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Post by paladin on Nov 27, 2012 17:53:46 GMT -9
Ah, @uptrainfan, I thought of page numbers == complexity/feature increase. It all depends on how complex you want your game to be. Okum and others had some 1-page-stuff to offer, which is really minimal, but could work, if it's still fun for you ... . Now I get a feel for what you want: not so much 'story'/quest/roleplay stuff (which I prefer, as you have recognized ... ;D), but more a kind of robust BOARDGAME with a 'Skirmish'-theme approach. Hm. Descent + Dark Dungeons + Guncrawl. Interesting. Could work. So the story would be always some kind of 'Survive The Crawl Quest' ... ;D.
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Post by paladin on Nov 27, 2012 9:10:09 GMT -9
At your service, @sirrob. Because you are mentioning Open D6, I want to hint at the following link: opend6.wikia.com/wiki/Open_D6_Resurrection_WikiA few lines below on this page there are download links for the free Open D6 Corebooks (Modern Pulp/Adventure - Space - Fantasy - Magic Expansion). As they are about 150 pages on average each, they're not complex systemwise, but there is much (unstreamlined) rule material for the typical full-system RPG. Maybe, that's too much for uptrainfan's tastes ... . Mini6 is quite the same, but refined system like Open D6 - with some new interesting options for enhancing storytelling (wild die == 'something is happening ...'). It's really easy, fast-paced, movie-like roleplaying suited for all genres. The mini-campaign examples are 2 to 6 pages long or so, very compact and easy to expand on. I would recommend to fill the Mini6 rules with the superb 'Space'-material from Open D6 as needed - which is WEG's 'STAR WARS ROLEPLAYING GAME' from the 80/90ies in a generalized form - so it has a very Opera feel to it. Deadly Laser Swashbuckling ... yeah ;D.
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Post by paladin on Nov 26, 2012 17:14:36 GMT -9
Hi @uptrainfan, so, you've left the pile of D&D 3.5 behind? Looks like you still want some sort of dead simple and reliable RPG system for your spaceship crawl. Well, I cannot praise this thing enough: www.antipaladingames.com/p/mini-six.htmlAbout 20 pages of multi-genre rules (derived from the more complex, but still simple Open D6 system). Another 20 pages or so for example mini-campaigns. " Space Cowboy'I might be aiming to raise a ruckus.'Might: 3D; Agility: 3D+1; Wit: 2D+1; Charm: 3D+1Brawling 4D Dodge 5D+1 Pistols 5D+1 Bluff 4D+1 Command 4D+1 Static: Dodge 16, Block 12, Parry 9, Soak 9 Perks & Comps: None Gear: Pistol" This is a character stat block from the example starship crawler "Perdition " on p.22 of the Mini6 Corebook. About using an Artificial Intelligence for the enemies - it would be better to come up with your own behaviour tables depending on the adventure you are playing. The adventure generators and tips for Fantasy solo roleplay, I have mentioned in the 'D&D Crawl' thread, they should work for Space too ... . Greetings, paladin
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Post by paladin on Nov 20, 2012 9:26:13 GMT -9
Thanks, @ryan. Now I got it. Well, someone would put about 20% MORE into his own pockets, if he/she could handle a webshop ownership - with bureaucratic and legal consequences in most countries, I guess. E.g. Terms of Service etc. BUT ... ... OBS offers a very useful service. ... Seems so. Could be, that there is no alternative regarding the scope of their target audience and site performance. Maybe the Big Cats like WWG could afford not being 'present'. But even WotC are suffering in sales after PDF withdrawals (on Paizo?) ... .
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Post by paladin on Nov 20, 2012 5:29:00 GMT -9
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Post by paladin on Nov 20, 2012 5:25:20 GMT -9
paladinTo be honest I can't say even one bad word against OBS or Paypal... these companies so far proved to be both trustworthy and reliable - at least for me. Ah, ok, mesper, this sounds at least encouraging ... . The number of people claiming to be blocked off their own money by PayPal - or even ripped off - (problem for Ebay sellers especially), and PayPal's 'Customer Protection Clause' (full refunding of customers by demand - at the expense of the seller) made me worry ... . Thanks for all the hints and tips, guys - and your specific info and overall offer of help, @ryan. So, OBS would take about 35% of the sale, right? Plus 13% to PayPal on average for low-cost items, right? That's nearly 50%.
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Post by paladin on Nov 19, 2012 17:27:44 GMT -9
RETURN ? ... Happy Birthday, Revgunn - if you are reading or not ... ;D. I miss Saloon Sally and her girlfriends.
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Post by paladin on Nov 19, 2012 17:15:39 GMT -9
... just shift the full cost to publishers, ... Interesting. What does this mean exactly? Any (legal) way to get more specific on this info, mesper and @okum!? I have googled alot, but found nothing ... . I know, that PayPal is a Band of Banksters out of a very bad Gotham episode - you can read (truthful) 'stories' of systematically ripped off people all over the world. Any alternatives to PayPal? Other forms of publication? ... .
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Post by paladin on Oct 25, 2012 5:12:53 GMT -9
Just to 'update' this 5th edition topic: www.rpg.net/columns/brave/brave81.phtmlwww.rpg.net/columns/brave/brave82.phtmlThis is the same, quite experienced reviewer I have linked to above. Wizards of the Coast seemed to 'present' their last flagship product on GameCon 2012 in the psychologically most disturbing, unfriendly, impersonal and unprofessional manner imaginable. The last incarnation of D&D 5th Ed. seems to be a deteriorating, unbalanced, character-overpowering, soulless, senseless MESS of a rule system. Oh Holy Crap! If this reviewer is right, then WotC has lost faith into their own product a long time ago. This oil tank is half-full of water. The other small Indie companies on GameCon seemed to have a fun and rewarding time for all at the same time ... .
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Post by paladin on Oct 24, 2012 14:34:02 GMT -9
I have made some test builds of my own and some other stuff. I use paper minis and tiles/battlemats for rule testing/inspiration and actual gameplay (Solo or with others). They help me alot in visualizing scenes and critical situations (combats). They are no diorama sets for me, but practical game tools - so storage and comfort/durability are a must for me. Collecting them like stamps in a book would be aesthetically pleasing to me, though.
Game rules I am actually using: 1. D&D (Dark Dungeons Clone; 4th Ed.) 2. Open D6/Mini 6 3. Fantasy Craft 4. Basic Roleplaying (Chaosium)
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Post by paladin on Oct 21, 2012 12:42:44 GMT -9
You are getting very far with those LINES and MONOCHROME COLORS. That's marvellous, inducpham. Dynamic ('dancing') poses and well-chosen base colors, which are effective even without 'shading' tricks. Hm, I have to think about, why this works ... . Interesting themes and style/character design, too. Maybe I can see the 'Asian Influence' here - the Shaman skirt with this (beautiful) knot? Hulking and Ancient Jade Touched are really with those curling graffiti 'flames' ... . Thanks for sharing your fine art, inducpham.
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Post by paladin on Oct 21, 2012 12:17:44 GMT -9
Great skills here, zapasnik. So, 20 years of drawing pause seem to have no impact ... !? Lines are great, poses and expression are even greater. Very comical too. No offense to Schweindi, but maybe there is a way to use it as a Talking Giant Rat? (= 'At your command, Masterrrr ...!'). I know, that coloring could eat up lots of time, so I am searching for 'shortcuts' all the time ... but sometimes the 'tools' can effect the quality of your work - like the 'metallic shine' of the Photoshop Color Gradient Fill Stuff. I like the 'handwork' coloring of yours better (it's more 'natural') - but it's up to you do decide, if 'handwork' is worth the time at this 30mm scale. Only the print comparison could tell.
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Post by paladin on Oct 11, 2012 13:54:52 GMT -9
Fine, uptrainfan89. Hm. I am really not experienced in D&D Soloplay, but I am quite interested in this ... . Could be a somewhat shizophrenic experience, I guess . Anyway, this 3.5 Ed. list of your cd seems to be solid and very useful - no overbloat here, every book will have a use for you. Good selection of 3.5 Ed. core books, I think. Go for it. (The 'Complete ...' books sound like Advanced D&D to me ... different, older system.) Well, you have to decide on your own, if 1 or 2 Forgotten Realms Sourcebooks should be bought (and only just for the fun of reading ...), otherwise you will find ALL the detailed FR lore in countless Web Wikis. If you buy some stuff, then watch out for the name of Ed Greenwood. He is the Master of Forgotten Realms. It's his creation, sold to TSR in the 80ties, but still writing alot for his world. On the webpage about Soloplay I linked to above (Solonexus) you will find on the right a brief gaming system for general RPG Soloplay. It's a kind of systematic self-questioning, which generates a Solo Adventure on the fly while gaming. Or such. Haven't used it yet, but will sometime . I know, that some Old School Freaks are entertaining themselves with endless Random Table Stuff (Random Tables are very Old School, you know ... ;D) - like Area Southeast of Gnollheath: Galenwood. On 1d12: 1 Hungry Wolves (3-6) 2 Giant Eagle (1) 3 Kobold Gang (5-10) 4 Spider Swarm (1) 5 Giant Bats (4-8) 6 Giant Rats (4-6) 7-12 Nothing Or whatever. You can use Random Tables for every kind of Encounter/Event. You can generate whole Adventures this way - within the limits of world logics, of course. Some are also using Tarot Cards with great success to generate Plots/Stories/Characters by interpretation of Tarot Layouts suited for game purposes. Or just draw 1 or some more Tarot Cards, if you need inspiration while gaming ... . Endless possibilities here. I think, RPG Soloplay is a very underrated and intense experience. If you can get it done, uptrainfan89, please, post some feedback here on CBW. Would be interesting for some people here, I guess.
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Post by paladin on Oct 11, 2012 7:32:30 GMT -9
May all your paper minis dance around your birthday cake ... . Keep on making those little fellows - despite all the hassle ... . Greetings and best wishes paladin
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Post by paladin on Oct 11, 2012 7:17:30 GMT -9
;D I am lurking in the background ... . uptrainfan89, what do you mean by 'dungeon crawl' ? Do you ask, if you can play D&D SOLO as a dungeon crawl game? Short answer: yup, you could - literally by the same rules - if you are making proper preparations - e.g. LOTS of RANDOM EVENT TABLES, which suit your gaming world, e.g. Forgotten Realms. If you are interested in Solo Play, I can recommend this splendid Tutorial by shiftkitty aka Lora Allen: shiftkitty.angelfire.com/Recently I have found this Blog about abusing RPG/Tabletop systems for Solo Play: solonexus.blogspot.de/search/label/Dungeons%20and%20DragonsThe tips are for D&D 4th Ed. (which is very well suited for Solo Play on Battlemats with Miniatures by the way - as it has some helpful Monster/NPC behavior included, some working AI out of the box and is very well organized stat-wise ...), but ring true also for 3.5 Ed. If the Solo part is not your question, then I could only say, that D&D was and is at its core a Dungeon Crawl Game. RPG Quest = Full Adventure Module is just a technical term for 1 or more game sessions, which can play at different world locations (in the woods, on sea, in a cavern, an old temple, etc.). Even a wilderlands travel could be essentially a 'crawl' through crossing pathways - it's all a matter of content organization and free-roaming versus more linear gameplay, I mean: Player Freedom in Choice versus More Restricted (Passage/Door) Choice. Have you any Forgotten Realms books on your cd, uptrainfan89?
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Post by paladin on Oct 10, 2012 9:24:17 GMT -9
Grunting, determined Orc ... but soothing style (for me). I think, this is a backside piece for the female centaurs/zebraurs ( ). Yup. Works for me. Like her feathered hairs ... very gentle. If you color it, try to work some shadows on those parts, which are more in the background, like the Zebra legs more far away from the viewer - to make this piece readable 'depthwise' ... .
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Post by paladin on Oct 10, 2012 8:20:48 GMT -9
Yip. Reminds me of Erol Otus stuff. I like your ideas - like the braided beard - and the overall rhythm of patterns (three spikes in a row - on the shoulders, the weapon, etc.). This style has a very soothing and nostalgic effect on me.
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Post by paladin on Oct 9, 2012 16:22:35 GMT -9
;D Oh, I like D&D questions ... uptrainfan89, if you wanna dig the 'history' and 'flavor' of different D&D-systems through the mists of time, you could read the D&D 5th Ed. Thread in this 'Gaming' category. You will find some (opinionated) hints and nuggets. As I guess, that you just want to start with D&D by spending NO money on rule books, pick the most basic books from your cd, like others have mentioned above: Player's Handbook 1, Dungeon Master's Guide 1 and Monster Manual 1. That's enough material for years to come, I think. Let me warn you, that 20+ books of D&D 3.5 Ed. could overwhelm you and your fellow gamers by complexity, if drawn into ... 3.5 Ed. is not the most easy rule system out there. Forgotten Realms is a very traditional, well-established D&D setting, you will find TONS of material for several versions of the game, e.g. for 3.5 Ed.: forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_3.X_edition_Forgotten_Realms_productsJust google. I personally like the old stuff like Karen Wynn Fonstad's Atlas of Faerun. But you can always let yourself be inspired by your FR novels - and learn to make your own Faerun Adventures with the help of the Dungeon Master Guide and TONS of Web Tips for Adventure Building. And you can send your own Character as a Henchmen/Sidekick of your Players' Characters into the adventure to power-up the group, but you will experience world knowledge conflicts, as your Character should not know more about the next dungeon room than his comrades in the group. For a beginner it could be confusing to play a Dungeon Master Character fair as a Player Character. Also you have to steer some Non-Player-Characters and Monsters in every adventure, so, don't try too hard, and overwhelm you. I recommend to use less NPCs/monsters in an adventure to balance with the group power (of e.g. 2 Players). You could even write and play a 1:1 adventure, means: 1 Player, 1 Dungeon Master. Possible. If you are feeling lost in the 3.5 material, you should try to find a (cheap/digital) copy of this one and only D&D gem: www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Rules-Cyclopedia-Allston/dp/1560760850That's all you need - if you like to build your own castle, army or universe as a (half-)god ... . EDIT: Wait. Why make it more complicated, if there are cheap and free solutions? ---> www.gratisgames.webspace.virginmedia.com/darkdungeons.html'Dark Dungeons' by Blacky the Blackball is a perfect and free clone of the Mentzer/Rule Cyclopedia Classic D&D of 1982-1991. It's quite the same rules as of yesterday, but with useful errata and corrections made silently. Huge effort by Mr. Blackball. You can also find 'Darker Dungeons' in the Extra Section. This is a more house-ruled and streamlined version of essentially the same system (different d20 technique, which makes life more tableless and fast ...). Also, if you like it more 'modern' in the 3.5/d20 flair, then you could play a 1-book-has-it-all thing with this: www.crafty-games.com/node/348This 'FantasyCraft' piece is a streamlined and very flexible, modular version of modern/actual D&D. No Faerun stuff out of the box, though ... . Hope that helps.
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Post by paladin on Oct 9, 2012 15:29:36 GMT -9
Hi Kiladecus! So, you made a plan, then worked it ... . Therefore you are publishing GREAT stuff. Congrats! I must say, there is something about your line art, which I appreciate very much, those thinner and thicker lines ... very ink-arty like in old D&D tomes ... . Keep that style and don't worry too much about perspective and stuff. If I am allowed to chose between 1st and 2nd version of the female centaur, I would opt for the 1st, because of more naked skin and better compositional balance ... . Great, great Character Concepts, really. Very clear and halluzinogenic (at the same time ...) style. Greetings, paladin
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Post by paladin on Oct 9, 2012 15:03:13 GMT -9
(Belated) Congratulations on your Mini Biz, @reivaj! Wonderful sets of yours, I have seen, indeed.
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Post by paladin on Mar 22, 2012 14:50:19 GMT -9
... Nelson and Dana used to be besties in the past, but now they were both just waiting for civil disorder to murder each other without anyone asking too many questions about it. Nelson and his parents, yeah he's almost 40 still loving at home, didn't really last more than 12 seconds against our crew. Then they re-animated as zombies and were decapitated. I thought we would be "good guys" when the world fell apart but, evidently I was wrong. ... [Droppin' my Popcorn] ... urrghhh ... well, what did I expect? It's a Zombie Flic, man! ...
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Post by paladin on Mar 21, 2012 7:43:00 GMT -9
Really Wicked Stuff, you have got ... !
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Post by paladin on Mar 21, 2012 7:29:56 GMT -9
He doesn't know what happened to his kids. He didn't secure a weapon. He didn't find food. He didn't get gas. He didn't secure his home. He started the Zombie Apocalypse with the clothes on his back and his cell phone. ;D EPIC. I am curious, how this unfolds ... . If possible, show some pics, please ... . D6 and miniature gaming?
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Post by paladin on Mar 20, 2012 8:57:54 GMT -9
Cool, that you are using D6 for this, @adam. Corpsoral Identity [aka Manhattan Manhunt] Cadaverous Cluster [aka Zombie Zoom] Necrolympics [aka geniused Retreat] A game report would be quite interesting to me ... .
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Post by paladin on Mar 17, 2012 10:43:04 GMT -9
aviphysics, only 340,- ? I have an old (used) medium-sized Wacom. Works. Bamboo could be a bit too small. But I have heard/read, that too large is also not an option (aka Cintiq) - it's quite uncomfortable. I just wanted to hint at the full package cost, if Underfire should be new to digital production. Well, painting on Wood is pretty hardcore (= medieval). You must take care of the cracking/bending by humidity and overall conditions. Not easy. You need several coats of special oil mixtures to prepare for painting. Yes, painting with high quality materials is (very) expensive - though it depends a bit on the planned sizes Underfire has in mind ... . There is one point to 'real' painting/drawing, which should not be underestimated: Underfire holds an 'original artwork' after the process in his real hands. That's still the only value counting in the traditional art market. That's the reason, why alot of MtG artists are still working with traditional materials - to sell their pieces afterwards for very high collector's prices ... . The Cintiq, @glenn and Aviphysics, I suppose, that's a toy not really needed. Sometimes my own hand and pencil are annoying while scribbling on paper due to bad light conditions. I don't need a simulation of real world art processes, I just need brand new technical solutions for hard to solve problems: color adjustment, corrections and last, but not least mixing layers, 2D with 3D or texture/material painting - and COMPOSITION (mass scenes) - are sometimes impossible without the digital media ... . EDIT: @underfire, have fun with the Software, but don't let you be dragged too much into the technical details. Keep it very basic and simple. Please, concentrate on your real world paintings - as the overall quality of your minis will depend on that in the first place. The Software is only for corrections and enhancements - it will not replace good design and painting/drawing skills ... .
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Post by paladin on Mar 17, 2012 7:19:07 GMT -9
Solid advice for camera setup, aviphysics. Cool. Yes, I have read positive things about ArtRage. Lots of brush simulation. And affordable ... . What is expensive, is the Wacom - as there is no real alternative to this. Even the used ones will cost some bucks ... . But: if Underfire loves painting with a real brush touching rippled canvas and smelling, seeing intense Acrylics (Oilpaint/Tempera would smell even better to me ... ;D) - why should he exchange it for a Wacom and ArtRage? My experience with Digital Art is: you get used to all the comfort - and you are getting lazy (the layers and the rubber tools/filters will do the trick ...) - this will not make you a better artist in the end. And digital art on your HD is pretty lame in comparison to the real thing on canvas. Just my opinion.
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Post by paladin on Mar 17, 2012 5:18:57 GMT -9
Thanks for this link, gilius. Mr. Walker produces astonishing large-scale Fine Art miniatures. Not the best in pose and proportions, I would say, but it is the only example, I know, to show, what it means to paint textures in 60 mm-scale traditionally. He uses Gouache (and ink) (fine pigmented water-soluble colors) - as these are the ONLY colors reproduced adequately by modern apparatus, IF you do this: "The final scans for print were made professionally in London and it was an expensive process." (Mr. Walker on his website) So, Gouache is used in professional illustration alot. But, @underfire, you will get good results without paying for high-end scanning services. Just don't overinvest in meticulous coloring on canvas/carton - you will change your colors in the digital process anyway. That's no sin. It's freedom.
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Post by paladin on Mar 17, 2012 3:08:03 GMT -9
Hi Underfire! Welcome to Cardboard Warriors. This is a very interesting experiment, you have in mind. I appreciate, that you are painting with real paint on a real canvas - things rarely done by your generation, I guess (that's really a guess ...). I think, in general it could be done. There are some obstacles though: 1. You need a passable scanner with good color reproduction. Don't be disappointed, if the output is differing (more or less) from your input (your acrylic painting) - as this is the usual phenomenon. Even with special cameras for art reproduction it is very difficult to reproduce material (= non-digital) art in a satisfying way. 2. If you are not working in the original scale on your canvas (= then you would be a very fine miniature painter, working with brush size 00 [?] or such ... ), you would need some Software to import and scale your scanned pic (e.g. the free and most excellent -> GIMP) to - let's say - 30 mm scale. 3. You need Software to set up the PDF: free -> Scribus or Open Office aka LibreOffice. 4. Make sure, your monitor/screen display is calibrated, that means: color-managed and color corrected to see the 'right' colors on your screen corresponding to their printed form. I recommend the free Software tool 'Quick Gamma' and tutorials from this site: quickgamma.de/indexen.htmlStep 4 (if you are new to this topic) is most important - or you could face catastrophic experiences when printing your PDF (= completely wrong colors/values). EDIT: Step 1 is not so much a problem - as you could correct and enhance alot with Step 2 (GIMP) - filtering and changing colors/contrast/sharpness as you wish. You have total control and freedom in the digital media. Acrylics would deliver a good color base - as acrylics are very intense. I am interested in the results. If you have something to show to us, then, please upload it! Greetings, Paladin
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Post by paladin on Mar 16, 2012 16:02:16 GMT -9
Hi Mesper, a really BASIC and generic STANDARD FANTASY setup for HORROR would be (off my hat): - SKELETON [yip] - (Gory) ZOMBIE [yes! GORY ...] - Ghul - Ghost - Vampire/Vampire Bat - Werewolf/Wererat/Werebear/ ... [Lycanthropes/Changers] - Mummy [never saw a Hot Mummy Chick - like in a Clark Ashton Smith story] - Lich (evil and rotten Necromancer/Wizard/Priest Undead) - some kind of (lesser) Devil/Demon Your figures so far are marvellous as usual ... very great pose and suspense - Werewolf is exceptionally explosive/full of muscle power ... . There are some Lurker Ghosts/Undead/Demons in some Fantasy games (D&D 4th Ed.), which use their female forms to trick the wayfarers: Succubi, Lamiae, Bog Hags ... .
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Post by paladin on Mar 15, 2012 10:01:46 GMT -9
Painted this (fast) concept for the Bridge/Canal Building on the frontside of Tolkien's sketch. There is another sketch titled 'The Death of Smaug' from Tolkien's original 'Hobbit' scripts, where he scribbled the large Totem-type columns/spikes on top of the building's roof endings. I have tried to maintain the scale (150 x 40 feet) as indicated by Miss Fonstad. I interpret Tolkien's sketch as if there is a second-story building constructed onto and into one half of the main building's roof: I have to reread the chapters about Laketown in the 'Hobbit', so I cannot remember, if some or all of the buildings were painted. I gave my Bridge Building some (blueish and greenish) paint for fun. Vermin King, there are some lines in the 'Hobbit' mentioning the feeling of overall safety and peace for some time. Children disbelieving the existence of dragons in the Withered Heath/the Lonely Mountain, or people referring to distant and far-off enemies (Orks, Goblins and Eastlings). They feel safe in Laketown - trading with men, dwarves and elves. So maybe, they never felt the necessity to build more protective structures ... . EDIT: the Main Bridge to Esgaroth (about 10 feet wide) was meant to be destructible very quickly - as the Men of Esgaroth did, when Smaug approached (he could not land in the water - would have harmed him as a Fire Creature like a Balrog ... - and landing on the roofs of the village-town? Maybe, the roof columns had more than a decorative purpose ... .)
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