Illustrations that define or redefine monsters

DKChannelBoredom · February 09, 2011, 06:45:00 AM

Quote from: Cole;438675However I recently played in a campaign where the DM presented kobolds as more of obsequious, deceitful goblin types, probably related to gnomes. They preferred to call themselves "the Happy People." They were a "favorite" opponent in the game and the DM commissioned this illustration by Russ Nicholson:

One of the Kobolds once told my PC,

"Our language has thirteen words for 'cute' and none for 'hatred.'"

I don't know about the picture, but that description is the best and most interesting redefinition of a monster type I have read in a long time. Sounds lik ae really cool gm. I almost wish I had a fantasy campaign running, so I could use the idea.

Daedalus · February 09, 2011, 11:37:34 AM

For me the art gives me an idea of what a monster looks like but I don't always go exactly by a picture.

"This is exactly what the monster looks like!" I use it as a basis and if I need to I change to fit my needs.

So the art doesnt really effect much for me. I know art is more important to certain people then it is to others.

John Morrow · February 09, 2011, 11:36:26 PM

Quote from: Cole;438903That gargoyle, definitely! Something about that jack-o-lantern grin/grimace. I always imagine gargoyles chuckling now.

The main thing I got from it was big horns, big legs, big arms, big teeth, small cranium. It's a beast.

Quote from: Cole;438903What does the kobold image say to you about what Kobolds are like?

Small. Feisty. Somewhat civilized. Not a primate and probably not a mammal, either.

Elfdart · February 11, 2011, 07:35:24 PM

For me, the definitive goblin was David Trampier's version:

It's a simple, clean B&W drawing and it is absolutely perfect.

Cole · February 11, 2011, 08:02:15 PM

Quote from: Elfdart;439769For me, the definitive goblin was David Trampier's version:

It's a simple, clean B&W drawing and it is absolutely perfect.

I like the illustration a lot on the aesthetic level; I think there is a pathetic quality to the goblin that kept me from using them for a while. He looks very scared of whatever he is charging at; it's as if he's more of an ugly halfling.

Warhammer's Night Goblins rehabilitated goblins as monsters for me. I can't think of a specific illustration, though. More the miniatures, I suppose.

danbuter · February 11, 2011, 09:33:29 PM

That George Barr mind flayer is awesome. I've never seen the pic before, but it should be the one in the MM.

RPGPundit · February 12, 2011, 11:45:26 AM

For me the definitive image of goblins probably comes from the Fighting Fantasy books.

RPGPundit

Cole · February 12, 2011, 12:00:17 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;439873For me the definitive image of goblins probably comes from the Fighting Fantasy books.

RPGPundit

Good call - here's a good Russ goblin...

FF influenced my idea of how goblins function in the world, and in adventures as well. "Insiders" to the workings of the underworld, maybe, would be the idea of it.

Benoist · February 12, 2011, 12:35:18 PM

Quote from: Cole;439878Good call - here's a good Russ goblin...

That is a great goblin! Close to what I imagine about them.
Mine would be shorter mostly, with a few exceptions like this, but that is damn close.

Cole · May 19, 2011, 10:08:41 PM

I'm currently thinking Sahuagin ought to look a little more like :

Aos · May 19, 2011, 10:15:06 PM

source?

Cole · May 19, 2011, 10:21:42 PM

Quote from: Aos;459365source?

"The Technopriests

Written by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Art by Zoran Janjetov & Fred Beltran

Published by Humaonids/DC Comics"

Aos · May 19, 2011, 10:26:23 PM

Quote from: Cole;459368"The Technopriests

Written by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Art by Zoran Janjetov & Fred Beltran

Published by Humaonids/DC Comics"

Ah, I lost interests during the Metabarons series.

Cole · May 19, 2011, 10:28:48 PM

Quote from: Aos;459374Ah, I lost interests during the Metabarons series.

I have really only skimmed those. Though I like the movie El Topo. Not enough westerns have mole people.

Justin Alexander · May 20, 2011, 01:37:41 AM

Quote from: Bloody Stupid Johnson;438333Also - I have to mention displacer beasts (going from 6 legs to 4 and back again) though I wouldn't say the number of legs is defining for the monster, at least for me. I assume the original creature in Van Vogt's "Black Destroyer" had 6 legs, and someone then decided 'lets just make it a panther. With tentacles.'

When I played BECMI, displacer beasts were one of my favorite monsters. With 3E, however, the sub-par illustration apparently had a sub-conscious effect and I ended up never using them.

Illustrations that define or redefine monsters

Daedalus