This version is shrunk down for the original, since it's almost 6 MB and 9600 pixels tall. Still, I intend to post detail shots of the scenes... but not tonight. I'm taking a break.
--Original Post--
Bear with me for a sec here, guys. I'm taking an Illustration class at art school. Our current assignment is to create an "editorial" illustration: we pick a topic, write up an editorial on it, and create a full-page illustration to go along with it. The topic I picked was Dwarf Fortress' inclusion in MoMA, with the editorial on how awesome DF is, emphasizing its status as a feat of programming, its depth in gameplay, how it merits as a work of art, etc. etc. (the instructor suggested we pick smething we can get passionate about, see).
Here's where you guys come in: I want the illustration to depict a scene that encapsulates what DF is, but what kind of scene would do that in the most effective manner possible?
At the time of writing, I have two possible ideas--one, a scene from a community game (probably Boatmurdered); two, a scene depicting a Forgotten Beast attack, with the FB facing down the military in a cavern, with a clear view of a magma pumpstack in the background. I feel that either one would be "good," but I'd like to have a "great" concept for the illustration. What do you, the madmen of Bay 12, have to suggest?
EDIT: I've now got the project figured out
Had the class again today. Of the concept sketches shown, Halceon's idea was what got the most positive feedback, so that's what I'll be going with. What I've done is a rough sketch of a cross-section of a fortress and the caverns it's a part of; once I've cleaned that up and made it more professional-looking, then I'll do the same with various scenes (many of which inspired by others' suggestions here) of dwarves doing dwarf-ish things and shrink them down to fit the cross-section panorama.
Here's what I've got so far--though bear in mind these are very rough (most of my sketches tend to be):
As you can see (or maybe you can't. I dunno how clear this is), "Museum of Modern Art" is carved out between cavern layers. It was suggested that the image be tied back into the article a bit more (i.e., DF being displayed at MOMA), and that struck me as acceptable, since it seemed like it could be construed as a megaproject.
Here we see a tantruming dwarf chasing another dwarf around with a throne to beat him with (though can you blame him? That hair is awfully elven-looking), while a third dwarf and his cat friend (each scene will have at least one cat, dead or alive) watch the show.
As for what else will be in the illustration,
- The area marked 1 is the outside of the fort, so naturally there will be a beseiging goblin army and a merchant caravan struggling to get inside.
- Area 2 is where there will be some workshops, including an artifact-producing dwarf.
- Area 3 is the hospital/cemetery (for whatever reason, I always have the two right next to each other), where one or more bedridden dwarves watch haulers carry the dead to their final resting places.
- Area 4 is the dining hall and kitchen, where the above scene will be located (among others, possibly).
- The bottom-left part of the first M in "Museum" (indicated by the 5) is a breached aquifer which resulted in the entire word getting filled up with water. Naturally, at some points along the word are dwarf and cat skeletons of those unfortunate to not escape the flood.
- Area 6 marks where there will be several waterwheels hooked up to a pump that's pumping water from the word "Museum," as it wouldn't be Dwarf Fortress without some demonstration of dwarven physics, so a perpetual motion device is practically a must.
- Area 7 is the prison, where some ne'er-do-well is about to receive justice from the hammerer.
- Area 8 marks the first cavern layer and the word "of," which the eagle-eyed will note connects the first cavern and the second cavern together--something which a winged Uninvited Guest to the dwarves takes full advantage of.
- Areas 9 and 10 are the second and third cavern layers, respectively (and obviously). Haven't got much planned for them yet, aside from the obligatory GCS feasting upon the body of its latest victim.
- Area 11 is the Magma Sea (which unfortunately got cut off by the scanner, but there wasn't much to see, anyway). As any good dwarf knows, with magma comes fun, and is best transported with a pumpstack, indicated by the long, vertical shaft by the 12 (and powered by the aforementioned perpetual motion device). The magma is carried up to area 13, above which is a bridge (not shown) that will retract and send the invading force to a fiery death.
- The magma also fills up the word "Modern" and provides power to the magma forges marked at area 14. The magma is cut off by a contstructed wall in the hall next to the bottom of the N. A wall being built by a mason standing on the wrong side.
- And finally, the lower-right portion of the A in "Art," marked by area 15, pokes a hole in one of the cotton candy tubes, heralding the circus' arrival.
EDITEDIT: And now those scenes and others sketched up!
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Topic: Illustrating Dwarf Fortress- Now Complete! (sort of) (Read 7930 times)