D&D 5E MM Kraken Art Preivew

[Kobold Avenger]

Chris Burdett the artist of the Kraken has posted a blog entry on the Kraken in the MM.

The big thing about the Kraken this time around is that it no longer is an even bigger and smarter giant squid anymore. Instead it's like some sort of massive Eel-Seal-Squid. Well I think it does make the Kraken stand out more for being just another giant squid that mostly caused me to overlook the monster before, I don't really like how its head looks now. But I do like the size comparison of the Kraken to those sharks. And the glimpses I see at the Kraken's story as the former Leviathan Warriors of the Gods makes them into more of an interesting monster.

 

[wedgeski]

Chris Burdett the artist of the Kraken has posted a blog entry on the Kraken in the MM.

Dear god, that is GORGEOUS!

 

[Sadras]

It is just AWESOME!

 

[GameDoc]

Release the.... oh well, you get my point.

May be coincidence, but the head is reminiscent of Clash of the Titans.

 

[the Jester]

Ehhhh.

I prefer the old giant-squid-plus-awesome to the new look for a kraken. This reminds me too much of an oversized morkoth from 3e, with various water beast parts all squished together.

 

[Desdichado]

Back to roots and pop culture nods all in one. If you do a Google image search of Cetus, you'll get a Medieval version of the constellation that looks, sorta, not too unlike this one.

This one, however, also acknowledges that Cetus/Ketos of the Perseus myth was changed to the kraken (actually, a Norwegian word) in Harryhausen's Clash of the Titan, so it deftly combines both images. Mix in a little bit of Cthulhu--the tentacle beard, for instance, and you've got an interesting and intriguing mix of mythology and pop culture which is much more interesting than a Machiavellian giant squid.

 

[GameDoc]

Release the Cetus!

 

[Desdichado]

It sounds a little better if you go with the Greek form--Ketos--I think.

 

[GameDoc]

Release the Ketos!

(Yeah, I like that better)

 

[Zaukrie]

Cool picture. Better than large squid, imo.