Thursday, April 7, 2011

Ah, Well

Looks like I was completely off in my interpretation of that illustration by Jeff Dee from Expedition to the Barrier Peaks. If you take a look at the following image, also from the same module, you'll recognize many of the same party members from the previous piece, like the bare-legged female fighter, the cleric, and the wizard. Also among them is a fighter whose helmet has a plume.

It's not the greatest scan of the image, unfortunately, but I think it pretty well clinches the feathered helmet hypothesis as the correct one. Ah, well.

11 comments:

  1. There's nothing disappointing about that image; just look at it!

    I must confess that I've never read this adventure, but every piece of art I've seen from it has been brilliant, so I must remedy that oversight.

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  2. But it was a good hypothesis, James, and one worthy of using in the future! :)

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  3. Yeah, I'd say your observation is exactly why the hobby is so enjoyable--it's not what's printed on the page, but what you see with your minds eye.

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  4. James,

    On an unrelated note, have you ever thought about scanning, posting, and commenting on actual character sheets that were used in play? I always thought that looking at old character sheets was an under appreciated aspect of the nostalgia and analysis of the game.

    Just a thought...

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  5. See, the Dwarf and the Halfling were leading the party, not the wizard.

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  6. It still looks a lot like he was about to smack up his buddies. What kind of fighter's swinging his sword around at the rear of the party? Sheathe that thing, man, before you poke somebody's eye out.

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  7. I still vote for the domination explanation, the way the feather is textured on the second image is quite different, oh yes ;)
    Man I love those Jeff Dee cavalry boots that you can roll up into waders if necessary.

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  8. Just because you see everyone later doesn't mean the bit didn't happen. Maybe the GM was like me and wasn't out to kill everyone done to the last man. Maybe the players were like my players and came up with an innovative way out of that jam.

    Many paths are possible...

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  9. Ah, I haven't thought of that picture for years. Back in the day, it offended my sense of epicness. My heroic indignation was stirred.

    "My paladin would never be thrown out in the trash!"

    The boots freaked me out too.

    Of course, now I see it in a whole new light and love it. :D

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  10. On an unrelated note, have you ever thought about scanning, posting, and commenting on actual character sheets that were used in play?

    I have thought about this, but, unfortunately, I no longer have any old character sheets with which I could do this.

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  11. Landshark!

    The bullette was always a weird creature. This was the only commercial module it appeared in, I believe.

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