Different styles of artwork

[deClench]

In another thread, the following was brought up:

I remember hearing that [...] had the idea, back when Third Edition was new, of reprinting the Player's Handbook with alternative art styles - one more traditional like previous editions, one anime- and manga-inspired, et cetera.

I think this is a really interesting idea. Personally, the artwork really affects how I imagine something. For instance, on several occasions I had simply dismissed creatures because they didn't appeal to me aesthetically, only to change my mind by seeing them portrayed in a totally different way.

I wonder how much of an effect changing the style of art in the PHB (or any other book) might have. Of course, art influenced by anime/manga norms is an accessible comparison, but there are surely other styles that could lend an interesting twist to the game.

I’m curious to know 1) how the visuals in D&D affect your play in general and 2) how an anime/manga influenced style (or another style) might alter your game.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Huge importance. For monster books, art is the #1 most important thing. Both for my own understanding and to show to players. I find Denizens of Avadnu for example virtually unusable due to the poor art.

Art's very important to get across the flavour of a game or setting. If D&D had manga art, like BESM, then it would almost become a manga game. I'd have to start running scenarios where the PCs are all students at magic school or teenage giant golem pilots fighting tentacled aberrations or something.

 

[deClench]

If D&D had manga art, like BESM, then it would almost become a manga game. I'd have to start running scenarios where the PCs are all students at magic school or teenage giant golem pilots fighting tentacled aberrations or something.

You say that as if it's a bad thing. ^_^

 

[GreatLemur]

teenage giant golem pilots fighting tentacled aberrations or something.

Except for the fact that I wouldn't let a teenager pilot a used Volvo, that sounds like a pretty damned workable campaign idea. (Nobody point out DragonMech, though. I already know about it.)