New Quickling

[JDJblatherings]

Don't like it, the art is fine but it isn't a Quickling. They are little fairy/elf dudes that are real quick not feral goblinoids.

 

[Traycor]

Even if "horror" is what they're going for, I'd rather have something like my very own redcap from Arthaus' Van Richten's Guide to the Shadow Fey

That is a very nice and creepy pic. Actually, I would have been happy if they had designed Quicklings like that. The only problem I see with that design is that it is too similar to a pixie. Casual gamers are going to have a hard time distinguishing between one type of tiny winged elf from another.

It just doesn't look quick to me. It actually looks rather awkward and imbalanced.

This got my wheels turning, so I quickly sketched out some pics of what a quickling would look like in motion. The awkward body lends itself towards a creature that is meant to be in constant motion, one that needs to run. I like the idea of a quickling feeling uncomfortable when walking or standing. Those big claws would also be highly useful for sudden turns at high speeds. It could dig into the ground for sharp turns or stop suddenly by using its claws.

I also think the strange leg anatomy makes sense. The quickling would need to sleep “standing up” by sitting on its own legs. That means, even while sleeping, it would be ready to go at a moments notice. Something like this:

 

[DandD]

What the heck is a Quickling? Sounds like some ultra-obscure monster who nobody uses at all. And that little goblin-freak with big feet doesn't look that much more interesting either.

 

[Flynn]

Nice! This latest set of pics look awesome, Traycor! You definitely capture the sense of speed with the two action shots...

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[jaer]

That is a very nice and creepy pic. Actually, I would have been happy if they had designed Quicklings like that. The only problem I see with that design is that it is too similar to a pixie. Casual gamers are going to have a hard time distinguishing between one type of tiny winged elf from another.

This got my wheels turning, so I quickly sketched out some pics of what a quickling would look like in motion. The awkward body lends itself towards a creature that is meant to be in constant motion, one that needs to run. I like the idea of a quickling feeling uncomfortable when walking or standing. Those big claws would also be highly useful for sudden turns at high speeds. It could dig into the ground for sharp turns or stop suddenly by using its claws.

I also think the strange leg anatomy makes sense. The quickling would need to sleep “standing up” by sitting on its own legs. That means, even while sleeping, it would be ready to go at a moments notice. Something like this:

Awesome pics! Again I must say I am much more impressed with your sketches then the original piece (which might be better fleshed out in a MM, I'm still holding out hope). I also see the hunched-foward body as being both a way of lowering itself to reduce wind resistance and lower the center of gravity.

And to me, being naturally forward-bent makes them look like the need to be running, not just that they happen to be gifted with great running speed. Their bodies seem like they are leaning into a perpetual wind. That was the impression I got when I saw the sketch - that they are meant to always have this rush of air coming at them.

Which is another reason I dislike the original art...there is no sense of movement in the creature...it just looks uncomfortable and unnatural to be standing there. Pics and minis featuring the quickling should look more like Tray's first sketches above - they display the creatures speed.

Well done!

 

[Wolfspider]

What the heck is a Quickling? Sounds like some ultra-obscure monster who nobody uses at all. And that little goblin-freak with big feet doesn't look that much more interesting either.

I just used a gang of quickling rogues against the players in my v3.5 campaign last weekend. They were working for a demon lord who wanted to wrest control of a forest from the wood elves and forest gnomes (!) who live there.

Nasty little fey. They dropped two of the party members in the first couple rounds of combat from flanking spring attacks. Ouch.

 

[jaer]

What the heck is a Quickling? Sounds like some ultra-obscure monster who nobody uses at all. And that little goblin-freak with big feet doesn't look that much more interesting either.

My only memory of Quicklings comes from one of the old TSR golden box computer games (maybe Pool of Radiance? Once you were out in the wilderness?) Only fought them once or twice, but they had ridiculous movement (characters could move 12 spaces unencumbered, 6 in plate, or 3 if fully encumbered; they dudes moved at like 48!) and they moved so fast they were invisible when the moved. Which, in terms of a turn-based video game, meant nothing since I couldn't do anything to them when they moved anyway. Being small and pixely, I have no concept of what they were meant to look like.

Other than that, they were like goblins: hit very weakly, didn't have many hitpoints. They attacked in a huge swarm, but were easily killed (in those games, fighter types could Sweep smaller opponents, pretty much doing a whirlwind attack against 1 creature per level), so the fight lasted like 3-4 turns: 1) they all moved in and did crap damage, 2-3) my party killed 3/4s of them, 4) they all fled (so quickly they made it off the board, no problem).

Good times, good times.

 

[Incenjucar]

Honestly, it looks more like a leaper than a runner.

Those are frog legs.

 

[Traycor]

Thanks for the kudos everyone. I appreciate

 

[Nellisir]

Even if "horror" is what they're going for, I'd rather have something like my very own redcap from Arthaus' Van Richten's Guide to the Shadow Fey:

That is an awesome picture. Weird, but fey.