Worlds and Monsters Art Gallery

[Irda Ranger]

Personally, I'm not sure how I feel about this art direction change. While scenery shots are nice, it is things like the former which I'm willing to bet actually get people (younger and older) saying "How do I do that/I want to be that guy" which makes them actually interested in the game.

The cave of chaos picture is more of a "What's the story behind that/Why are they there?" which wouldnt actually get people interested in the game itself....

Your thoughts are alien to me. That first pic is a waste of photons. The second one makes me want to stat up a character and clear out those caves. Nothing makes me want to play more than questions like "What's the story here?" or "Why are you here?".

 

[catsclaw227]

That's not CGI, its digitally painted. Huge difference. Looking at the larger image I see what you mean. Its a preview book though, so it doesn't bother me at all. That's obviously just a very loose sketch. If that makes it intact into the final book, then I'll complain.

Which image looks like a loose sketch? I am not finding it... you artists and your highly attuned sense of detail can really ruin it for us meatheads.

 

[catsclaw227]

The landscapes have certainly been taken to the next level. Almost makes it seem like a return to the days of full page quality art.

In the case of Worlds & Monsters, some of these images are full page quality art! I really can't express how much better they are in the book.

 

[lutecius]

digital or not, the landscapes and the dragons are inspiring. the b&w art is really uneven and sometimes kind of amateurish. yes i'm talking about you, little toothy fey-thing with knives and stumpy legs!

I had forgotten how yucky the dryad was. not for being a tree-with-boobs but for being more evocative of alien bondage than scary-tree-spirit. i suppose they tried too hard to distinguish themselves from warhammer (and yet adopted their take on the dryad)

the bug-lady by WAR should apply to the "find the anime" thread

the nightmare looked better as a mini (which is not a good thing)

The art looks pretty good. My only complaint is the massive heads on the troll, spined devil and wyvern (which otherwise look pretty cool).

completely agree on the troll, unfortunately it is consistent with other preview art & minis. I like the stoney look and the not flaccid nose, but the elongated head and odd crook look clumsy. they could do without the elrond hairstyle too. it doesn't look that good on elves, it is just silly on trolls. either go bald or grow some shrub-like hair, like the scandinavian trolls. i like the big-head wyvern, though.

 

[Klaus]

What was the art in Races & Classes like? More of the action shots?

More of the "cool pose" scenes with nearly-no-background (if at all).

I think 4e is (thankfully) aiming for a middle ground between action shots and establishing (i.e. locale) shots. As well it should.

 

[Wolfspider]

the b&w art is really uneven and sometimes kind of amateurish. yes i'm talking about you, little toothy fey-thing with knives and stumpy legs!

That would be the new *ahem* "quickling"....

 

[WyzardWhately]

I really prefer the landscape art. It plays up adventurers as brave explorers, rather than just killing machines. Don't get me wrong, there should be the occasional battle, or menacing confrontation, or aftermath scene. But I looove the landscapes.

And, yes, WotC: We would like some desktops of these. I understand they're pressed for time out there, but it'd be totally sweet.

 

[EvilDwarf]

Agreed. If these landscapes were higher res, they would totally rock as desktop backgrounds. I could even use them in my transition to 4e games because I like to use a lot of artwork when I DM.

Plus, when someone asked me where I got the cool backgrounds, I could torture my game-mates who aren't yet keen on 4E by showing them what they'll be missing!!!

 

[Wolfspider]

Plus, when someone asked me where I got the cool backgrounds, I could torture my game-mates who aren't yet keen on 4E by showing them what they'll be missing!!!

What does not being keen on the new edition of D&D have to do with appreciating good fantasy art?

I know that even though I'm not going to be switching to the new edition, I will be sure to stop by the WotC website to see the art galleries from time to time.

Fantasy art can be very inspirational....

 

[AllisterH]

Hmm...I'm switching to 4E and I prefer the action/character pose from 3E moreso than the scenery shot.

In D&D, it always seemed like only the magic-user was anything special and that he gt all the cool stuff (anyone remember the various action shots in 2E with the wizard like the cover of Spells & Magic,

or the various action/magic shots like in the original Tome of Magic.

I always thought the non-spellcasters got gipped because frankly to me, the old 1e/2e paradigm seemed to say "Well, non-spellcasters, you guys, aren't really that cool. It's all about the wizard/scenery"

Why again would I want to be a melee guy?