Smuggled photos

[FadedC]

I'd feel much better about that dragon picture if someone could tell me where the hell those red streaks of magic came from. As drawn, they don't appear to have come from any of the characters or creatures in the picture. They are jsut there.

In general though I love most of the new art (except dragonboobies).

Looking at the picture, my best guess would be that the red streaks of magic are actually a pair of swords used by somebody who is obscured by the fold in the book.

 

[Nytmare]

Looking at the picture, my best guess would be that the red streaks of magic are actually a pair of swords used by somebody who is obscured by the fold in the book.

I thought it was a javelin or something that the bald guy (warlock?) was holding.

 

[Masquerade]

I'd feel much better about that dragon picture if someone could tell me where the hell those red streaks of magic came from.

Most certainly.

Those red streaks are a weapon held by the bald figure in the foreground. The crease makes most of his arm invisible, and he already has a violet object in his other hand, which is probably causing the confusion.

 

[Oldtimer]

Life-Giving Smite
Hospitaler Attack 20
You imbue your weapon with radiant power, and as you strike at a foe the power of the attack heals an ally.
Daily ✦ Divine, Healing, Radiant, Weapon
Standard Action
Melee Weapon
Target: One Creature
Attack: Charisma vs. Fortitude
Effect: Choose one ally within 10 squares of you. The ally can spend a healing surge. Add your Charisma modifier to the hit points regained.

There's a line missing:

Hit: 4[W] + Charisma modifier radiant damage.

 

[Kishin]

I think the difference between 3E and 4E art is really just the Heroic Fantasy Factor being upped even more, to coincide with the gameplay decision to really stress that aspect.

D&D, especially 4E, isn't really going for a grim and gritty style. It has a dark tone with the PoL conceit, but its still very Heroic Fantasy.

I sympathize though; there's not as much grim fantasy art these days. Games Workshop' Warhammer stuff has gotten better with the new edition, but its still too comical at times.

Possibly. But I really see very little difference in general art direction between 3e and 4e, except for, as others have noted, page-eating white space, presumably on the belief the next generation of gamers is scared of words.

Yup, I hate dem der words, hyuck hyuck. I dun likes to read muh paypers.

Seriously, could you be MORE condescending?

 

[The Little Raven]

I think the difference between 3E and 4E art is really just the Heroic Fantasy Factor being upped even more, to coincide with the gameplay decision to really stress that aspect.

To me, the key difference is the return of the "iconic fantasy" look, rather than the focus on "dungeonpunk."

Seriously, could you be MORE condescending?

Word. I'm surprised, because Lizard's been pretty awesome recently.

I'd glad to see white space, since 3e's "cram as much text into as little space as possible" layout always reminded me of textbooks.

 

[Sojorn]

I'd glad to see white space, since 3e's "cram as much text into as little space as possible" layout always reminded me of textbooks.

3e reminds me of older textbooks.

4e's layout reminds me of the newer ones that are actually fun to read for long periods of time and convey the information in a way that can be grasped quickly. If they're benefiting from advancements in textbook design, more power to them.

 

[WhatGravitas]

I'd glad to see white space, since 3e's "cram as much text into as little space as possible" layout always reminded me of textbooks.

Also: They also had copious amounts of white space. Graciously hidden by fancy borders and similar cheats. Now they acknowledge it and use it to break up the text.

Cheers, LT.

 

[ZetaStriker]

The same can be said of fluff; look back to your DMGs, and try to honestly tell me that the Justiciar's fluff entry is any less than, say, the Shadowdancer's. 3.x edition prestige classes only took up more space because of the huge progression tables and ability descriptions(which were, admittedly, slightly more 'fluffy' than the power readouts, but not by much). What is missing, however, is a description of how that Paragon Path fits into the world, but that's intentional; there isn't an order of Justiciars; they're supposed to be PC-specific abilities, things that set them apart from the rest of the world. There's no NPC related fluff because there are no NPCs that do what the PCs can do. What a Justiciar does with his powers is whatever your players decide to do with their powers. They have no footsteps to follow.

LT's white space argument also holds up; the page border in my 3.5 books is about an inch wide across a an 8 inch page, giving roughly 6 inches of writing space counting the spaces between columns. This isn't counting pictures, which have about the same spread in 4E as they did in 3.5. The pictures are just more vibrant in 4E; you still get about one small picture(either in the middle, causing the columns to wrap oddly, or in a corner, blocking 1/4th a page of text) and an image that takes up exactly half of any chapter opener.

 

[Sojorn]

The same can be said of fluff;

"Perhaps the same could be said of all fluff."
"Your words are as empty as your soul! Mankind ill-needs a designer such as you!"

Not really topical, but it popped into my head.

Edit: It's a random reference, not intended as any actual commentary in the on going discussion