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.
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?
Whatchyoo talkin bout, Fryer? I've seen magnets that looked sharper than that.
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>
Amazing cover!
I like the drama.
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
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."
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!
Yeah! Big new blog pics every day of the contest!
Perhaps with a 24-hour delay? Seriously, that's an awesome idea.
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!
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" ---!
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
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.
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!!!!!
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?
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.
Fear not, there's always Iron Illustrator at PaizoCon. :D
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*
Fear not, there's always Iron Illustrator at PaizoCon. :DWait, 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...)
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!
Sooooo, everybody ready for the moment of truth in just a few hours here?
Bite me.
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.
Sooooo, everybody ready for the moment of truth in just a few hours here?
Ready for what?
Director of Brand Strategy
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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.
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Can't you read? The Moment of Truth.Sooooo, everybody ready for the moment of truth in just a few hours here?Ready for what?
Sigh...really?