Best Shadowrun edition ART wise ?

silva · Post by **silva** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:10 am

For me its 2nd edition hands down. Combo Bradstreet + Laubenstein + Aulisio + Nelson + Elmore cover not only resulted in great ilos, but in crazily evocative ones too. I think other editions (20th anniversary mainly) managed to approach 2nd ed art quality, but never its evocativeness. Some samples that got printed in my memory:

Elmore:

Bradstreet:

Nelson:

Laubenstein:

Aulisio:

What is it for you ?

JonSetanta · Post by **JonSetanta** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:50 am

No contest, 2e. I'll agree wholeheartedly with that.

It's what I began with too.

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 4:20 am

yeah, that Elmore image is iconic Shadowrun, it was the genesis game box art too

Username17 · Post by **Username17** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:32 am

Early Shadowrun works were profoundly hit and miss. The hits are really impressive, for fuck's sake they had a young Alex Ross before he was famous. Still, there were some goofy looking line drawings that we try to not remember. First and second edition shared the same art across the board, so we can really lump them together.

Third edition went to a more cartoony style. It's more consistent, with less overtly bad pieces, but a lot of people think it isn't "serious" enough. I rather like it, but I totally understand the people who hate it for being "too goofy."

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[/img]

4th edition has bad art. Like, really bad art. I wrote parts of Augmentation and I am loathe to show the book to people because the cover art is so amazingly terrible. The best pieces in the books are actually reprints from earlier editions. If a piece of interior art really grabs you, nine times out of ten it originally debuted in a first edition book like Shadowtech or even the core book in 1989.

-Username17

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:57 am

Yeah, that Augmentation cover remains a mystery to me. I'm not a big fan of Sasso in the best of times, since a lot of his stuff ends up looking kinda flat due to shading or wonky proportions, but I still wouldn't have expected him to crap that one out.

silva · Post by **silva** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:29 pm

Yeah, I think its fair to get 1e/2e together because the art direction is really similar. Do you also think Shadowrun 2e was one of the most evocative RPG products art-wise ever ? I mean, I agree with Frank that it wasnt so consistent, and it had some really bad pieces, but overall its a fantastic job, with lots of really memorable pictures.

P.S: I specially love the Contacts section, even more than the Critters one. Its impressive how much personality Laubenstein managed to put on those little ilos.

P.S: oh my, that Augmentation book is really awful. (on the other hand, the contents are awesome, kudos to Frank for participating on its creation

)

silva · Post by **silva** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:30 pm

Yeah, I think its fair to get 1e/2e together because the art direction is really similar. Do you also think Shadowrun 2e was one of the most evocative RPG products art-wise ever ? I mean, I agree with Frank that it wasnt so consistent, and it had some really bad pieces, but overall its a fantastic job, with lots of really memorable pictures.

P.S: I specially love the Contacts section, even more than the Critters one. Its impressive how much personality Laubenstein managed to put on those little ilos.

P.S: oh my, that Augmentation book is really awful. (on the other hand, the contents are awesome, kudos to Frank for participating on its creation

)

silva · Post by **silva** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:31 pm

Yeah, I think its fair to get 1e/2e together because the art direction is really similar. Do you also think Shadowrun 2e was one of the most evocative RPG products art-wise ever ? I mean, I agree with Frank that it wasnt so consistent, and it had some really bad pieces, but overall its a fantastic job, with lots of really memorable pictures.

P.S: I specially love the Contacts section, even more than the Critters one. Its impressive how much personality Laubenstein managed to put on those little ilos.

P.S2: oh my, that Augmentation book is really awful. (on the other hand, the contents are awesome, kudos to Frank for participating on its creation)

JesterZero · Post by **JesterZero** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:15 pm

1st and 2nd edition were especially strong with respect to the interior black and white art. There were a few bizarre ones, but overall that was a really great look.

Now, the color pieces were far more hit and miss. Yes, the cover for 1st and 2nd edition was ridiculously good, but remember the archetypes from 2nd? Yeah...not the best.

3rd was particularly egregious in my mind. Not because of the cartoony style of the covers...I was fine with that. But so many of the interior pieces just looked like someone went crazy with a black sharpie marker. I think it was supposed to come off as dark and mildly disturbing, but it really came off as whoever-drew-this-cannot-draw.

4th and 5th can be somewhat lumped together as well. And for what it's worth, while there weren't a whole lot of really memorable pieces, I will say that the archtypes from those books were exceptions to that rule...very nice portraits overall.

silva · Post by **silva** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 11:15 pm

but remember the archetypes from 2nd? Yeah...not the best

I find them awesome. Kind of cartoon, but in a good way.

(and that David Bowiesque Elven Decker is pure style! )

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Sun Nov 17, 2013 12:11 pm

Some of John Zeleznik's RIFTS covers would've been nice for Shadowrun:

I generally like hand drawn/painted stuff more than purely digital, and the best digital artists are ones who can paint/draw real well with physical media.

That 3rd edition cartoony style, I forget the name of that painter but he's a European right? I've seen similar stuff with fantasy dwarves and trolls, the guy has a really detailed playfulness to his work.

Concise Locket · Post by **Concise Locket** » Mon Nov 18, 2013 7:57 pm

SR3 was notorious for its plagiarized artwork. Some of the spot illustrations from Rigger 3 were traced from GI Joe comics.

While I love me some Jeff Laubenstein, early SR's black and white art was very hit and miss. Bradstreet gets a lot of props but his illustrations are overly photo-referenced. I don't think he drew anything other than dudes standing against graffiti-covered walls (see also: John Constantine: Hellblazer and The Punisher cover art). And none of them were trolls or dwarfs, which would actually require some fantasy art talent.

From an overall layout and quality-of-illustration perspective, later 4th edition and SR5 are probably the best. Those artists maximize digital mixed media (without lying on the Poser crutch) and at least try to create a sense of place, rather than just "medium shot of dudes with guns and leather jackets standing around." Y'know, typical cyberpunk RPG artwork.

silva · Post by **silva** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:01 am

Consice Locket wrote:From an overall layout and quality-of-illustration perspective, later 4th edition and SR5 are probably the best

Agreed. From a pure technical point of view, the 20th anniversary edition is the best imo.

Those artists maximize digital mixed media (without lying on the Poser crutch) and at least try to create a sense of place, rather than just "medium shot of dudes with guns and leather jackets standing around." Y'know, typical cyberpunk RPG artwork.

If you´re implying early SR 1e/2e art is "generic cyberpunk" then I totally disagree. On the contrary, for me the 1st/2nd editions artwork are the more authentic and exotic of all, giving the setting´s visual identity a strong personality of itself which the subsequent editions lacked. In fact, I would go as far to say 1e/2e imagery is directly responsible for the huge popularity the game achieved worldwide in the 90s.

Concise Locket · Post by **Concise Locket** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 3:00 pm

silva wrote:If you´re implying early SR 1e/2e art is "generic cyberpunk" then I totally disagree. On the contrary, for me the 1st/2nd editions artwork are the more authentic and exotic of all, giving the setting´s visual identity a strong personality of itself which the subsequent editions lacked. In fact, I would go as far to say 1e/2e imagery is directly responsible for the huge popularity the game achieved worldwide in the 90s.

Cyberpunk and SR pulled from the same pool of freelance artists in the late '80s/early '90s. The work done for R. Talsorian was identical minus the elf ears, ork tusks, and war bonnets. Bradstreet went on to White Wolf and did the same compositions for Vampire.

I'm not arguing that the books weren't visually distinct. The critter guides and contact mugshots were gorgeous. But full on landscapes and cityscapes were rare-to-nonexistent and thus early SR work was pretty samey across titles. I did commercial illustration in a past life and I know it's easier to get friends to pose in front of a wall for a reference photo than having to deal with three-point perspective and imaginary landscapes. Those early SR artists either weren't getting paid enough to push their medium or they didn't have time to do work that required a real understanding of architecture and urban planning.

silva · Post by **silva** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 5:59 pm

Locket, I think you´re confusing things, because I have the Cyberpunk 2020 corebook plus some sourcebooks myself and I dont think it shares any artists with Shadowrun at all, at least not the SR "main ones" (Laub, Brad, Janet, Nelson). And while I do agree that early SR pics were of the unidimensional poser type, I think they had a lot of depth and personality that distinguished them. Just compare it with the Cyberpunk 2020 ones, or even with the poser ones from SR subsequent editions, and youll see what I mean.

Also, I really liked the Mark Zug archetypes for 3rd edition. The infiltrator, investigator and combat decker come to mind as really good ones. Sadly the street sam got a really bad depiction in that edition, resembling more a cable-like marvel superhero than a shadowrunner.

Neurosis · Post by **Neurosis** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:27 pm

Tough call, I've got to give the nod to the 2E Era for purely nostalgia based reasons, but tbh SR4A's art is just AMAZING, quality wise.