[AS&SH] Artwork for the game

[Chainsaw]

Looking good.

[Ghul]

Dec 26, 2011 17:36:31 GMT -6 Chainsaw said:

Looking good.

Thanks! It's a small detail in the grand scope of things, but I thought it was neat enough to share.

[grodog]

Very cool, Jeff

[mythos]

Thanks for the larger image of the cover. It takes me back to the art of all the OD&D books I bought back in the 70's and 80's, along with the art on the covers of the paperbacks I bought at the same time.
For me the art helps me to get my mind into the setting of a game and the art is the first thing to sell me on AS&SH. Seeing that cover only renforces that mind set. Already I can picture dark wizards who's power infuses their blood and flesh. When killed thart energy departs them in moans and wails, black shadows that rise from their corpse and the pools of blood that surround them.
Something that will make greart description when my players manage to kill one. Plus it gives me a chance to haunt them with the ghost of the wizard. Something I never thought of doing until I saw that great art.

[Ghul]

Jan 6, 2012 1:26:35 GMT -6 mythos said:

Thanks for the larger image of the cover. It takes me back to the art of all the OD&D books I bought back in the 70's and 80's, along with the art on the covers of the paperbacks I bought at the same time.
For me the art helps me to get my mind into the setting of a game and the art is the first thing to sell me on AS&SH. Seeing that cover only renforces that mind set. Already I can picture dark wizards who's power infuses their blood and flesh. When killed thart energy departs them in moans and wails, black shadows that rise from their corpse and the pools of blood that surround them.
Something that will make greart description when my players manage to kill one. Plus it gives me a chance to haunt them with the ghost of the wizard. Something I never thought of doing until I saw that great art.

That's a great description, Mythos. I picture this sort of thing occurring when a Conan-like figure strikes down a Xaltotun or Thoth Amon. Great stuff.

[mythos]

Thanks Jeff. To me the death of a high level wizard, or any magic user, be a thing of fear and terror.
Instead of just seeing a body collapse to the ground, energies should crackle and the surrounding atmosphere chills and strange shaped shadows move independently of the tourch flame or moonlight.
Guess the art is getting into my head more then I thought. Cannot wait to get this into my hands and let more of this sinking into my mind.

[mabon5127]

Jan 6, 2012 9:54:45 GMT -6 Ghul said:

Jan 6, 2012 1:26:35 GMT -6 mythos said:

Thanks for the larger image of the cover. It takes me back to the art of all the OD&D books I bought back in the 70's and 80's, along with the art on the covers of the paperbacks I bought at the same time.
For me the art helps me to get my mind into the setting of a game and the art is the first thing to sell me on AS&SH. Seeing that cover only renforces that mind set. Already I can picture dark wizards who's power infuses their blood and flesh. When killed thart energy departs them in moans and wails, black shadows that rise from their corpse and the pools of blood that surround them.
Something that will make greart description when my players manage to kill one. Plus it gives me a chance to haunt them with the ghost of the wizard. Something I never thought of doing until I saw that great art.

That's a great description, Mythos. I picture this sort of thing occurring when a Conan-like figure strikes down a Xaltotun or Thoth Amon. Great stuff.

All I can think is how unfair...
Your father sells you into slavery...you're beaten for years by sorceric overlords...you steal vile tomes to read in secret...kill a weak apprentice to prove you're worthy...bribe, kill, or cheat, all the right people...make pacts with dark entities and sacrifice innocents to the most uncaring of alien creatures for power beyond reckoning...then get snuffed by some smelly barbarian who hasn't even seen two full cycles in Hyperborea...dag!

[mythos]

Jan 6, 2012 11:47:31 GMT -6 mabon5127 said:

All I can think is how unfair...
Your father sells you into slavery...you're beaten for years by sorceric overlords...you steal vile tomes to read in secret...kill a weak apprentice to prove you're worthy...bribe, kill, or cheat, all the right people...make pacts with dark entities and sacrifice innocents to the most uncaring of alien creatures for power beyond reckoning...then get snuffed by some smelly barbarian who hasn't even seen two full cycles in Hyperborea...dag!

But... You would think that someone that clever and driven would know enough to keep himself. or herself, protected from a smelly muscle bound barbarian. ;D

[Deleted]

I was highly sold on this game, until I saw the cover.

Nudity on the cover = no sale.

I highly recommend you reconsider and place a less provocative piece of art on the cover. Save your friend's artwork for an interior placement.

[mabon5127]

Jan 6, 2012 20:59:26 GMT -6 @reidzilla said:

I was highly sold on this game, until I saw the cover.

Nudity on the cover = no sale.

I highly recommend you reconsider and place a less provocative piece of art on the cover. Save your friend's artwork for an interior placement.

I was just curious as to your reasoning. Do you have young kids at home that may see the cover? If its none of my business that's cool too. I'm pretty sure Jeff's vision for the cover of the game is as is but regardless I'm buying the game for the content. The art is just a wonderful bonus.

[Ghul]

Jan 6, 2012 20:59:26 GMT -6 @reidzilla said:

I was highly sold on this game, until I saw the cover.

Nudity on the cover = no sale.

I highly recommend you reconsider and place a less provocative piece of art on the cover. Save your friend's artwork for an interior placement.

Thanks for the advice, reidzilla, and I'm sorry the art provokes you. Happy gaming!

--Jeff T.

[grodog]

The cover's been growing on me, Jeff: I like all of the little details in it like the "soul eyes" in the wisps clinging to the warrior's axe (and bubbling out of the probably-not-dead-for-long wizard), the snake diadem? on the wizard's head, the four horns on the warrior's helm, and that his sword is curved like a tulwar or sabre.

The babe doesn't hurt either

[Ghul]

Thanks, Allan. I think James (on page 1 of this thread) really hit the nail on the head when he said:

And we need more covers that would be at home on a heavy metal album or a circa 1982 Heavy Metal magazine!

If the cover of the AS&SH game evokes the feeling of, say, a Molly Hatchet album cover, I feel like we're doing something that feels right.

Cheers,
Jeff T.

[mgtremaine]

I'll admit I'm neutral on the cover. I think it is lovely painting but I've always been more Yes then Heavy Metal, more Roger Dean then Boris/Frazetta. This will not stop me from buying, I already have of course. But I probably will not be waving the cover around the house in excitement to the wife and kid. But the box will go on the shelf of honor no doubt.

-Mike

[Ghul]

Jan 12, 2012 9:35:31 GMT -6 mgtremaine said:

I'll admit I'm neutral on the cover. I think it is lovely painting but I've always been more Yes then Heavy Metal, more Roger Dean then Boris/Frazetta. This will not stop me from buying, I already have of course. But I probably will not be waving the cover around the house in excitement to the wife and kid. But the box will go on the shelf of honor no doubt.

-Mike

Heh, that's funny, because I love Frazetta and I love Roger Dean, but there is a lot of Boris stuff I can't stand.

Jeffrey Jones is another one whose art I love.

[mythos]

Boris' early work showed a lot of promise. Then he seemed to focus on developing his concept of the perfect technique and his paintings, to me at least, becane static and dull.
I describe his work now as being based on photos of statues.
Give me Frazetta, Jones, Kelly. or a new artist more intrested in showing emotion and action over style.
That's why I love the cover of AS&SH. I can look at it and "feel" the moment.

[Ghul]

Jan 12, 2012 11:57:07 GMT -6 mythos said:

Boris' early work showed a lot of promise. Then he seemed to focus on developing his concept of the perfect technique and his paintings, to me at least, becane static and dull.
I describe his work now as being based on photos of statues.
Give me Frazetta, Jones, Kelly. or a new artist more intrested in showing emotion and action over style.
That's why I love the cover of AS&SH. I can look at it and "feel" the moment.

Also, I think Boris developed a fascination with body building that (IMO) negatively impacted his work.

[mgtremaine]

Jan 12, 2012 11:57:07 GMT -6 mythos said:

Boris' early work showed a lot of promise. Then he seemed to focus on developing his concept of the perfect technique and his paintings, to me at least, becane static and dull.
I describe his work now as being based on photos of statues.
Give me Frazetta, Jones, Kelly. or a new artist more intrested in showing emotion and action over style.

Which gives it a certain sameness, you've seen one you've seen most of them...

Jan 12, 2012 11:57:07 GMT -6 mythos said:

That's why I love the cover of AS&SH. I can look at it and "feel" the moment.

Yep.. I can almost hear him grunting "Stay Down!" I do love the evil spirit escaping the body. Nice feeling that, as it wings it way to the whatever eternal torment awaits. Go team Evil... hahaha

-Mike