Thar Shaddin

Edit: I didn't notice there was activity in the other topic or that Ane had already posted the pictures! I'm going to combine these two topics by copy pasting.


Ane (http://rpgillustrated.awardspace.com/) has completed some preliminary art to give us an idea of the style she wants to use for Thar Shaddin. She's sent me three pieces and wants feedback before she begins working on anything else.

These pieces may not be directly related to the RP, as in they do not depict anything I've specifically requested, but they could well be a scene you'd find in Thar Shaddin. I have previews here:

Herbalists:


Goblins:


Also, a rough sketch of the guardsman's uniform which needs a few changes done to it (like maybe the city guard's crest on the chestplate) is here: http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/images/other/skisse.jpg

From Ane:

Hi all

These are the first two pictures I made for Thar Shaddin. (I hope these links work, the images arnt really on the page yet, neither on mine nor on this one I think)

Just elves and goblins for now, please tell if they look like something imagined and send in constructive comments. As I work I would like to aproach your image of Thar Shaddin as much as I can.

Anyway, Ill get started with the city and the city guard that seems to be the more important part. I would like some opinions on what the city looks like thaugh. Could it be anything like this?

http://www.pbase.com/hshlok/burgeltz

Or completely different. You have all put a lot of imagination into this place, and Im not even sure if you picture it the same way. Ill try to make something as close to everyones collective picture as I can, but to do that I need pointers, both on what I made and on what Im making. If you have an opinion, express it right here.

Now, Ane has agreed to take on this project largely because she wants to get feedback from roleplayers (she's into some RP) about what you like and don't like. This is supposed to be helpful to her so I want to give as much feedback and comments as possible.

Post what you think here in this forum and try to say more than just "that's great!" They are great pictures, she's very talented, but there's always something more to learn. Don't be shy if there's something you don't like, and if there's something you do like, point it out no matter how small or silly.

I'll copy paste comments people already made in the other topic to this one. Don't forget to comment on the city in this link: http://www.pbase.com/hshlok/burgeltz and what she might use from it.

You don't have to write as much as me but you do have to comment or DIE!

First off, the goblins. It's hard not to love them because they're funny and full of personality. Each one looks quite unique and that compliments how fantastic it is to see them working inside a factory full of random contraptions.
My favorite thing about it is the industrial setting. The design of the roof that looks out into the sky is cool. Nice lighting off the fire and nice colours.
What I don't like about it is that it's a little bit cartoony. Don't get me wrong, the goblins are perfect, but when you add all the steam whistles and the shapes of the furnaces and equipment, it doesn't look real or scary enough.

The herbalists picture has great colours although they also don't fit the red theme of the board. I love the brusth strokes more than the picture of the goblins, maybe because the setting is organic and not industrial, but it is more convincing and serious to me. It has an eerie, haunted feeling that's great. I'm not so sure about the girl in the front right though. If you were to take her out of the picture, it would look really ghostly and that would be scary.

The subject matter of the picture, elven herbalists collecting flowers for some potions or spells, is something I haven't seen before. It actually touches on the hidden elven culture that doesn't get much attention here.

I liked them both. The artist has a very organic, impressionistic style that is very expressive.

I liked the goblins, and except for the one in the rear (with the lunch/toolbox and bandoleer), I did not mind the amusing poses they were shown in. I think there is a place for a wry smile in the midst of troubling darkness--not everyone in Thar Shaddin is a bloodthirsty vampire or assassin. There are a lot of good people (dwarves, gnomes, elves, etc.) just trying to get by as best they can under the rather grim circumstances.

The elf painting was lovely, but I think it reflects a benevolent magic that I have not seen evident in Thar Shaddin. If such benevolent magics exist here, they are hidden (from the Guard, et al) and practiced in secrecy. That sense of danger and shrouded mystery is not evident in the elf piece.

The artist is quite talented, and I love her brushstrokes.

We just need more darkness, danger, and perhaps a sense of a population trying to eke out a living under the watchful eyes of a malevolent dictatorship.

Cheers.

Some comments already made in the other topic:

Orion Black I imagine it's a dark and gritty place, with a lot of common everyday activities casting a net of the mundane. Hiding under this surface would be a big of the supernatural, some which delight, most which bite, and all of which radiate some surreal and dangerous beauty. Not a lot of pretty plants or decorations, even governmental buildings being clean-cut at best without cheery flags and flowers. A dried up fountain, trash on the streets and bums, but the Ok parts of the city are I imagine, not too horrible. Not a starving city, just a stale one.

----

Blood Ravenous I like those two pictures, especially the goblin one. They're cute! And the elves picture strikes me as what the woods would be like. Great environment to both, that's an important thing Very Happy

As for the city, I always imagined the buildings being pretty small, like two stories tall at most (but close together). It's not supposed to be a humongous city, anyway. It also depends on what area. Like, the downtown district I imagine has wider, more plentiful buildings. But in style it would be a grim version of those pictures, Ane, except for the Justice Hall (which is really impressive but simplistic). Kind of narrow, cobblestone roads in the dense areas and someone always hanging around.

As for Shim... I guess ramshackle houses and wooden buildings and stuff. The road would be dirt, of course. It might neater than the city, though, but still very unfriendly. Not really sure...

Both excellent pictures!

Comments - The goblin picture is fascinating, although a touch cartoonish. I picture much of this world as grim and harsh, and I think the pictures should show that. Perhaps a little more use of shade and a little less color and brightness?

The elven herbalists is a wonderful piece of art, although again a little too much color. As someone else mentioned, with magic in Thar being outlawed, the herbalists should be doing their work in secret, perhaps looking a little more furtive or nervous about being out, even at night. However, the little creature (a cat?) at the front left of the picture is a great addition to the piece, showing a little bit of the danger and the darker side of Thar.


Again, both pieces are great!


As for the city, I picture it as very close, with houses hanging over the streets, blocking out much of the sunlight even at noon. It's dirty and grungy through much of the city, although kept clean on the main thoroughfares where much of the daily business is done. I see it rife with tiny alleyways between many of the buildings, adding to the feeling of closeness and danger.

I think that's all for now.

I agree that the goblins are too cartoony for our looks, but I really like the industrial feel to that image. Despite how colorful the goblins are, the area itself has the cold feeling that an industrial district should.

I love the nature one. LOVE. Love the colors and everything else. BUT, it's just too dreamy for our setting. I won't say it's impossible to have that much...unfiltered happy wandering around the woods. But the board as a whole has a gritty feeling. Sin City, even (though maybe without the castrating). Overall the colors are amazing and fluid, everything flows together, the images are basically seamless, and I can't say that's the feel we should work toward for this board. Things don't mesh, nothing plays well with others. The lines should be more pronounced; things should stand out.

To get a feel for the style I associate with this board, here's my absolute favoritest Elfwood artist's page (I completely ganked Jen's picture from him, and I take no credit for that awesome image): http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/art/n/a/n ... lyon2.html

It blends together, but not seamlessly. It's harsh enough that I like his style. Plus I think the little valentine guy is adorable

I'm curious as to just WHAT is in that goblin's lunchbox...

As for those pictures... Well I've never been much of an \rt critic. But I know what I like, and I like those pictures. I'd agree with those above me though, they might not fit in with the impression the setting pages gave me of the city, especially:

Frug wrote:What I don't like about it is that it's a little bit cartoony. Don't get me wrong, the goblins are perfect, but when you add all the steam whistles and the shapes of the furnaces and equipment, it doesn't look real or scary enough.

From what I read of that place it sounds like somewhere very good to leave well alone. I'm not sure the picture reflects that as prominently as I interpret the place.

Hmm... fifty posts already... I'm spending a LOT of time here

Hmm, what's happening with this? Anyone know?

No... She hasn't been in contact. I'm giving it lots of time.

I have spoken to her via email, about a personal avatar... I could ask about it, if you'd like?

It's been awhile, so I wanna know what's up. I like the idea so I didn't want to see it disappear. If you could sneak in a question that'd be great

Do not pester the artist!

*godly voice* I will ask the artist.

*bows to frug's superiority on this matter*

And here's Ane's email response regarding the illustrations:

I'm still here, and still on the project. Got 3 of the four illustrations half painted, unfortunately so they have stayed for a while. I've had lots of editorial work, (and as they pay almost a 1000 dollars for one dubblepageillustration, I've got 4 due for only next week, I have to give that priority). Besides I got pregnant, and sleep more than usually (I am normally an insomniac and a workoholic, now I'm only a workoholic).

Due to these unforseen circumstances I am falling behind a reasonable scedual with you guys. I am very sorry about it, and will correct it as soon as I can. I'll have a baby in april, and here in Norway thet means I get a monthly pay to stay at home with the child half a year, and to recive this money I am not really allowed to do payed work. That will (unless I get an extremely tireing baby) give me a lot of time for this kind of projects, but I'll get back to you before that for sure.

So she's still on it, and I don't mind waiting.

Marvellous