This came up in discussing the first published product, and the idea that we should have pregenerated characters that you can just plug-and-play through the module. It makes sense for these pregens to be 1st level DGA iconics...so we should talk about some iconics.
In most products, each class gets it's own iconic character. That is a way to show off the system, though, not a setting. What I want to do, therefore, is to have iconics for each major nation and for each type of beastfolk. There will be more of these than there are classes, so there will be some overlap, but this also gives us a chance to show how differences like race and nation make two characters with the same class very different. This will also, ultimately, give us our first pool of art to use, since we'll want iconic sketches of all of these iconic characters.
Here are my preliminary ideas for classes that sort of 'fit' with each group
DGA Iconics
National Iconics
Anglurasea: Monk or Cavalier
Bifetra: beastfolk Cleric
Eastern League: Rogue
Ferron: Oracle
Free Tesaya: Barbarian or Ranger
Naryll: Fighter
Principalities of Venna: Paladin
Republic of Thuria: Summoner
Rhyrgia: Druid
Sarkan Tribelands: Witch
Sascria: Wizard (duh)
Thuria: Cleric
Whale Islands: Sorcerer
Beastfolk Iconics
Appini/Buzzkin: an iconic drone Alchemist and an iconic warrior Fighter
Boriwog: Remy, a Paladin dedicated to the ideal of Justice rather than a pantheon or other faith
Egalit: Dogoda, a storm-themed Oracle
Galidine: Rogue
Hounding: Ranger - Skirmisher
Lupine: Fighter
Muroidean: Witch
Selkie: Sleek, a Bard
Testudo: Summoner
Ursidian: Barbarian
So which of these should be a
So which of these should be a first priority?
Where to start
I'd suggest anything Sascrian or Free Tesayan as our first product will be set in those areas. Neighboring areas could also potentially come into play. Hurnon the Woeful is a boriwog ranger that is a warlord in Free Tesaya and could be a good place to start. Some of the inspiration I had for the boriwog idea comes from the Farrow from the Hordes miniatures game. Our boarfolk should look like our own though.
First rough sketch is up
First rough sketch is up under Boriwog.
I am not sure what you mean
I am not sure what you mean by the term Iconics. Does this mean a picture or does it mean something else?
Oh, yeah, let me explain.
Oh, yeah, let me explain. When you read the Player's Handbook for D&D 3.x or Pathfinder, each class has this character picture with the text depicting the "iconic" character representing that class. It's kind of standard fare - White Wolf has an 'iconic' character for each Vampire Clan or Mage Tradition, etc. It's just a character who showcases something about the setting and system, and when there is fiction in the setting, it often features one of the iconic characters.
For example: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/basic-classes/barbarian - the Barbarian with the huge sword in the image from the Pathfinder Core Rulebook is Pathfinder's "iconic" Barbarian (I forget her name, but you get the idea). Here's the "iconic" Pathfinder Cleric: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/basic-classes/cleric
One useful thing about iconic characters is that they provide something for artists to depict early on.
You can also have different versions of the iconics - the 1st level version, then the 10th level, then the 20th level epic version of the iconic, showing how a character might progress and change over time in your setting.
On Free RPG Day, for example, a couple years ago, I was in a Pathfinder game where all of the player-characters were iconic characters from the Core Rulebook.
So, anyway, I thought we might want some iconics for Dark Golden Age.
That is what I thought you
That is what I thought you meant, but I have also see it used to mean a base character sheet with no pictures. Sort a base set of stats with slots to carry stats and armor notes.
Personally, I think iconics are a great idea. The next set of question would be:
How many artists do we have currently? What styles do they work in?
and most important, who are they?
At the same time, would come the question of what style or range of styles do we want? Do we want artwork that looks more like it came from a video game, http://pixelsandquills.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2dkf45
Line art, http://browse.deviantart.com/gameart/2dgame/characters/#/d2x1sbd or something more like http://browse.deviantart.com/gameart/gameconcepts/?order=15#/d2v62uc ?
Line art and color art
I think we'll want to have line art for much of the internal art, but we may also have some pages of full color art. Here are some examples of art that I like:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=chimera#/d28r1g2
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=lich#/d1tv694
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=lich#/dv8wgi
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=lich#/d1gbcqq
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=hydra#/dxulk9
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=hydra#/dkwqv7
http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=hydra&order=9&offset=24&offset=24#/d203cwl
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=pegasus#/d18g6zi
http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=pegasus&order=9&offset=24&offset=24#/dc7lww
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=manticore#/d1k6fdy
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=otyugh#/d22dggy
That hopefully gives you an idea of some styles.
It does. Thank you. Do you
It does. Thank you.
Do you have a feel for how many artists are involved?
Does anyone have any opinions on which ones we should start with?
A Question of Iconics
I agree with Robosnake that having a typical version (not common) of either a DGA class, its modifications for the module's world setting, or racial pregens is a good way of showing off the uniqueness of the world. And depending upon how they are designed, they can really showcase the world's tone. You also have to decide if you wanna go for the traditional party make up (cleric, fighter, mage, rogue) or something more unique like (paladin, paladin, ranger, cleric) or more chalenging (all beastmen party) in order to get the greatest effect from the module. Personally I prefer non generic parties that are a mixture of weird races and modified classes in order to make things interesting.
My only other question is in regards to the Lupines. The image I have of a Sascrian Lupine soldier right now as he's written, i.e. one bread for coordinated unit warfare, brutality, and obedience to human masters does not coincide with the image of the more solo Ranger character class. Now this isn't to say that a Lupine can't be a Ranger (the lone wolf is a familiar character in fiction and they do team up with others from time to time) it just wouldn't make much sense to me in the Sascrian environment and I could be wrong, but i think at least part of the module involves events or encounters related to that environment. I think the Lupines in general need some more tweaking as the image of a medium sized dog soldier who doesn't have claw and bite attacks, go into a blood frenzy in battle, or a peircing howl, is not very "shocking."
I'd also not include the Inquisitor as a playable class just yet if this is meant for 1st level characters as it would almost pigeon hole a character into looking for "Gifted" children since that is one of their primary functions within Sascrian society. I would mention them and maybe there is a chance to enounter an NPC as one during your travels but it should be more of a teaser unless the module is going to center around the Sascrian Magocracy. If that's the case then the pregens could be part of a special Heptaviron led by one of the Inquisitor PCs sent to look for a specially gifted child. Maybe contacting the beastfolk crime lord for information etc.
Sorry for the length. I like what i've seen so far so keep up the good work guys and gals !
Side note: Lupines do have a
Side note: Lupines do have a bit attack :)
The reason I chose Ranger, I think, was because I was picturing an iconic adventurer-Lupine, not necessary an iconic Sascrian military Lupine. Given that the Houndings will tend to be Rangers, though, I think I'll add them as Rangers and then change Lupines to Fighters.
The howl, though, is a good point. They probably do need a howl.
Good and helpful thoughts.
Good and helpful thoughts. One consideration - the Inquisitor would be almost unheard-of in Sascria because they are divine characters, and Sascria is not so much with the divine magic. I would actually see a big part of the Inquisitor's job as fighting Sascrian arcane casters.
You might be right that Lupines need to be reworked. Fighter might make more sense, or Barbarian, in this case, because they are heavy shock troops in the description. I'll go look at the Lupines and see how to make them more shocking (while still balanced based on PF's guidelines)
No Inquisitor
Reading through, I realize that there is no Inquisitor on that list. I'd think an Inquisitor would fit best in Thuria...thoughts?