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I really, really like Paizo's Iconic Characters. I like the dedication and detailed design, their diversity, everything. But there's something that we havent seen much of so far; downtime.
I recall, back in Age of Worms, there was artwork in Dragon of the old iconics not fighting monsters, but going to the theater, the drow bard watching avidly with opera glasses, while the palladin was bored and the tiefling lounged out on the seats, incising the other patrons and the cleric. Or the Tiefling and Cleric having some "girl time" being fitted for dresses, and the seamstress being horrified by the tail.
I really liked these little glimpses.
So, what I'm wondering is, will we see much artwork like this in pathfinder? I realize that space is short, and would be better served with epic vistas or combat. I suppose that the PAthfinder Companion might have room for this. I'd like to see the occasional bit of mundane stuff, like valeros getting ready to choke down Some Hagfish slime while a mass of drunken patrons chant CHUG, CHUG, CHUG, CHUG, and Merisel and Seoni in the background, looking disgusted.
Or the COTCT group sitting in a small inn room, with Seelah and Lem arguing heatedly while Ezren attempts to diffuse the situation, and Harsk is just sitting, calmly tossing throwing axes at a woodcut of queen Ileosa, giving a little glimpse into the dilemma of the Campaign.
(Just some little ideas that cropped up while I was typing)
Kyra looks pretty annoyed there. :)
Clerics of good deities tend to be that way in evil temples for some reason ;-)
But I agree: I'd like to see a couple of pictures of the iconics relaxing, doing hobbies, or being bored out of their minds.
I think we'll see something like that in the Campaign Setting and/or RPG final version.
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Contributor
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But I agree: I'd like to see a couple of pictures of the iconics relaxing, doing hobbies, or being bored out of their minds.
I think we'll see something like that in the Campaign Setting and/or RPG final version.
There are precious few illos of the iconics in the hardcover, but the ones there are portray only ACTION! and ADVENTURE!
!!!
Kyra looks pretty annoyed there. :)
That is because Seoni gets all the hot girls.
Creative Director
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While I'm sure now and then we'll have illustrations of the iconics just sitting around, said illustrations would have to be justified by the adventure. We don't have THAT much money to throw around on the art side of things, after all, and generally there's more action scenes in an adventure or cool locations than we can afford to illustrate as it is, so I wouldn't hold my breath to see an illustration of Valeros, Kyra, Amiri, and Lini sitting around looking bored while they wait for Lem to finish shopping for flute polish.
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I recall, back in Age of Worms, there was artwork in Dragon of the old iconics not fighting monsters, but going to the theater, the drow bard watching avidly with opera glasses, while the palladin was bored and the tiefling lounged out on the seats, incising the other patrons and the cleric. Or the Tiefling and Cleric having some "girl time" being fitted for dresses, and the seamstress being horrified by the tail.
I really liked these little glimpses.
Those were actually my two favorite pieces of art from that adventure path(and among my top favorites from Dragon/Dungeon period). They also solidified the tiefling as my all-time favorite iconic.
While I'm sure now and then we'll have illustrations of the iconics just sitting around, said illustrations would have to be justified by the adventure.
Well, they wouldn't fit too well in adventures, which are about the action, as you say.
But what about sneaking a pic or two like that into either the Campaign Setting (maybe a chapter about recreation and games on Golarion), or in the RPG book about adventuring in general, or in the advice section? Would fit in chapters about downtime, dividing loot, that sort of thing.
I think this is valuable to show that yes, those characters are supposed to be real, they're supposed to sit around some times, play simple games, be bored - even if you don't spend hours at the game table going into the details. Make it clear that PF isn't just Diablo the Board Game, where heroes never sleep and teleport from the dungeon into the city - but only to sell loot, buy stuff, get free instant healing, and maybe get some new quests (which are seldomly more than "kill x" "or get me Y (which will involve killing a lot of Zs").
I´d like some artwork in that direction also, but not the characters sitting around looking bored, but really more something along the lines of what the OP described. The iconics at a social function, with maybe amusing reactions of the NPCs to the more exotic figures among them.
That´d help to give them even more personality than the excellent artwork we already got. :)
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Creative Director
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Well, they wouldn't fit too well in adventures, which are about the action, as you say.
Actually, in some cases they would! The "being fitted for dresses" scene was a relatively important part of that adventure (even though the illustration appeared in the WormFood article). We'll certainly do illustrations like these including our iconics now and then, but not just out of the blue. The primary goal of Pathfinder is to provide an adventure and setting, remember; not to develop the character of our iconics. We'll get around to tackling that now and then though anyway...
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Chief Technical Officer
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The "being fitted for dresses" scene was a relatively important part of that adventure (even though the illustration appeared in the WormFood article). We'll certainly do illustrations like these including our iconics now and then...
I think Seoni being fitted for her outfit would prove to be a most popular illustration.
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Contributor
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The "being fitted for dresses" scene was a relatively important part of that adventure (even though the illustration appeared in the WormFood article). We'll certainly do illustrations like these including our iconics now and then...I think Seoni being fitted for her outfit would prove to be a most popular illustration.
*nods sagely* Agreed.
Where do I sign this petition?
While I'm sure now and then we'll have illustrations of the iconics just sitting around, said illustrations would have to be justified by the adventure. We don't have THAT much money to throw around on the art side of things, after all, and generally there's more action scenes in an adventure or cool locations than we can afford to illustrate as it is, so I wouldn't hold my breath to see an illustration of Valeros, Kyra, Amiri, and Lini sitting around looking bored while they wait for Lem to finish shopping for flute polish.
LOL
I petition for this EXACT picture to be in the handbook. Would be awesome.
Well, they wouldn't fit too well in adventures, which are about the action, as you say.
Something like this MIGHT, however, fit better into certain articles in the Pathfinder Companion. We're still on the launch pad with this product, but in the same way Savage Tidings and Wormfood showed a behind the scenes look at Savage Tide and Age of Worms, I could see some of the art in the Pathfinder Companions occasionally doing the same.
Swimsuit Calendar!!!
Woo-hoo!
Girls of Golarion Yearly Swimsuit Calendar... I'd buy that. :)
Again, this is one of the few times I consistantly agree with Urza.
Swimsuit Calendar!!!
Definetly.
Though one could argue that Seoni's already wearing one ;-)
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I would like to see the Iconics mixed up. Merisiel appeared in Crucible of Chaos instead of Lem, so why not a team of Amiri, Lini, Harsk and Valeros? Or make it a team of 5 and add Kyra to the mix.
You could still show the Icons in action, but their reactions would be different because the make up of the party has changed.
My favorite action picture so far is:
Does anyone else have a favorite action picture.
Edit: I agree on the Swimsuit Calendar.
PS. Speaking of Merisiel, has it been explained why she a jewel imbedded in her forehead
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The primary goal of Pathfinder is to provide an adventure and setting, remember; not to develop the character of our iconics. We'll get around to tackling that now and then though anyway...
Hey James.. I was struck by lightning last night... note literally.. couldn't down-time art and other character developing scenes that would favor the iconics have a place as the art for the Forward?
The art for Curse of the Crimson Throne's Forward section has gotten kind of serious and I have to say that I really preferred the cartoon goofiness that the forwards got in Rise of the Runelords.
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I would like to see the Iconics mixed up. Merisiel appeared in Crucible of Chaos instead of Lem, so why not a team of Amiri, Lini, Harsk and Valeros? Or make it a team of 5 and add Kyra to the mix.
Look a little further my friend, specifically at the art, I believe there's a picture in one of the adventures of Harsk and Seoni fighting side by side in a boat.