D&D 4E D&D 4E Style

[Moonshade]

The tieflings have ridiculous swords/daggers, I'm a big fan of the 3E green dragon's look so I don't like the new pic of that beastie, and the covers of the Big Three disappoint. But despite those things, the black and white sketches and the pics in the promo video are enough to make me optimistic about 4E's overall style. The dwarves in particular look great.

 

[edemaitre]

D&D4e art

I've liked and disliked bits of the art in every edition of "Dungeons & Dragons," and I expect D&D4e to be no different, although the importance of the core rulebooks as something that most D20 players will refer to regularly can't be underestimated. The tone, from eccentric black-and-white art, to lush paintings, to spiky-haired and -armored characters, presents D&D's image to the outside world and helps recruit and define each generation of role-players.

I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing Erol Otus' weird monsters, Larry Elmore's well-proportioned people, and Claudio Pozas' clean lines in D&D4e. I think the core books should be generic fantasy, with a mix of epic heroism, low-powered gritty adventure, and fantastic creatures and magic. Specific worldbooks or sourcebooks can then take a game in one directon or another, from combat-heavy dungeon crawls, to steampunk exploration, to court intrigue.

Did anyone else notice that some of the sample art featured what might be the iconic four classes of the new edition? I know that's probably being discussed on numerous other threads, but a Dwarf Cleric, a human Wizard and Fighter or Paladin, and an Elf Rogue or Ranger is more promising in terms of iconic characters than the Tiefling on the cover of the new PHB...

 

[Doug McCrae]

I love WAR. More WAR!!

That out of the way, does dungeonpunk mean spikey armor, oversized weapons and big muscles? If it does 4e art is dungeonpunk. If it means piercings, tats, bare midriffs and spikey hair then it isn't.

I had a look through the 3.5e PHB. There is only one example of a facial piercing - Naull on page 110 has a pierced nose and lower lip. There are lots of pierced ears, often multiples, on men and women. Lots of tats or body markings that might be. A few bare midriffs on women - Mialee, Ember and a succubus (but then you'd expect that of a succubus). I couldn't find any really spikey hair, though Krusk and Hennet look like they use a bit of gel. Alhandra's stays up because of her 80s headband.

The 3.5e PHB certainly refelected the fashions of the time, as all D&D art has done. Elmore and Brom's stuff looks irredemably 80s and 90s to me. It seems there is a move in 4e to more fantastical, timeless art. What one might call classic. Personally I rather like the contemporary influences, but the 4e art so far certainly rocks, especially that mean looking beholder.

 

[heirodule]

These weapon designs suck.

(though the pick with the thong is...intriguing)

 

[Moon-Lancer]

It's interesting how halflings have continued morph away from Hobbits. That's OK and all (I have no issue with "Halflings aren't Hobbits" in concept), but what are they at this point? Elves, Dwarves and Half-Orcs have a distinct racialness about them; Halflings are seeming "just like Humans, only short."

to fulfill the annoying midget stereo type

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Very unusual weapon designs; they seem to mesh with what we've seen on dwarves so far, but not the others. I almost get the idea each race will have a heavy 'racial style' (tieflings all seem to have those odd liquid metal + Klingon-looking weapons, for example, while humans have had more 'traditional' looking weapons). Which would actually be quite cool.

Anyway, I like these weapon designs, but some almost look sci-fi to me. Especially the medium-sized single-edged sword, with what are probably supposed to be runes but look like the nubs on an Imperial Star Destroyer.

 

[Kaffis]

That tiefling art is beautiful. Guess tieflings are a little more touched in 4ed than back in 3.x.

Plane-smote?

 

[wedgeski]

Very unusual weapon designs; they seem to mesh with what we've seen on dwarves so far, but not the others. I almost get the idea each race will have a heavy 'racial style' (tieflings all seem to have those odd liquid metal + Klingon-looking weapons, for example, while humans have had more 'traditional' looking weapons). Which would actually be quite cool.

Exactly my thought when I saw that image. I worry about the complexity if there are any mechanical differences, but if every race has illustrative weapons and armor, that could be a great way to prime the imagination.

Definitely getting the sense that they're trying hard to differentiate the races in this edition.

 

[Wormwood]

Very unusual weapon designs; they seem to mesh with what we've seen on dwarves so far, but not the others. I almost get the idea each race will have a heavy 'racial style' (tieflings all seem to have those odd liquid metal + Klingon-looking weapons, for example, while humans have had more 'traditional' looking weapons). Which would actually be quite cool.

Quite cool indeed.

I honestly really like the idea of Dwarves using Art Deco to pound your ass into the dirt. And yes, the flame-inspired Tiefling weapons are distinctive and flavorful.

More please!

 

[GreatLemur]

These weapon designs suck.

(though the pick with the thong is...intriguing)

Yeah, that's my only gripe about the art, so far. I'm hoping those are specifically dwarven weapon designs.