THE INTERNS (Riptide Concept Art)

This art was drawn masterfully by Shan! Please support our current phenomenal thumbnail artist!

THE PUPPETEER

The first thing I started with when creating this NPC was their statblock. I took inspiration from one of the many dragons of dnd who could breathe different colors of fire or different elements that all had a debilitating effect. This was perfect for the personification of a puppet person, whom was stitched together by many different beings and therefore had many different abilities. Needless to say, I gave him 6 hands. Btw, a little lore fun fact, the puppeteer is an early version of something The Doctor is creating. Find out this Wednesday when episode 80 premieres on Twitch!!

So once I had all their abilities figured out, designing was easy! I started with the jack frost hair style to compliment their sharp facial features and gave synthetic, unnaturally flat, skin colors to further the doll-like agenda. I sent Shan the rest of the facial feature description as well, including the glowing round glasses. I got inspired by this artist and fell in love with the idea armored metal legs. I asked Shan for these legs with colors that fit the scheme, and threw a double breasted lab coat poncho on top. I wasn't worried about the designs being too similar because I knew Shan would take creative freedom, and Neivien’s concept is just a whole different vibe.

Came back with those fantastic silhouettes to show the marionette body language within the pose and the rest was history. The puppeteer was finished! Shan actually came up with the hands around the neck of the coat, and the stitched patches for the lab coat too, couldn't have had such a cool design without their artistic liberties. Sometimes that happens, my concept will be simple and the artist just breathes more life than I could have into it! Love working with people so talented.

KING

Other times however, I have a very clear idea at the start, and the artist brings them to life word for word. BUT IN THIS CASE, it warps over time with the artists ideas! King is a huge example of me collaborating with Shan to create something so crazy.

King started in my mind, I came up with a description while watching Hunter x Hunter with my girlfriend, Lumi. Lumi then created the design based on my description which Shan converted into their own style, and that's the bald scary looking gorilla arm boy you see. After a few days though, I told Shan I was worried this wasn't enough. I wanted it to be clear when looking at King, their existence is pain and wrong. I wanted first impressions to be dread and despair. Shan said, “i will now look at dark souls bosses,” and then sent me the concepts a few days later LMAOO.

King’s job is to overlook and observe in the “Specimen Observation Branch,” of the laboratory which you know is basically an indoor jungle filled with chimera abominations. They are made out of many souls, and many different creatures, so their mind shares many minds, and it is quite the burden to bare. This is why Kind is extremely introspective, and somewhat docile, but yet can not understand anything well at the same time.

Unfortunately, at this time I won’t be releasing their statblocks! I will though, and you can put them in your own games! Also, DM Notes for the Feywild arc will release after episode 81!

Thanks for being so patient with me to get these out and type the processes out! I hope to do this for every design posted from Riptide. Please look forward to the next concept arts of Riptide NPCs!

If there's anything you’d like me to include in these posts, or if you have any questions about The Puppeteer/King, let me know! If its not a spoiler, Ill do my best to answer.

- Grizzly