Process Video: 1992

As an exclusive perk for our paid subscribers, we present this video showing the step by step creation of Stan!'s cartoon homage to "Forbidden Lore."

In Episode 20 of the show, I had a great conversation with Lester Smith and started work on a cartoon homage to 1992’s Forbidden Lore boxed set. I’ve always loved this Clyde Caldwell cover painting … though I never really thought that it felt particularly like it necessarily belonged in Ravenloft.

Yeah … the wardrobe and architecture has a bit of a gothic vibe, rather than the medieval feeling that most core D&D art has. But the scene itself feels like something that might happen in ANY campaign world. Aside from the jump-scare of having a slathering beast leap from an open book, there isn’t anything necessarily horrific about it.

Now, of course, this was a relatively early RL product, and fans, designers, and artists were still figuring out what it meant to be playing in the Domains of Dread. And, of course, the art if gorgeous. So I’m in no way complaining. I’m just saying … this could happen to my rogue ANYWHERE. (And now I’m going to be very wary of all books we come across in my current campaigns.)

Subscribers to this newsletter got to see this drawing early, whereas the general public are only just getting their first glimpses of it today. But there’s still something left that’s JUST for the paid subscribers—a process video showing the step-by-step creation of this cartoon homage. (If you’re currently a free subscriber, now would be a great time to upgrade.)