Creatures Features : news and a PDF preview (updated)

Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:41 pm

Well, I have been in charge of the Creatures Features netbook for quite some times now, more than a year in fact. So, I am quite late. The thing is, I have so many real life stuff to do, that the netbook went behind, and then I even forgot about it. Nonetheless, so you know the project is not dead yet, I wanted to show you where it is so far. The project is approximately 30% completed. You can download the document (a 11.5 mb PDF) here :
Edit: document updated with more pics and monsters, now 15 MB.
Creature-Features_unfinished.pdf

One of the reasons it is so late, also, is that I got the ddesire to add a few things. For example: demons adapted from the SRD and the 1st/2nd ADD (for I don't see myself ever doing a 2nd tome, so additions have to go in this very netbook right from the start.). Then, sometimes layout has it that I must add things to fill where it would otherwise not look good. As such, I bought a CD of public domain arts about monsters. You see a few of them in the preview above, and more will come here and there. In the end, all of this has made the work more difficult, hence taking much longer.

By the way: since I cannot finish it quickly (at least until mid-september I am submerged with real life work), you could maybe contribute a thing or two. For one thing, help me write a better and more complete text about credits, legal things, and what not. Then, I have two nice pics in need of a monster description (with names at E or beyond): a mermaid pic, a humanoid tree wielding a scimitar (so man-sized; maybe "woodguardian"), and lastly a pic directly inspired from the AD&D 2e shade (maybe doing an adaptation for that?).

My apologizes for it taking so much time.
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zombiehands · Post by **zombiehands** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:28 pm

great job

sieg · Post by **sieg** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:10 pm

I'd certainly be the last one to criticize someone for letting real life get in the way of things.
BTW, I've done up the SRD demons & (most) devils for C&C if you'd like to use those to save some work on your end? Alas, while there are descriptive paragraphs there are no pics. Sorry!
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Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 7:50 pm

sieg wrote:
BTW, I've done up the SRD demons & (most) devils for C&C if you'd like to use those to save some work on your end? Alas, while there are descriptive paragraphs there are no pics. Sorry!

Ah, thanks for the proposal! Well, in fact I have almost finished my own Demon 1 to 6 conversions, and am also in the process of finishing some pics. However, I have no pics for the Devil section, and thus didn't think of adding stuff on them.
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seskis281 · Post by **seskis281** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:17 pm

I'd be happy to give a whack at creating monsters for those 2 nice pics you mention.

John
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Julian Grimm · Post by **Julian Grimm** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:50 pm

Turanil wrote:
Ah, thanks for the proposal! Well, in fact I have almost finished my own Demon 1 to 6 conversions, and am also in the process of finishing some pics. However, I have no pics for the Devil section, and thus didn't think of adding stuff on them.

I'd stick to SRD Devils and Demons. Mainly this is a legal concern. The SRD versions are open but including non-open content could be a problem. I know it's a free document but I'd rather have all our ducks in a row so no legal criticisms can be found.
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:20 pm

This looks simply fantastic. And the clip art CD sounds interesting (judging by the selection of pics). How large is the collection (clip art) and where / how much is the CD?

I might be interested in obtaining a copy myself.

But let me re-iterate the great work done here. I would love to see this grow in size even more and would gladly help with this endeavor if needed.

M
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Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:48 am

seskis281 wrote:
I'd be happy to give a whack at creating monsters for those 2 nice pics you mention.

Great! Just post them here when they are done, and I will add them to the netbook.

Julian Grimm wrote:
I'd stick to SRD Devils and Demons. Mainly this is a legal concern. The SRD versions are open but including non-open content could be a problem. I know it's a free document but I'd rather have all our ducks in a row so no legal criticisms can be found.

Well, I am aware of this. I didn't add texts from the AD&D demons, but I am writing my own fluff and using the stats from the SRD (that I convert to C&C). In fact, the AD&D 1e version of the type 1 to 6 demons were ridiculous weaklings without any real description of what they were supposed to be and to do. Then, the 3.5e versions were too complex and too powerful. I have done something in-between.

By the way: maybe the names "Type 1: Vrock", "Type 2: Hezrou", etc. are AD&D 1e IP and should be replaced by something like "Rank 1: Vrock", "Rank 2: Hezrou", etc. ??

moriarty777 wrote:
This looks simply fantastic. And the clip art CD sounds interesting (judging by the selection of pics). How large is the collection (clip art) and where / how much is the CD?

I might be interested in obtaining a copy myself.

But let me re-iterate the great work done here. I would love to see this grow in size even more and would gladly help with this endeavor if needed.

Mythological and Fantastic Creatures (by Dover) is the CD. Note however, that not all the pics in the netbook come from it, only approximately 50% of them. The other 50% were either drawings submitted by the DF community or public domain illustrations found on the Internet (as are most of the demons drawings).

The netbook is only 30% completed. I cannot work on it right now, but hope to finish it for end of September, and then it will have approximately 65 creatures in it.
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Rigon · Post by **Rigon** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:31 pm

Looks good so far Turanil, keep up the good work.

R-
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Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:46 pm

Second the good work.
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sieg · Post by **sieg** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:08 pm

The "Types I-VI" aren't WOTC IP; several D20 co's have used this terminology without checking for IP (ex- Necromancer Games, etc.). So, no worries there.
Actuall, there's not just tons of difference between SRD Demons/Devils and the original critters except power level and the odd3X-ism.
.
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Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:19 am

I'm glad this project may move - "front and center"! It's a good one for sure.
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Aladar · Post by **Aladar** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:09 pm

Very nice work indeed. Can't wait to see the rest of it when completed.

Thanks for all your hard work Turanil.
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Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:37 pm

I updated the unfinished netbook. I added more pics, and the demons from type 1 to 6. I also added the sketches for the demon illustrations that I will do when I have time.

So, now, next update by mid-september, and by end of September I hope to have finished the netbook (app. 70 creatures). In the meantime you could tell me (on this thread) if you see typos and other things that need to be corrected.
Document updated with more pics and monsters, now 15 MB.
Creature-Features_unfinished.pdf

Thanks.
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Relaxo · Post by **Relaxo** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:11 am

I'm sorry, which pics need monster descriptions?

I'd LOVE to take a crack at it.

This looks great so far and you should be proud of it!

Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:35 am

Relaxo wrote:
I'm sorry, which pics need monster descriptions?

I'd LOVE to take a crack at it.

Three pics:

-- A mermaid (woman with fish tail inspired by a 1e DMG illustration).

-- A humanoid-elvish tree with three arms and wielding a scimitar (inspired by the 2e ranger kit "limbant").

-- A shade (inspired by the 1e MM2 pic for the monster of the same name).

Note that 2 posters already declared they wanted to do the monsters... If I get several description I will probably have to choose which one include in the netbook. Unless of course the monster submitted are much different (which is likely IMO) so I can put them all in the netbook. (Note the names of the monster must be beyond "Derro" in terms of alphabztical order.)

Relaxo wrote:
This looks great so far and you should be proud of it!

Thanks !
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papercut · Post by **papercut** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:24 pm

Remember the Tome of Horrors stuff is OGL as well, some of that stuff is from Ad&d. I volunteer to do some art if needed!

Wow, it looks great! Easily the best looking fan monster book out there!

One thing though, if the blue line monsters could be changed to blackline (in case someone wants to print em out).

Great job!

papercut
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Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:41 pm

papercut wrote:
Remember the Tome of Horrors stuff is OGL as well, some of that stuff is from Ad&d. I volunteer to do some art if needed!

Wow, it looks great! Easily the best looking fan monster book out there!

One thing though, if the blue line monsters could be changed to blackline (in case someone wants to print em out).

Great job!

Thanks. I aim at doing something reminding of the old fiend folio, with a similar cover (I have begun work on it too). When entirely finished, I will make it available as POD on lulu.com (where anyone interested will pay only for the printing an shipping process). Of course the PDF is free and all texts OGC.

However, the netbook will be on hiatus untill mid september due to real life absolute priorities (maybe in spare time I will work on it bits by bits, but not sure). As for art, the demon are in blue to indicate they are but sketches (by myself). I will make the illustration when I have time. More drawings would be good too. I would have to check which ones don't have a pic yet, so there aren't redundant illustrations. Now, if you want to make drawings for some of clavis123's monsters (see Woman in White thread), that would be great. Also, one full page illustration A4/300 dpi in black and white would be welcome (such as some monsters in action in a suitable dungeon environment).
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:45 pm

You should probably not include the Denebian Slime Devil...

Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:06 pm

serleran wrote:
You should probably not include the Denebian Slime Devil...

Hum, it is currently included, so tell me why I should remove it. If it's a copyright problem, is this but the monster's name which causes a problem? In which case it could be named otherwise (such as "Distressing Slime Devil"). Or is the descriptive text copypasted? Of course if you really ask, I will remove it (but I don't know what really do with "probably" not include).
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:14 pm

The name, definitely, but it is not a copy -- it was inspired by the same-name creature that was written by Gary Gygax in a Strategic Review magazine, and hence, is the property of Wizards of the Coast. The abilities are essentially the same -- it was a conversion from the original write-up.

clavis123 · Post by **clavis123** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:42 pm

Of course, WOTC can't claim copyright over the name "Denebian Slime Devil" because it comes from the Star Trek episode "The Trouble With Tribbles".

Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:40 pm

Okay, I will but change the name. I hope someone proposes a good idea. It would be best if it began by "Den...", "Deo...", "Dep...", or "Deq...", "Dera...", "Derb...", etc., up to "Derr" because next monster is "Derro".
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aethelulf22 · Post by **aethelulf22** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:01 pm

Wow. Just seen this. Great stuff! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Eisenmann · Post by **Eisenmann** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:58 pm

This is indeed great stuff.

Turanil · Post by **Turanil** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:05 am

Turanil wrote:
Okay, I will but change the name. I hope someone proposes a good idea. It would be best if it began by "Den...", "Deo...", "Dep...", or "Deq...", "Dera...", "Derb...", etc., up to "Derr" because next monster is "Derro".

Finally, I renamed it "Depressing Slime Devil". I had also thought of "Deplorable Slime Devil", but I thought it sounds too Vancian (comical).
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clavis123 · Post by **clavis123** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 3:12 pm

Turanil, the work so far looks great. Thank you for being willing to take on such a big project for the community. I can't wait so see the finished product.