Dragon #355

[Razz]

Although I'm over on the other magazine... I can answer this one. Yes, it has to have art. Without art, the article looks dull and cheap; no matter how brilliant or exciting the article itself is, it'll look out of place and less people will read it. Think back on the 1st edition monster books about your favorite monsters. How many of your favorite monsters didn't have pictures? Or in 3.5; how many newcomers to the game really like derros?

Still, I don't think art is the sole factor. The writing has to be of good quality. You can have the best art and the worst writing and the art won't save it. But if you have great writing and no art, then no one will notice there was no art.

I have come upon several writing in WotC books that had no pictures associated with them and still thought them to be cool and inspiring. Now, they are easy to forget without the art, I'll admit that. Case in point, the Heroes of Battle. I totally forgot about the creatures in the back of the book. And they're cool ones, too. Very exotic and rich in flavor. Especially the one that's obviously supposed to be LotR's oliphant. I have use for them and like them, but they have no art. The only bad thing to that, for me, was they're easier to forget about.

Now I have seen creatures with good art...and not very interesting. I tend to forget about them, too.

To conclude, we're talking about an article that gives valuable information for classes of a particular type which is something NO ONE is going to skip over because it has no art. A fan of psionics or ninjas isn't going to skip over a Class Acts article on psionics or ninjas (or whatever) just because it had no art. If they do, I'm sure the reason won't be because it was missing a character model picture

 

[BOZ]

I really like the layout they used for the Creature Catalog this time. The thumbnail index is cool, and space is maximized to give us the most monstery goodness. The artists did a nice job, too. I think the artwork for the springheel is my favorite.

I'm also quite impressed with what the Dragon staff did with the obliviax. Of all the creatures BOZ and I've submitted to Dragon, this one is the most altered. And I think they improved it across the board. Nice work, guys.

from what i've heard, it sounds like they handled the obliviax just fine. can't wait to see the others. i'm particularly glad to see the maedar back in Dragon (from whence it originated), but the cave fisher and scarecrow were definitely noticably missing from the game.

 

[BOZ]

This is why nobody remembers the smasher from the 1st edition MM.

and the mandragora, and the grim, and the floating eye, and a dozen other 1E monsters i can't recall OTOH, which finally got illustrations in the Tome of Horrors.

 

[Cam Banks]

and the mandragora, and the grim, and the floating eye, and a dozen other 1E monsters i can't recall OTOH, which finally got illustrations in the Tome of Horrors.

I actually need the grim for Dragons of Winter, since several of them show up in the Tower of the High Clerist. Of course, I need WotC versions, worse luck.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[BOZ]

if it's relevant, i think the grim was in the S&SS ravenloft monster book...

 

[Cam Banks]

if it's relevant, i think the grim was in the S&SS ravenloft monster book...

That might work, actually. Thanks Boz!

Cheers,
Cam

 

[rgard]

<snip>

The 1st level one is very nice.. you give up the bonus feat and can ignore the weight of armor for encumbrance and armor slows you as thought it was one category lighter than it is, and ASF is half-normal. 4th level one gives you Evasion as long as you're unencumbered or lightly encumbered. 8th level is okay.. it lets you bond your armor so you can don/remove it as a full-round action and gives you some minor AC bonuses. 10th level gives you Fortification (another neat one). The 18th level one gives you spell resistance equal to 11 + Hit Dice.

<snip>

The 1st level one with later addition of 1 Spellsword level is looking really attractive now.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[MKMcArtor]

Well does the Psionics Class Acts HAVE to have art?

Yeah, Razz. It does.

I don't think anyone's world will be destroyed if Psionic Class Acts article has no art. Actually, that'll leave more room for more psionic material

Mine would be.

To conclude, we're talking about an article that gives valuable information for classes of a particular type which is something NO ONE is going to skip over because it has no art.

I'm not sure that's not entirely true. Without art there to show that it's a new article it just looks like a continuation of the Divine article. A piece of art at the opening of an article helps cue the reader that a new article is beginning.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Although I'm over on the other magazine... I can answer this one. Yes, it has to have art.

Could you use stick figures? And then run a sidebar on a psionic version of duo-dimension?

 

[MKMcArtor]

Could you use stick figures? And then run a sidebar on a psionic version of duo-dimension?

Hmm... it really would cut down on our art costs if I illustrated Class Acts.

Well, not really...