http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ag/20030808a
At least the female dwarf doesn't have a beard. And the minotaurs have both feet and hooves.
The ones I caught were:
Dragon Mountain Monument (which is a real shame)
The Herald Speaks
Tag and Chase
Enarathan's Rest (they misspelled that)
The Ghost Blade
Gnome Work Crew
Mobile Bookshelf with Selector Arm
VSEDAM3
I'm certain the last three would have been with the gnome invention rules, which were cut from the book.
My recommendation is to find a printer and print those out!
Although I am a fan of the Wizards of High Sorcery picture. That Black Robe is a hottie! Too bad she's evil... no it isn't!
WTF?
If I anm misguided, could someone please correct me on my Irda knowledge?
At first, there were 3 races: elves (good), humans (neutral), ogres (evil). Ogres started out beautiful, but as time progressed, they got ugly (evolved over generations into main-stream ogres). During the height of their empire, a group freed some slaves and started a civil war, which resulted in that group of ogres fleeing. They became neutral or even good, and thus retained their beauty while the rest of their race became ugly. Those ogres became Irda.
When the days were young and the world had cooled the three gods made their respective races. Paladine, being a panzy, made a panzy race of tree living pointy ears. Gilean being the most sensible of the bunch, created humanity. And Tak created the Ogres.
Now in those days the Ogres appeared as the beings we now call Irda. They had blue skin, inate magical powers, were smart, cool, beautiful, and arrogant, just like Takhisis. Takhisis is vain and shallow, she doesn't want ugly creations!
Anyways flash foward. The Ogres are cruel and heartless. A bunch of nicer, cuddly Ogres step sideways and say "Hey, Takhisis you're a meany and so are those other Ogres! We outtie, yo!" and run to join Paladine. These guys were lead by a guy named Igraine.
So the Irda run off and hide and they stay blue and pretty and smart and powerful, while the Ogres of Evil degenerate like Evil things always do. They become brutish and ugly, losing their innate magic, beauty, and grace, in favor of strength, stupidity, and wicked stench.
So now you have lots of Ugly Ogres allllll over Ansalon and a few pretty Ogres hidden in the coastal islands. Too bad the pretty Ogres are xenophobic, agoraphobic, and arachnaphobic(Made that up!). They're so unused to pleasent interaction that they had to cast spells that bind them and force them to mate! WHAT A CRAZY RACE!
See! Look, look!
:D
Originally posted by Kai Lord
Wasn't there supposed to be a new Elmore picture of Laurana? Or is she in the Age of Mortals book?
Yep, its in AoM -- great pic, as to be expected anytime Elmore draws a woman... :D
The minotaur has hooves. ;) Maybe they changed the minotaur description in the DLCS to match the artwork.
Originally posted by ferratus
The minotaur has hooves. ;) Maybe they changed the minotaur description in the DLCS to match the artwork.
Like I mentioned, you can spot pictures of both versions. We have both minotaurs with hooves and minotaurs with feet.
Originally posted by K_Man
Too bad the artist that did the Staff of Magius didn't know what he was supposed to be drawing. Where is the claw and crystal?
Are you surprised? The artist probably has no clue what the Staff of Magius is, much less what its supposed to look like. I'd wager most of the artists beyond Elmore have never even read a single DL book, and were probably given instructions like "draw a staff".
Originally posted by ferratus
I'm curious about the dragon artwork. It doesn't seem to match the 3e iconic representations. Are these supposed to be the iconic representations of what Krynnish dragons look like, or are they simply pictures of dragons?
Those are what the Dragonlance dragons look like.
The dragon information in the DLCS expands on or tweaks the standard 3E personality and attitudes of dragons to suit how they've been represented in the Dragonlance campaign. It's a useful reminder for DMs who're interested in that kind of thing. It isn't Wings of Fury but that sort of detailed info deserves its own book.
Cheers,
Cam
Im not happy with most of the pics at all though some look really cool but most are just horrible IMO.
Originally posted by Nightdruid
Are you surprised? The artist probably has no clue what the Staff of Magius is, much less what its supposed to look like. I'd wager most of the artists beyond Elmore have never even read a single DL book, and were probably given instructions like "draw a staff".
To be honest, I've seen the Staff of Magius drawn like that elsewhere.
Artwork is something that is subjective. What one person likes is not necessarily what another likes. For example, Cam and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as what we like in Age of Mortals.
Usually, RPGs these days have multiple artists working on them. You may like the style of one, and not the other. What you may not like, someone else will.
We've heard a lot about what people don't like. I'd like to know what you guys did like.
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
We've heard a lot about what people don't like. I'd like to know what you guys did like.
Um...the cover? Sorry DH, there isn't a whole lot of that artwork that floats my boat. I'll get the book, but its certainly not for the artwork. Hmmm, wonder if I should invest in sticky notes to cover up the pictures... ;)
P.S., I know WotC was responsible for the artwork, and I doubt anyone is blaming Sov. Stone
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
We've heard a lot about what people don't like. I'd like to know what you guys did like.
1. Gold Dragon
2. Blue Dragon w/rider
3. Sea elves
4. Black Dragon
5. Dragon Monument
6. The fact that WOTC will be doing none of the artwork for future DL products.
Lord Ausric
Centaur
Knights of Neraka
Fizban
The rest, how do I put this lightly...is crap! The Knights of Solamnia look like thugs, I was never a big fan of Jeff Easley, and the pictures have no Dragonlance feel. Sorry if I offended anyone but I have never been so disappointed in my life...and I've had many disappoitments. But, hey most of the time I buy books for the read not the art and that was great.
Originally posted by Kai Lord
6. The fact that WOTC will be doing none of the artwork for future DL products.
WOTC didn't do any of the artwork in the DLCS. Talented freelance artists did. You may see more of their work in SP products, just as you may see all-new or different freelance talent in SP products.
Cheers,
Cam
And in regards to the Staff of Magius. Look again, it may be ugly looking but it is a claw holding a pyramidal shaped amber gem. The diffusing glow distorts the image but, its still there. No, that's not how I like to see it depicted, but there IS precedence in other DL art.
Originally posted by Cam Banks
WOTC didn't do any of the artwork in the DLCS. Talented freelance artists did.
WOTC chose each and every one of those "talented artists." That's doing the artwork. I, for one, am glad that Sovereign Press will be choosing the artists from here on out.
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
We've heard a lot about what people don't like. I'd like to know what you guys did like.
Sure thing.
Palin's Pyre has a powerful look.
The picture depicting a footmans dragonlance in action is great.
The god symbols, while a little cartoony, are well done.
The female dwarf without a beard in the Dwarves picture.
the Inn of the Last Home, Goblinwatch, Skullcap and The Shelf are beautiful.
The Surface Elves is nice.
Gerard looks better than the versions in the WoS covers (can't believe I just said that).
Kang is cool. Ditto for Verminaard and Ausric.
The singular draconian pictures are the best of the whole lot.
The Shadowperson is exactly like I would have imagined them.
Of the dragons the red and the gold are good.
Mina is decent.
I could fall in love the Elmore centaur.
And finally the WoHS are good.
Hmm..now that I went through them like that, there's actually a lot I do like. But the quality on the whole varies quite a lot.
Originally posted by Kai Lord
WOTC chose each and every one of those "talented artists." That's doing the artwork. I, for one, am glad that Sovereign Press will be choosing the artists from here on out.
Well, I'm sorry your beef with WOTC as some corporate monster is affecting your appreciation of the book itself.
Personally, I think the end result is very well done, easily the best illustrated Dragonlance core setting book thus far. Would you rather have Tales of the Lance with its recycled module and calendar artwork and black and white interiors of clip art borrowed from old TSR character pregens and unrelated gaming products?Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Cam Banks
Well, I'm sorry your beef with WOTC as some corporate monster is affecting your appreciation of the book itself.
*chuckles* Ah, you're jumping to the wrong conclusions my friend. I appreciate DL, and its current incarnation more than you know. ;) And I have no beef with WOTC as a "corporate monster", simply as an entity that allowed Art Director Dawn Murin to hire and approve artist Doug Kovacs's dragons and draconians. *shudder*
The rest range from acceptable to great. Sardinha's Gold Dragon is superb. Ron Spencer's Shadowpeople and Thanoi are cool. The Sea Elves look sweet. And so on.
Originally posted by Cam Banks
Personally, I think the end result is very well done, easily the best illustrated Dragonlance core setting book thus far.
But the bar has been raised. "Tales of the Lance" shouldn't be the benchmark, but rather the FRCS. At least the new DLCS has 1. The best cover in the industry and 2. the hottest centaur of all time. :D
Originally posted by Kai Lord
I have no beef with WOTC as a "corporate monster", simply as an entity that allowed Art Director Dawn Murin to hire and approve artist Doug Kovacs's dragons and draconians. *shudder*
I believe that those draconian paintings are the best depictions yet. Well, I guess I'm still trying to overcome issues with the baaz, but on a whole, the paintings have defined the draconians as very realistic and very fearsome. As far as the dragons go, the blue's head could have been better, but it was still cool. In a way it kind of reminded me of Skie in Elmore's original cover for Dragons of Winter Night. As far as the other dragons....they rival the Monster Manual itself. I hope to see this particular artist's work featured in the Draconomicon.
Originally posted by Cam Banks
Would you rather have Tales of the Lance with its recycled module and calendar artwork ....
Yes, at least as far as the draconians are concerned. I love the painting of them in the ToTL book. To me that is what a draconian is. I do like the Aurak in the DLCS book, though.
I would have prefered better sketches to some of the color paintings in the DLCS book.
I really liked skullcap as well. I liked the surface elves, but I don't view those as Krynnish elves. The closest match would be Kagonesti.
The Good!
The gnome illustrations are excellent but they don't convey the danger contained in using any gnomish machine :D, The surface elves illustration *thumbs up*, Verminaard looks like he's about to stomp my head in
The kapak dracionian is the best image of the bunch as is the White dragon's pic.The Bad
The holy symbol are to saturday morning, the staff of magius doesn't look like the more "popularly known" depiction and The bozak draconian has ears
The Ugly
Both minotaur image have HOOVES
not only that but they look stupid (not the images but the characters look like they are dim). They are not regal, impressive or even tall. Oh well, at least the minotaur in the ogre image looks decent and has FEET :D.Is this it?
Nope.
Will I complain?
Nope.
Will I hope that future products return to the worlds visual roots?
Yup.
In the meantime, however, I am patiently waiting for my DLCS and looking forward to the bright setting that the future has. Remember, the best pictures are the ones drawn by your mind anyways...thats why we read DL books and (up till now) not comics. ;)
I personally love just about every piece of artwork in the DLCS. Most of it is just completely incredible. I love that there are several different types of art, computer drawn art, water colors, chalk drawings, acryllics, I mean, this is great stuff!
Now...there are a couple pieces in the Age of Mortals that I'm not too fond of...but those two pieces aside...I think even that book has incredible art. Now sure...there are certain styles I like better than others, but I try and take each style as they are, and try not to judge a piece of art on its medium.
(the third time I mention it in the same thread and still people seem to be ignoring it)
I think you might be taking this a little to seriously. Firstly I just want to say, I have nothing but the utmost respect for every artist out there as a failed artist I know how hard the world of commercial art can be.
Secondly, just because I prefer my minotaurs sans hooves doesn't mean that the before mentioned art has no value. It's art published in a book that I didn't get published in :D My post before just listed things that IMO, are things that I just don't like.
I also have no axe to grind with WOTC choices for art. In fact it's nice to see differnet artist getting a shot at being part of a grand world like Krynn.
Originally posted by Lenin97
[b]Hang on there Brimstone,
I think you might be taking this a little to seriously. /B]
I was...got a little carried away there. Sorry 'bout that.
I'm gonna edit that crud out of my post.
Originally posted by Brimstone
I guess it doesn't matter...nothing will ever please Dragonlance fans anyway.
We didn't say that we weren't pleased. I'm ecstatic that there is even a DLCS. We are only stating places where there could be improvements. Some of us cut our teeth on the old basic D&D boxed sets. I was spoiled by the drawings by Elmore in there. These black and white sketches looked far superior to a lot of the color art in the DLCS. Some of drawings look like they were doodled on notebook paper during class, and colored with crayons afterwards. Some of the art is great. We're just having a discussion about what we like and dislike.
Some of drawings look like they were doodled on notebook paper during class, and colored with crayons afterwards
*cough* the two draconians*cough*
Originally posted by Halabis
*cough* the two draconians*cough*
Are you kidding!?! That's a gorgeous piece!
His use of color is just amazing! It looks so completely random if you really get down too it...but all together it makes just an awesome piece!
But...I guess it's kind of subjective.
Originally posted by Brimstone
Are you kidding!?! That's a gorgeous piece!
His use of color is just amazing! It looks so completely random if you really get down too it...but all together it makes just an awesome piece!
But...I guess it's kind of subjective.
He may be meaning the pics of the sivak and the bozak, that was what I was refering to. The pic of the two draconians walking down the stairs is so so, but not what I think of when I think draconians, especially the lead one.
Here are what draconians are supposed to look like:
http://www.keithparkinson.com/gallery/tsr_art/viewers/viewer26.html
Originally posted by themeecer
He may be meaning the pics of the sivak and the bozak, that was what I was refering to.
http://www.keithparkinson.com/gallery/tsr_art/viewers/viewer26.html
Now...I didn't like the Bozak...not necessarily the art...but just becasue I think the ram horns should be reserved for the Baaz draconians (because the Brass dragons are the ones with the ram shaped horns). But...ah well.
Yeah...when I think of Draconians...I think of two paintings:
"What Do You Mean We're Lost!?!" by Keith Parkinson and "Dragons of Triumph" by Clyde Caldwell (although they're a bit short as to how I've pictured them). But I do enjoy other renditions.
I don't know...I guess I can keep it seperate. Just becasue I don't agree with how something was painted/drawn...won't keep me from liking it if it's good (in my eye).
Does that make sense? I don't think I describing it very well... Hrm. Ah well.
Except for one. I'm guessing that the picture of the White Dragon is that of Gellidus. Look at him sitting there so lazy, stupid and ugly. It makes me hate him even more. God I can't wait until he's dead. Since his stats didn't appear in "Age of Mortals" here's to hoping that Chris and Jaimie kill him off in that trilogy of adventures coming out.
I'm going to assume he is when I rewrite my Southern Ergoth geography writeup. If they choose not to, I can always insert a contrived explanation in later.
Originally posted by ferratus
Look at him sitting there so lazy, stupid and ugly. It makes me hate him even more.
Sounds like you just described every white dragon there is.
My impression of whites was that they were stupid, slow, lazy, heidonistic, and lazy...did I say lazy?
So, technically, shouldn't Gellidus just be a bigger version of that?
The Shadowperson artwork was really good but I wasn't keen on the rest of it.
The kender... *Shudders* was there a reason they were drawn as half-halfling/half-pig?
I do like to draw and I know I can do better than alot of those drawings and Im not a true artist Im just a guy that likes to draw.
If I can do better than they cant be all that good now can they.
Originally posted by Hammerhand
Muhaha, yes and with some kids crayola crayons. I showed my wife most of the artwork that is posted from the DLCS and she told me that I can do better,hehe.
I do like to draw and I know I can do better than alot of those drawings and Im not a true artist Im just a guy that likes to draw.
If I can do better than they cant be all that good now can they.
Hmmm......If you could do better than you would have been hired for the job, wouldn't you?
But Im not saying that I should have gotten the job, far from it. My skill isnt anywhere at the level needed to do DL justice. My skill is great for my home drawings and for my own charachters but thats about it.
Originally posted by Brimstone
Sounds like you just described every white dragon there is.
My impression of whites was that they were stupid, slow, lazy, heidonistic, and lazy...did I say lazy?
So, technically, shouldn't Gellidus just be a bigger version of that?
Technically. However, an epic villain that does not make. He supposedly all-powerful, but he doesn't do anything to earn any respect.
I particularly hate how he wasn't content with ruling Icewall, so he flies to Southern Ergoth, kills millions, imports Thanoi, and covers everything with a glacier so the end result... is a place that looks exactly like Icewall. I just can't understand that kind of idiocy.