Vroat versus Phraint!
Vroat versus Phraint!
Vroat versus Phraint!
Vroat versus Phraint!
Vroat versus Phraint!
A vroat is a half-crocogator/half-frog, while a phraint is a totally rad bug-man (sort of a proto-thri kreen). Both are from the classic Arduin setting/game/steak sauce/shoe polish. And Erol Otus is the king of old school gaming illustrators.
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I used to have a copy of "The Arduin Adventure," which was sort of an intro-to-the-game.
ReplyDeleteUm, it wasn;t very good. In a cute way.
Awesome! Got one of the flying sharks? :)
ReplyDeleteCan you tell us where this Erol Otus illo was found, originally? Did he do artwork for one of the Grimoires? I have two of them, didn't notice any Otus in those...
ReplyDeleteAs I understand it, the first printing of the original Arduin Grimoire contained Otus illos. These were removed from subsequent printings of the work and as far as I can tell Otus did no other work for David Hargrave. I've only seen this picture in a couple of places on the net, such as on the cover of a fan PDF and in a wikipedia article on Otus or Arduin.
ReplyDeletenetwyrm: I don't have any airshark illos, but here's a link to pictures of air shark minis you can buy.
http://empcho.bizhosting.com/monsterminis.html
The only copy of Arduin I ever actually gamed with (owned -- and owned still, I assume -- by a gamer named John Franks, one of the two EC is dedicated to) had this illustration ... It's a tragedy to learn that it was removed in later printings :(
ReplyDeleteI don't think Franks was ever aware that he had a first printing, specifically (or that he thought of it in those terms; he certainly prided himself on being "an Arduin gamer from way back").
I'm proud to say I'm an Arduin lover. The Worldbook of Khaas is a continual source of joy for me to read. Early RPG zaniness at its absolute best..and delightfully worst. :)
ReplyDelete"It's a tragedy to learn that it was removed in later printings :("
ReplyDeleteThe strange thing is, that's not the only time that happened to Otus. Some (but not all) of his illos were removed from the Keep on the Borderlands between the first and second printings. And his Cthulhu Mythos pieces, some of his best B&W work ever, were excised from the Deities & Demigods. That last one at least has a know explanation.
And don't forget that his artwork was the reason "Alma Mater" was prohibited from public display at GenCon and Origins ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they're still doing it, but the last time I was at GenCon (many years ago) you could still get it there, sold in an unmarked white envelope. I think at that point it was more a point of pride to keep it covered up, rather than a requirement by the event.
There I go being anonymous again!
ReplyDelete