D&D 5E Toward a new D&D aesthetics

[Umbran]

Why is it so hard for people to just say, "Hey, I don't like this." and leave it at that?

Do you want a real answer to that? There are several. They generally hinge on how humans are not really all that rational.

 

[Mournblade94]

For another thing, most of us liked kid-friendly art when we were kids, but now have different, and usually more broad, tastes in art. By the time the kids move from the kid-products to D&D They won't be little kids anymore and their tastes in art will change.

I think, ultimately, the point you are missing is that many teens and adults still appreciate cute things.

So if I had my druthers... I would 100% make Sophia the FIrst from Disney jr a campaign setting for No THank You Evil. My daughter (sadly) doesnt watch it anymore because she's 8 but Sophia really is a great show to get young kids to think about fantasy.

I already see how my daughter views the fantasy genre different from me. Disney is even making undead zombies datable.

Her: Trolls are nice if you treat them right!

Me: Nope trolls are evil vermin

 

[beancounter]

It's kinda funny that Di Terlizzi gets held up as "adult" art when his other biggest claim to fame is using his art style for YA fiction, but, having a flying critter on the cover of a book is "Disneyfied" because it's purple?

Why is it so hard for people to just say, "Hey, I don't like this." and leave it at that?

I never equated purple with Disneynification. Not sure where you got that.

If all I said was "I don't like that", this thread would be one page long, and Umbran would be bored.

 

[Vaalingrade]

The 5e halfling pictures come to mind as examples of peaceful D&D portrayals in 5e from the start.

I feel like we know the 5e halfling design guidance is proof that peace was never an option.

 

[Undrave]

These are examples of 1E modrons. Simple drawings, but not goofy or overly cartoony as far as anthropomorphic shapes go.
View attachment 154169

Dude, one of them looks like a discount Mike Wachowski and another like a knockoff DBZ villains. Those things are goofy as heck. They don't have big cute eyes and soft expression, but there's still cartoony.

 

[Stormonu]

That Halfling is probably one of my least favorite art depictions in D&D History. I really don't like it.

I would like to take a moment to just note how absolutely disgusted I have been with 5E's pictures of halflings. To the point of wishing they'll go back to looking like Kender.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I would like to take a moment to just note how absolutely disgusted I have been with 5E's pictures of halflings. To the point of wishing they'll go back to looking like Kender.

I just wish they would stick closer to the concept of them being half the size of a normal human, like this:

 

[beancounter]

Dude, one of them looks like a discount Mike Wachowski and another like a knockoff DBZ villains. Those things are goofy as heck. They don't have big cute eyes and soft expression, but there's still cartoony.

Relative to later versions, they are less cartoony IMO, dude.

 

[Voadam]

I just wish they would stick closer to the concept of them being half the size of a normal human, like this:
View attachment 154223

Do not want to confuse them with the Fachan.

 

[Mournblade94]

I would like to take a moment to just note how absolutely disgusted I have been with 5E's pictures of halflings. To the point of wishing they'll go back to looking like Kender.

I swear this guy is Governor Chris Christie