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Strahd REALLY is Dracula

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Dec 08, 2005 18:26:16 I mean he really is Dracula in the most literal sense. Maybe not in the game but check this out. This was brought to my attention by a freind a while ago. Here's the first link its a picture of the cover of Castlevania 2 for the NES.
http://castlevania.classicgaming.gamespy.com/Images/Scans/CV2/box-cv2.jpg

Now here's a picture of Strahd for Ravenloft.
http://www.indarkdecorum.com/public/pics/Strahd.jpg

Just adjust the colors a bit and move the position of the head and its the same picture.
#2
zombiegleemax
Dec 08, 2005 18:35:49 Yeah, this came up a few months ago.

The Castlevania picture is the copy, and I think it must tread on some copywrite laws somewhere...
#3
Higmorton
Dec 08, 2005 19:39:51 Knowing it the artist drew both picture.
#4
orodruin
Dec 08, 2005 20:27:18
Knowing it the artist drew both picture.

Really? I couldn't find Caldwell's mark on the Castlevania cover, and the style looks too cartoony to be his. Has it ever been confirmed that he did the Castlevania version as well?
#5
Higmorton
Dec 09, 2005 6:11:29 Not sure if he did or not.

Everyone has their ideas as to what dracula looks like, so there would be similiar drawings. Even the ideas for ravenloft, you can see came from dracula stories.
#6
zombiegleemax
Dec 09, 2005 9:19:46
Not sure if he did or not.

Everyone has their ideas as to what dracula looks like, so there would be similiar drawings. Even the ideas for ravenloft, you can see came from dracula stories.

I agree, but the pictures are too similar for such a coincidence.
#7
Higmorton
Dec 09, 2005 10:59:59
I agree, but the pictures are too similar for such a coincidence.

Thats why I think they were done byt he same person. Castlevania is old video game so the art work will look a little cartoonish, but they are tooo similiar otherwise. Maybe the artist has his own copyright for the picture concept. I really don't know.
#8
zombiegleemax
Dec 09, 2005 12:57:16 The pictures are nearly identical, one is just more cartoony, and his head is turned different. The architecture is the same.

As for Dracula v. Strahd...Strahd was supposed to be a cheesy Dracula knock-off. He was designed to be obviously a vampire. In 1st (and 2nd) Edition of AD&D, vampires had 8+3 Hit Dice, and that was that. They didn't have class levels like in 3e (or 3.5). So, as an obvious Vampire, the PCs knew what they were up against...until he threw a fireball. That begain the "twist" plots that are prevalent in much of Ravenloft as a campaign world...even if the original twist no longer works.

As for a more historical approach, Vlad Drakov of Falkovia is based on the historical Vlad Tepes, the Vlad Dragulia that was Bram Stoker's basis for Dracula.
#9
zombiegleemax
Dec 09, 2005 20:30:32 I know all about them basing Drakov and strahd on the different Draculas. in fact I ran a game where along the border of Falkovnia my group encountered rows of impaled bodies. Made for an interesting story too. I had Drakov impale a group of his own soldiers for once again failing him and officers were off collecting new recruits by kicking down doors and taking young men. My group interfered as I had hoped too. From there I had had an high ranking Falkovnian threaten to turn them in unless they helped him escape since he didn't want to end up impaled as well.
#10
ripvanwormer
Dec 09, 2005 21:26:15 It's not the same artist. The Castlevania art doesn't look anything like Clive Caldwell's style, which is very consistent everywhere it appears. The castle, the gargoyle, and the vampire are all identical in design, but the artists who painted them are different.
#11
blackpol
Dec 22, 2005 8:52:03 Theimpresion I always got was that Dracov was based on Dracula/Vlad Tepes and Sthrad was more based on Barnebus from the old 'Dark Shadows' TV show.
#12
Higmorton
Dec 22, 2005 11:08:12 I just like Ravenloft fo rthe power check, and the fact with the mist escape is almost impossible.

Ravenloft helped me keep players alignment in check better.

AS for who Stradh, is or was. I don't really care the campaign setting is still cool.

I love reading Poe, and Ravenloft put me in that mind set.
#13
vedicdragon
Dec 27, 2005 8:51:11 Actually, Strahd always reminded me more of a "Lord Ruthven that made it big"
#14
tsuyoshikentsu
Dec 27, 2005 11:30:06 Wow. Those pictures are creepily similar.

There are several things that could have happened here. Most have already been suggested, but the most likely one to my mind is that when the Castlevania art was commisioned, they gave the artist a pic of Strahd and said "Include a guy who looks like that, just facing us." And he did. Rather unoriginally, I might add.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Dec 08, 2005 18:26:16	I mean he really is Dracula in the most literal sense. Maybe not in the game but check this out. This was brought to my attention by a freind a while ago. Here's the first link its a picture of the cover of Castlevania 2 for the NES. http://castlevania.classicgaming.gamespy.com/Images/Scans/CV2/box-cv2.jpg Now here's a picture of Strahd for Ravenloft. http://www.indarkdecorum.com/public/pics/Strahd.jpg Just adjust the colors a bit and move the position of the head and its the same picture.
#2 zombiegleemax Dec 08, 2005 18:35:49	Yeah, this came up a few months ago. The Castlevania picture is the copy, and I think it must tread on some copywrite laws somewhere...
#3 Higmorton Dec 08, 2005 19:39:51	Knowing it the artist drew both picture.
#4 orodruin Dec 08, 2005 20:27:18	Knowing it the artist drew both picture. Really? I couldn't find Caldwell's mark on the Castlevania cover, and the style looks too cartoony to be his. Has it ever been confirmed that he did the Castlevania version as well?
#5 Higmorton Dec 09, 2005 6:11:29	Not sure if he did or not. Everyone has their ideas as to what dracula looks like, so there would be similiar drawings. Even the ideas for ravenloft, you can see came from dracula stories.
#6 zombiegleemax Dec 09, 2005 9:19:46	Not sure if he did or not. Everyone has their ideas as to what dracula looks like, so there would be similiar drawings. Even the ideas for ravenloft, you can see came from dracula stories. I agree, but the pictures are too similar for such a coincidence.
#7 Higmorton Dec 09, 2005 10:59:59	I agree, but the pictures are too similar for such a coincidence. Thats why I think they were done byt he same person. Castlevania is old video game so the art work will look a little cartoonish, but they are tooo similiar otherwise. Maybe the artist has his own copyright for the picture concept. I really don't know.
#8 zombiegleemax Dec 09, 2005 12:57:16	The pictures are nearly identical, one is just more cartoony, and his head is turned different. The architecture is the same. As for Dracula v. Strahd...Strahd was supposed to be a cheesy Dracula knock-off. He was designed to be obviously a vampire. In 1st (and 2nd) Edition of AD&D, vampires had 8+3 Hit Dice, and that was that. They didn't have class levels like in 3e (or 3.5). So, as an obvious Vampire, the PCs knew what they were up against...until he threw a fireball. That begain the "twist" plots that are prevalent in much of Ravenloft as a campaign world...even if the original twist no longer works. As for a more historical approach, Vlad Drakov of Falkovia is based on the historical Vlad Tepes, the Vlad Dragulia that was Bram Stoker's basis for Dracula.
#9 zombiegleemax Dec 09, 2005 20:30:32	I know all about them basing Drakov and strahd on the different Draculas. in fact I ran a game where along the border of Falkovnia my group encountered rows of impaled bodies. Made for an interesting story too. I had Drakov impale a group of his own soldiers for once again failing him and officers were off collecting new recruits by kicking down doors and taking young men. My group interfered as I had hoped too. From there I had had an high ranking Falkovnian threaten to turn them in unless they helped him escape since he didn't want to end up impaled as well.
#10 ripvanwormer Dec 09, 2005 21:26:15	It's not the same artist. The Castlevania art doesn't look anything like Clive Caldwell's style, which is very consistent everywhere it appears. The castle, the gargoyle, and the vampire are all identical in design, but the artists who painted them are different.
#11 blackpol Dec 22, 2005 8:52:03	Theimpresion I always got was that Dracov was based on Dracula/Vlad Tepes and Sthrad was more based on Barnebus from the old 'Dark Shadows' TV show.
#12 Higmorton Dec 22, 2005 11:08:12	I just like Ravenloft fo rthe power check, and the fact with the mist escape is almost impossible. Ravenloft helped me keep players alignment in check better. AS for who Stradh, is or was. I don't really care the campaign setting is still cool. I love reading Poe, and Ravenloft put me in that mind set.
#13 vedicdragon Dec 27, 2005 8:51:11	Actually, Strahd always reminded me more of a "Lord Ruthven that made it big"
#14 tsuyoshikentsu Dec 27, 2005 11:30:06	Wow. Those pictures are creepily similar. There are several things that could have happened here. Most have already been suggested, but the most likely one to my mind is that when the Castlevania art was commisioned, they gave the artist a pic of Strahd and said "Include a guy who looks like that, just facing us." And he did. Rather unoriginally, I might add.