tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post2236680395344043040..comments2024-03-28T00:41:13.514-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: Imagination & ArtJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-13061933988243363052021-07-14T12:22:04.785-07:002021-07-14T12:22:04.785-07:00The new post is up.The new post is up.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-48713936380360659122021-07-14T12:07:49.693-07:002021-07-14T12:07:49.693-07:00Looking forward to reading what you have to say on...Looking forward to reading what you have to say on this. Communicating tone and feel and the little details with art is second-to-none. I'm curious about ways to use art to communicate mechanics.trollsmythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01895349218958093151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-88511496912625271812021-07-14T10:10:28.433-07:002021-07-14T10:10:28.433-07:00Looking forward to the next post.
Realistically ...Looking forward to the next post. <br /><br />Realistically art nostalgia is why I prefer the original B/X books to the retro clones. sevenbastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961009160456478009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-51863149776442137012021-07-14T09:24:40.267-07:002021-07-14T09:24:40.267-07:00I agree that narrative description does (and shoul...I agree that narrative description does (and should) include more than just visual sensory input.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-4903193341722212622021-07-14T08:01:12.258-07:002021-07-14T08:01:12.258-07:00Me, a Storyteller? LOL Guilty as charged.
I'v...Me, a Storyteller? LOL Guilty as charged.<br /><br />I've always done this so it has little to do with my groups. I just see things so vividly - epic, strange, impossible things - that I can't help wanting others to see them too.<br /><br />Also, it's not always about seeing. Pictures don't convey the humidity and sweat sticking to your clothes on a swamp planet, the thunderous sound and shaking Earth of a giant robots steps, or the soft crackle of hair-thin arcs of electricity before the villain Shocktart unleashes a bolt at your hero.Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-29637857630515358592021-07-14T06:11:08.937-07:002021-07-14T06:11:08.937-07:00I have to say that the access to images that the i...I have to say that the access to images that the internet provides has been a great boon to my games. A single image can create a ton of ideas. They also convey things faster and more efficiently than my words. <br /><br />Just comparing the grizzled face of the old legate who runs realm A to the well dressed and dapper legate who runs realm B automatically create a feeling for how those realms differ. I see a picture and know - that dude's a jerk, that gal, she's awesome, that guy, never trust him, etc. Let alone the tone and mood a good scene setting backdrop or monster pic is. <br /><br />Really helps with engagement. That being said, I hate the overabundance of exotic weapons and armor with little historic or practical value. I look forward to your take on Delta's post.Jojodogboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06870044018296516914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-91413464488283173652021-07-13T19:53:31.433-07:002021-07-13T19:53:31.433-07:00There's definitely a tonal connection to the e...There's definitely a tonal connection to the expected modes of play and the artwork that goes with the various versions of D&D. And not just the oft-mentioned comparison of TSR versions' grubby treasure hunting Picaros vs. WotC's Big Damn Heroes boldly facing overpowering monsters. <br /><br />I also think one reason people responded so positively to Flying Swordsmen was the art I was able to find and employ in it.Dennis Laffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03053699552003336733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-84299744331077958152021-07-13T18:51:06.098-07:002021-07-13T18:51:06.098-07:00Do you not play with a regular group? The desire t...Do you not play with a regular group? The desire to over-narrate (especially when you’re providing images and illustrations on top of it) sounds a bit like a trust issue; if you’ve been with the same folks (which I always kind of assumed from your blog postings), I’d figure you have enough rapport built that you can relax a bit of the description.<br /><br />Then again, maybe you’re just a storyteller, BA. <br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-61130011078042488702021-07-13T18:42:52.530-07:002021-07-13T18:42:52.530-07:00@ Rambling Cleric:
Delta’s post was the impetus f...@ Rambling Cleric:<br /><br />Delta’s post was the impetus for this one…I’ll be providing a link in the follow-up.<br /><br />The Ford art in 5AK was absolutely intentional of conjuring an “Arabian Nights” feel…while the project didn’t start that way, over the course of writing it, it developed into a Golden Age of Islam version of OD&D. As such, the art was totally appropriate.<br /><br />[I’ve actually encountered some “fans” who play 5AK rather exclusively, much to my surprise]<br /><br />I will be sure to examine my own books, both in relation to my premise (the importance of art’s impressions) and to the original B/X game. Nearly all the artwork used was commissioned to my specifications (and the artists did excellent work), but my “plan” was governed mainly by intuition and “feel,” rather than intentionality, experience, or forethought.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-50201867738447959322021-07-13T17:24:15.306-07:002021-07-13T17:24:15.306-07:00As a GM, I've always suffered a bit from a pro...As a GM, I've always suffered a bit from a propensity to over-describe what the players are seeing; from the clothing of their allies and opponents to the grand vistas of far off alien worlds. I am rather good at descriptions on the fly but must work rather hard not to get carried away. <br /><br />This is made even more frustrating [to both my players and myself] by the fact that I A) include lots and lots of illustrations with every session I run and B) I tend to run a lot of established IPs such as Star Trek, Star Wars, and Ghostbusters. <br /><br />Do I need to describe the bridge of a Federation Starship? It's a good bet my players have seen one if not several on numerous occasions. Is it important to tell everyone what a given monster looks like if I'm going to show them a picture of it as soon as I finish?<br /><br />I've gotten better at it over the decades but it is hard to resist the temptation. I am a visual person. I see the setting, NPCs, and all the elements of each scene in fine detail. I just want everyone to have as good a picture of what's happening in their minds as I have in mine. Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-8328496356166707632021-07-13T16:06:57.413-07:002021-07-13T16:06:57.413-07:00Looking forward to the follow-up post. I'm ass...Looking forward to the follow-up post. I'm assuming you're going to expand in some way on Delta's recent post. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear how your thoughts and observations apply to the art in your own work (B/X Companion, B/X Adventurer, and/or Five Ancient Kingdoms). I'm sitting here flipping through my copy of the Five Ancient Kingdoms booklets (yea, I bought all your stuff back in the day) and noting how your decision to use Ford's illustrations found in Lang's classic work might be also be an example of your argument since you clearly wanted to invoke a certain "Arabian"-related feel and imagination. What about the two other two B/X books? The Rambling Clerichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09866256742022384323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-38285488167204453872021-07-13T12:56:41.605-07:002021-07-13T12:56:41.605-07:00Interesting post, particularly the bit about how t...Interesting post, particularly the bit about how the imagination might be trained to improve descriptions. I admit to struggling with coming up with evocative descriptions on the hoof.<br /><br />I'm waiting for your follow up post in anticipation.Jacob72https://www.blogger.com/profile/17268402292420473229noreply@blogger.com