D&D 4E What period of D&D art would you most like to see 4E emulate?

[Angel Tarragon]

None. I want to see original art. And I want to see a lot less of it recycled.

 

[Zaruthustran]

I'd like to see Alex Ross take a crack at fantasy.

Or Cary Nord, who does amazing work on Dark Horse's new Conan comics.

 

[The Green Adam]

In my games, the monsters look like the pictures in my head, not the ones in the Monster Manual.

QFT

While I would love to see great art in the next D&D books, I'm very likely going to depict things the ways I always have. I'll collect drawings and illustrations from any source I enjoy and then my players and I will crank out a mess ourselves.

I have not been a big fan of the artwork for the latest incarnation of D&D (3-3.5). The remarkably clean and strong art in D20 Modern, Space, etc. and Mutants & Masterminds by Green Ronin spoiled me I suppose.

 

[airwalkrr]

Of all the things that I think have NOT improved as the game has progressed, the art is the one thing that I can say with a resounding and firm conviction has improved by leaps and bounds in the latest edition. Now, it does strike me as a little (and I know this may sound odd but bear with me) fantastic, but that is just because I come from the old school where we didn't have all the options that 3e allows. When I divorce myself from the idea that old school gaming with lower levels of magic and grittier combat is not really a part of 3e, then I realize that 3e art describes the system better than any other edition's art ever did. I'm not hating on the OD&D/1e art or anything; I liked it, but the fact of the matter was, it was cute and cartoony. It rarely evoked a sense of wonder in a fantasy environment, which the current edition of the art has done masterfully. I particularly enjoy the style of Eberron's art. Although I would not consider it as useful in describing the core rules of D&D, it does an excellent job of portraying the setting and its strengths.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Toni DiTerlizzi style is the way to go. I know he's not in the rpg business anymore, but there are so many artists out there, a few of which must be as great as Toni.

 

[king_ghidorah]

As for me, I have always rather enjoyed the late 1st edition to mid-2nd edition style of art - the Elmores, the Caldwells, the Parkinsons, etc. If the 4th edition art were in that ballpark, I'd love it to pieces. Mind you, I have always loved Todd Lockwood's Work, and Wayne Reynolds' work, so that wouldn't hurt my eyes either. Fewer spikes, buckles, tattoos, and "naked adventurers gear" have always been my preference, and though I didn't see tons of it in the 3E stuff, I saw it enough to where it bugged me when I did.

No disrespect meant, but about the only D&D artist's work I've never really enjoyed was Tony Diterlizzi's work. Great guy, but his stuff just wasn't for me - too "gangly," for lack of a better term.

Well, the only artists I actually liked from 2nd edition were Diterlizzi and Brom. I found Elmore, Caldwell, Parkinson, etc. banal. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[king_ghidorah]

I don't agree. See Exalted for definite Manga stylings.

There are no manga faces in 3e. No big eyes coupled with small mouths. There's blackline, there's oversized weapons. But they come, as you say, from American comic books, not manga.

It might be interesting to trace the development of the oversized weapon in fantasy art. You can see it in Frazetta's 70s barbarians. I wonder if it stems ultimately from Kirby's big-fisted superheroes, whose look got translated to fantasy in the 70s with the Conan resurgence.

I agree. The huge weapons and so-called "dungeonpunk" looks nothing like Japanese manga. However, the comic-book look, exaggerated weapons and physiques recall the work of artists like Simon Bisley (especially his Slaine comic), euro-comics (Heavy Metal, 2000AD, etc.), and over-exaggerations of Frazetta and his ilk. While manga and video games have helped to popularize big weapons and fantasy tropes, look back 10-15 years in European and American fantasy comics and popular art, and you will see more clear precursors of this look than those in Japanese comics.

 

[Baby Samurai]

Well, the only artists I actually liked from 2nd edition were Diterlizzi and Brom.

They both rock the free world.

I remember when they got that talent-less hack Tom Baxa to start doing most of the Dark Sun art, now, I hate to be shallow, but his, uh, "art", almost turned me off the setting.

I wouldn't mind seeing some of the M:tG artists have a swing, such as Quentin Hoover, and that guy who drew Chaos Orb/Time Vault etc, and a few others artists I can't recall at the moment.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Well, the only artists I actually liked from 2nd edition were Diterlizzi and Brom.

Please add rk post. I'd love to see more art from him! Planescape, Malhavoc Press and WotC's Magic employed him often -and to a great effect.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Cadfan]

I selected "Other." I would like the art to appeal to modern tastes in fantasy art, not the past. If that means that some of the art is anime styled, so be it. Not every piece of art in the book is specifically drawn for me. There is absolutely no reason that a D&D player can't visualize his character in an anime styled fashion, so the art could easily (and perhaps occasionally should) reflect that. I'd also like a good dose of comic book art, "high realism" art, and whatever other styles people might like to see. It doesn't have to all be the same.

And if a fatbeard or two has a heart attack and dies because someone somewhere is playing and imagining an anime barbarian instead of a sword and sorcery conan-ish barbarian, then the world will be a better place.