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Kobold Press has opened up their vaults and is dusting off some of their greatest treasures for a new book entitled The Art of Kobold Press. The hardcover collection was just recently released and features over two decades of illustrations and concept art chronicling both the worlds of Kobold Press and the history of the publisher itself. You can pick the book up now from your local game store or Kobold Press.
So is this new graphic grimoire worth adding to your TTRPG collection? Below, we flip through all the details.
What’s included in “The Art of Kobold Press”?
The Art of Kobold Press is a new large format coffee table book that’s 206 pages in length and curated by long-time Kobold Press Art Director Marc Radle. It includes:
- Past illustrations: Featuring art that’s appeared in various publications over the years and showcasing the works of key Kobold Press illustrators, including Diane Franco, Brian Syme, Will O’Brien and Aaron Miller.
- Behind-the-scenes commentary: Kobold Press staff and artists discuss how many off the most iconic pieces featured in past books came to life.
- Never-before-seen concept art: Sketches and early design mockups show how some of Kobold Press’ most popular monsters, locations and products were developed.
- Anecdotes and reflections: Past and present members of the Kobold Press team discuss how the publisher grew from “one kobold in a trench coat” into one of the TTRPG industry’s most successful independent publishers.
How much is “The Art of Kobold Press”?
The hardcover edition of The Art of Kobold Press is available now for $59.99 USD (not including shipping and handling). Notably, there is no PDF version available as of this writing.
Why is “The Art of Kobold Press” is worth picking?
- A love letter to fantasy illustration: The book gathers two decades of the art that defined key Kobold Press projects, including Midgard and Tales of the Valiant, and showcases work from some of the industry’s most prolific illustrators.
- A glimpse into TTRPG history: While there have been similar art books release before (most coming from Wizards of the Coast for D&D), it’s rare to see commentary on the creative process and struggles of a relatively small publisher.
- High quality and collectability: The book is printed in full-color on high-quality gloss paper and has an oversized format that means it will look great on your shelf or coffee table.
- Fan favorite materials: The book features both past and present artwork much of which will definitely be appreciated by longtime fans of Kobold Press products.
Final Thoughts
The Art of Kobold Press isn’t just an art book, it’s really a history of creativity, collaboration and struggle within the TTRPG space. It’s also a reminder of how far the publisher has come and how much its vision has shaped the industry as a whole. If you’re a fan of Tales of the Valiant, Midgard or any other books created by these hardworking Kobolds, chances are you’ll dig this collection.
You can pick up the book now from your local game store or Kobold Press.