Hello fellow Pathfinders heheh This is will be a long post for my usual standards (I didn't even knew I had standards)
Last post I've finished it by promissing something to do with a little hint of what I am planning for my new scenario in Golarion. But then I thougth of something. I have some headcanons for some ancestries in regards to their appearances - nothing that affecta how they are in the original Paizo material. Just smething for my personal preferences and that I usually extend to my players as well. So before revealing my heavy hitters, I want to show you what the bases for some of my ideas are hehe
I've started with Elves just because I wanted to draw a Ayindlar one (The Cave Elf, since Pathfinder doesn't have Drow anymore due to the OGL Scandal some years ago) being inspired by Ahmonza upcoming elves for the World of Boom, but then I had the epiphany to make them a little more distinct when compared to Humans, even though they are already literal aliens in the Pathfinder lore. I saw this beautiful art by Austra on DA some time and started making little fuzz lines on the first elf I sketched.
So now my elves are bird-like, with body covered in downy fuzz, maybe in similar texture to velvet or that soft microfiber blanket even. In all of this sketches I've used the variant names used in the Pathfinder world of Golarion, more as a guideline since it is the world on which I plan to set my scenario.
And no. They don't lay eggs in case someone is wondering. They are not real birds hehehe
Dwarves have always been my favorites since forever honestly. Even before I saw Lord of the Rings. I didn't wanted to stray too much from their usual looks since I really like them hahaha but the idea of giving them sensistive whiskers alongside their facial hair - saw originally here by Iris and her amazing re-imagining - got me hooked on doing something. My only challenge was that everyone had made a mole-like dwarf, so it was too obvious. But then I remembered that one of my favorite mammals is literally perfect hehehe.
My Dwarves have Xenarthran-like traits, with osteoderms and clawed hands - inspired by Oliver's Amaranthine Dwarves. One thing I wante to emphasize with most of these headcanons is also the sexual dimorphism within the ancestries, being less extreme in most cases. Both male, non-binary and female elves are covered in equal amount of fuzz, as well as draves of all sexes being able to grow beards and have stocky frames.
Any attempt of measure of the impact of Ahmonza Gwynn's Orcs on another fantasy artists on the internet since he made its inception would be an understatement. Since he launched his video detailing them and the lore of the World of Boom, I knew I wanted to make more ape-like Orcs, inspired a little bit in phisicality by Warcraft and Warhammer Orcs - that I believe are the golden stardard for high fantasy Orcs alongside Tolkien ones.
As much as I like the hairless, melon headed Goblins from Pathfinder, I've still wanted to make something a little different, but still maintaining the same silhouette. And since both Hobgoblins and Bugbears have long arms, I believe monkeys are the best analog for these buggers.
My Goblins, and Goblinoids in general, are, like my orcs, primates, representing both sillyness, since they love to sing, and innate danger, since they also like arson, just like real monkeys and apes hehe I also wanted to take a look at Hobgoblins, inspired by Ahmonza's Umuruk - a goblin-blooded Orc - and macaques, specially the extinct Paradolichopithecus, described as "Goblin-like" by North 02 heheh
I tried to hold on a bit for Bugbears, since I really like their overall design in Pathfinder, and that we are FINALLY getting playable ones later this year. Just wanted to present them in more general terms, using the extinct giant lemur Archaeoindris as a little base, specially for their muzzle and limb proportions.
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For those wandering about Gnomes, Halflings and Leshies, I dind't wanted to change them that much.
Gnomes are Fey, so they already kinda perfectthe way they are in my view, colorful hair and all.
Halflings will have a special place in this setting, and I imagine that they get a pass for being another "human but" ancestry because they appear to be literally related to Humans.
Leshies are already perfect. I mean look at them.
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Oh boy. What a doozy. But that's what I get for hyperfocusing in making literal magic plagues make sense and wanting personal preferences in properties that aren't mine or made just for me.
Hope you liked my boys, gals and pals. Next post will be about what I promised last time heheh and maybe an extra talking about half-elves, half-orcs and other mixed ancestries. Until them I would be happy to hear what you all have to say ^^
