Dragon #355
- Thread starter Alzrius
- Start date
BOZ
Creature Cataloguer
commenting on the art for those 4. as always, when we submitted a manuscript, i include sample illustrations from older products, to give the artists an idea on where to start (if they did not already have one). i included every available picture i could find of these critters, and the artist(s) take it in whatever direction they feel.
CAVE FISHER
This one wound up being kind of an amalgam of previous illustrations, which is a cool way to go. it probably has the most in common with the Monstrous Manual/Monstrous Compendium renderings, but I see features in it that are also reminiscent of the 1E style, and the art from its old Ecology article.
MAEDAR
I'd say this one has the most in common with the piece from the Forgotten Realms Monstrous Compendium, largely because of the snake motif - I like how the artist expanded on the idea that this guy is good friends with snakes.
OBLIVIAX
This one also melds qualities well between different images, and is probably closer to the art from the Monstrous Compendium rather than Monster Manual II. The greenish highlights most likely come from the only color piece I've ever seen for the Obliviax - Monster Cards Set IV.
SCARECROW
This one probably has the most in common with the piece from the old Fiend Folio, though really it is a look all its own. I really like how the idea of the firey eyes was expanded!
More thoughts on these guys to come later...
CAVE FISHER
This one wound up being kind of an amalgam of previous illustrations, which is a cool way to go. it probably has the most in common with the Monstrous Manual/Monstrous Compendium renderings, but I see features in it that are also reminiscent of the 1E style, and the art from its old Ecology article.
MAEDAR
I'd say this one has the most in common with the piece from the Forgotten Realms Monstrous Compendium, largely because of the snake motif - I like how the artist expanded on the idea that this guy is good friends with snakes.
OBLIVIAX
This one also melds qualities well between different images, and is probably closer to the art from the Monstrous Compendium rather than Monster Manual II. The greenish highlights most likely come from the only color piece I've ever seen for the Obliviax - Monster Cards Set IV.
SCARECROW
This one probably has the most in common with the piece from the old Fiend Folio, though really it is a look all its own.
I really like how the idea of the firey eyes was expanded!More thoughts on these guys to come later...
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
Cool, BOZ! Thanks for the info. I was around for the writing of some of it, but still
Since it seems to be in vogue to post changes from the original to the published material, I'll throw up some thoughts on my entries.
GIANT DRAGONFLY
As I previously mentioned, my original giant dragonfly was "giant" only by comparison to other dragonflies - it was Tiny in size and was designed to be used as a familiar. I did want to allow for advancement to larger sizes, and had them advance to Huge even then (Large was 7-10 HD under this scheme). Although all the mechanics changed, the flavor text wasn't changed at all... and I think it still works (although I'd prefer that their diet was changed to something more substantial than insects and birds).
Giant Dragonflies in Eberron
Meganeura are most commonly found in the jungles of Q’barra. They are especially numerous in the Basura Swamp, and sailors heading north to the Lhazaar Principalities have reported dragonflies with forty foot wingspans flying over the sea, hunting dolphins.
Giant Dragonflies in the Forgotten Realms
Giant dragonflies are native to the Chultan Peninsula, especially around the Lake of Steam. At the Lake of Steam also lives the wyvernfly, a close relative of the giant dragonfly with a poisonous sting (Fortitude DC 13, initial damage 1d6 Dex, secondary damage 1d6 Dex) instead of a bite attack. These rather more dangerous variants are CR 3.
SEEDROACH
Only grammar changes were made to the actual text, but the Forgotten Realms and Eberron entries were removed.
Seedroaches in Eberron
The cockroach tree is native to the Mournlands, being the result of arcane mutation on ordinary plant life. Explorers piercing the dead grey mists have reported cockroach trees growing near the southern shore of Lake Cyre and along the banks of rivers of ichor and bile. Seedroaches commonly wander out of the Mournlands, and are viewed as sacred by the Children of Winter. That nihilistic sect of druids believes that the fusion of vermin and plant are evident of the life that will reign over Eberron after the end of the current age.
Seedroaches in the Forgotten Realms
Cockroach trees have gained little more that a foothold in the sunlight expanses of the Realms. They are native to the Underdark, and huge groves of cockroach trees can be found in faerzress-rich caverns. Drow and duergar use cockroach lumber for fuel and manufacturing, sending slaves into the groves to both harvest trees and serve as the hosts for new seedroaches. A cockroach-wood weapon or shield is treated as the same as a normal wooden item, except that it has the unnerving tendency to bleed when sundered.
SPRINGHEEL
I was pleasantly surprised that the split Knowledge DCs for the springheel were retained. The FR and Eberron entries were cut, as well as info for springheels with character levels.
Springheels with Character Levels
Springheels favor any class with a focus on stealth and mobility; rogue and scout (Complete Adventurer) are the most common classes for a springheel, and rogue is a springheel’s favored class.
Springheels in Eberron
Springheels lurk in the underbellies of most of Khorvaire’s largest population centers, with whole tribes rumored to live in the Cogs below Sharn, where a few dead goblins won’t be noticed. In Sharn, a springheel-like creature is a common figure in children’s stories. This monster, The Jumping Man, is said to be the ruler of a whole kingdom of boogeymen who feast on naughty children.
Springheels in the Forgotten Realms
Waterdeep is one of the few cities in Faerun that openly acknowledges the threat that springheels present to their populous, and the Lords of Waterdeep have offered a 1,000 gold piece bounty on every springheel head. The church of Cyric, the Prince of Lies, considers springheels to be kindred spirits in their love of wanton murder. A cleric of Cyric can call a half-fiend springheel with a planar ally spell.
Demiurge out.
Since it seems to be in vogue to post changes from the original to the published material, I'll throw up some thoughts on my entries.
GIANT DRAGONFLY
As I previously mentioned, my original giant dragonfly was "giant" only by comparison to other dragonflies - it was Tiny in size and was designed to be used as a familiar. I did want to allow for advancement to larger sizes, and had them advance to Huge even then (Large was 7-10 HD under this scheme). Although all the mechanics changed, the flavor text wasn't changed at all... and I think it still works (although I'd prefer that their diet was changed to something more substantial than insects and birds).
Giant Dragonflies in Eberron
Meganeura are most commonly found in the jungles of Q’barra. They are especially numerous in the Basura Swamp, and sailors heading north to the Lhazaar Principalities have reported dragonflies with forty foot wingspans flying over the sea, hunting dolphins.
Giant Dragonflies in the Forgotten Realms
Giant dragonflies are native to the Chultan Peninsula, especially around the Lake of Steam. At the Lake of Steam also lives the wyvernfly, a close relative of the giant dragonfly with a poisonous sting (Fortitude DC 13, initial damage 1d6 Dex, secondary damage 1d6 Dex) instead of a bite attack. These rather more dangerous variants are CR 3.
SEEDROACH
Only grammar changes were made to the actual text, but the Forgotten Realms and Eberron entries were removed.
Seedroaches in Eberron
The cockroach tree is native to the Mournlands, being the result of arcane mutation on ordinary plant life. Explorers piercing the dead grey mists have reported cockroach trees growing near the southern shore of Lake Cyre and along the banks of rivers of ichor and bile. Seedroaches commonly wander out of the Mournlands, and are viewed as sacred by the Children of Winter. That nihilistic sect of druids believes that the fusion of vermin and plant are evident of the life that will reign over Eberron after the end of the current age.
Seedroaches in the Forgotten Realms
Cockroach trees have gained little more that a foothold in the sunlight expanses of the Realms. They are native to the Underdark, and huge groves of cockroach trees can be found in faerzress-rich caverns. Drow and duergar use cockroach lumber for fuel and manufacturing, sending slaves into the groves to both harvest trees and serve as the hosts for new seedroaches. A cockroach-wood weapon or shield is treated as the same as a normal wooden item, except that it has the unnerving tendency to bleed when sundered.
SPRINGHEEL
I was pleasantly surprised that the split Knowledge DCs for the springheel were retained. The FR and Eberron entries were cut, as well as info for springheels with character levels.
Springheels with Character Levels
Springheels favor any class with a focus on stealth and mobility; rogue and scout (Complete Adventurer) are the most common classes for a springheel, and rogue is a springheel’s favored class.
Springheels in Eberron
Springheels lurk in the underbellies of most of Khorvaire’s largest population centers, with whole tribes rumored to live in the Cogs below Sharn, where a few dead goblins won’t be noticed. In Sharn, a springheel-like creature is a common figure in children’s stories. This monster, The Jumping Man, is said to be the ruler of a whole kingdom of boogeymen who feast on naughty children.
Springheels in the Forgotten Realms
Waterdeep is one of the few cities in Faerun that openly acknowledges the threat that springheels present to their populous, and the Lords of Waterdeep have offered a 1,000 gold piece bounty on every springheel head. The church of Cyric, the Prince of Lies, considers springheels to be kindred spirits in their love of wanton murder. A cleric of Cyric can call a half-fiend springheel with a planar ally spell.
Demiurge out.
Nice stuff, fellas. The "In Faerun" parts are a great a help to myself since I run a Realms game.
I just got my magazine last Friday and I was reading the "Scale Mail" and read the one about the guy wanting the Hierarch Modrons to be published sometime soon. After reading the first few sentences and realized,"This guy sounds like what I typed to them recently...?"
I looked down to see who the sender was, and lo' and behold, it was I!
So...wow...I may not have gotten my Dragon article query accepted (I had a Class Acts query that almost got accepted, it was new feats for the Ninja class to utilize their ki power in different ways...but the author of "Downer", Kyle Hunter, beat me to it with a very similar article...), but at least I got into the pages of Dragon somehow before it got cancelled!
I just got my magazine last Friday and I was reading the "Scale Mail" and read the one about the guy wanting the Hierarch Modrons to be published sometime soon. After reading the first few sentences and realized,"This guy sounds like what I typed to them recently...?"
I looked down to see who the sender was, and lo' and behold, it was I!
So...wow...I may not have gotten my Dragon article query accepted (I had a Class Acts query that almost got accepted, it was new feats for the Ninja class to utilize their ki power in different ways...but the author of "Downer", Kyle Hunter, beat me to it with a very similar article...), but at least I got into the pages of Dragon somehow before it got cancelled!
Alzrius
The EN World kitten
Agamon said:
Hmm...come to think of it, it's been a while since we've seen those at all. I always flipped through my magazines to get rid of those after I got them in the mail, but several months back they stopped appearing.
Now I wish I'd more carefully noted exactly when that happened, as it seems like a good indicator of things.
Agamon said:
I thought that was odd, too, especially with the fact that my subscription ends after the July issue and I usually get a "Hurry up and re-subscribe!" card warning me I had 2 issues left. But I found nothing in #354 or #355.
And this news explains that, now, obviously.
I guess I'll have to order August and September's solo, now.
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