History ArtEvolution / TableTopGames

** In early editions, the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orks]] had a regimented appearance based along the lines of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI era German stormtroopers, due to casting limitations. As techniques and technology improved, more variety could be put into models and in later editions the Orks moved away from their original characterisation towards a sort-of ''Film/MadMax''-esque Scavenger Punk aesthetic. Only the Blood Axez clan keep with the original look, explained in-universe by [[HumanityIsInfectious the Blood Axez picking up human tactics and army organisation]].

** In 1st and 2nd Edition, gold dragons closely resemble Chinese dragons in appearance -- they're elongated, serpentine beings with portion ally short limbs and curly horns. In 3rd, they're rather drastically redesigned to resemble Western dragons with finlike wings running from their shoulders to their tail tips, without horns and with long whiskers around their jaws.

** Ettercaps tend to look more and more spiderlike with each passing edition. In 1st, they were simply hairy, trollish humanoids with venomous bites and silk glands, and in 2nd they stayed largely the same but gained elongated spidery fingers and large, pupilless eyes. 3rd edition gave them a much more arthropoid appearance, including purple skin, limbs ending in two large claws, and very spider-like eyes with chelicerae and multiple beady black eyes. 4th edition turns them into full arthropods, with six limbs and thick exoskeletons, and 5th returns to the 3E look.

[[AC:CardGames]]

[[AC:Standard tabletop games]]

* The artwork for ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has changed almost as much as ''Dungeons and Dragons'' over the years, starting off with goofy, oversized scifi drawings not out of place in the first edition of ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' and hewing steadily more and more toward Frazetta-style apocalyptic science fantasy. Most of the combatants received major redesigns along the way as well.
** Here's one interesting example within the game itself: in early editions, the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orks]] had a regimented appearance based along the lines of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI era German stormtroopers, due to casting limitations. As techniques and technology improved, more variety could be put into models and in later editions the Orks moved away from their original characterisation towards a sort-of ''Film/MadMax''-esque Scavenger Punk aesthetic. Only the Blood Axez clan keep with the original look, explained in-universe by [[HumanityIsInfectious the Blood Axez picking up human tactics and army organisation]].
* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'''s early artwork was almost entirely simple, unshaded black-and-white, and prone to very strange/impossible HumongousMecha anatomy. Some designs were licensed from Japanese manga/anime studios, which often looked wildly out-of-place compared the RealRobot WalkingTank designs that the game became notable for. Later editions feature shaded artwork and significantly improved anatomy, along with a more consistent art style leaning even more towards the WalkingTank philosophy (the licensed Japanese designs were redesigned or dropped due to a [[ExecutiveMeddling messy lawsuit]]). Art showing civilian equipment has evolved to catch up with TechnologyMarchesOn; early artwork shows enormous computers and chunky equipment (this was back in the TheEighties, mind you), while newer work shows touch-screens and other modern innovations.
* The art of TabletopGame/{{Iron Kingdoms}}'s game WARMACHINE has changed quite a bit since it originally came out in 2004. While much of the original art has been phased out and replaced the faction books for each army incorporates each unit and jack added in the previous edition's expansions, as well as their art work.

* ''Tabletopgame/YuGiOh'' also has shifted since the beginning. The art is more detailed and less cartoony. For reference, compare [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Karakuri_Spider Karakuri Spider]] with the other [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Karakuri Karakuri]].

* The artwork for ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has changed almost as much as ''Dungeons and Dragons'' over the years, starting off with goofy, oversized scifi drawings not out of place in the first edition of ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}} and hewing steadily more and more toward Frazetta-style apocalyptic science fantasy. Most of the combatants received major redesigns along the way as well.

* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'''s early artwork was almost entirely simple, unshaded black-and-white, and prone to very strange/impossible HumongousMecha anatomy. Some designs were licensed from Japanese manga/anime studios, which often looked wildly out-of-place compared the RealRobot WalkingTank designs that the game became notable for. Later editions feature shaded artwork and significantly improved anatomy, along with a more consistent art style leaning even more towards the WalkingTank philosophy (the licensed Japanese designs were redesigned or dropped due to a [[ExecutiveMessing messy lawsuit]]). Art showing civilian equipment has evolved to catch up with TechnologyMarchesOn; early artwork shows enormous computers and chunky equipment (this was back in the TheEighties, mind you), while newer work shows touch-screens and other modern innovations.