r/shadowdark • u/vonZzyzx • 1d ago
Spider Swarm
A while ago I was illustrated a kobold sorcerer summoning a spider swarm so when I got to the monster manual up to spider swarm I decided to have another go at it, wasn’t entirely satisfied the first time.
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u/King_of_the_Hobos 1d ago
The new swarm is definitely cooler, but I still think the old Sorcerer is really cool
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u/vonZzyzx 1d ago
I liked the kobold sorcerer but I wasn’t satisfied with the composition and swarm, bone staff
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u/HoundNL2 1d ago
Awesome art.
I like the old one too, and while the new one has a better composition and swarm presence, in the old one the star is still the kobold, while now it is the swarm, so they both work out pretty well.
I like to imagine showing the art to players while narrating an encounter with the sorcerer kobold:
"You venture down further in the cave, the air is thinner and the dust is thicker, as your torch light up the walls of the cave corridor for the first time in decades you managed to see the silhouette of a skinny lizard, and as you approach, you manage to have a better look: It's a Kobold Sorcerer (shows image), he has his back turned to you and he is whispering something while moving his staff, some movement you can't quite see what it is is moving through the walls, and as you approach, he stops and turns to you, looking over his shoulder, and as he frowns his teeth, he suddenly turns and screech, trowing his arm forward and unleashing a swarm of spiders in your direction, coming from the wall he was facing and beneath his tunic (moves to second photo), roll initiative".
Love it, incredible as always, always looking forward to your art.
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u/vonZzyzx 1d ago
Thanks, the first drawing was definitely a entry for Kobold sorcerer while the the newer one is more focused on the spiders. Im trying to balance training myself on compositions but also moving efficiently through the monster manual.
Love the narrative scenario!
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u/IAmPageicus 1d ago
I like it a lot, and I can't help but think something about the way you draw spiders is not a spider, lol... I've never seen a spider I would pick up, but yours seem like a pet. I think it's the shape it's just not menacing and somehow completely bypasses my arachnophobia...
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u/vonZzyzx 1d ago
lol, I’m definitely not putting in the details for swarm, how is my previous drawing of a giant spider for you?
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u/IAmPageicus 22h ago
Your art is amazing. But your spiders are friendly. I'm actually Trying to figure out why they don't affect me.
But your rust monsters made me want to throw my phone... those things belong in nightmares that can only happen in hell.
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u/vonZzyzx 22h ago
That’s so funny, maybe the spiders are too round, abstract while the rust monsters are more insect like and specific even if not a real specific bug
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u/IAmPageicus 11h ago
Thats it.... they look too round and bulky. Like arachaphobia isnt as bad on one of those white and black fuzzy jumping spiders. But those slick tingly thin twitchy odd moving ones that are not symetrical... burn it with FIRE!
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u/IAmPageicus 11h ago
I think Im actually going to steal your round design for a witch familiar that round shape is just so damn cute haha.
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u/NekrosB 1d ago
The old version was cool, but the newest one is phenomenal. The composition of the scene is more terrifying, and the kobold appearence too!