D&D 5E D&D Next weekly art column!

[fuindordm]

Deep question. For the record, I am a 40 yr old male.

I want the game to attract people. So I have no problem with most of the PCs depicted being well-proportioned and attractive people. But "well-proportioned" covers a pretty wide range of body types, and I would love to see plenty of variety in bodies and faces.

I agree with everyone above that sexiness is fine as long as it is justified by context and balanced by modesty. Some people flaunt their attributes--others fell uncomfortable in the spotlight. Can we see both represented?

Finally, poses should make sense. I like character portraits, but I really like to see the people in fantasy art doing things. Lidda's sooty face after trying to activate an unknown device? Pure gold. Generally speaking I think 3e and PF had a pretty good balance in their art.

Thanks for bringing up the topic!

 

[Kaodi]

Regarding the picture of the woman with crossed arms: I was under the impression that shoulder padding and flairs were basically invented to give something of a "faux masculine" cast to the figure. I could be completely wrong, but that is one reason that right now I am extremely skeptical of the first picture not being sexist.

In any case, there should absolutely be the same number of male and female depictions. Furthermore, they should be at least somewhat evenly split between roles/classes as well. Realistic poses and a range of realistic, likely proportions are a must as well. Hips matching chests, and all that. Now that I think of it, it is also important to make sure that if you use a combination of passive and active pictures, women have to be active as much as the men too.

If you have a picture that is questionable, ask yourself: " Is there a caption that could satisfactorily explain why this person is so skimpily clad? " And then use that caption. Captions are, after all, a traditional part of at least comical D&D art. For instance, say you have a picture of a beautiful and scantilly clad woman whow is scowling with her arms crossed, while her armour and weapons are lying on the ground. One of her companions, a chubby fellow with a holy symbol, is also looking obviously uncomfortable, and another is holding out a serving tray to the woman. Around the corner from them is a scene of a feat with a bunch of rough looking warriors (men and some women too) with a big guy on a higher chair above them, having his wine cup refilled. Underneath would be the caption, or perhaps better with speech bubbles: " Why do I have to dress like this again? " " Because you are too skinny to make a decent meal for luring the dragon. And unlike the Brother here, you certainly aren't a virgin. At least not since you rescued that prince. "

Maybe that is not the greatest example, but I hope it least conveys the idea.

 

[Arytiss]

If you have a picture that is questionable, ask yourself: " Is there a caption that could satisfactorily explain why this person is so skimpily clad? " And then use that caption. Captions are, after all, a traditional part of at least comical D&D art. For instance, say you have a picture of a beautiful and scantilly clad woman whow is scowling with her arms crossed, while her armour and weapons are lying on the ground. One of her companions, a chubby fellow with a holy symbol, is also looking obviously uncomfortable, and another is holding out a serving tray to the woman. Around the corner from them is a scene of a feat with a bunch of rough looking warriors (men and some women too) with a big guy on a higher chair above them, having his wine cup refilled. Underneath would be the caption, or perhaps better with speech bubbles: " Why do I have to dress like this again? " " Because you are too skinny to make a decent meal for luring the dragon. And unlike the Brother here, you certainly aren't a virgin. At least not since you rescued that prince. "

Female practically-armoured warrior being handed a chainmail bikini - "That looks like it chafes"
Alternately, sending up the impracticalities of such clothing with another image later in the book.

 

[HardcoreDandDGirl]

*First I am not a typical girl*
I was raised by a single mom (ok she remarried but not when I wwas young) who worked a 9-5 AND was a striper. I have been a stripper, a bar tender at both strip and non strip bars. I have also been gaming since I was young, and reading fantasy since I was a teen. So I understand my view may be slightly off from most. However as a woman who has tried to bring more women into this hobby I will say "be careful"

On game of throwns this weekend as far as I am concerned there are many strong role models to look to, each flawed and each different. Any one of them I would think the thirteen year old me could have looked to. A greaving Mother who is strong and smart, and has a classy sexyness. A knight who serves her who if you look quick you might mistake for a man(who cuts down 3 men in like 8 seconds at the beginning of the show). A young girl who was pretending to be a boy up until last show, who is growing into a powerful swords woman, and a cunning character. None of them do I expect to see topless at any point, or even in cheesecake... But they are not alone. Across the sea is a very beautiful princess who has an inner strength and power, and she has walked out of screams nude, let alone her skimpy outfits. And she is just as much a role model.

I don't want to feel like I have to act like a man or be mistaken for one to be tough. I have no problem with wonderwoman fighting crime in heels. My female elf ranger should be in a normal pose with normal elf proportions, but she can still be sexy.

I imagin that no guy would have a problem imagining himself as the hero who all the guys want to be and all the woman want.

Most woman have no such problem eather.


Ps: woman have breasts, and as a woman I would not like to have to play a half dragon as looking male (or sexless just happening to fit male) just because someone on the Internet yelled "dragon booby" enough. It is one of the reasons I find it hard to get into war forged...

 

[Incenjucar]

There's certainly plenty of room for enchanted armor that defies physics, but I think it would be best if it was identified as an actual enchantment in the game, and if it was not the dominant depiction. There also needs to still be the balance - for every image of a woman in high heels and with a boob window, there should be a man who looks like he just stepped off the cover of a romance novel, vampire or otherwise.

 

[howandwhy99]

I think we need both "regular" and "hero" looking characters in the art.

Regular people have been missing in the art for some years. They are average. Many don't have bulging muscles or stunning physiques. Their faces are their own rather than perfectly in balance. They don't dress like they are in a knight's pageant or coolness contest.

Heroes are people players want to play too though. They are the models, the Greek gods, the iconic look of grace and beauty. They are who many want to be. They dress in the most stylish clothes and look hot, cool, and sexy no matter what they are doing.

I don't think we can afford to leave either one out. I like playing the hero and I like playing characters I can identify with. Including them all in the art as adventurers in extraordinary circumstances, becoming real heroes, could expand the appeal of the game.

 

[Asphere]

Realistic and gritty. Like a darker version of Larry Elmore. Less anime looking stuff.

 

[Dausuul]

First off, Incenjucar's post above (the long one) is excellent. If you only read one response to this column, read that one.

To address your questions...

Would you require that we aim for an equal number of female and male depictions? Yes. It doesn't have to be split exactly fifty-fifty, but it shouldn't be more skewed than sixty-forty at the absolute most. Likewise, ethnicities should be fairly well mixed.

Realistic poses? I think the guiding principle on poses and costumes should be: Imagine the person you're depicting. Would that person dress or pose this way, in this situation? If yes, you're probably okay. If no, you should reconsider.

So if you're portraying a succubus, then spike heels, leather underwear, and a whole lot of bare skin are entirely appropriate, along with a seductive smile and a come-hither pose. That's the way a succubus would look. If you're portraying a practical-minded rogue in a dungeon*, that portrayal is not appropriate because it doesn't fit the character. The rogue should look alert and cautious, wearing clothes suitable for mucking around in a monster-filled, unsanitary cave where sex is the last thing on anyone's mind.

With regard to the character of Tisha... well, she's not a front-line fighter, but that's still pretty impractical clothing for an adventurer. I mean, the first time one of those laces snags on a sharp-edged rock, she'll be topless, unless she's got Tisha's Infernal Crazy Glue (that's a second-level utility power, if you were wondering). So why does she dress that way? I haven't read the comic, so I don't know the answer to that, but more important is whether there is an answer that is provided to the reader. I can think of a few possibilities that would make sense in context. But if she's just scantily clad for no apparent reason, it's a problem.

Standardized proportions? Er, no, not particularly. I'm not entirely sure what you mean here, but proportions should vary between characters as they do between real people. If you mean, "realistic proportions," then I'm certainly for that.

[SIZE=-2]*Assuming we're talking about "dungeon" in the D&D sense, not certain... other senses.[/SIZE]

 

[avin]

I have been a stripper, a bar tender at both strip and non strip bars.

Hardcore, you're the kind of people that should be very interesting at a roleplaying table, very unusual background

On the topic, I like things making sense. Realistic poses, standard proportions, armor you look at and think somebody could be using that.

Granted, we are talking about fantasy worlds here, and some artistic freedom is expected.

I would like to see less "combat posing scenes" and more background and exploration.

Good fantasy art is that you look at and be inspired to create a plot, adventure or even a campaign around it.

 

[hemera]

Incenjucar's post is quite good, and I wish I could give out more xp to them but alas I can not at the moment. All I ask is for a more realistic set of proportions to people portrayed. Not everyone is a supermodel, or an Achilles. Also, get some armor (and weaponry) that isn't so bizarre at times with spikes, or no coverage.

And kill any gratuitous t&a type pictures. Of any gender. Male, female, or grell.