D&D 4E D&D 4E Style

[timbannock]

Anyone noticed the style of art in these pics

http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/11123.html

Less of the spiky-haired anime styling, and the characters look like they have less "stuff" than in the typical 3.5E art.

Perhaps that's a sign of a return to more "realism" or "2E" style in the characters? Less crazy supernatural abilities, less reliance on magic items, etc.

I'm sure not much less (this is D&D after all), but a little bit closer to its roots.

I've always wondered what kind of impact all of the Necromancer Games, Castles & Crusades, OSRIC, "earlier Edition 'feel'" games and products would eventually have on the core D&D line. I'm not saying that they will have one, but it'd be interesting if they did (I for one like Necromancer's feel as opposed to say, Eberron, for instance, but that's just a matter of taste).

Thoughts?

 

[TerraDave]

Wait, didn't we just have thread on this...

But I don't think those pics are an acident...that halfling cleric does have a different look, on purpose.

Still, doesn't really address my running complaint that the game currently lacks style. But I don't mind em.

 

[Shawn_Kehoe]

Anyone noticed the style of art in these pics

http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/11123.html

Less of the spiky-haired anime styling, and the characters look like they have less "stuff" than in the typical 3.5E art.

Perhaps that's a sign of a return to more "realism" or "2E" style in the characters? Less crazy supernatural abilities, less reliance on magic items, etc.

I'm sure not much less (this is D&D after all), but a little bit closer to its roots.

I've always wondered what kind of impact all of the Necromancer Games, Castles & Crusades, OSRIC, "earlier Edition 'feel'" games and products would eventually have on the core D&D line. I'm not saying that they will have one, but it'd be interesting if they did (I for one like Necromancer's feel as opposed to say, Eberron, for instance, but that's just a matter of taste).

Thoughts?

Realism, eh?

According to 30 Years of Adventure, the 3E artstyle was considered more realistic, since the characters visibly carried all the tools that adventurers use, but which never showed up in the old illustrations ... grappling hooks, rope, etc.

But yeah, this looks "cleaner" in the traditional sense.

 

[pawsplay]

Realism, eh?

According to 30 Years of Adventure, the 3E artstyle was considered more realistic, since the characters visibly carried all the tools that adventurers use, but which never showed up in the old illustrations ... grappling hooks, rope, ....

... seven foot long mercury-filled greatswords, sportswear composed entirely of leather belts, studded leather armor stolen from Kevin Costner, etc.

Btw, is is just me, or is that "green dragon" a blue dragon that someone painted green?

 

[Wormwood]

Realism, eh?

According to 30 Years of Adventure, the 3E artstyle was considered more realistic, since the characters visibly carried all the tools that adventurers use, but which never showed up in the old illustrations ... grappling hooks, rope, etc.

But yeah, this looks "cleaner" in the traditional sense.

Is that a pointy wizard hat I see in the background?

If so, then I have my first negative reaction to 4e.

Dear gods, spare me from the 'old school'.

 

[Fifth Element]

Less of the spiky-haired anime styling, and the characters look like they have less "stuff" than in the typical 3.5E art.

Again with the "anime". Please check that other thread. 3.5 art is NOT anime by any reasonable definition.

Perhaps that's a sign of a return to more "realism" or "2E" style in the characters? Less crazy supernatural abilities, less reliance on magic items, etc.

I'd love to see more "realism" in the art. Getting rid of dragons entirely, for instance. Supernatural powers? Who needs 'em. Magic isn't realistic, after all.

I think the word you're looking for is "verisimilitude". Of course, the more recent 3.5 art is MUCH more verisimilitude-y than 2E art. So that can't be it either.

 

[Masquerade]

Dear gods, spare me from the 'old school'.

Same here. Although I do like this piece they've given us, I hope it doesn't indicate what it seems to indicate in terms of the overall style of 4e art. I'll take oversized swords and excessive belts over generic fantasy any day.

(Of course, if you dislike anime or dungeonpunk on principle, feel free to take my opinions with a grain of salt.)

 

[MadMaxim]

I don't think any of the images look particularly old-school. Reynolds has always had a special way of doing his artwork and it still looks awesome. In fact I don't think it looks any different from a lot of his previous works and that's great. The halfling doesn't look anything out of the ordinary that you'd see in a 3.x source book or core book. But all that is just my opinion.

 

[pawsplay]

Is that a pointy wizard hat I see in the background?

If so, then I have my first negative reaction to 4e.

Dear gods, spare me from the 'old school'.

Hey, ever since Harry Potter, pointy hats are new school again.

 

[pawsplay]