I've signed up for the awesomeness that is DOMINANCE WAR and joined the team at CGsociety. It's a huge event I've almost only just discovered, and is a huge paint-off between the top people of the gaming industry. I stand little to no chance of winning, but it is too great an opportunity to miss out on. Getting crits and participating along with my idols is just lovely.

Here is my entry so far, still only in the concept-sketch-phase, and will likely change hugely before this is all done. Basically, it is supposed to be "the ultimate paladin", a hardcore warrior of epic proportions, so chock-full of holy light magic he is close to bursting. I am still trying to figure out what his weapon is going to be.

As a Paladin, you have three options. Two if we take WoW out.

Big huge mace.

Big Huge Sword.


Big Huge Polearm.

Hammer and a Tome come to mind when you think of the Ultimate Paladin, but I suppose that's a combination used often enough.
If I was to choose a weapon for a kickass Paladin, I'd go with a bigass polearm. Say - a pike, or a man catcher. Ultimate Paladin doesn't need shield, his faith is his shield. He uses a man-catcher with religious (whatever) ornaments, or shaped in this fashion to punch nine inch nails through throats, and on the other side of the polearm you have a bigass blade, something like this, this, or even a simple yet eminent (?)this.

And if you choose to go with that Light on the chestpiece, you might score a lot of points if you sort out the lighting right But this I am sure you know

As for the pose, he/she looks a little like general Daimos (?!) kind of robot, with his/her overexposed chest. For a paladin, I guess a more calm, soothing, yet dignifying and respectful pose would be suitable - but maybe it's just my photography aesthetics theories running through my fingers and I hope I got the adjectives right.

Well, here it is, and I have a lot more to say, if you're willing to hear me out And it took an effort to be critical beacuse to me, this picture looks fucking awesome as it is. Keep up the good work, Sentygirl

PS. Aerie, FUCK you and the link in your signature!!!
It's the 50th time I'm listening to it, I found the lyrics and am now singing, while people keep saying "Fuck you, K! Fuck you and that silly song!" to me

I do the same.


As for the paladin, a bastard sword type hammer and a shield is what I'd find most fitting.

I don't speak funky speak, so Idon't have to worry about singing it!


Acro, nice picture you did for that competition, when's it coming here?

Gorgeous as always Senty... no further comments since we've talked about the piece in private!

I.. thought you'd never ask! It's here... now!

White Stag's Ode to the Moon



Done for Gwenhylew's Lunar Arts Competition

Inspired by the myth "The White Stag and the Moon"

Into the brave hearts of her pure children, the Earthmother placed the love of the hunt. For the creatures of the first dawn were saveage and fierce. They hid from the Earthmother, finding solace in the shadows and the wild places of the land. The Shu'halo hunted these beasts wherever they could be found and tamed them with the Earthmother's blessing.

One great spirit eluded them, however. Apa'ro (Malorne) was a proud stag of snow white fur. His antlers scraped the roof of the heavens and his mighty hooves stamped out the deep places of the world. The Shu'halo hunted Apa'ro to the corners of the dawning world - and closed in to snare the proud stag.

Seeking to escape, the great stag leapt into the sky. Yet, as his escape seemed assured, his mighty antlers tangled in the stars which held him fast. Though he kicked and struggled, Apa'ro could not loose himself from the heavens. It was then that Mu'sha found him as she chased her brother, An'she, towards the dawn. Mu'sha (Elune) saw the mighty stag as he struggled and fell in love with him immediately. The clever moon made a bargain with the great stag - she would set him free from the snare of the stars if he would love her and end her loneliness.

Mu'sha loved Apa'ro and conceived a child by him. The child, a demigod some would claim, was born into the shadowed forests of the night. He would be called Cenarius, and walk the starry path between the waking world and the kingdom of the heavens.

I love you!


I mean!


I love it!


The Stag looks so boodiful <3

Some immediate comments, Sentie:

The pose is too "static" - I dont feel "bursting with holy power", there is too much control in the position the figure is in now. Have you considered having the light shine out of cracks in the figure's armour? Perhaps even consider having the armour "strapped on" to keep the power in?

A combination of the two would let you keep the excellent actinic look of the light shining off the torso/face, and allow you to get a lot more detail on the armour generally, since you could work with detailing up the bits af armour strapped on around the core of sheer holy power.

With regards to weapons, perhaps avoid them completely, and have the figure holding a standard, when you are the will of god made manifest, why do you need a weapon at all?
If you do want a weapon, you might consider something very workman-like and simplisitc - something quite brutal like a spiked mace, or an armour-pierrcing hammer?

You could also think entirely out of the box, and arm your paladin with some sort of modern/advanced weapon? Warhammer 40.000 has lots of possibilities you could draw on.

Personally I'd say just go for a big tome, nothing else. Call me boring

Good pointers, folks! Thanks!
As for the pose, don't give it much mind. This is just the pose I started out concepting the armor in. When I am satisfied with the design and everything, I intend to do a full painting with backdrop and all of him on a battlefield.

Latest update:

About the weapon, it might be a bit standart but a battlemace would fit your paladin well i think. But like Taiev said perhaps think out of the box and make something liker warhammer 40k. Or creat a holy looking battlemace with lots of holy relics in it and a light glow. But still with the lethal look (perhaps barbwhire or whats it called?).

And perhaps a cloak could be added, since important figures on a battlefield allways seem to wear them i think.

Love the glow comming out from openings at the gaunlets, perhaps add some at his knees aswell?

The pala looks awesome though, love how the helmet got that form of hats that priests have (can't recall the name sorry). And im looking forward to see the battlefield background than he surely will look like a painting of a important person Good painting style ^-^

You should also consider bashing enemies with the latest 'Harry Potter' tome. *nodnod*

If I had to mention something, his feet worry me a bit. Are they intentionally bent so (for want of a better word) inhumanly?

Don't *beats A on the head* mind *hits him again* the *kicks him in the knee* pose!!