D&D 4E In terms of theme, tone, and spirit, I hope 4e . . .

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I'm pretty sure it was in a module from back in the day. Can't say I remember which one, though. For the record, most of the B&W line art in modules back then was abominable.

Diaperman bravely ventured forth to White Plume Mountain. We also see him again attacking the giant crab.

Presumably he and his twin Diaperman2 were slain, turned to ghouls and stripped of their bat hats and issued new black diapers to show their allegiance to evil. He was last seen bravely defending White Plume Mountain against Grotesque Anatomy Girl and Sir Stumbles.

Seriously, check out her floating head, and mutie arm... no way a human can hold a shield like that. And whats she wearing? Some manner of leotard? Aerobics instructors need exp too I guess...

 

[HeinorNY]

The real issue here is perspective.
Some people may claim:
"The older Horror movies were scarier."
The present day movies are scary too, you just have grown older and wiser.
Music nowadays is not louder, it's you that is getting older.

The same with the art from different editions. The older art doesn't inspire more than newer art, you are just older and harder to be inspired.
It's not a conflict of theme, tone, spirit, etc, it's a conflict of generation, the same conflict that occurs in music, movies, books, food, fashion, dating, etc.

Of course the world evolves and changes, but the feelings are still there. You can't feel most of them anymore not because they aren't there or because the people involved pursues different feelings, you can't feel them the same way you did it in the past because you are OLD! Get used to it, it becomes even worse as time goes by.

 

[hexgrid]

I'm mostly indifferent to the art itself, but after 7 years, I do think the overall look and feel of D&D books needs an overhaul.

I've never liked the "faux ancient tome" theme of the book designs, and would love to see something cleaner and simpler.

 

[Glyfair]

I might give another example:

<Snip AD&D DMG back cover>

But mostly agree. Though I would say that the real problem is that 3rd ed lacks style and vibe. In fact, the sorcerer picture is not so bad, cause at least it has a style of a kind.

I'm nostalgic about the early art, but I don't feel that some of these are the best examples. I never really liked the DMG back cover. In fact, I never liked the front cover much. The AD&D PHB cover, on the other hand.

The Trampier Magic Mouth picture is a mixed bag. I appreciated the skill, but hated the picture. The magic mouth always looked fake in the way the early CGI in movies looked fake. It pushed me away rather than drew me in.

I would like to mention that there ARE more recent illustrations that do evoke that sense of exploring the unknown for me ... two examples I remember in particular from PHB II were

<snip>

You do realize the above picture is of the iconics looking down on the Caves of Chaos? That's a nice mix of nostalgia and modernism. I like a lot of the 3rd edition art that hearkens back to the old days. The DMG II and PHB II covers do that.

I miss the simple black and white images of the 1e books. They were perfect in their feel.

Looking back at them I find a mixed bag. The Monster Manual was great with a few clunkers. The Fiend Foilo was horrible (an early harbinger of what Warhammer would do to RPG art?)

 

[Doug McCrae]

There's also something to be said for backpacks, which that group of wee little men have none.

It's annoying to see all this art of characters and whatnot and to think they aren't carrying hardly any supplies, food, water, tools, etc. at all.

One feature of WAR's Eberron art I really like is the sheer quantity of stuff the characters are carrying - scroll cases, pouches, weapons, etc. Those are real D&D PCs.

 

[Raven Crowking]

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ph2_gallery/97179.jpg

and

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ph2_gallery/97180.jpg

...both by Michael Komarck. I think one important thing is that these aren't just static portraits or big battle scenes -- these images show the heroes within the story context, and have the expectation of things to come, if that makes any sense. The illustrations aren't just there to show off a spell effect or what a monster looks like. They tell a story, or at least invite you in to one.

Those are nice pictures.

 

[The_Gneech]

You do realize the above picture is of the iconics looking down on the Caves of Chaos? That's a nice mix of nostalgia and modernism.

Yeah, but the only way to know that is by looking at the caption. The image itself could be anywhere!

-The Gneech

 

[Chaldfont]

Two words:

Erol Otus.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Two words:

Erol Otus.

I love Erol Otus, and yet his artwork is totally at odds with what most people seem to like about 'old school' art. It's weird, unrealistic and not medieval at all. It's D&D as dream rather than D&D as simulation.

 

[Doug McCrae]

None of the above. I was referring to theme, tone, and spirit.

Well don't keep us in suspense. What is the theme, tone and spirit of both pieces?