparation of Israels battle against the Philistines.

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Mother Shipton fits right in as a D&D Wizard. Living from 1488 to 1681. Mainly known for prophecy for there are stories of her turning people to stone and other magic.

And let's now forget our modern wizards. ;-)
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Aleister Crowley - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Alan Moore looks more like a D&D wizard than the D&D art.

Great stuff, I appreciate the time you took to grab this variety

 

[FitzTheRuke]

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Alan Moore looks more like a D&D wizard than the D&D art.

Yeah, Moore is the most Wizardy-looking Wizard, but that's probably by conscious design.

 

[Quickleaf]

This is a kobold.

Therefor, this is a wizard.

 

[Charlaquin]

This is a kobold.

Therefor, this is a wizard.

I adore that kobold! Where is that piece from?

 

[Dragonhelm]

Dragonlance fans will tell you that wizards should look like Raistlin. Give or take the hourglass eyes and gold skin.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Queen is a gender specific term, where the male is called a King. Like Witch is a gender specific term, where the male is called a Wizard. You made the same choice JK Rowling did for your own description. You could have chosen a gender neutral term like Goblin Monarch but didn't.

I have heard they are not naturally related words, with witch descending from poisoner and wizards from the old types of wise men mean rationally they would have no innate equivalence

Witch and wizard aren’t gender-specific terms outside of the Harry Potter universe, though. There is some sexism tied up in which wise folk historically got labeled witches and which ones got called wizards, but neither is inherently gendered. Yet, J.K. Rowling made the conscious choice to use them as gendered terms in the fictional world of her book series. Queue everyone’s surprise when she turned out to have some pretty rigid views on gender.

Yes, go figure femininity might be an important part of a trans woman’s identity.

I think that her pop culture already did it for her, world-building has never been her strength.

Dragonlance fans will tell you that wizards should look like Raistlin. Give or take the hourglass eyes and gold skin.


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he does look reasonably fresh from apprenticing but the staff is too long to use as a walking stick, even my uncle could tell him that

 

[Distracted DM]

I adore that kobold! Where is that piece from?

They're Tony Diterlizzi's (of Planescape fame), he's done a lot of colors and inks and even released a book of inks recently. But a ton of his stuff is on his website and on his socials.

 

[Mind of tempest]

They're Tony Diterlizzi's (of Planescape fame), he's done a lot of colors and inks and even released a book of inks recently. But a ton of his stuff is on his website and on his socials.

link?

 

[Distracted DM]

link?

Art Galleries – Tony DiTerlizzi

You can find his socials on there as well.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

A wizard looks however I want it to look given the context of their world, specific magic system, and the character's own background. In most cases, it probably involves some kind of spellbook, but the spellbook can be tattoos, a magical tablet floating behind them, an actual book, a scroll case, etc. I'm also always looking to expand my visual vocabulary of concepts. If someone shows me something I hadn't expected and calls it a wizard, then my visual vocabulary has expanded. I prefer to be open-minded in this case, not close-minded, close-minded perspectives themselves being the antithesis of good art.

Exactly its very setting dependant. The most stereotypical looking wizard is Elminister or Merlin or Gandalf, but that's far from universal.

I think the most universal element is a spellbook and an arcane focus, everything else depends not just on setting, but character background.