Illustration by Dave Rapoza


Hail to the Queen, Baby

Friday, January 15, 2010

Ramping up to Tuesday's announcement of this year's RPG Superstar first-round winners, I wanted to remind everybody what all the hype is about. Here we see the cover to Realm of the Fellnight Queen in all its splendor, part of the "trophy" for 2009's Superstar winner Neil Spicer. Neil's winning proposal debuts in just a few short weeks, and it looks absolutely incredible. So that's the prize folks! The chance to bring your villain, hero, monster, story, or whatever to life with some of the best artists and editors in the biz. So check back on Tuesday, and we'll see if this is the year your adventure comes to life!

Wes Schneider
Managing Editor

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Dave Rapoza Druids Fey Iconics Lini Monks Monsters Pathfinder Modules RPG Superstar Sajan
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Aw yeah! I was already excited about this cover, but THANK YOU for giving us a nice big image for the blog! It's bee you tee full! That Neil fella has got to be getting pretty insufferable at this point...

Rapoza is also looking promising. I think I'll go put Without You on.


That cover is quite striking.

Tangent: I have an icicle hanging from my roof that has almost the exact same shape as that guy's sword. So much for the formula dictating that icicles are all carrot shaped.


The illustration also reveals that Rapoza got in an argument with this GM about piercing versus slashing damage.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
The illustration also reveals that Rapoza got in an argument with this GM about piercing versus slashing damage.

Lini's sickle looks neither sharp nor pointy, now that you mention it. Maybe it does bludgeoning damage.


I think it's being reinterpreted as something other than a blade here. Either that, or Rapoza's girl friend is a shorty named Carla?

Dark Archive

yoda8myhead wrote:
Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
The illustration also reveals that Rapoza got in an argument with this GM about piercing versus slashing damage.
Lini's sickle looks neither sharp nor pointy, now that you mention it. Maybe it does bludgeoning damage.

The leading edge is sharpened. :)


Whatchyoo talkin bout, Fryer? I've seen magnets that looked sharper than that.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

David Fryer wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
Lini's sickle looks neither sharp nor pointy, now that you mention it. Maybe it does bludgeoning damage.
The leading edge is sharpened.

If so, she's holding it backwards

Dark Archive

Clearly sarcasm is wasted on you two.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

David Fryer wrote:
Clearly sarcasm is wasted on you two.

Do you mean that or are you being facetious?


Well, I usually store it up in an organ that I especially dedicate to that purpose, then...wait...were you being sarcastic again? <Activates organ>

Besides, how could one edge of a weapon or tool be sharp and it work worth a hoot for cutting?


Amazing cover!

The Exchange Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Nitpicks about blade sharpness aside... this is one of my favorite art pieces I've seen in a long time. This is just awesome.


I like the drama.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Dennis da Ogre wrote:
Nitpicks about blade sharpness aside... this is one of my favorite art pieces I've seen in a long time. This is just awesome.

Yeah, I don't want to come across as not a fan of this piece. I think it's an incredible cover.

Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7

Forgive if this topic has been addressed elsewhere (and, if so, maybe someone can point me to a link?)-

but seeing the beauteousness of this image- and of all Paizo's art in general- makes me wanna second one someone said on another RPG Superstar thread: to wit, will there ever be a contest for artists?

And no, I'm not asking out of self-interest (clearly, you haven't seen my attempt at drawing)-
well, wait, that's not true- I AM asking out of self-interest- 'cause what a suh-weet contest it would be to gawk at and vote on and follow...

Please, o wise & mighty Paizo folks! Think about it- maybe even 'just' three rounds...

~Marcus

Sovereign Court

Pathfinder Maps, Rulebook, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
yoda8myhead wrote:
Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
The illustration also reveals that Rapoza got in an argument with this GM about piercing versus slashing damage.
Lini's sickle looks neither sharp nor pointy, now that you mention it. Maybe it does bludgeoning damage.

This picture is brought to you by the numbers 6 and 20 and the letter C.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Tim Statler wrote:
This picture is brought to you by the numbers 6 and 20 and the letter C.

Well, "C is for Cookie" was written by Joe Raposo, so perhaps it is a reference to the artist's pseudo-namesake?

Paizo Employee Director of Game Development , Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

I thought C was for conifer.


C is for Cheliax, that's fiendishly for me.

Bah, doesn't quite scan. Maybe we can adapt a different song: "My country fiendishly, great land of deviltry."

Contributor

We haven't announced any plans to do a Superstar contest for artists. But I admit that such a contest would be fun. :)


Yeah! Big new blog pics every day of the contest!


Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
Yeah! Big new blog pics every day of the contest!

Perhaps with a 24-hour delay? Seriously, that's an awesome idea.

Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7

Sean K Reynolds wrote:
We haven't announced any plans to do a Superstar contest for artists. But I admit that such a contest would be fun. :)

Do eet! Do eet! Do eet!

Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7

Sean K Reynolds wrote:
We haven't announced any plans to do a Superstar contest for artists. But I admit that such a contest would be fun. :)

It could be a late summer contest- to give y'all time to heal from "RPG Superstar: The Designers" ---!

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2009, RPG Superstar Judgernaut

I always thought it would be cool to pair an Artist Superstar contest right alongside the RPG Superstar contest and have them illustrate what the authors/designers come up with round-by-round. But, even if that weren't possible, how about this idea: Have the Artist Superstar Top 32 (or whatever number) determined by having them illustrate one of the RPG Superstar's creations (say the villain round?) and those would be judged to determine who got to compete in Artist Superstar. Then, for the actual Artist Superstar competition, give them different challenges in each round, varying through a character portrait, monster illustration, and then an action scene combining both. Paizo would present different art orders and/or a reference piece for each challenge and then let the artists loose.

Just an idea,
--Neil

Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
NSpicer wrote:

I always thought it would be cool to pair an Artist Superstar contest right alongside the RPG Superstar contest and have them illustrate what the authors/designers come up with round-by-round. But, even if that weren't possible, how about this idea: Have the Artist Superstar Top 32 (or whatever number) determined by having them illustrate one of the RPG Superstar's creations (say the villain round?) and those would be judged to determine who got to compete in Artist Superstar. Then, for the actual Artist Superstar competition, give them different challenges in each round, varying through a character portrait, monster illustration, and then an action scene combining both. Paizo would present different art orders and/or a reference piece for each challenge and then let the artists loose.

Just an idea,
--Neil

That's a cool idea. Or maybe even a cartography challenge where you would have to produce a map from an encounter/lair sketch from RPGSuperstar.

Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7

NSpicer wrote:

I always thought it would be cool to pair an Artist Superstar contest right alongside the RPG Superstar contest and have them illustrate what the authors/designers come up with round-by-round. But, even if that weren't possible, how about this idea: Have the Artist Superstar Top 32 (or whatever number) determined by having them illustrate one of the RPG Superstar's creations (say the villain round?) and those would be judged to determine who got to compete in Artist Superstar. Then, for the actual Artist Superstar competition, give them different challenges in each round, varying through a character portrait, monster illustration, and then an action scene combining both. Paizo would present different art orders and/or a reference piece for each challenge and then let the artists loose.

Just an idea,
--Neil

NICE!!!!!!!!!! We wantsss it, my precious!!!!!

Contributor

I don't think I'd couple it to the RPG Superstar submissions any more than I'd require one of the RPGS contestants to design a monster based on a concept monster from the previous Artist Superstar competition.

It's interesting because RPG Superstar is a lot about having the design chops to push the boundaries and explore corners the game isn't exploring. For an artist, while we want creative people, we need artists to be able to make their elves look like our elves, our classic monsters be recognizable, and our iconics be consistent.

For Artist Superstar I'd do something like this:

R1, Open Call: Submit a color headshot of a humanoid creature. Paizo uses a lot of headshots for minor heroes and villains; this task shouldn't take too long and would show whether or not the artist's style is appropriate for Paizo's books.

R2, Top 32: Submit a color full-body illustration of an iconic PC (Ezren, Seoni, etc.). This shows that you can take a frequently-illustrated character (with many existing sources to draw on) and actually draw them. After all, you wouldn't get a job as an artist on the X-Men book if you couldn't draw Wolverine....

R3, Top 16: Submit a full-body illustration of a non-animal monster from the Bestiary--basically, your take on an existing monster that people would recognize. This is similar to the previous round, except we also need artists who can do monsters--because in many cases, our illos show people and monsters.

R4, Top 8: Submit a half-page illustration based on an art order (such as "{one of the iconics} battling a {monster} in {location}"). This shows the artist's ability to take text-based directions and create an interesting and exciting illustration.

R5, Top 4: Submit a detailed sketch of a full-page cover illustration. I'd be tempted to say "submit a full color illo" but it takes most artists several weeks to complete a full-color full-page and I wouldn't want the competition to have that much of a delay in it. The winner gets a cover illo assignment (probably not of their cover sketch, because who knows what they might draw and whether such a thing would conceivably match any products currently on the schedule).


So, Artists Competition Round One starts next week? Week after?

Paizo Employee Director of Game Development , Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

This would be so awesome!

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16, 2012 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Epic Meepo

Sean K Reynolds wrote:
I don't think I'd couple it to the RPG Superstar submissions any more than I'd require one of the RPGS contestants to design a monster based on a concept monster from the previous Artist Superstar competition.

And yet, that's one of the coolest Superstar design challenges I've ever heard.

"Quick. Design a stat block for the monster pictured here. You have three days. Go."


I seriously doubt any sort of Artist Superstar will likely happen. The reason we have the RPG Superstar from what I am told is so that we can build up our writers list for freelance.

I have a long list of many professional artist and I also receive a lot of submissions that I sift through everyday so there is no need.

If you haven't noticed there is now an art submission email on the Contact Us page.

Dark Archive

I am no artist... but I think an RPGS artist contest would ROCK!

+1

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16, 2012 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Epic Meepo

Sarah Robinson wrote:

I seriously doubt any sort of Artist Superstar will likely happen. The reason we have the RPG Superstar from what I am told is so that we can build up our writers list for freelance.

I have a long list of many professional artist and I also receive a lot of submissions that I sift through everyday so there is no need.

If you haven't noticed there is now an art submission email on the Contact Us page.

Okay, no Artist Superstar needed, apparently.

What about a Pathfinder Fiction Superstar?


Fear not, there's always Iron Illustrator at PaizoCon. :D


Lilith wrote:
Fear not, there's always Iron Illustrator at PaizoCon. :D

Wait, you said, "Illustrator!?!??!"

*looks down at the announced "special ingredient" (acrylic paint) bubbling in a skillet with a couple of egg yolks and sauteed shiitake mushrooms*

Yes, sure, I know you said "Illustrator" and not something else.

Really!

*coughs nervously*

RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32, 2011 Top 4 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka DankeSean

Shinmizu wrote:
Lilith wrote:
Fear not, there's always Iron Illustrator at PaizoCon. :D

Wait, you said, "Illustrator!?!??!"

*looks down at the announced "special ingredient" (acrylic paint) bubbling in a skillet with a couple of egg yolks and sauteed shiitake mushrooms*

Yes, sure, I know you said "Illustrator" and not something else.

Really!

*coughs nervously*

Mmmm. Tempera tempura. (Toss in some some soy cake and you have... Tempera-tempeh tempura...)


DankeSean wrote:
Tempera tempura.

I never could bring myself to play that game as a child (and even now as an adult). I just know that as soon as I'm in a dark room and say "Tempera Tempura" three times that something WILL come out of the mirror.

Way to go, you just brought up a bunch of repressed imaginary trauma. *sigh*

Freakin' elephants.


And I just made myself lose the game.

You suck, me!


Everybody loses The Game. I just did. But what's great about The Game (lost again), is that you can keep on playing.


It is more fun playing the Holmesian version of the Game. Then when you mention it, you find other Holmesians (or Sherlockians, if they insist) and you make all those other people lose the Game that they play. A double win!

Contributor

Sooooo, everybody ready for the moment of truth in just a few hours here?


Bite me.

Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Bring it on! My ulcer can't take it any more.


Wait. Didn't notice the acid dripping from your jaws. Good monster, gooood monster.

Paizo Employee Director of Game Development , Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:
Sooooo, everybody ready for the moment of truth in just a few hours here?

You're loving this anticipation, aren't you? ;)


F. Wesley Schneider wrote:
Sooooo, everybody ready for the moment of truth in just a few hours here?

Ready for what?

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Kruelaid wrote:
F. Wesley Schneider wrote:
Sooooo, everybody ready for the moment of truth in just a few hours here?
Ready for what?

Can't you read? The Moment of Truth.

The Exchange

yoda8myhead wrote:
Kruelaid wrote:
F. Wesley Schneider wrote:
Sooooo, everybody ready for the moment of truth in just a few hours here?
Ready for what?
Can't you read? The Moment of Truth.

Sigh...really?

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