Level Up (A5E) Level Up: An Art Preview

Here's a quick look at just some of the diverse art you will find in the Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition hardcover rulebooks. Some of these are from the Core Rulebook, and others are from the Monstrous Menagerie.

Halfling (Erik Davis-Helm)

Tiefling (Erik Davis-Helm)

Ranger (Mark Bulahao)

Aboleth (Kim Van Deun)

Faerie (Egil Thompson)

Cambion (Yihyoung Li)

Hobgoblin (Vinicius Wemeck)

Basilisk (Sade)

Chimera (Guilherme Sommermeyer)

Behir (Guilherme Sommermeyer)


​

 

[Jeff Carpenter]

I appreciate the realism in that the charachters are dressed like folks who might be adventuring, not hung with a thousand pouches, buckles, daggers, and such.

But I honestly prefer black and white art to color in most cases.

 

[imagineGod]

I appreciate the realism in that the charachters are dressed like folks who might be adventuring, not hung with a thousand pouches, buckles, daggers, and such.

But I honestly prefer black and white art to color in most cases.

I take issue with this. One of the best parts of the D&D3.5 Eberron covers and then D&D4e covers, and, obviously, the many Pathfinder covers and inside art is that very aesthetic you dislike. Wayne Reynolds captured the essence of how many Players actually load up their characters with magic items, weapons, armor, and dungeoneering gear.

 

[tetrasodium]

I take issue with this. One of the best parts of the D&D3.5 Eberron covers and then D&D4e covers, and, obviously, the many Pathfinder covers and inside art is that very aesthetic you dislike. Wayne Reynolds captured the essence of how many Players actually load up their characters with magic items, weapons, armor, and dungeoneering gear.

Going to agree with you there & glad someone else brought it up. It's a style enjoyed to the point where people cosplay that style & it actually can look good. The "tactical mage" that example is obviously drawing on might not be by him, but it's definitely influenced by & maybe even derived from it.

Given the tidbits we've seen about bulky(?) items & such in some of the previews & playtests like warlord exploration challenges etc I think it might be a consciou attempt to move away from it while adding more subdued eyeporn elsewhere like the tiefling's bandoleer/bag/bedroll hobgoblin's armor & everyone's weapon/staff

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I take issue with this. One of the best parts of the D&D3.5 Eberron covers and then D&D4e covers, and, obviously, the many Pathfinder covers and inside art is that very aesthetic you dislike. Wayne Reynolds captured the essence of how many Players actually load up their characters with magic items, weapons, armor, and dungeoneering gear.

Yeah, the thing I tend to object to about Reynolds (when I object - I mostly like him) is definitely not the gear. The crazy amount of gear is one of the great parts. It's the anime-inspired weapons, the football-headed goblins (though part of me loves them), and the sharp angles on everything.

 

[Dire Bare]

I take issue with this. One of the best parts of the D&D3.5 Eberron covers and then D&D4e covers, and, obviously, the many Pathfinder covers and inside art is that very aesthetic you dislike. Wayne Reynolds captured the essence of how many Players actually load up their characters with magic items, weapons, armor, and dungeoneering gear.

Meh.

Art is subjective. Lots of folks love Wayne Reynolds style, and that's cool. But a lot of us don't. And that's cool too.

One of the strengths of commissioning varied artists and styles is appealing to folks with different tastes in visual arts.

 

[Jeff Carpenter]

I take issue with this. One of the best parts of the D&D3.5 Eberron covers and then D&D4e covers, and, obviously, the many Pathfinder covers and inside art is that very aesthetic you dislike. Wayne Reynolds captured the essence of how many Players actually load up their characters with magic items, weapons, armor, and dungeoneering gear.

I appreciate that folks like that style, and how it reflexes the way many people play the game. It makes sense that the art for a campaign like that would feature a bandolier of wands or an arm braclet festooned with potion viles. And for that style of game that style of art is realistic.

I just like a more grounded game, with less magic so I like the art to reflect that.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Why would we not want new art? New art is awesome. Still the same D&D no matter what.



Sure, why not? (That is rhetorical, not an accusation that you object in any way).

As an aside: To my shame, it took me awhile to understand 'race-bending' in media. For example, I objected to Tuvok (the black Vulcan on Star Trek Voyager). Not because of racism (at least not in my mind) but because I felt that Star Trek aliens looked too human as it is, and them having the same diversity as real world humans made them less alien to me. It took many years for me to realize that the real-world consideration of POC actors getting more roles was far more important than fantasy (or sci-fi) 'races' all looking similar, and in fact, the fictional races were FAR MORE INTERESTING because of it. (Fictional races, in particular on TV, are still far too good-looking, but that's another type of diversity to tackle down the road.)

At least trek has had some pudgy-normal aliens a few times, like the cook in Voyager and the doctor in Enterprise.

But overall, yeah. Hire some wider ranging actors, for goodness sake.

 

[Faolyn]

At least trek has had some pudgy-normal aliens a few times, like the cook in Voyager and the doctor in Enterprise.

But overall, yeah. Hire some wider ranging actors, for goodness sake.

Have you seen how many people seem to hate Tilly because she's "fat"?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Have you seen how many people seem to hate Tilly because she's "fat"?

I don’t read the comments. Too many pathetic neckbeards.

 

[Horwath]

Have you seen how many people seem to hate Tilly because she's "fat"?

People hate Tilly because she is annoying(but that goes for 95% of characters on STD) not fat.

But when you mentioned it, officers, and especially young junior officers in military organization should be in peak physical condition and not be blubbering around with 10-15kg extra.