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Post by lazzylake on Sept 29, 2023 23:37:56 GMT -5
Since the 20th anniversary Ultimate edition book is coming out in a couple of weeks, thought this would be a fun topic to discuss!
Here are a few topics to get started with: -Cats that have interesting potential for their own entries -Cats that will likely have their entries expanded due to more being known about their character -Opinions on the cover art -Concerns about incorrect depictions of cats in their illustrations -Theories surrounding the exclusive StarClan POV story
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Post by TawnystarIsReal on Sept 30, 2023 7:59:06 GMT -5
Comparing the new cover to the first ultimate guide cover, it looks awful. I know the first one reused art from cats of the clans, but 80% of the art was new for the added cats. The art of them and description were next to each other so it was all basically on the same page. The new guide uses previous cover art, and if it’s new, the shading/lighting completely ruins it. Even though I know what these cats look like, you can’t tell what color their fur is because the lighting changes it completely. They also listed Ivypool with a brown coat and gray eyes. Since WHEN??? She looks ginger in her new art because the lighting, like I said, is atrocious. Since the new cover artist joined when Wayne passed, I’ve never been able to identify who’s on the cover. Wayne added shading/lighting when needed, but that didn’t change a cats color completely: you could still tell what color their fur was. Someone also pointed out that all the cats in the new covers have white muzzles. I know some of the old art had that as well, but it wasn’t on every single cat. I can’t image how many description mistakes will be in this, but I know there will be a good amount. I’m very disappointed and won’t be buying it. If they put effort into it, it would actually be good
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Post by کیوان on Sept 30, 2023 8:52:30 GMT -5
Of course when it comes to ultimate guides, there’s a standard to be upheld. I want to see some new art. I was to see some profound character synopses and unique stories. But most of all, I want to see some raw information.
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Post by Discguts on Sept 30, 2023 9:05:01 GMT -5
The fact that it's mostly reused art is pretty dissapointing. Was gonna buy it but this part specifically is turning me away from it. Doesn't help that I don't like the art.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2023 9:07:26 GMT -5
I completely agree with TawnystarIsReal and کیوان In addition, these are some of my thoughts from a previous topic: I completely called the reuse of cover art back in January lol. wcrpforums.com/thread/90637/ultimate-guide-20th-anniversary-editionStill really disappointed. Hard pass for me, I think (but I was already on the fence about purchasing it anyway). I know the other guide had reused art, but at least that art was from one guide to another and not just regular cover art. That's exactly why reusing the cover art is just so ridiculous. You literally cannot even tell who some of these cats are supposed to be due to the lighting. A character guide should be showing off the character's designs and traits, but you simply cannot do that with these covers because they are so blasted with 50 layers of lighting. The original pictures of Sandstorm and Feathertail are beautiful, and that only makes the fact that they're reusing not-so-nice-looking (imo) cover art that much worse. I just feel that it drives me nuts in the same way that the cheaper paper quality and covers (and now lack of SE comic) drives me nuts. There is so much corner cutting despite the fact that the series is only growing more and more and I just feel like fans deserve better. And I want to strongly say that if you are excited for this book, please continue to be. In no way, shape or form do I want to make anyone feel bad about purchasing this book or being excited for it. My opinions are simply my own and anyone else has the right to feel differently. Not to mention this is all with the fact that some of the "new" art is BLATANTLY traced from pre-existing art (Raggedstar being traced from Graystripe's SE art). I have also heard that a lot of the text for character profiles will more or less be the same from the old guide. You can see the post talking about it here: If this is true for most characters, not to mention the guide is also rehashing the story of Bramblestar and Tigerstar getting their nine lives when that could have gone to new content, then this has to be one of the saddest excuses of a series guide that I have seen. I think the make up of this entire guide is incompetent at best, and crooked at worst. It's ridiculous that a series that is only growing more and more can be so lazy.
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Post by کیوان on Sept 30, 2023 10:26:28 GMT -5
Aww, man. And here I was hoping from a fresh outlook on the characters from the original ultimate guide, especially now that we have AVoS, TBC, AND ASC to consider.
I'm still holding out for what new content there may be, but I guess we can start getting hyped for ASC book 4 now.
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Post by User33 on Sept 30, 2023 10:36:09 GMT -5
I completely agree with TawnystarIsReal and کیوان In addition, these are some of my thoughts from a previous topic: I completely called the reuse of cover art back in January lol. wcrpforums.com/thread/90637/ultimate-guide-20th-anniversary-editionStill really disappointed. Hard pass for me, I think (but I was already on the fence about purchasing it anyway). I know the other guide had reused art, but at least that art was from one guide to another and not just regular cover art. That's exactly why reusing the cover art is just so ridiculous. You literally cannot even tell who some of these cats are supposed to be due to the lighting. A character guide should be showing off the character's designs and traits, but you simply cannot do that with these covers because they are so blasted with 50 layers of lighting. The original pictures of Sandstorm and Feathertail are beautiful, and that only makes the fact that they're reusing not-so-nice-looking (imo) cover art that much worse. I just feel that it drives me nuts in the same way that the cheaper paper quality and covers (and now lack of SE comic) drives me nuts. There is so much corner cutting despite the fact that the series is only growing more and more and I just feel like fans deserve better. And I want to strongly say that if you are excited for this book, please continue to be. In no way, shape or form do I want to make anyone feel bad about purchasing this book or being excited for it. My opinions are simply my own and anyone else has the right to feel differently. Not to mention this is all with the fact that some of the "new" art is BLATANTLY traced from pre-existing art (Raggedstar being traced from Graystripe's SE art). I have also heard that a lot of the text for character profiles will more or less be the same from the old guide. You can see the post talking about it here: If this is true for most characters, not to mention the guide is also rehashing the story of Bramblestar and Tigerstar getting their nine lives when that could have gone to new content, then this has to be one of the saddest excuses of a series guide that I have seen. I think the make up of this entire guide is incompetent at best, and crooked at worst. It's ridiculous that a series that is only growing more and more can be so lazy. Did the Erins or anybody from HarperCollins have a response to any of these findings? Do they even acknowledge that we're aware of them tracing art for Raggedstar for example?
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