
Bear with me if this kinda has a number of mistakes. I'm less afraid of illustrating humanoids than I am the whole prospect of learning how to paint proper, but I decided to give it a try all the same.
In some respects, this is how I envision
nic-polarbear 's character Nicholas Shakaal, a Dwarf in my Realm of Sejhat setting. He's an adventurer and an artillerist in a sort of high fantasy/steampunk hybrid universe where his race is torn between old and new traditions.
I'm not afraid to admit that Nicholas' look is based off of General Ambrose Burnside, especially his famous facial hair. Nicholas himself comes from a merchant upbringing and served in the Dwarven West Orient Company, where he found himself a good man placed in a bad situation. The fact that he lives shows that he made the most of tough circumstances.
In some respects, this is how I envision

I'm not afraid to admit that Nicholas' look is based off of General Ambrose Burnside, especially his famous facial hair. Nicholas himself comes from a merchant upbringing and served in the Dwarven West Orient Company, where he found himself a good man placed in a bad situation. The fact that he lives shows that he made the most of tough circumstances.
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Mammal (Other)
Size 880 x 600px
File Size 107.1 kB
I've tried to find fantasy book series that fit within the same historical epoch as the Realm of Sejhat, but I've only ever run across a handful.
I wonder if people buy Fantasy novels because they expect a medieval setting as opposed to a completely fantastic experience. People often say that they want adventure and oddity, but I think they factually wish for security and familiarity. I hope I can gather interest in this setting without alienating people from what they like about Fantasy.
I wonder if people buy Fantasy novels because they expect a medieval setting as opposed to a completely fantastic experience. People often say that they want adventure and oddity, but I think they factually wish for security and familiarity. I hope I can gather interest in this setting without alienating people from what they like about Fantasy.
That may be a bit of a tightrope act to carry out. Theres actually been quite a bit of experimentation by various authors in non medieval settings. LOTR actually wasnt particularly medieval when it came to the villains (in the book Return of the King, there is a strong reference to trench warfare when the Orcs creep up to Minas Tirith, though it isnt that way in the film).
The thing with fantasy is that it is meant to be an escape to something that is humanly recognizeable (ie with human institutions, emotions, etc), but VERY different from our MODERN, scientific, cynical, overpopulated world.
There is however a niche along those lines just mentioned, Steampunk, which is kind of a reimagining of the modern worlds parallels to the industrial age. I dont think you want to go in that direction though; WOW sort of did, mixing some steampunk (the gnomes and dwarves) with medieval fantasy, and it feels old.
The thing with fantasy is that it is meant to be an escape to something that is humanly recognizeable (ie with human institutions, emotions, etc), but VERY different from our MODERN, scientific, cynical, overpopulated world.
There is however a niche along those lines just mentioned, Steampunk, which is kind of a reimagining of the modern worlds parallels to the industrial age. I dont think you want to go in that direction though; WOW sort of did, mixing some steampunk (the gnomes and dwarves) with medieval fantasy, and it feels old.
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