D&D 5E D&D Next Art Column Discussion: May

[Libramarian]

I think even if the party has a rock solid reputation for lawful goodness, the townsfolk should still be showing them more deference and respect.

Idk something about the picture feels too "modern". They almost look like a boy band surrounded by fans or something.

It is a fine example of a picture that is not a portrait or an action shot though.

 

[Hussar]

Libramarian, I guess that really depends on the presuppositions of the campaign world. In a default 3e city, for example, magic would not be terribly scarce and "adventurers" would be fairly commonplace, particularly low level ones. It's not like the regular townsfolk never see something strange, they've got demonpeople living beside them.

I get what you're saying, but, it really, really depends on context. An adventuring party wandering through some pueblo out in the boonies would likely get that reaction. An adventuring party in Imperial Rome wouldn't even rate a raised eyebrow. Imagine what gladitorial fights would look like if they could stock the Colosseum with the Monster Manual.

 

[GX.Sigma]

They almost look like a boy band surrounded by fans or something.

Or a couple of wealthy-looking foreigners walking through an overcrowded city full of beggared merchants trying to scam them into buying something.

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[delericho]

I think if a group of adventurers is walking around town being obvious about who they are, the townsfolk should be more likely to cower in their homes rather than run out trying to sell them things.

I like the "rock star" model.

At low level, the PCs are dreaming wannabes. The most likely reaction of the average peasant is to ask when they're going to give up on this nonsense and get a real trade. And, of course, the PCs have to find most of their own work, do their own publicity, and so on.

At mid level, the PCs have "made it". People get excited when they're in town, they have people paying for their stuff (well, coming to them with adventures), they attract shifty agents and all manner of hangers on, and so on.

And, of course, at high levels they're "rock gods". They're the sort of legendary perfomers that only occur once in a very great while - they're the Beatles, or Elvis, or Queen. While they're alive, they will be hailed wherever they go... but they can expect to die a legendary death in the near future. And, of course, even that will only enhance their mystique!

Of course, all of these things can manifest in different ways. If the PCs are known as the Prince of Darkness, then they'll get a very different reaction than if they're Cliff Richard.

 

[tuxgeo]

From the 4e DMG, the chapter opener for the Fallcrest section:

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Great, evocative image -- but it never felt like "Fallcrest" to me.

Maybe it's Hammerfast or Sarthel; but it's neither Fallcrest nor Harken.
The map of Fallcrest in the DMG shows lots of scattered, free-standing buildings that are each set back from the roads and streets, with grassy lawns or yards out front. Nowhere in the Fallcrest map is there depicted such a close warren of buildings set right adjacent to the stairs/street, with their upper storeys hanging over the passers-by.

 

[Skyscraper]

Great, evocative image -- but it never felt like "Fallcrest" to me.

Maybe it's Hammerfast or Sarthel; but it's neither Fallcrest nor Harken.
The map of Fallcrest in the DMG shows lots of scattered, free-standing buildings that are each set back from the roads and streets, with grassy lawns or yards out front. Nowhere in the Fallcrest map is there depicted such a close warren of buildings set right adjacent to the stairs/street, with their upper storeys hanging over the passers-by.

I've actually used the Fallcrest image to show my players what Cauldron looks like (from the Shackled City adventure path). The sloping streets and tight building placement seem appropriate.

 

[Kaodi]

If the party is basically a band of mercenaries, then it might be realistic for people to distrust and resent them. After all, common soldiers also put their lives in danger and yet they do not get the same lavish rewards. That said, as they have the money merchants and such are still more than likely to be eager to sell to them. Just not necessarily invite them back to their home for dinner.

 

[Stormonu]

Somehow, it seems this thread has gotten off in left field...

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Looking over the orc shaman concepts, I think my favorite is Mark Molchan's shaman. It's well done, comes across as "realistic" and it's a scene, not just a single character model. You can almost imagine that the orcs in the picture have gathered for a war party, casting the bones of fate to who Gruumsh favors them to attack first (with the various skulls being victims from various nearby villages - the skull the cast bones land closest to will be the one the orcs attack...)

Nacho Molina, which is the one I think several people are having an issue with, has an interesting scene and great looking orcs. For some reason, when I look at the lady in the picture, I keep thinking she's a bariabur (Planescape centaur-goat). Despite the "cheesecake", the picture seems to be telling an interesting story and has a fascinating backdrop (no, I'm not talking about the "elvin"? captive).

 

[GX.Sigma]

(@ today's owlbear article)

Those two owlbear concepts look very similar... That said, I like #2 the best--I think "monstrous quadrupedal bird that kind of looks like a bear" is a lot more compelling than "owl head on bear body."

The only thing I don't like about it is the exposed skull on the snout. I kind of get what they were going for, but I always thought the beak was one of the big selling points. I guess #1 is "half owl, half bear" and #2 is "neither owl nor bear but kinda looks like both," but I'd like a little more owl.

 

[hafrogman]

To me, neither is particularly "bear"-ish. I can see the owl, but both look too humanoid to be bears. Track 1 is the owl-troll and Track 2 is the owl-gorilla. Both very cool pictures . . . but not bears, to me.