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Showing posts with label Dungeons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dungeons. Show all posts

Biker Dwarfs in Zombietown!


This was a really fun illustration that I actually completed a couple of years ago. Technically part of a much larger image, but I thought it would be neat to isolate one of the figures (the aforementioned Biker Dwarf!) and incorporate some text into it. I just love Dwarfs and I especially love kick-ass BLOOD BOWL-style Dwarfs. Especially the world famous (!) Dwarf Warhammerers! Yes, damn it, while I may do serious stories, it's also a great deal of fun to cut loose with illustrations like this.

By the by, the font is JSL Blackletter, created by Jeff Lee, and is terrific. JSL Blackletter was used to a large extent in LABYRINTH LORD* from Goblinoid Games.

* For those who don't know, LABYRINTH LORD is one of the first "retroclones" that came out based on the Open Games License. Released in 2007, LABYRINTH LORD is a very close approximation of the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Basic Set edited by Tom Moldvay. You can download a "no-art" version of LABYRINTH LORD for free on the Goblinoid Games' download page.

Biker Dwarfs in Zombietown! Black and white brush and ink illustration by Von Allan

Biker Dwarfs in Zombietown! Full colour brush and ink illustration by Von Allan

'Wizards for Hire - Cheap!' out now on Kindle


Link to Wizards for Hire - Cheap! on Amazon's Kindle
After releasing WIZARDS FOR HIRE - CHEAP! on ComiXology a few months back, I'm very pleased to announce that the Kindle version is now available! And with full panel-to-panel functionality for phones and the like, too. It also looks pretty damn good in black and white on devices like the Kindle Paperwhite.

You can find WIZARDS FOR HIRE - CHEAP! for Kindle by visiting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089QXBYY9/ or by clicking the image of Bill above. And, of course, you can also read them for free as a webcomic, too. Start at https://www.vonallan.com/2017/08/short-story-cowardly-clerics-of-rigel-v.html and navigate from there!

I'm currently converting both my recent short story collection* as well as WOLF'S HEAD for Kindle, so expect to see them released shortly.

* Psst: in fact, STORIES! 2015 TO 2019 is out now for the Kindle, too. I just haven't prepped any graphics to celebrate its release yet.

Revised Sample Level from Underworld & Wilderness Adventures


As many know, in the original printed version of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS volume 3 (“The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures”) Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson presented a sample dungeon level. Accompanying that example was a graphic illustration that visually demonstrated a number of these concepts. In other words, it’s an example of a dungeon map!

As Zach Howard notes, there are actually two versions of this illustration. An original (and much clearer) version that was replaced in later printings with a new version that obscured (rather than clarify) much of the examples that Gygax and Arneson used.

Honestly, neither map is perfect, though given the restraints that Tactical Studies Rules faced in 1974, I suspect it was the best the company could do at the time. That said, I thought it would be fun to use the sample map as a springboard to create both a more modern version and also clarify points that the revised version hid.

My version, first in colour and then in black and white, is below. Grab your copy of OD&D volume 3, starting on page 4, and use that to refer to my versions.

Oh, a few points of clarification: each version of the original published map are exceptionally unclear regarding section 8. Specifically, the “evil man” reference looks (at least to my eye), to inhabit section “J” – but that section does not exist in Gygax and Arneson’s printed notes. Also, the original printed version appears (again to my eye) to include dungeon hallways leading away from section “I” and disappearing both to the east and to the south. The revised printed version of the map eliminates these hallways but I’m unsatisfied with that ‘correction.’ I added them back in my version.

Anyway! These were quite enjoyable to do and hopefully you like them, too. Besides, why should Dyson Logos have all the fun?!

Postscript: I primarily do comics! If you'd like to check out my current series, WOLF'S HEAD, please visit https://wolfs-head.vonallan.com/2020/03/wolfs-head-previews-and-purchase-links.html

Von Allan's revised colour version of the Sample Level Map found in OD&D Book 3 The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures
Von Allan's revised black and white version of the Sample Level Map found in OD&D Book 3 The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures

Short Story - The Two Magic-Users


UPDATE! While you can always read the short story below, I have decided to start making my comics freely available to all for easier digital reading. Please visit https://www.vonallan.com/p/pirate-von.html for more information and download links!

The Two Magic-Users Page 1 Written and Illustrated by Von Allan

The Two Magic-Users Page 2 Written and Illustrated by Von Allan

The Two Magic-Users Page 3 Written and Illustrated by Von Allan

The Two Magic-Users Page 4 Written and Illustrated by Von Allan

This was a fun little story to do. The main idea behind it was a simple one: there have been a number of different "retro-clone" versions of the old B/X ("Basic/Expert") style of dungeon crawling since the publication of the Open Games License. I thought it would be interesting to take some of those differences and contrast them in a story. Specifically, I wanted to contrast the magic-user class presented in LABYRINTH LORD with the one presented in Tom Moldvay's BASIC DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and David Cook and Stephen R. Marsh's EXPERT DUNGEONS & DRAGONS.

It was originally supposed to run as a black and white story in the second issue of UNDERGROUND COMICS, but sadly that project seems to have fallen apart. However! It has seen print as a back-up feature in the 3rd issue of my own ongoing series WOLF'S HEAD.

I also subtly linked the story to the world of Bill and Butch, too!

This story — as well as a boatload of others — were collected into a beautiful hardcover edition titled LOVE, LAUGHTER, AND LOSS: A COMICS COLLECTION. More information about that edition can be found right here.

In addition, there is also a digital comic book titled WIZARDS FOR HIRE — CHEAP! on Kindle that can be read anywhere in the world. And it contains this story! This is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089QXBYY9.

For more of my comic short stories, please visit my comic book archive that has links to all of my short stories. These are all available as free webcomics, so there's quite a bit to read! Have fun!

Concept art for The Two Magic-Users


I have a short story that will be published in the upcoming UNDERGROUND COMICS #2. My story features the fellas below, Lidean and Domyval, two very old school magic-users that can't separate their identities from their desire (lust, really) for magic. I really enjoyed it.

While I did the illustration below in colour, the actual story will be published in black and white.

By the by, the first issue of UNDERGROUND COMICS is over at IndyPlanet. While I don't have a story in it, it does have some really great work by the likes of Jeff Call, Jason Sholtis, and Trey Causey. Comics and dungeons...what's not to love?!

Concept art for the short story The Two Magic-Users featuring Domyval and Lidean by Von Allan

Dungeon Spiders


Dungeon Spiders pinup by Von Allan

Dungeons… spiders… looming danger… but no dwarfs! What?! Madness! Really fun little piece that emphasizes something I love about old school Dungeons and Dragons: sneaking around, listening at doors, using light sources, and picking locks. Exploration is the name of the game, not (and I repeat not) combat. Hell, if you aren't trying to talk your way out of trouble then (in my not so humble opinion) you are losing a lot of the fun.

Undead Skeletons



Undead Skeletons pinup by Von Allan

Fun little piece with undead. Skeletons! A gaming staple!

Dungeon Crawling Robots and Some Monsters


Dungeon Crawling Robots by Von Allan

I love fusing fantasy and sci-fi. I know some people have trouble with that, but I love it. The idea of robots, armed with swords and carrying backpacks, looking for treasure in an old school dungeon is awesome...at least to me! In fact, when I play LABYRINTH LORD, I've added the robot class from James Spahn's WHITE STAR game into the mix.

In fact, that theme is fused in my Bill and Butch comic book stories. Wizards and Robots! Yeah!
Dungeon monsters by Von Allan


These monsters were done mainly as a warm-up, but I got a kick out of them. I have to admit that when it comes to monsters, I much prefer original creations versus the old standbys. I understand why it's fun to play around with ogres, goblins, and orcs, and whatnot, but there's something arcane and unknowable about a brand new monster that creates doubt and excitement. "What is it?" "What can it do?" "Our arrows bounced off!" "Our swords broke!" "Oh, shit, run!"

Awesome!

Short Story - Total Party Kill!


UPDATE! While you can always read the short story below, I have decided to start making my comics freely available to all for easier digital reading. Please visit https://www.vonallan.com/p/pirate-von.html for more information and download links!

Page one of the comic book short story Total Party Kill written and illustrated by Von Allan
Page two of the comic book short story Total Party Kill written and illustrated by Von Allan
Page three of the comic book short story Total Party Kill written and illustrated by Von Allan
Page four of the comic book short story Total Party Kill written and illustrated by Von Allan
Page five of the comic book short story Total Party Kill written and illustrated by Von Allan
Page six of the comic book short story Total Party Kill written and illustrated by Von Allan
Page seven of the comic book short story Total Party Kill written and illustrated by Von Allan
Page eight of the comic book short story Total Party Kill written and illustrated by Von Allan

This is the second short story featuring the wizards Bill and Butch.  Fantasy gaming, probably best represented by DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, was certainly an influence here. But more than the game was the tone of what made the "old school" exactly that. Dangerous, violent, and scary, but the characters are taking those risks for the gold. Get rich or die trying is oh so very true when it comes to dungeon delving. Especially true for the lowly first level character.

'Course, that's part of the fun.  Especially when combined with the laughs sitting around a table eating pizza and making bad jokes while the brave little PCs get shivved in the dark!

This story first saw print in the comic book titled WIZARDS FOR HIRE — CHEAP! back in 2017. Unfortunately, the print edition is out of print (though you might be able to find a copy using Bookfinder). But! This story — as well as a boatload of others — were collected into a beautiful hardcover edition titled LOVE, LAUGHTER, AND LOSS: A COMICS COLLECTION. More information about that edition can be found right here.

In addition, there is also a digital comic book version of WIZARDS FOR HIRE — CHEAP! on Kindle that can be read anywhere in the world. That edition is available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089QXBYY9.

For more of my comic short stories, including Bill and Butch, please visit my comic book archive that has links to all of my short stories. These are all available as free webcomics, so there's quite a bit to read! Have fun!

Biker dwarfs in a dungeon


Biker dwarfs in a dungeon confronted by...something. Illustration by Von Allan

In my head, these dwarfy folks have just hit the first level, full of enthusiasm, energy, and greed for gold, only to be confronted by… something. What the hell is it? You tell me! One of the fun aspects of dungeons, at least for me, is to play around with expectations. I suppose this monster could be a pudding or a slime, but I think there's a great deal of suspense and excitement when a Referee tosses out the ol' standard bestiary or monster manual and uses brand new critters instead. That keeps players on their toes, never quite sure what they're facing.

Dungeon Delving Biker Dwarfs Find Buried Gold


I really had fun doing this piece. A pack of dungeon delvers, dwarfy delvers at that, looking to strike it rich! One of the things I get a kick out of doing is teasing what's just off-page; what's about to ruin their fun? Who knows? Judging by the look on that lead "Biker Dwarf's" face, it can't be good. Is she about to run away? Fight the good fight? What do you think?

Dungeon delving biker dwarfs find some buried gold. A brush and ink illustration by Von Allan

Wolf's Head by Von Allan

Link to Von Allan's Wolf's Head comic book series

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