Same D&D, Different Themes

[MDSnowman]

Then I call Ashram...he was such a cool bad guy, but I'd be a repentant brooding Ashram.

Doesn't bother me, as long as my Orson doesn't die before the campaign reaches its second story arc.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Too bad Green Ronin has the jump on them with the Mythic Vistas books. Their new one based on Ancient Egypt is something I get the shakes for just thinking about.

I'd like to see something swashbuckling, a la Errol Flynn's Captain Blood or the Efram Zimbalist Zorro movies. And a pulp/weird science setting (I know, I know...these have all been covered by other publishers. But I don't have loads of cash to spend on publishers I know little about, so I stick with what I know). And oooh! Ooh!! Al-Friggin-Qadim, Bay-BEEEEEE!

 

[shadow]

You know, I wouldn't really mind seeing anime D&D art. I know that a lot of people on the boards hate anime (or don't want to see it in D&D), but I kind of like anime style art. Think a minute about Record of Lodoss War and Berserk. Those anime series really capture the feeling of D&D for me, so I can envision D&D and anime going together. In any case, I can't imagine anime art being any worse than the current spike and leather dungeonpunk art. (No offense to people who like the current artwork.)

 

[MDSnowman]

I'd like to see someone liscensed the Record of Lodoss War series for a d20 product. A friend of mine and I have been driving each other nuts debating what character levels to assign to what characters.

 

[Caspian Moon Prince]

I'd like to see someone liscensed the Record of Lodoss War series for a d20 product. A friend of mine and I have been driving each other nuts debating what character levels to assign to what characters.

I think the problem with a licensed Record of Lodoss War rpg here is that the series has already been made into an rpg in Japan...there may be some major legal hurdels to jump. I've always wondered why Guardians of Order never made a licensed product, then I found out about the other rpg.

As for levels??? I have no idea, Parn and Etoh would start out at 1st level (or mayble 2nd) each, but Parn gets a lot better..really quick.

 

[Eltern]

I'd like to see HomestarRunner used as the art. Those crazy kids should really be down with that.

The text should be written such that it reads like Strongbad as the DM, delighting in the multitude of ways he can kill StrongSad and HomeStar's characters.

Holy crap! I would be willing to hold off changing StrongSad's toothpaste with laxatives for a week in order to get this! Well...maybe half a week...Ok, two days, but the Cheat also wouldn't steal any more food from Bubs ::squeeksqueeksqueek:: Alright, except Cold Ones.

 

[CyberSpyder]

Generic. With black text, no art, a big barcode on the front, and a title reading "One (1) Role-Playing Game Rulebook."

I'd buy it.

 

[Gothmog]

I'm not sure what art would draw me to such books, but I know what would drive me away, anime being at the top of that list, followed quickly by the cheesecake a la Avalanche Press. The leather-and-bondage look doesn't do much for me, either.

I guess the one style that might draw me in would be more realistic art, something like early 20th century illustrators or the early work by Eric Hotz, where the weapons are not of ridiculous size and questionable value, where armour makes at least some defensive sense, etc.

In the end I have seen little art for any game that actively drawn me in, but lots that has actively driven me away.

AMEN Brother Wombat. If WotC released 4th edition next year, thats fine with me. Dungeonpunk is silly and will look very dated in 10 years (see the recent WAR Dungeon cover for a hideous example), but its not offensive. If they put out anime art in D&D books though, they have lost me as a customer for a good long time. I LOATHE anime. I would love to see a more realisitc style of art in the books- not Elmore or Easley (though those would be nice), but 19th-20th century style artwork depicting scenes from legends (Beowulf, Greece, Norse myth, etc). As long as the armor makes sense and the weapons aren't oversized, I'd be happy.

 

[Alzrius]

D&D in space...I still feel that Spelljammer hasn't had a true successor yet.

 

[mmadsen]

I'm not sure what art would draw me to such books, but I know what would drive me away, anime being at the top of that list, followed quickly by the cheesecake a la Avalanche Press.

If they put out anime art in D&D books though, they have lost me as a customer for a good long time. I LOATHE anime.

I think you're missing the point of themes. I doesn't matter what you'd hate. The whole point is to repackage the core rules (or the basic set) with new art, new fluff text, etc. to draw new people in.

If you've never considered D&D before, but you see an anime-inspired cover, it might draw you in -- if you're an anime fan. The next year, the themed basic set doesn't have anime-inspired art; it has a gothic horror theme. If you like vampire movies -- or think you could write a better Van Helsing yourself -- you might pick up that game.

It doesn't matter how many people hate a theme, only how many love it -- especially new people who aren't already D&D players.