Last week I gave you a broad (actually, vague!) overview of what I was doing with the rules for Verge. This week I thought I would share one of the sources of inspiration for the setting. Gustave Dore (1832 – 1883) was a French artist, engraver and illustrator who illustrated a lot of books, including the works of Byron, a Bible and an illustrated guide to London. His illustrations are dark and gritty and the illustrations from the London guide are full of interesting moments and intriguing characters. It is these pictures, in particular, that have helped inspire me. The original game (in my mind, though it was less obvious in the text) was far more Revolutionary Paris than 19th Century London, but Dore’s work changed that completely. Below are a few of Dore’s illustrations that have inspired me over the last few years.
Really interested to see where you take this, there’s something about the setting that inspires me, I’ve never really taken to this style of setting before so I hope it goes well!
While I’ve no love for the d20 system (unless it’s Pendragon! I’m an FU fan after all) it might have some impact on its wider acceptance.
Thanks for the Dore pictures gives me a name to Google now!
Hi Steve, thanks for commenting! I am glad you like the verge setting. It is something I am really passionate about – it has been living in my brain for so long now! It is, however, a bit of a “slow burn” project so I thought I would share some of the things that have inspired me as I build upon the world.
As far as d20 goes, I realised the other day I didn’t actually explain WHY I chose to use it. That may well be the subject of a future post!