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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: Priscellie on February 12, 2010, 03:15:32 PM

Title: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on February 12, 2010, 03:15:32 PM
I finished this illustration for the Dresden Files RPG last night, and Fred gave me permission to post it here.  It's three of the Gruffs from Small Favor: one of the youngest brothers, the much-loved Eldest Brother Gruff, and "Tiny" looming in the background.

It's meant to be viewed small (3"x3"), but you can view a slightly larger version by clicking on the image.

(http://theninemuses.net/art/gruffs_med.jpg) (http://theninemuses.net/art/gruffs_med.jpg)

The RPG is chock-full of great illustrations from a horde of awesome artists, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the action.  Thanks, Fred!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: SoulCatcher78 on February 12, 2010, 03:24:49 PM
 :o Well done indeed!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Lanodantheon on February 12, 2010, 03:27:57 PM
Awesome Sauce Priss! 

It looks like a frickin' Grimm fairy tale illustration (except for the SMG)  ;D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Ink Slinger on February 12, 2010, 03:38:48 PM
Wow!  That's an amazing illustration!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: IIIMarconeIII on February 12, 2010, 03:41:49 PM
speechless
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: ClarkValentine on February 12, 2010, 04:03:23 PM
ROCK.

That's seriously fantastic art. Love it.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Shecky on February 12, 2010, 04:09:35 PM
DAMN, girl.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: breaker on February 12, 2010, 04:23:39 PM
These books might be worth their salt by all the amazing illustrations alone. If this is Our World, then I can't wait to see more from our other monstrous friends.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: SaintAndSinner on February 12, 2010, 04:50:32 PM
Sweet.  Too bad it'll be small.  It looks so good.    :D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Piotr1600 on February 12, 2010, 04:56:32 PM
Yeeowza!
Excellent!

*pouts and mumbles "Wish *I* could draw..."*   :)
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Shecky on February 12, 2010, 05:00:12 PM
Hang on. You made them lefty!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on February 12, 2010, 05:00:38 PM
Thanks so much for the kind words, everyone!

These books might be worth their salt by all the amazing illustrations alone. If this is Our World, then I can't wait to see more from our other monstrous friends.

Absolutely.  Then the books are worth their salt all over again with the comprehensive character and creature guides, then again for the chapters on occult Chicago and Dresdenverse-ified Baltimore, then again for the reams of RPing wisdom to elevate the standards of game play, and that's all before you get to the actual game, which is exquisitely realized, and worth another ten or twelve pillars of salt.  We're talking Lot's Wife amounts of salt these books are worth.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on February 12, 2010, 05:01:45 PM
Hang on. You made them lefty!

They're humanoid goat creatures.  And you're worried about which hand they use to hold a gun? :D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Piotr1600 on February 12, 2010, 05:05:25 PM
They're humanoid goat creatures.  And you're worried about which hand they use to hold a gun? :D

Well sure - Those cartridge cases can be HOT!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: SoulCatcher78 on February 12, 2010, 05:16:47 PM
Well sure - Those cartridge cases can be HOT!

Brass deflectors are your friend if you're a lefty.
http://www.tacticaltailor.com/brassdeflector-railmount.aspx
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: breaker on February 12, 2010, 05:20:46 PM
Thanks so much for the kind words, everyone!

Absolutely.  Then the books are worth their salt all over again with the comprehensive character and creature guides, then again for the chapters on occult Chicago and Dresdenverse-ified Baltimore, then again for the reams of RPing wisdom to elevate the standards of game play, and that's all before you get to the actual game, which is exquisitely realized, and worth another ten or twelve pillars of salt.  We're talking Lot's Wife amounts of salt these books are worth.

That's aLot of salt. *badum poosh*

I'll just go now.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Shecky on February 12, 2010, 05:23:52 PM
They're humanoid goat creatures.  And you're worried about which hand they use to hold a gun? :D

Yes. Changes the whole game. Cover, line of sight, etc. - it's ALL switched.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on February 12, 2010, 05:36:10 PM
It's a technique to throw off their enemies?  And the guns are custom made left-handed.  Yes.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Shecky on February 12, 2010, 05:40:30 PM
It's a technique to throw off their enemies?  And the guns are custom made left-handed.  Yes.

Fiendishly clever, those gruffs.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: knucklekraken on February 12, 2010, 05:41:51 PM
Ooooh. Me likey. Well done.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: TechnoLurker™ on February 12, 2010, 06:08:34 PM
I think they look pretty darn good.  Maybe the gruff doesn't mind the hot casings so much.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Shecky on February 12, 2010, 06:19:14 PM
I think they look pretty darn good.  Maybe the gruff doesn't mind the hot casings so much.

He doesn't have to. That's his left hand on the trigger, and the ejection slot is on the left - as Priscellie said, the gun's made lefty.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Blaze on February 12, 2010, 07:36:14 PM
I love the scar across the nose detail.

Priscellie, you are so totally awesome.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Landing on February 12, 2010, 08:06:54 PM
wow that's great art work! thanks for sharing it!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: AcornArmy on February 12, 2010, 08:44:20 PM
That is simply awesome.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: mrsleep on February 12, 2010, 10:53:55 PM
Would've thought Sub-Machine Gruffs would were gloves so they aren't touching all that cold iron.


Love the work though.  How'd you go about the coloring?
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: iago on February 12, 2010, 11:17:16 PM
Would've thought Sub-Machine Gruffs would were gloves so they aren't touching all that cold iron.

That's assuming the gun's made of iron or an iron alloy like steel, of course. :)
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Lanodantheon on February 13, 2010, 12:23:15 AM
That's assuming the gun's made of iron or an iron alloy like steel, of course. :)

Right, could be made of polymers or have a wood handle and rubber encased parts.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Ancalagon on February 13, 2010, 12:53:17 AM
Right, could be made of polymers or have a wood handle and rubber encased parts.

Some parts must be made of steel (like say, the barrel), but yeah, I bet some of the fae just really love those Glocks!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Erifnogard on February 13, 2010, 03:53:51 AM
Cool illustration, those were some of my favorite characters from the books.   :D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Hopefire on February 14, 2010, 03:28:29 AM
The gun is custom made, so of course they're going to have it made in such a way that they can handle it safely.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Blaze on February 14, 2010, 04:41:31 AM
It's made of HORN.   ;)
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Tsunami on February 14, 2010, 06:18:33 PM
Very nice work Pris.
Is it just a one-shot, or are we going to see more of your work in the RPG-Books?

I finished this illustration for the Dresden Files RPG last night, and Fred gave me permission to post it here.  It's three of the Gruffs from Small Favor: one of the youngest brothers, the much-loved Eldest Brother Gruff, and "Tiny" looming in the background.
Wouldn't the one with the gun be one of the younger, not youngest, brothers though?
The youngest were at the Carpenter House, the ones with guns were already older, then we had Tiny, and then eldest Brother Gruff.

Sorry, couldn't resist... had to be a wiseass :-)
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on February 14, 2010, 06:22:35 PM
Very nice work Pris.
Is it just a one-shot, or are we going to see more of your work in the RPG-Books?
Wouldn't the one with the gun be one of the younger, not youngest, brothers though?
The youngest were at the Carpenter House, the ones with guns were already older, then we had Tiny, and then eldest Brother Gruff.

Sorry, couldn't resist... had to be a wiseass :-)

I consider the Gruffs that crashed the snowball fight and the Gruffs that nearly nabbed Harry after his chat with Mab to all be of the "Youngest" variety.  And don't forget the Gruff that caught up with Harry and Murphy at Mac's.  Five fun, fruity flavors!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Epsilon on February 14, 2010, 06:39:04 PM
I consider the Gruffs that crashed the snowball fight and the Gruffs that nearly nabbed Harry after his chat with Mab to all be of the "Youngest" variety.  And don't forget the Gruff that caught up with Harry and Murphy at Mac's.  Five fun, fruity flavors!

Wasn't Tiny the Gruff who showed up at Mac's? Doesn't that cut us down to four fruits?
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: breaker on February 14, 2010, 07:02:16 PM
Wasn't Tiny the Gruff who showed up at Mac's? Doesn't that cut us down to four fruits?

This is the way I took it as well.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on February 14, 2010, 07:06:04 PM
That's how I originally read it, but Tiny was 22 feet tall.  Hard to imagine a creature that enormous shouldering its way into Mac's.  I imagined the Gruff in Mac's to be closer to 12 feet.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Tsunami on February 14, 2010, 08:53:25 PM
That's how I originally read it, but Tiny was 22 feet tall.  Hard to imagine a creature that enormous shouldering its way into Mac's.  I imagined the Gruff in Mac's to be closer to 12 feet.

Harry starts calling him Tiny at Mac's, that's also what he calls the Gruff at the train station... ergo same Gruff. At least for me.
Also, why would they send a new Brother after the incident at Mac's, the one that was there hadn't failed yet.
Also Harry told him: he (the Gruff) would only loose a little time, and that he'd find him (Harry) again soon enough.
That's serious foreshadowing for the fight at the station.

Tiny the Gruff at Mac's = Tiny the Gruff at the station
That's my take.

The Uzi-Gruffs are described as being considerably taller and faster than the Snowball-Gruffs... wich makes them slightly older brothers to me.

1. Snowball-Gruffs (youngest)
2. Uzi-Gruffs (younger)
3. Tiny the Gruff (older)
4. Eldest Brother Gruff (eldest)

Those are the Gruff-Levels I see


I honestly did not think that my wise-ass remark would spark that much of a discussion... but what did I expect around here... guess I should have known better.  :D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: IIIMarconeIII on February 15, 2010, 03:52:30 AM
IMO the Tiny at Mac's lost a confrontation (sp?) and was out of the fight... He backed down= loss,


Edit forgot to put the rest of my thought.

Since that confrontation was a loss, then it was the next older brother's turn.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on February 15, 2010, 05:07:44 AM
I know Harry calls both huge Gruffs by the same nickname, but they just read like very different characters.  Pub-Tiny speaks at length, while Train Station-Tiny doesn't speak until he's lying beaten on the floor.  *shrugs*  Oh well.  I still feel the varying ages and appearances of the Gruffs are represented in the illustration!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Tsunami on February 15, 2010, 08:26:09 AM
Interesting, for me it's more like Tiny came to talk to Harry at Mac's, and at the station... well, the time for talking was done... but it's still the same Tiny.

[...] *shrugs*  Oh well.  I still feel the varying ages and appearances of the Gruffs are represented in the illustration!
That they are. And beautifully so.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Ihadris on February 15, 2010, 10:26:45 AM
Personally I think you did a fantastic job with the illustration, my jaw hit the floor when I saw it! Well mine and the jaw of every single friend and family memeber whose read the books.   :o
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Compass Rose on February 15, 2010, 10:50:30 PM
Love the illo! You've got some talent there, girl.

I am not much into playing RPG any more, but I fully intend to get both DF RPG books just for the Dresdenverse info and all the neat artwork...  ;D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Uilos on March 15, 2010, 07:15:24 PM
There's an inside joke on that staff...anyone translate Cirth? :D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on March 15, 2010, 07:16:27 PM
There's an inside joke on that staff...anyone translate Cirth? :D

Futhark, actually. :D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Uilos on March 15, 2010, 07:32:38 PM
Futhark, actually. :D

Damn, I always get my Runes mixed
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Shecky on March 15, 2010, 08:21:49 PM
Futhark, actually. :D

Futhark thathart. ;D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Darkling on March 24, 2010, 10:52:21 PM

Woah!  Okay, that is incredible.

 
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: aiesheteru on May 07, 2010, 07:07:24 PM
I really like your eldest gruff.  I mean, I can't see his body, but as far as the face goes, he seems just as warm and friendly as I imagined him.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Papa Gruff on May 08, 2010, 12:29:09 AM
Oh ... I love it ... who would have thought?!  ;D

Haven't seen my boys in a while *g*
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Jeckel on May 08, 2010, 07:14:14 AM
Great job on the art work, and double props on bonus of adding a puzzle to the art. Totally rocks.  ;D

There's an inside joke on that staff...

Haha, nice, my futhark is a little rusty, but I think I got it.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Shecky on May 08, 2010, 10:24:10 AM
Great job on the art work, and double props on bonus of adding a puzzle to the art. Totally rocks.  ;D

Haha, nice, my futhark is a little rusty, but I think I got it.

I don't. Care to enlighten?
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Tsunami on May 08, 2010, 12:09:28 PM
*Shines the Light on Shecky*
The runes on the Staff say (read from top to bottom):
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on May 08, 2010, 12:58:42 PM
Finally!  Someone got it! :D
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Tzarii on May 08, 2010, 01:02:52 PM
It also looks like there is something written on the younger gruffs horn.  No idea what though.  Also how Younger gruff could get around the whole lefty/cold iron problem is the gun could be a glock, everything touched on a glock is plastic/ceramic.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Priscellie on May 08, 2010, 01:04:56 PM
It also looks like there is something written on the younger gruffs horn.  No idea what though.  Also how Younger gruff could get around the whole lefty/cold iron problem is the gun could be a glock, everything touched on a glock is plastic/ceramic.

Nope, only one secret message in this image.  Sorry, Dan Brown.
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Tzarii on May 08, 2010, 01:09:55 PM
Doh!  It looks like the other secret message was  "I need my eyes checked again."  Or with a better translation "need new glasses."  Ah well, awesome picture though!
Title: Re: RPG Illustration: The Gruffs
Post by: Shecky on May 08, 2010, 05:30:10 PM
Finally!  Someone got it! :D

Mmm, sweet.