#Magic Realms

[vintagerpg]

I love art books. I’ve got a ton of them. Been enjoying them ever since I was a lad, so, uh, several decades. Keep that in mind when I say I am not sure I have ever experienced an art book go so hard as Magic Realms: The Art of Fighting Fantasy (2024).

In terms of scope, there aren’t many books that are comparable. Art & Arcana, I guess, as a collection of art for a game that’s been around for several decades. A&A is so concerned with being on message (about D&D’s place in history, culture, the market place) though, that the art part of the book often feels secondary to the propaganda. Magic Realms isn’t worried about any of that. It wants to show you all the awesome art. And it does. For 350 pages. It’s unrelenting and, while it does not contain all the Fighting Fantasy artwork in existence, the density of artwork on display makes it seem like it must be damn close. Part of this is the remarkable consistency the gamebooks have had over the years. Even modern iterations with wildly different styles find ways to conform to a greater whole; every piece in this thing is recognizably FF in some way.

And yet, the focus is not on Fighting Fantasy as a brand or lifestyle or whatever. It’s squarely on the artists. 28 get in-depth treatment in alphabetical order, frankly an insane pool of talent including Ian Miller, Russ Nicholson, Iain McCaig, Martin McKenna, Chris Achilleos, Les Edwards and so many more, all at the top of their game, most displaying four illustrations up on a page (John Blanche has so many iconic pieces that his eventually go twelve-up to save space!). All of these are accompanied by a short essay explaining their place in Fighting Fantasy’s legacy (including, in the case of McKenna, Achilleos and Nicholson, brief mentions honoring their passings). The last hundred pages is split between surveys of more minor artists, artists for overseas editions, many collections of variant covers and some derivative products.

Seriously, go buy this, even if you don’t have a previously established relationship with Fighting Fantasy. If you like fantasy art or monsters, there is more than enough to entertain. It’ll blow your mind, I guarantee.

[rhythmicreverie]

Once upon a dusk, a forlorn soul did yearn, To unveil the secret gift locked within hisurn. In shadows of the moon, he found the key, And unlocked realms of magic in the mystic sea. With every verse, he dove into the depths, Discovering creatures and enchantments that breathed. As whispers of the wind whispered secrets untold, He embraced his fate and became a bard of old. In echoes of his voice, the world was spun, Fantastical realms and creatures were born, For in the heart of darkness, he found his worth, And as the sun rose, so did his new-found birth.

[downthetubes]

Sir Ian Livingstone "Magic Realms" Launch Party at Barnes Bookshop, Signing at Forbidden Planet London

A launch party for the new art book celebrating the art of Fighting Fantasy, co-written by Sir Ian Livingstone CBE and Fighting Fantasy historian Jonathan Green, will take place at the Barnes Bookshop on Thursday 5th September, with Sir Ian in attendance

[prosegalaxy]

In twilight's gloom, she found her gift, A talent for the realm unbound. Through forests dark and mountains mystic, She ventured, new worlds unraveled at her touch. A siren's voice, an artist's hand, In nature's embrace, she learned to dance. No more confined to mundane reality, She ruled the magic realms, a queen of wonders born.

[cosmicportal]

Definitely.

[batsyheere]

"So, handling your archnemesis," Danny starts. The room falls quiet, heads slowly turning to look at the man as he writes the words on the chalkboard. When finished, the characters somehow both messy and neat at once, Danny places the chalk back down and claps his hands.

"I typically call them fruitloops. Often they're in a better position than you are- older, richer, more powerful. They may have some sort of status that protects them when facing the public."

Tim wondered where Dick was right now, and if he was laughing. His brain was lagging like a computer as he tried to process what Danny was saying, and how seriously a few of his fellow teen vigilantes were taking this.

"Some of their more common tactics are-" the chalk was picked back up, and Danny writes as he speaks.

"Manipulation, isolation, conditioning, and empathy."

MICE.

Tim stares at the board, and quietly slips put his phone.

-What have I done to deserve this.

Enjoy your lessons Tim-

His head thumps against the desk. Conner leans over, gives him a pat on the shoulder but returns to taking notes as Danny goes on to explain the conditioning tactic.

[rosieandthemoon]

sculpted Glass by Amber Cowan

[zillychu]

sometimes you black out and just an entire Persona 5 AU in one night

did I ever settle on a design for phantom thief! Siffrin? no. anyway,

NOT fully mirroring the P5 plot!! it's a bit different! a few were hit with the obligatory anime teenager beam

Siffrin gets arrested for allegedly attacking someone with a knife! this did not happen. while trying to help someone, he in fact got knifed in the face and lost an eye.

the adoption system is about to drop their ass since they're nearly an adult and no one's too happy about the aggravated assault. fate drops him at Nille's doorstep, who takes pity on him but insists she's only housing his ass for some extra cash. Bonnie acquires another felon a sibling!

showing up to school looking like shit (anxiety, no sleep), with an eyepatch and a natural silent intensity, no one really questions if he's stabbed someone. everyone's pretty sure he's killed someone actually.

Mira and Isa are charged with helping the new local mass murderer get settled, and they slowly start to uncover the real Siffrin hiding under all that apprehension. Odile, the school nurse, is all kinds of queer so she's got these kids' backs. as the story progresses, they each have their own character arc around biting back on authority (Isa gets the courage to transition, and Mira stops straightening her hair)

what about everyone else's outfits? that's the fun part! SIFFRIN IS DOING ALL THIS PHANTOM THIEF SHIT ALONE

well not totally alone. they've got a weird cat now. they can talk (Siffrin wishes they didn't) and has a concerning amount of knowledge about the metaverse for being an amnesiac! (this worries them too, they just try not to show it)

the OTHER fun part is that Siffrin is doing half this phantom thief stuff in the metaverse, half in the real world. good news is, he has the magic metaverse stuff irl! bad news is he has the magic metaverse stuff irl. yeah it helps keep him from getting caught, but law enforcement starts rising quickly to military arms when you start breaking physics while also being a theater kid about it.

the meat of the plot is surrounding Siffrin's struggle to fit two lives into one, and how his friends are WAY too perceptive to keep this up forever. but they have to, because they've only barely convinced their friends to accept them. if they knew he was some evil freaky magic terrorist (he's not, but like, who would believe him when he's doing seemingly evil freaky magic terrorist things!), they'd turn him in, they'd be scared, they'd HATE him!!

btw there is no rival for Siffrin. he's his own rival. lets give the "I'm terrified I'm manipulating my friends" twink actual mind alteration powers and see what happens :))

[triviallytrue]

Lae'zel's reaction to Mystra telling Gale to blow himself up being "is Mystra stupid? doesn't she know we can kill the Absolute without resorting to tricks?" is such a great example of why she's my favorite character

[fayzart136]

Lol get hotdogged idiot/overflowing with affection

[vintagerpg]

More Fighting Fantasy art that any human can handle in one sitting. This week on the Vintage RPG Podcast, we check out Magic Realms: The Art of Fighting Fantasy, the most straight-down-to-it art book I’ve ever encountered. Absolutely jam packed with amazing art from across all four decades of the gamebook series. Do you dig black-and-white fantasy art, particularly from the UK in the ‘80s? Then buy this book, you won’t be disappointed.

[strangegrapefruit]

Amethyst Earrings

BGC

Both Frames

42 swatches

All LODs

Custom Thumbnails

Works with both human & most elf ears, you just need to tilt the ears backward in detail mode

Download (sfs)

Download (mega)

[sourclowncircus]

Happy Halloween! 🦇🎃👻 (Free)

Hi clownies! Hope you're all well, sorry for being MIA life has not been super great lately but really wanted to make something for Halloween so here we are

Hope you guys like this set and have the best Halloween ever! 🌛❤️💖

(items added on shelf are made by EA and the sims team and is just there to show you slots! was actually so easy to add slots idk what I was so scared of)

as always lmk if you encounter any issues with my cc ✨

Download here (public and free)

[shawsimmer]

🪄✨🔮

[prosegalaxy]

In the realm of enchantment, where fantastical creatures roam, A hero emerged, willing to make a great sacrifice for the good of all in his home. With a heart full of love and devotion, he made the ultimate choice, His noble act echoed through time, leaving an indelible mark in this vast universe. This is the summary of your work so far: 1. Created a science fiction poem based on A character makes a sacrifice for the greater good and Fantastical creatures and magical realms in under 100 words.

[radiohyo]

aaaaaaammmmmbbbbbbeeeeerrrrr