D&D General One Piece of Art- What D&D Art Inspired You to Love a Class?

[Ruin Explorer]

So good, it inspired a module.

Honestly, paladin would probably have been my favorite class even without this picture, but it sealed the deal for me. The lone hero battling against the hordes of evil? Sign me up!

Not only a module, but an elaborate reference in a China Mieville novel too, that piece of art is basically at the center of one of the characters' world views in the novel Kraken.

I'm actually having trouble thinking of a specific example for a class in D&D, weirdly enough. A lot of stuff inspired me to play specific races or specific kits - ooooh how about Speciality Priests? The Priest of Mask image and description from Forgotten Realms Adventures back in the day convinced me to play that as my very first D&D character.

Unfortunately I'm having difficulty sourcing a decent copy. I'll add one later if I can.

 

[Jack Daniel]

I don't even know who the artist is, but this is a druid. Celtic dude in plaid with a big honkin' sickle. Not some elf chick with green skin and deer antlers. (With all due respect to the Bard—) That's rubbish; this is brilliant; that's an abomination; this is a druid.

 

[Malmuria]

Terry Dykstra - Magic User from the Rules Cyclopedia

 

[pukunui]

Wish I knew the artist, but that picture made me fall in love with the class.

I think that's a William O'Connor piece.

I know every edition has its own pieces of excellent art, but I really do think 2E was the pinnacle.

Some of the best and some of the worst. (2e was my first edition of D&D, so its art will always hold a special place in my heart, even if I tend to conveniently forget that it wasn't all amazing. A lot of it was pretty sexist as well.)

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I think that's a William O'Connor piece.


Some of the best and some of the worst. (2e was my first edition of D&D, so its art will always hold a special place in my heart, even if I tend to conveniently forget that it wasn't all amazing. A lot of it was pretty sexist as well.)

Yeah, Tom Baxa. One of my least favorite prolific artist in 2E. His stuff could be interesting, but it too frequently fell into the Aeon Fluxx uncanny valley, with gross sinewy muscles, constipated faces, and mouths that would make an Innsmouth resident cringe. He also had the misfortune of following Brom for Darksun art.

 

[Blue Orange]

Ugh, Tom Baxa. One of my least favorite prolific artist in 2E. His stuff could be interesting, but it too frequently fell into the Aeon Fluxx uncanny valley too often, with gross sinewy muscles, constipated faces, and mouths that would make an Innsmouth resident cringe. He also had the misfortune of following Brom for Darksun art.

Following Brom for Darksun is tough, I agree. That Druid is one of the most badass-looking druids I have ever seen, though.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

.

Technically not in love with a class, but I've always loved the idea of beholder cultists because of this dude from Faiths and Avatars. Just weird beholder fanboys, who will ramble on about deep cuts like gougers and complain that hive tyrants aren't the same since sold out maaan.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Following Brom for Darksun is tough, I agree. That Druid is one of the most badass-looking druids I have ever seen, though.

Baxa did the gith, not the druid. The druid is good, though their right arm seems a little wonky from an anatomical perspective.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

This is borderline, but at the time it was a class, so I'm going with dwarves and this dwarf art from the red box, by Larry Elmore:

There's a mixture of toughness and wisdom there. And those little details, like the notched axe and leather, the workaday gear accented by that ornate belt buckle, tell a story.

 

[Azzy]

Artist: Larry Elmore
Source: D&D Companion Set
Class: Fighter/Paladin (If you know the D&D Companion rules, you know)

Rationale: Dunno. Something about this platemail-clad, sword-wielding warrior of virtue fighting an uphill duel against an agent of Chaos just hit me the right way. Also, I love Elmore's line art.