Fresh from the drawing table... Beetle (Giant) - Boring!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Beetle (Giant) - Boring! The Boring Beetle is the sixth and final giant beetle included in the original D&D Monster Manual. I present to you my version of a Beetle (Giant) - Boring… 

Beetle (Giant) - Boring

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

Giant Beetles come in all sizes, from over grown subterranean beasts to huge magic created leviathans to gigantic walking unnatural disasters. The Boring Beetle is somewhere in between and more toward the low end of the spectrum. Was this a naturally accruing creature? Was this the byproduct of wizardly actions? Who knows... but as long as you keep them supplied with their fill of wood you can get the Giant Boring Beetle to do just about anything. At some point all the player characters will get themselves giant mounts of some sort and it will be just that much harder for the Dungeon Master. Forget dragons, someone is going to want the Giant Ram, someone is going to what the Giant Boring Beetle, and someone is going to want an ...ostrich. ...or not. When the player's Giant Beetle is devoured by a Purple Worm there will be a sad funeral ceremony. You will never be forgotten, Billy the Giant Boring Beetle.

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Fresh from the drawing table... Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros! I am now in the home stretch of giant beetles from the original D&D Monster Manual. With the completion of the Giant Rhinoceros Beetle I have one remaining beetle to go. I present to you my version of a Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros… 

Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

The long lasting repercussions of the antics of the mad wizard Elwerk the Everseeing are indeed server. When you unleash giant insects into the world willy–nilly you can be darn sure there will unforeseen negative fallout. When one of Elwerk's rogue beetles came tromping and destroying its way through the kingdom of Melltrom you can hardly fault the Queen in seeking a remedy to their sudden giant insect problem. Who you can blame is Whrenhurst the Wise and her creation of the ANOTHER even MORE giant insect to combat the first giant insect problem. Needless to say the kingdom of Melltrom was destroyed and now there are even more giant insects just roaming around. Well, roaming around until their bodies give out because insects really were never meant to be that big and magic can do just so much. Another reason why the use of magic needs more regulations.

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Fresh from the drawing table... Beetle (Giant) - Stag!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Beetle (Giant) - Stag! With the completion of the Giant Water Beetle I am now half way through the giant beetles of the original D&D Monster Manual. This has turned out to be one, if not the favorite designs that I have worked up for the giant beetles. I present to you my version of a Beetle (Giant) - Stag… 

Beetle (Giant) - Stag

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

Those mad wizards and their animal experimentation need to be stopped. Look at what they have done now! What possible good could this do the Realms? Most likely there was a powerful, but paranoid ruler who didn't trust their neighbors to the east and so Elwerk the Everseeing was enlisted to create a weapon to deter any attack. Elwerk creates a mighty weapon that of course goes out of control and before Elwerk could do anything to stop his weapon he is killed. The weapon proceeds to destroy the entire kingdom it was made to protect as it lays to waste everything around it. Eventually this weapon wonders off into the wilderness where it most dies from the strain of being a HUGE magically deformed beetle. While many woodland creatures will have plenty to eat from the carcass the residual magical effects will lead to temporary giant growth in all other animals that come in contact with it... a horrible chain of events. Thanks, Elwerk! Wizards... the bane of the Realms.

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.     

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Fresh from the drawing table... Beetle (Giant) - Water!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Beetle (Giant) - Water! With the completion of the Giant Water Beetle I am now half way through the giant beetles of the original D&D Monster Manual. This has turned out to be one, if not the favorite designs that I have worked up for the giant beetles. I present to you my version of a Beetle (Giant) - Water… 

Beetle (Giant) - Water

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

You just know a crazy wizard was involved with making this thing... and maybe a cleric. If the wizard did not make the giant beetle you and bet that they are the one that is taking up resistance on its back. Super villains and crazy wizards love their weird and hard to reach lairs and fortresses. What better place to hide then in your tower on the back of a well preserved but very dead Giant Water Beetle as it drifts the currents of some distant sea? Of course you would need some pretty strong wards and barriers from becoming a snack for a Kraken or some other horror from the deep. This is one giant beetle that has shown its usefulness beyond eating adventures. 

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Fresh from the drawing table... Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier! I am back to making some progress with this project of mine and have returned to completing all of the "B" monsters. There are six giant beetles in the original D&D Monster Manual and I have already completed one of them, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, so I decided to finish off the remaining five. I have worked up thumbnails and concepts of giant beetles and I will be working on their final drawings for the next couple of weeks. The first new giant beetle is ready to go! I present to you my version of a Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier… 

Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

The Giant Bombardier Beetle is the smallest of my giant beetles and may be the only naturally occurring one (though the jury is still out on the Giant Boring Beetle). The Giant Fire Beetle is definitely not of this world or material plane. In the fullness of time you will see that due to their size there is no way the rest of the giant beetles could ever be naturally occurring creatures. I think there was some wizard or vengeful God that had too much time on their hands. While most of my giant beetles will be forces of nature I wanted the Giant Bombardier Beetle to be a real and manageable threat to an adventuring party. You do NOT want to be caught on the wrong end of their boiling chemical spray. I pity a party of low level adventures that disturbs a nest of these giant beetles.

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com