Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

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Gerzel's picture
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factotums
Joined: 2004-05-10
Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

I'm looking for nominees. So if you have an idea on who it is please give their name and what works in particular you think makes them the best or a candidate for the best. The writer can be from official WOTC/TSR material, official Planewalker, or unofficial and even non-canon material. Also note if the work is primarily rules, adventures, or short story or novel format or even other (Can't forget Torment now can we?).

The work must have been published in some manner, even if it is just posted as fan matirial on the WWW on someone's homepage (if it is please link). Remember also there are many different types of writers, some do poems, plays and short stories, others do rules, programs and websites.

The purpose of this is to spawn discussion of what is good planescape writing.

bonemage's picture
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Joined: 2004-05-11
Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

Monte Cook is not only my favorite Planescape author but my favorite game designer in general.

I think his best work is likely Great Modron March/Dead Gods, but the Planewalkers handbook is pretty awesome, I hear Hell Bound is truly awesome, and I have been doing a lot of work in the astral lately so his guide to the Astral plane has been open a lot which is also written very well.

Other Planescape works to Monte's credit include Guide to the Inner Plane, PS Monster Compendium III, Tales of the Infinite Staircase, and Faction War.

Some of these works he worked with other authors but many of them are his own.

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factotums
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

Tony DiTerlizzi. He's not a writer, per se, but I doubt anyone would disagree as to his rockingness. He is personally responsible for a lot of what made Planescape so cool, and he didn't even write the books. He made Planescape the twisted, surreal place that it is, and didn't resort to characters dressed in tight black leather with buckles and studs.

Vinod Rams is a comparable artist still doing work for D&D.

But Monte Cook is also awesome, as is the entire Planescape team.

Gerzel's picture
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factotums
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

"Rhys" wrote:
Tony DiTerlizzi. He's not a writer, per se, but I doubt anyone would disagree as to his rockingness. He is personally responsible for a lot of what made Planescape so cool, and he didn't even write the books. He made Planescape the twisted, surreal place that it is, and didn't resort to characters dressed in tight black leather with buckles and studs.

Vinod Rams is a comparable artist still doing work for D&D.

But Monte Cook is also awesome, as is the entire Planescape team.

Gah! How could I foget?! I amended the title of this thread to fix the problem.

Hmm I wonder what would you call a planscape award for best contribution in a year? The planies? The Cutter's Award? Grand Unified Field Theory? I dunno.

Emperor Xan's picture
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factotums
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

Tony DiTerlizzi is a writer. Ever heard of the "Spiderwick Chronicles"?

Persephone Imytholin's picture
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

"Emperor Xan" wrote:
Ever heard of the "Spiderwick Chronicles"?

I have indeed. With regard to Spiderwick, Tony Di is an illustrator; the words are the work of Holly Black.

Emperor Xan's picture
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factotums
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

Not according to the books.

bonemage's picture
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

"Rhys" wrote:
Tony DiTerlizzi. He's not a writer, per se, but I doubt anyone would disagree as to his rockingness. He is personally responsible for a lot of what made Planescape so cool, and he didn't even write the books. He made Planescape the twisted, surreal place that it is, and didn't resort to characters dressed in tight black leather with buckles and studs.

Vinod Rams is a comparable artist still doing work for D&D.

But Monte Cook is also awesome, as is the entire Planescape team.

Tony Diterlizzi was actually a member of the original 4 person team right? The ones that made the Boxed Set and set the whole tone. I forget who was all involved in the very first part There was David "Zeb" Cook not sure if there is an releation to Monte or not... Then there are credits for tons of others which of course were involved in the final product at the begining but not the big heavy lifting concept part like the big 4...

Tony is listed as the interior artist on the credits for the players guide to the planes (included in the Basic Planescape Boxed Set) TSR 2600

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Webmonkey
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

"Emperor Xan" wrote:
Not according to the books.

Regardless - I don't think he wrote heavily for Planescape. So his artistic abilities are what are important for this conversation. Which yes - I'd put him as the best and most distinctive artist the planescape line had.

Dretch's picture
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

I happen to like Colin McComb. His work with the fiends was absolutely amazing.

bonemage's picture
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Who is the best Planescape writer (and/or artist) to date?

http://www.montecook.com/cgi-bin/page.cgi?int_dnd30_Colin

Here's a great interview with Colin McComb from Monte Cook's website.

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