Erol Otus does it again!

Geoffrey · Post by **Geoffrey** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:33 am

In March Goodman Games will release the 25th module in their Dungeon Crawl Classics series: The Dread Crypt of Srihoz. Here's the link:

http://www.goodman-games.com/5024preview.php

The most important thing, though, is its ultra-cool Erol Otus cover! I think it is the finest of his recent works.

YorkusRex · Post by **YorkusRex** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:46 am

I really can't get enough of Erol Otus' new stuff.

I'd love to see an art book in the vein of the old "Art of" books that focuses soley on 1e art.

merkholz · Post by **merkholz** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:23 am

Great art! Erol Otus, the master of the weird and twisted, gets to do an aboleth - a really twisted creature! Great stuff!

M

Rhuvein · Post by **Rhuvein** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:22 pm

That is awesome! He is one of the masters for sure.

WSmith · Post by **WSmith** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:36 pm

It is a shame I have a beef with Goodman Games, cause I would love to check out this stuff, even though it is d20.

Shoot, come to think of it, I don't remember why I am pissed at Goodman Games anymore.

Maybe I will check it out.

TheDungeonDelver · Post by **TheDungeonDelver** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:37 pm

WSmith wrote:It is a shame I have a beef with Goodman Games, cause I would love to check out this stuff, even though it is d20.

Shoot, come to think of it, I don't remember why I am pissed at Goodman Games anymore. Maybe I will check it out.

I know why I do...but anyway, yeah, that's some fine artwork.

I wonder what Erol's rates are? Maybe I could afford front and back covers for a Delver module...

Akrasia · Post by **Akrasia** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:10 pm

I wish you could buy some of those Otus covers as posters -- I'd love to have a few hanging in my gaming den!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:16 pm

Smith: "It is a shame I have a beef with Goodman Games, cause I would love to check out this stuff, even though it is d20."

So, from the write up you'd think this was a game made by a 79'-82' hardcore oldschooler brought up on 1E goodness (and enemy to all D20/3E/2E/anything that looks or smells like it). Are you saying with this company the official line and cover art is disingenous? Within this well illustrated 32pg module will we find the living spirit of Gygaxian AD&D oozing from the text and encounters, or will we find more chump change?

This seems to be a common problem with new modules (claims of old school, old school cover art, crap inside). Thats why its "buy at your own risk". Of course, I won't make that assumption about Goodman Games nor this adventure (sounds good: a cliff, an old vampire dungeon, a cool monster on teh cover), but is it secretly made to appeal to the D20 gamer? Does anyone have this module?

PS I hear he's pricey. But if your trying to make money off your module the cover artist is the way to go. Everything else is irrelavent until after the sale is made (and its out of the wrapper).

WSmith · Post by **WSmith** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:22 pm

The few Goodman Games Dungeon Crawls I saw look awesome from from the outside, but the meat and potatoes just don't seem right, or truely old school.

Ahh, now I remember why I was ticked off. It wasn't the products. That is all I will say on the matter.

TheDungeonDelver · Post by **TheDungeonDelver** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:24 pm

Akrasia wrote:I wish you could buy some of those Otus covers as posters -- I'd love to have a few hanging in my gaming den!

Talk to the guys at the acaeum - a lot of those fellows have original (I mean ORIGINAL) AD&D artwork they've salvaged from trash heaps in Lake Geneva over the years. Heck one of 'em has the cover to the Dungeon Master's Guide - the original oil on canvas by Sutherland!

Sir Clarence · Post by **Sir Clarence** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:37 pm

Now this is how an aboleth should look like!

Another must-buy for me.....

MrFilthyIke · Post by **MrFilthyIke** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:09 pm

I must say, while I feel Erol's stuff is good for nostalgia, I've never been to terribly enamored of his work.

This picture though, is very good. I like it a lot. There is action, and the coloring and depth is very nice.

Congrats Mr Otus on a well done piece of art.

WSmith · Post by **WSmith** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:17 pm

I just went and looked through the art on the website of the other modules. It is leaps and bounds above the "official prodcut" line artwork.

Melan · Post by **Melan** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:23 pm

This is a great Erol Otus image, but from his more recent work, the cover of Bloody Jack's Gold is my favourite:

Unfortunately, the module didn't live up to my expectations at all. Other Goodman books are good, but this particular example didn't follow through with its implicite promises.

That said, Otus is still the best gaming related artist I know of - only John Blanche comes close.

Geoffrey · Post by **Geoffrey** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:36 pm

Melan, that is indeed a fine piece of Erol Otus's recent work. It is suitably tentacled. If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.

Handy Haversack · Post by **Handy Haversack** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:49 pm

Geoffrey wrote:If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.

Maybe tentacles?

Pointy Stick · Post by **Pointy Stick** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:52 pm

Handy Haversack wrote:
Geoffrey wrote:If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.
Maybe tentacles?

Or that sauce that looks like ketchup, and tastes like ketchup, but brother, it ain't ketchup?

Handy Haversack · Post by **Handy Haversack** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:56 pm

Pointy Stick wrote:
Handy Haversack wrote:
Geoffrey wrote:If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.
Maybe tentacles?
Or that sauce that looks like ketchup, and tastes like ketchup, but brother, it ain't ketchup?

More testicles means more iron!

Pointy Stick · Post by **Pointy Stick** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:57 pm

Handy Haversack wrote:
Pointy Stick wrote:
Handy Haversack wrote:
Geoffrey wrote:If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.
Maybe tentacles?
Or that sauce that looks like ketchup, and tastes like ketchup, but brother, it ain't ketchup?
More testicles means more iron!

And iron helps us play!

Tarrax Ironwolf · Post by **Tarrax Ironwolf** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:20 pm

Pointy Stick wrote:
Handy Haversack wrote:
Pointy Stick wrote:
Handy Haversack wrote:
Geoffrey wrote:If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.
Maybe tentacles?
Or that sauce that looks like ketchup, and tastes like ketchup, but brother, it ain't ketchup?
More testicles means more iron!
And iron helps us play!

Please don't say 'with our testicles!'

*snicker* Cause I already did!

Pointy Stick · Post by **Pointy Stick** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:25 pm

Tarrax Ironwolf wrote:
Pointy Stick wrote:
Handy Haversack wrote:
Pointy Stick wrote:
Handy Haversack wrote:
Geoffrey wrote:If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.
Maybe tentacles?
Or that sauce that looks like ketchup, and tastes like ketchup, but brother, it ain't ketchup?
More testicles means more iron!
And iron helps us play!
Please don't say 'with our testicles!'

*snicker* Cause I already did!

Fortunately, not even the Simpsons go that far. Though I do refer you to "Sneed's Seed and Feed (formerly "Chuck's")."

GutboyBarrelhouse · Post by **GutboyBarrelhouse** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:41 pm

Just popping in to reaffirm that Erol Otus is a God.

Cheers,
Mark B./GBBH

EracsCousinsUncle · Post by **EracsCousinsUncle** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:03 am

My group has played through Secret of Smugglers Cove, Sunless Garden, and Eyrie of the Crow God, and they're all very enjoyable and terrifically old-school. No one else in d20 has come even close to the Dungeon Crawl Classics line's 1E charm and feel.

EracsCousinsUncle · Post by **EracsCousinsUncle** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:09 am

That said, yes, Erol Otus is a god. Check out these covers:

http://www.goodman-games.com/5012preview.php
and
http://www.goodman-games.com/5009preview.php
and
http://www.goodman-games.com/5007preview.php
and
http://www.goodman-games.com/5017preview.php

and lets not forget Jeff Dee:
http://www.goodman-games.com/5018preview.php

and Roslof (i set that one up

):
http://www.goodman-games.com/5027preview.php

These covers make me feel like I'm thirteen again!

predavolk · Post by **predavolk** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:19 am

MrFilthyIke wrote:I must say, while I feel Erol's stuff is good for nostalgia, I've never been to terribly enamored of his work.
This picture though, is very good. I like it a lot. There is action, and the coloring and depth is very nice.
Congrats Mr Otus on a well done piece of art.

I agree. I've always like Elmore's work better. Actually, I prefer MOST other artists to Otus. Yes, it's nostalgic. Yes, it's interesting in a campy kind of way. Yes, it's generally nice work. But it just doesn't have enough punch for my tastes.

Geoffrey · Post by **Geoffrey** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:11 am

Handy Haversack wrote:
Geoffrey wrote:If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.
Maybe tentacles?

eek · Post by **eek** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 3:11 am

I always liked Otus' work. Yes, partly for nostlgia, but I dig his work as an artist. I is good to see him still producing cool work.

dcas · Post by **dcas** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 3:32 am

I'm not too fond of Otus' work, either, but I don't think D&D would quite be D&D without it.

bclarkie · Post by **bclarkie** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 4:47 am

I really love Otus' artwork. If I had to make a top 3 of D&D artists, he would most certainly be in it.

Melan · Post by **Melan** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 1:15 pm

Geoffrey wrote:Melan, that is indeed a fine piece of Erol Otus's recent work. It is suitably tentacled. If an Erol Otus piece does not have tentacles, it's missing something.

Surely not. The Basic D&D cover has no tentacles, and yet it is the best Otus painting I have ever seen!

Dragonsfoot

Erol Otus does it again!

Erol Otus does it again!

DCC