Weapon Illustrations in RPG Books

[AnonymousOne]

On the other hand, Belsambar started with the idea of what he wanted, and then tried to find ways to make it work. I would peg this as the artist's approach.

I would refer to this as the entrepreneur's approach or the inventor's approach actually. Goal oriented, and willing to create something completely new to get to the goal.

Just my $0.02

 

[Ranger REG]

While this is true and all, this really does make the case against the artists doing poor work on the weapons & armor in the D&D books worse. I mean seriously, the artist doesn't have to make the items, (s)he just has to draw them.
I know whenever I go into an illustration, more than 3/4 of the time I put into it is in research. If I'm drawing armor, I spend horrendous amounts of time pouring through various real armors of various types trying to find something that comes close enough to what I'm trying to do that I can use it as a strong, functional base for what I'm going to do. The same with weapons. Fantasy, modern, it's all the same. I don't go trotting willy-nilly into drawing a sword any more than I do drawing and M-16A2 with M203 attachment. You have to give it some thought.
But for me, it's a matter of pride. That's my work, and every piece I put out is a representative of my skill, how good of an artist I am. Granted they don't all say what I want them to say, but I like to think that they all say that I put in the work and time to have them not look like I made it up as I went along with nothing to base it on.

I don't know if you could compare a custom-made sword to a mass-produced M16A2.

Of course, somebody have yet to produce a TV series called, Pimp My Piece.

 

[Ranger REG]

D&D is a fantasy, but for many people starting with history and going from there is the approach we take, not just going for whatever "looks cool" even if there is no way that weapons or armor looking looking like that could be practical weapons or armor.

There are those who don't care about historical reference.

 

[frankthedm]

And, BTW, I second weapons books from the Diagram Group. I have their Encyclopedia of Weapons- it totally rules.

A Most awesome book. http://www.amazon.com/Weapons-International-Encyclopedia-D-Updated/dp/0312039506

 

[Maggan]

I am not an artist by any measure. But I have standards. I just would like game illustrators to acquire some as well...

Most game illustrator I work with or have worked with have standards. They might not have the same standards that you want them to have, but they do have standards.

They might not even have the same goals that you do. They might even have different art direction than what you would want them to.

Some feel that drawing realistic weapons is important. Some feel that conveying a tone or feeling is important. Some do both, some do neither.

/M

 

[Tetsubo]

Most game illustrator I work with or have worked with have standards. They might not have the same standards that you want them to have, but they do have standards.

They might not even have the same goals that you do. They might even have different art direction than what you would want them to.

Some feel that drawing realistic weapons is important. Some feel that conveying a tone or feeling is important. Some do both, some do neither.

/M

I own hundreds of gaming books, some 45' of shelf space. It seems most of them have chosen the later... neither...

 

[theemrys]

Might want to check out "Goods and Gear" by Kenzerco. Some great pictures of weapons and armour, and even better descriptions. Also, they really do get into more of background of the items and different parts. It's the best book I've seen in a long time! (It's got both D20 and Hackmaster stats)

 

[Henry]

Now if we could get rid of the pointed-eared guys who don't sleep, the flying, fire-breathing lizards and the guys casting the spells, then this game might actually be good.

It's a good point, but in my opinion suspension of disbelief isn't framed on the big elements, it's framed on the small ones; in particular, the more you know about a subject, the more it grates on you. I can take a story about a flying man who can leap tall buildings with a single bound, but if the American 21st century cops in the story are using German Broomhandle Mausers instead of modern weapons, it's going to grate on many people's nerves.

 

[Klaus]

Now if we could get rid of the pointed-eared guys who don't sleep, the flying, fire-breathing lizards and the guys casting the spells, then this game might actually be good.

Not a fair comparison at all.

For instance, some artists depict flying dragons with wings that are too smll, and just stick out of their backs. Others, like Todd Lockwood, draw dragons that look like they actually existed, with an eye out to the wings muscles anchored to the body.

 

[Wolv0rine]

I don't know if you could compare a custom-made sword to a mass-produced M16A2.

Of course, somebody have yet to produce a TV series called, Pimp My Piece.

Well, when I'm drawing them, the sword and the M16 are both custom-made.

And this is 21st C. America. If someone came out with a show called "Pimp my Piece" it'd be a cable show not suitable for children. heh