Different Art, Same Stats

[redwing]

I posted this in the Art section (but realized it fits general, and would probably get more replies.....by the way S/lash, your art is amazing!)

Do you use variant images and physical descriptions of common D&D creatures? Trolls, orcs, goblins, etc. Either to fit your homebrew or just becuase you don't like the ones in the MM? I've seen other good images (such as Iron Kingdom's Trolls) which may make appearances in my setting. Any other settings used different visuals for their creatures?

 

[Aaron2]

Do you use variant images and physical descriptions of common D&D creatures? Trolls, orcs, goblins, etc. Either to fit your homebrew or just becuase you don't like the ones in the MM? I've seen other good images (such as Iron Kingdom's Trolls) which may make appearances in my setting. Any other settings used different visuals for their creatures?

I don't think I have used a 3e image yet to describe any monsters. I mainly stick to 1e-esque images or things I scanned from various fantasy or history books; I print them for handouts. I like to use images from Warhammer for most things like trolls, orcs and ogres.

I just can't stomach the dungeon-punk look or the fact that [almost] every monster in 3e is screaming.


Aaron

 

[Piratecat]

I just can't stomach the dungeon-punk look or the fact that [almost] every monster in 3e is screaming.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I just can't stomach the dungeon-punk look or the fact that [almost] every monster in 3e is screaming.

Maybe they are screaming for a reason? Ever think about that? Huh? Like maybe they wished they looked more like Warhammer monsters?

 

[Enkhidu]

In the campaign world I'm building on the fly, I did away with all the humanoids except goblins and the goblin family and gave them all the appearance of the 3.0 MM bugbear. That's how much I like that pic.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

In the campaign world I'm building on the fly, I did away with all the humanoids except goblins and the goblin family and gave them all the appearance of the 3.0 MM bugbear. That's how much I like that pic.

That's kind of a neat idea. I like the bugbear pic, too. Finally he gets some respect.

 

[Warrior Poet]

I'm a big fan of this tactic.

My players are all veterans (15+ years of gaming), and as such, are quite familiar with all kinds of monster descriptions, so in addition to trying to come up with my own monsters, I rely on slipping different visuals on familiar monsters to throw the players off.

In a recent campaign, I didn't have orcs. I had I-Can't-Believe-They're-Not-Orcs (or Orc Substitute, as we also sometimes referred to them): orc stats, but they had different appearance entirely, and a different species name.

Also, I had a monster that was essentially a shadow, but looked like an irridescent sphere about 1-foot diameter that floated through the air.

That's to name just two, but the strategy helps keep the players from becoming too complacent.

Besides, while there is some great art in the new edition, much of it is . . . not so great. I try to avoid using the visuals of some of the more disappointing images.


I can't show the image, but that was excellent comedy!

Thanks,

Warrior Poet

 

[frankthedm]

All the time, I can't begin to tell you the milage i get out of the "ape" stats and others.

 

[Hjorimir]

I do that and use templates and advancement as much as possible to keep my players guessing. I found it works too. It was quite satisfying to see the reaction on everybody's face when they discovered that zombies do, in fact, eat brains (and have the abilities to back it up) or sorcerer manticores.

 

[redwing]

where can i find Warhammer art? I hear everyone talk about it, but can't seem to find any. I've googled it and not much comes up but mini's and 40k (outerspace).