The coolest looking genre?

[Bullgrit]

What is the coolest looking genre?

This thought came to me last night while looking through my old Star Frontiers rule books. I don't like the far-futuristic look - slick clothes, beam weapons. (Like Star Trek.)

I also don't care for the near-future/modern cyberpunk look - weird clothes and hairstyles. But I do like the look of near-future/modern fights - flame-spitting automatic guns, whizzing and impacting bullets.

I absolutely love the Old West look - brown leather, black clothe, hats, hip holsters. I like the look of old-style gun fights - the steely look down the barrel, gray smoke, wild shots from a galloping horse.

And although "Medieval" fantasy is my favorite genre to play, and it has possibly the widest variation in style, it's not my favorite look. I haven't seen very many really good fight scenes (in static art) for Medieval fantasy. And the few good Medieval fantasy fight scenes I have seen always leave me thinking it would look even better if the combatants were using firearms (even if just flintlocks). I like "realistic" Medieval fantasy even less. <shrug>

The look of guns, the look of an "adventurer" with a gun, and the look of guns in use are my favorite images. Something about the heat, sound, and smoke of a firefight feels cooler than a sword fight. [I know static art can't portray heat and sound, but you know it's there.]

What do you think is the coolest looking genre?

Bullgrit

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Not dungeonpunk...

Seriously, I'd say Sword and Sorcery. Whether it's Frazetta-style visual opulence or R.E. Howard grimness, the style definitely lends itself to a visual approach.

I'd also vote for Epic fantasy, but I think it excels more in the area of scenery and landscape than people. Examples would be the dark vastness of Khazad-Dum, the frozen strength of The Wall, or Revelstone.

 

[The Edge]

Something about the heat...feels cooler than a sword fight.

HeHe. Sorry, I know thats not what you meant.


When you look at fire fight art it always has a great sense of motion (maybe because everyone is fireing at the same damn time ) which just makes it all much more interesting. You follow the tracer fire to the other side, and then look where that other shot came from, etc.

It can depend, many futuristic settings vary incredibly. I my homemade setting (which i was developing from the age of 6. although with no idea of roleplaying games; turned it into one latter) I quite liked the 'bang' of good old fashioned projectile guns; so I made sure that they stayed just as good as any lazer weapon, just with slight variations. I also had a hard time imagineing lazer weapons (not beam type), always seeming rather harmless. I latter got a good idea of them and how they can shred through all sorts, leaveing dozens of little red hot holes, and with a satisfiying sizle. I quite like my setting, and reckon it can be plently cool.

 

[CarlZog]

I'd say Sword and Sorcery. Whether it's Frazetta-style visual opulence or R.E. Howard grimness, the style definitely lends itself to a visual approach.

This was NOT the first thing that came to my mind, but I think you may be right.

I also really like the 1930s film-noir detective/espionage style.


Carl

 

[JimAde]

Visually I favor either wu xia or comic-style martial arts. I'm thinking especially of Frank Miller's work in Daredevil in the 80's.

 

[Mallus]

Any genre that combines guns and swords. And perhaps a pirate hat. Hmmmm, that makes the old Grimjack comic my epitome of genre cool, fashion-wise, which is about right.

 

[Dog Moon]

I think something like Firefly would be cool [maybe it's only cause I just got the Dvd this past weekend and watched the first two discs for the first time this Sunday], though I think it could also use a little spellcasting and swordplay [the one scene in the one episode does NOT count, cause there needs to be more]. That could be cool.

However, I would prefer more spellcasting/swordplay with the occasional gun and machine. Maybe something like Samurai 7, the anime, though with the machine stuff toned down just a little.

I'm not entirely sure what exact genres those would be considered as, but I like things like that.

 

[LostSoul]

I like the look of Film Noir.

I also liked the theatrical DUNE movie.

And The 5th Element. Thermal bandages indeed!

 

[Eye Tyrant]

What is the coolest looking genre?

This thought came to me last night while looking through my old Star Frontiers rule books. I don't like the far-futuristic look - slick clothes, beam weapons. (Like Star Trek.)

Bullgrit

Wow! One of my players busted out the Star Frontiers boxed sets last night at my game and got all nostalgic...

...Which makes me wonder, Dave? Is that you??

 

[elforcelf]

I think you want the Pulp look.i.e.Doc Savage,The Man of Bronze.