Roleplaying Game with Great Art (#RPGaDay2024.04)

Today's #RPGaDay2024 prompt, "Roleplaying game with great art," feels like a bit of a personal attack. One of our core principles is challenging the idea that roleplaying games need art to be great. It’s not that we don’t appreciate art—we absolutely do. But when it comes to roleplaying, the magic happens around the table, in the collaborative storytelling and creativity shared among the players.

Let's get real: roleplaying is about the activity, the interaction, and the shared imagination. Sure, a beautifully illustrated book is nice to look at, but it’s not what makes or breaks a game. The best moments come from the spontaneous ideas, the unexpected twists, and the collective effort of everyone involved. No amount of flashy art can replace the creativity that sparks between players during a session.

In our campaigns, we pull from a diverse array of sources for our visual inspiration. We dive into art books, browse museum websites, and use posters and prints that cover the entire history of art—painting, sculpture, fiber arts, architecture, and more. Why limit ourselves to the artwork in a single game book when we have the whole world of art at our fingertips?

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the real-world inspirations that fuel our games. Instead of relying on the sometimes cookie-cutter art found in many roleplaying books, we draw from the vast history of human creativity. Need an imposing fortress for your campaign? Look up medieval castles and fortifications. Designing a lush, enchanted forest? There’s a wealth of landscape paintings that capture the beauty and mystery of nature better than any generic fantasy illustration.

And don’t get me started on character art. Why settle for the standard, overused tropes when you can find endless inspiration in the works of classical and contemporary artists? Portraits from different eras and cultures offer diversity and personality that can bring your characters to life in ways a game manual rarely does.

Now, don’t misunderstand me—there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a well-illustrated game. Art can certainly enhance the experience and set the tone. But the heart of roleplaying lies in the interaction and imagination of the players. It’s in the stories you create together, not the pictures in the book.

Our philosophy embraces the idea that real-world art and history provide a limitless resource for inspiration. When we design our games, we don’t feel the need to cram them full of illustrations. Instead, we encourage players to look beyond the pages of the book and find their own artistic inspirations. This approach not only broadens the scope of what can be included in a campaign but also makes the game more personal and engaging.

So, let’s challenge the notion that great art is a necessity for a great roleplaying game. While it’s a nice bonus, it’s not the core of the experience. The real art happens at the table, in the minds and interactions of the players. That’s where the true beauty of roleplaying lies.

Next time you’re setting up a campaign or brainstorming ideas, don’t just flip through a game book for inspiration. Explore the vast world of art and history. Use it to enrich your settings, characters, and stories. You might be surprised at how much depth and creativity you can bring to your game by stepping outside the confines of traditional roleplaying art.

In the end, roleplaying is about the stories we tell and the worlds we build together. Whether you have a book full of stunning illustrations or a collection of art prints from various sources, it’s the shared experience that counts. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of our imagination and creativity, and remember that the real masterpiece is the game we create together.