D&D (2024) Comeliness and Representation in Recent DnD Art

Fifth Element · Apr 7, 2024

Scribe said:
Not really, I'm disappointed with a safe and tame art style that doesn't reflect artistic diversity at all.

You keep using these words. You could just as easily say Conan-style sexist cheesecake is safe because you know there's a large fan base of people who like that kind of art. And the inclusiveness that is more characteristic of recent D&D art always raises a furore among a certain segment of the audience, meaning it's not so safe after all. If people are getting up in arms about your art, how is it safe and tame exactly?

A piece of art doesn't need boobs to not be safe and tame.

MGibster · Apr 7, 2024

I'm curious, what do we all mean by diversity? For any gaming book, I expect for there to be some style guidelines when it comes to what art they want in the book. Vampire the Masqurade (1st edition) had a definite look even if all the illustrations weren't from the same artist. I expect D&D art to have some sort of editorial mandate in order to keep consistent. For this thread, the OP was specifically speaking about diversity within the context of body types. People might want D&D charactesr that look like Sister Dolores here and that should be reflected in the art. And I agree.

Faolyn · Apr 7, 2024

Scribe said:
Honestly? A couple of pieces tops.

Which is kind of funny because with the kind of lifestyle actual adventurers would be likely to have, women would either (a) need a lot of support, since believe you me, having your boobs flop all over the place is not fun, also, from what I recall from the time I took archery in school, the Amazons were right, or (b) be pretty flat and fairly to extremely muscular, and neither of those things are typical pinup material.

Levistus's_Leviathan · Apr 7, 2024

Scribe said:
Not really, I'm disappointed with a safe and tame art style that doesn't reflect artistic diversity at all.

There is artistic diversity in 5e. Art from Tyranny of Dragons, Acq. Inc., Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, Radiant Citadel, the 2014 Core Rulebooks, and the previewed 2024 Art are all different styles. There is definitely an overall 5e style, like 4e and 3e had styles, but there is also a lot of diversity in 5e art.

aco175 · Apr 7, 2024

MGibster said:
I'm curious, what do we all mean by diversity? For any gaming book, I expect for there to be some style guidelines when it comes to what art they want in the book.

I find this interesting and has me thinking. I remember how the old Planescape or Dark Sun book came out and each has a feel and tone that builds something from the art to tell the players about the setting. 3e had all the pencil sketches and characters built around that, even Pathfinder has art that says this is Pathfinder. Not sure what 5e is or the 5.5e will bring.

Faolyn · Apr 7, 2024

MGibster said:
D&D art really hasn't grabbed me since 2nd edition and it's not because of a lack of cheesecake. My most favorite art I can remember from back then didn't really involve a lot of cheesecake. And honestly, I didn't think AD&D was all that bad when it came to cheesecake. You can certainly cherry pick examples, but when you take it in the aggregate it wasn't all that bad. Are there even any examples of chainmail bikinis in AD&D? I remember some boob windows in armor. Where was I?

Yes, it was everywhere. You could pretty much take any piece of art by Larry Elmore, for instance. The man was allergic to putting pants on women.

Hussar · Apr 7, 2024

Scribe said:
/snip a diverse approach to the game instead of Disney Heroic, and nothing but.

And, this is exactly why you won't get what you want. The complete lack of any sort of respect for anything other than the art you like. I mean, I'm sorry, but, you are describing the art as "sanitized" "Disney" with the very obvious connotations of immature, childish, and not for "real" gamers.

If you actually want to see the art that you want to see, telling everyone else that their art is stupid, childish and sanitized is the worst way of going about it. You are basically demonstrating exactly WHY WotC won't listen to you.

michaeljpastor · Apr 7, 2024

Crimson Longinus said:
I oppose chainmail bikinis not because they're indecent but because they're painfully dumb. That's no armour, and as clothing material it is terrible; no one would do that. By all means, have barbarians running around sky-clad or wearing war paint only, but no chainmail bikinis. And no breastplates with boob windows either, that's even worse!

Didn't come from the artists using bodybuilders as their models, and the women wear bikinis when posing, the men basically just wear speedos?

michaeljpastor · Apr 7, 2024

Micah Sweet said:
I am also not a huge proponent of art as a driving force in RPG products, and feel it is as you said better off to fill in formatting and actually illustrate stuff where it is important to know what something looks like.

That ship has, however, largely sailed unfortunately.

The AD&D books had plenty of art that wasn't beefcake and cheesecake, or hyper-airbrushed and computer-colored hyper-dynamic visuals and it's sorely missed by this grognard-leaning player. Give me cartoons, B&W line art and a variety of styles.

Micah Sweet · Apr 7, 2024

Levistus's_Leviathan said:
There is artistic diversity in 5e. Art from Tyranny of Dragons, Aqc. Inc., Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, Radiant Citadel, the 2014 Core Rulebooks, and the previewed 2024 Art are all different styles. There is definitely an overall 5e style, like 4e and 3e had styles, but there is also a lot of diversity in 5e art.

1e and 2e had far more diversity in art styles throughout their runs than 3e, 4e, or 5e ever did.

D&D (2024) Comeliness and Representation in Recent DnD Art

Fifth Element

Legend

MGibster

Legend

Faolyn

(she/her)

Levistus's_Leviathan

5e Freelancer

aco175

Legend

Faolyn

(she/her)

Hussar

Legend

michaeljpastor

Adventurer

michaeljpastor

Adventurer

Micah Sweet

Level Up & OSR Enthusiast

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