Comments on: Art is Powerful http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/59/art-is-powerful/ art of the game, roleplaying game theory from the brain of ben robbins Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:54:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Ian Winterbottom http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/59/art-is-powerful/comment-page-1/#comment-3697 Ian Winterbottom Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:37:28 +0000 http://www.lamemage.com/proto/wordpress/?p=59#comment-3697 I also like art; I'm lucky enough to be a little of an artist, though not a very good one; it does mean I can producy my own maps and handouts, which is double the fun! Illustrations are much harder! Ian I also like art; I’m lucky enough to be a little of an artist, though not a very good one; it does mean I can producy my own maps and handouts, which is double the fun! Illustrations are much harder!
Ian

]]> By: ben robbins http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/59/art-is-powerful/comment-page-1/#comment-2044 ben robbins Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:02:07 +0000 http://www.lamemage.com/proto/wordpress/?p=59#comment-2044 "Just out of curiosity, where do you usually dig up the artists that illustrate the books you publish?" Mostly from seeing their work in other releases, sometimes by just calling for open submissions. My recent releases have been superhero, but even then different projects require different styles (more mechanical, more 4-color, etc). _Really_ nice work by the way: <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/44220762/" rel="nofollow">http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/44220762/</a> “Just out of curiosity, where do you usually dig up the artists that illustrate the books you publish?”

Mostly from seeing their work in other releases, sometimes by just calling for open submissions. My recent releases have been superhero, but even then different projects require different styles (more mechanical, more 4-color, etc).

_Really_ nice work by the way:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/44220762/

]]> By: Steve http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/59/art-is-powerful/comment-page-1/#comment-1996 Steve Mon, 30 Jul 2007 05:44:27 +0000 http://www.lamemage.com/proto/wordpress/?p=59#comment-1996 I agree that sometimes a good drawing can ruin a concept with unnecessary details, although sometimes I've seen unwritten details really enhance an idea. I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about official D&D supplements directly here, but in one of the D&D books dealing with undead, there's a painting of a "weeping undead" concept. Now, in the picture, this thing is really gruesome... metal stakes coming out of the eyes and screaming mouths where the palms of the hands should be. I combed the description and found that neither of these details were mentioned, but they sure made the monster a lot more compelling to look at and increased the chances I'd run it in a campaign. And I'm pretty sure those details were not only harmless, they could actually improve the GM's description of the action. The rules don't cover exploitations for iron eye socket protrusions, but since this creature is undead and feels no (or perhaps constant) pain, it only enhances the action to have one of the PC's hits have a particularly horrific reaction with the metal stake. And the teeth in the hands can be factored into the description of the monster's claw attack when played out on the table. Anyways, the point I was trying to make is, sometimes the art can make positive suggestions to the GM. The trick is, of course, that the artist and the art director have an open dialog going about what is and what isn't proper to add. Just out of curiosity, where do you usually dig up the artists that illustrate the books you publish? I agree that sometimes a good drawing can ruin a concept with unnecessary details, although sometimes I’ve seen unwritten details really enhance an idea. I don’t know if I’m supposed to talk about official D&D supplements directly here, but in one of the D&D books dealing with undead, there’s a painting of a “weeping undead” concept. Now, in the picture, this thing is really gruesome… metal stakes coming out of the eyes and screaming mouths where the palms of the hands should be. I combed the description and found that neither of these details were mentioned, but they sure made the monster a lot more compelling to look at and increased the chances I’d run it in a campaign. And I’m pretty sure those details were not only harmless, they could actually improve the GM’s description of the action. The rules don’t cover exploitations for iron eye socket protrusions, but since this creature is undead and feels no (or perhaps constant) pain, it only enhances the action to have one of the PC’s hits have a particularly horrific reaction with the metal stake. And the teeth in the hands can be factored into the description of the monster’s claw attack when played out on the table. Anyways, the point I was trying to make is, sometimes the art can make positive suggestions to the GM. The trick is, of course, that the artist and the art director have an open dialog going about what is and what isn’t proper to add.

Just out of curiosity, where do you usually dig up the artists that illustrate the books you publish?

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