I’m working on a Shadow World Players Guide which will have a lot of Vue landscape renders as well as some drawings. As it’s still in progress, I can’t add any images here so I have a couple of other things to show.

A Vue render trying out a technique for ‘hyperterrains’ – the name given to the creation of the unusual shaped terrains which aren’t possible in the traditional terrain creation process.

An old-school Vector in Adobe Illustrator. Some subtle object blends but mostly a line work. Michelle is the woman featured and she has a gallery here.

That’s it for now.

(Software – Vue Pro Studio 7)

As always, click that image for a larger version.

Why am I seeing this banner?

I’ve included this banner on all blog posts that have used a Vue product. Primarily Vue Complete.

There’s a reason for that – and it’s a simple reason: It’s because it IS a large pillar towering above the clouds.

(Software – Vue Pro Studio 7)

This a location in the Shadow World which is a campaign setting produced by ICE for their Rolemaster rule-set (for both Rolemaster Classic [RMC] and Rolemaster Fantasy Roleplaying [RMFRP] which is my favourite) that’s known as The Pillar of the Gods.

Millions of years ago, a singularity passed through the core of the planet; the pillar standing here was the molten core sucked out as the singularity exited the planet and cooling in the atmosphere.

I just liked the idea of that and needed to create an image of the pillar disappearing through the clouds. I’m trying out variations of this as we speak and I’ll upload these as well once I’m happy.

The Shadow World was the idea of Terry Kevin Amthor who must be an amazing genius to come up with a whole planet, weaving intricate and detailed backgrounds for all the peoples. I thoroughly recommend the Shadow World setting to anyone who loves to roleplay. There’s plenty of information provided so you can create adventures and fortunately for me, who’s not so good in the story creation, there’s a large amount of pre-made adventures.

I have no doubt that my inspiration in the future will be owed to the Shadow World series which means more images from me.

As always, click that image for a larger version.

Why am I seeing this banner?

I’ve included this banner on all blog posts that have used a Vue product. Primarily Vue Complete.

It’s that time of the month again – it’s ICE’s map contest! This time it’s a lair for Kobolds (a lesser goblin type creature).

I was going to enter the old-school hand drawn map that I uploaded here – old-school map but after I added a little bit of texture to it, I just had to carry on!

Here is the opening spread describing the tactics the kobold’s would use to defend their lair and a larger map view is below that.

And here’s a close up of the textures so you can see it at it’s actual size

This is the cover illustration used for the PDF depicting the nasty trap the Kobold’s have in store for unsuspecting adventurers!

Click those images for a larger version!

Check it out – Craig’s Sketchpad Gallery

…and ironically, this post has no pictures.

I’ll also be adding a gallery at Craig John (the Blog) which will include more of the ‘design’ projects covering both web and print work but I’ll let you know when that happens.

I’ve been looking through some of the b/w drawn maps and I like them. So much so that I thought my first entry would be in that style (and it meant I could draw it while watching TV).

I need to stick it in a PDF with separate pages tiling the map, but here it is in it’s full size form.

As usual, click the image for a larger version.

Click for that larger version.

This is my final entry in ICE’s (Iron Crown Enterprises) Crypt Map Contest. Pictured is the cover and some interior spreads. This is the final Crypt Map PDF, click to download it. Information on the contest can be found in the ICE’s web site – ICE web site.

My final entry into the Temple Map Contest had a runners up prize and I’ve taken a different tack with this entry, I’ve made it a lot smaller in scale which meant it didn’t hit the 2GB max file size for 1 file and working on it was a whole lot quicker!

Click to see larger versions.

Yet another biro sketch.

Click to see the larger image.

…and yes, it’s probably time I started the map itself!