So by now you have a fantasy world, or a dozen, and a named character, or a few hundred, that live therein. But what do these intrepid heroes look like?
What's that you say? You've spent all this time writing and building, but not doodling and envisioning a personage? So what. You can always have these guys do it for you.
Avatarart.com - Custom Character Portraits
Amazing galleries! Your chosen price determines the end result and detail of "the look". Some people think art is a waste of time, but screw them. I think it's great to support other artists and at least help get their work out there even if you're not directly commissioning a piece.
Whether or not you're wanting to commission works, or if you're just wanting to wander the woods and peruse some more awesome art, head over to http://www.elfwood.com/. It's where I really got my start and fell in love with fantasy artwork. I'll post a few links to my favs next time.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
What's in a Name?
Um.....EVERYTHING! Duh.
Fantasy Name Generator
Great for run of the mill fantasy race names. Cool length feature I haven't found elsewhere.
Skyrim Name Generator
Whether you're rocking it old school with Oblivion, or wasting hours in Skyrim like yours truly.
Warhammer Name Generator
This one is pretty specific by race and geared completely towards Warhammer, but what an awesome name. I haven't played it, but the books are great. The Sigmar Trilogy is one of my favorite fantasy series ever.
Majesty Name Generator
Specific to the Majesty kingdom simulation game. It doesn't generate more than 4 names at a time, but it does provide a nice option of sorting by class.
1,000 Fantasy Names
1000 fantasy names - It's unusual to come across a huge list like this with so many generators out there nowadays. But this works if you don't want to keep clicking "generate".
Fantasy Names and Places
Complete name lists and generators - Not sure what you're looking for? Chances are you'll find it here.
Angelfire Elf Name Generator
I really like this one because it tells you what the name means. You can either sort through and pick a name with a specific meaning/theme, but I really like throwing dice for random results. I picture an elf wise one casting runes to name a newborn and calling them what the runes divine. Also cool to answer that burning question of "What would Johnny Depp look like as an elf?"
Fantasy Name Generator
Great for run of the mill fantasy race names. Cool length feature I haven't found elsewhere.
Skyrim Name Generator
Whether you're rocking it old school with Oblivion, or wasting hours in Skyrim like yours truly.
Warhammer Name Generator
This one is pretty specific by race and geared completely towards Warhammer, but what an awesome name. I haven't played it, but the books are great. The Sigmar Trilogy is one of my favorite fantasy series ever.
Majesty Name Generator
Specific to the Majesty kingdom simulation game. It doesn't generate more than 4 names at a time, but it does provide a nice option of sorting by class.
1,000 Fantasy Names
1000 fantasy names - It's unusual to come across a huge list like this with so many generators out there nowadays. But this works if you don't want to keep clicking "generate".
Fantasy Names and Places
Complete name lists and generators - Not sure what you're looking for? Chances are you'll find it here.
Angelfire Elf Name Generator
I really like this one because it tells you what the name means. You can either sort through and pick a name with a specific meaning/theme, but I really like throwing dice for random results. I picture an elf wise one casting runes to name a newborn and calling them what the runes divine. Also cool to answer that burning question of "What would Johnny Depp look like as an elf?"
Friday, September 14, 2012
More D&D Maps
After my last post, Nils from http://enderra.com/ sent me the following links
Greyhawk Maps
Pandius.com - Fantasy Maps
What great sites/maps! Thanks for sharing, buddy.
As I mentioned in my last post, I have quite the stack o' reference material (namely D&D guides). I thought I'd share these pics so you can see exactly what I use.
This is the whole top shelf. And below I have zoomed images so you can better read the titles.
And here's the second shelf with zoom.
Greyhawk Maps
Pandius.com - Fantasy Maps
What great sites/maps! Thanks for sharing, buddy.
As I mentioned in my last post, I have quite the stack o' reference material (namely D&D guides). I thought I'd share these pics so you can see exactly what I use.
Two of the books you can't see because they're sideways. These are them.
I know these are just a quick peek and not the best quality pics. If anyone wants a complete list of titles and authors I'd be happy to oblige. You can get my email address in my profile info.
BONUS: My Photoshop CS4 book The Missing Manual by Lisa Snider King came in the mail yesterday. !@#$%^&*. I guess I'm all out of excuses now and actually have to start doodling again. Wish me luck and, most of all, patience with myself.
BONUS: My Photoshop CS4 book The Missing Manual by Lisa Snider King came in the mail yesterday. !@#$%^&*. I guess I'm all out of excuses now and actually have to start doodling again. Wish me luck and, most of all, patience with myself.
Friday, September 7, 2012
More Fantasy World Maps
I'm somewhat familiar with Faerun/Forgotten Realms thanks to the volumes of players guides I've amassed. Or at least I'm about as familiar as one can be for never actually gaming...I'm starting to think I must remedy that. While Ed Greenwood's world is great, it does have its flaws (if you care, ask a geek). I can easily ignore some geographical abnormalities as long as the story doesn't suffer for it. My issue with Faerun is that it has a really complex history, which is very understandable considering the run of its development. I like that though. Bring it on! Lots of history and mythos - my bread and butter.
Other gamers seem to like Eberron, but I know next to nothing about it. If I spent all my time and money buying up established world resources, my own fiddlings would suffer, and that I cannot abide.
Whatever your tastes are, you can't argue with the overall fantasticity and astoundingness of these maps
Eberron World Map
Khorvaire World Map
Detailed Khorvaire Map
Other gamers seem to like Eberron, but I know next to nothing about it. If I spent all my time and money buying up established world resources, my own fiddlings would suffer, and that I cannot abide.
Whatever your tastes are, you can't argue with the overall fantasticity and astoundingness of these maps
Eberron World Map
Khorvaire World Map
Detailed Khorvaire Map
Monday, September 3, 2012
IT'S BACK! Ansaera/Galinorn Maps
Reposted with permission from the amazing talent that is Aventhar.
Ansaera World Map Album
This is a long time favorite that I've been pouring over for years. The shapes, colors, mountains, placement...it all blows my mind!
You'll notice in the album on CG that Aventhar has names on each continent. I like them and still refer to them as such, I just had them removed so I can zoom and place settlements unimpeded.
Many many thanks to Aventhar for allowing me to repost it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Ansaera World Map Album
This is a long time favorite that I've been pouring over for years. The shapes, colors, mountains, placement...it all blows my mind!
You'll notice in the album on CG that Aventhar has names on each continent. I like them and still refer to them as such, I just had them removed so I can zoom and place settlements unimpeded.
Many many thanks to Aventhar for allowing me to repost it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Past the Point of No Return
No, not the Phantom of the Opera song.
In case you're wondering what got me into D&D to begin with, it was A Reader's Guide to R.A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt. I must have flipped through it a dozen times before I decided to pick up the book series and from there I was well beyond the point of no return into true geekdom. I poured over the maps of Forgotten Realms (because the book came with a big fold out map) like this
Faerun World Map
And frankly, who couldn't help but drool over Todd Lockwood's incredible art? Drizzt Do'Urden, in my mind, will forever look as he does on the cover of The Silent Blade. Deadly stealth, waiting to spring from a silent crouch. Scimitar gripped tightly, ready to do its bloody, methodical work. (clears throat) Sorry, kinda got lost there for a second.
I can't recommend this fantastic book series enough. You could start with The Crystal Shard, but I'd advise starting at the very beginning and go from there. It paints such a better picture of who Drizzt is and what he can become when necessary. The first 3 books have been called some of Salvatore's best writing to date. It would be very hard to disagree with that statement. Having just finished the non-Forgotten Realms, The Crimson Shadow trilogy, those 3 books (mine was one volume) are right up there among my favorite fantasies I've ever read. It has a much more "real world" feel, probably because it's so obviously based on the United Kingdom post-Roman occupation.
In case you're completely unfamiliar with the Forgotten Realms, these fill it out in every minute detail
Forgotten Realms Wiki
Forgotten Realms Index
Dig in. Don't look back. Stay hydrated.
In case you're wondering what got me into D&D to begin with, it was A Reader's Guide to R.A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt. I must have flipped through it a dozen times before I decided to pick up the book series and from there I was well beyond the point of no return into true geekdom. I poured over the maps of Forgotten Realms (because the book came with a big fold out map) like this
Faerun World Map
And frankly, who couldn't help but drool over Todd Lockwood's incredible art? Drizzt Do'Urden, in my mind, will forever look as he does on the cover of The Silent Blade. Deadly stealth, waiting to spring from a silent crouch. Scimitar gripped tightly, ready to do its bloody, methodical work. (clears throat) Sorry, kinda got lost there for a second.
I can't recommend this fantastic book series enough. You could start with The Crystal Shard, but I'd advise starting at the very beginning and go from there. It paints such a better picture of who Drizzt is and what he can become when necessary. The first 3 books have been called some of Salvatore's best writing to date. It would be very hard to disagree with that statement. Having just finished the non-Forgotten Realms, The Crimson Shadow trilogy, those 3 books (mine was one volume) are right up there among my favorite fantasies I've ever read. It has a much more "real world" feel, probably because it's so obviously based on the United Kingdom post-Roman occupation.
In case you're completely unfamiliar with the Forgotten Realms, these fill it out in every minute detail
Forgotten Realms Wiki
Forgotten Realms Index
Dig in. Don't look back. Stay hydrated.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Share and Share Alike
I'm a hobbyist. No more. No less. I do this because I like to - nay, because I love to! Maybe someday I'll design a game or write a book, but for now I worldbuild just to give my imagination and fingers something to do. It makes use of an anthropology education I don't otherwise feel gets made use of.
I have been posting my links and favorites and tools and goodies with the hope that someone stumbles across them and can use them. We geeks like to pay it forward and network - despite the stigma of having a complete lack of social skills. That being said "successful" worldbuilding is as much about education, imagination, and connection as it is about timing, luck, and incredible discovery.
The point I'm rambling along and trying to make is, CHECK THIS OUT! You must, your world(s) and imagination need it, demand it, and will thank you for it. Once you finally do you will kick yourself for every moment you knew of it and didn't listen.
My buddy Nils over at Enderra.com has linked to the phenomenal (but sadly over and done with) podcast Shakespeare & Dragons
I'm only on Episode 4 and it's completely blowing my mind! I'm sitting here mapping and doodling as I listen and Episode 3 alone gave me a glorious headache from the sheer volume of information and concepts and suggested exercises. Needless to say, I will finally proceed to check out on Amazon.com with Guns, Germs, and Steel that's been sitting in my cart for weeks.
I have been posting my links and favorites and tools and goodies with the hope that someone stumbles across them and can use them. We geeks like to pay it forward and network - despite the stigma of having a complete lack of social skills. That being said "successful" worldbuilding is as much about education, imagination, and connection as it is about timing, luck, and incredible discovery.
The point I'm rambling along and trying to make is, CHECK THIS OUT! You must, your world(s) and imagination need it, demand it, and will thank you for it. Once you finally do you will kick yourself for every moment you knew of it and didn't listen.
My buddy Nils over at Enderra.com has linked to the phenomenal (but sadly over and done with) podcast Shakespeare & Dragons
I'm only on Episode 4 and it's completely blowing my mind! I'm sitting here mapping and doodling as I listen and Episode 3 alone gave me a glorious headache from the sheer volume of information and concepts and suggested exercises. Needless to say, I will finally proceed to check out on Amazon.com with Guns, Germs, and Steel that's been sitting in my cart for weeks.
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