Art from HellFire

16th May 2013
HellFire Promotion - for the rest of the month players of Hellfire can gain disciples (i.e. new players) and both get a special reward. If you have a tablet or phone and like the look of the game, I would really, really appreciate it if you added my game name (serotin) as your referrer.  http://moba.ge/GetHellFire

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Next update: Links to the artists of HellFire
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March/May 2013
HellFire, the Game
HellFire is a game app for iOS and Android devices. I tried it out last November and since then its become something of a hobby. Or addiction. Its a simple enough game to play - basically a glorified 'paper toss' - but I was taken in by the art, and every week something new comes out and I want see what the developers are going to serve up. Not unlike the old thrill of getting a weekly comic as a lad.

The game is based on obtaining and evolving cards, then using them in boss fights. Each card evolves from a basic Level 1 card by merging it with a duplicate, making a new card with higher stats and better art, which can then be reinforced with other, lesser cards (or food, as some call them). Cards are used in fights that have to be won to progress further into the basic game. And then there are the regular Raid events, and more recently Dungeons.

Art That I Like
I have been a fan of fantasy art since my schooldays in the 80's - my library is stuffed with books by artists such as usual long time suspects Vallejo, Frazetta, Whelen, Achilleos, Foss, Burns; to more recent names like Brom, Clint Langley, Paul Bonner, and not forgetting John Blanche for Citadel-philes. There is an ever growing number of artists producing great fantasy/sci-fi/concept art these days. So, this dedicated post is a placeholder for some of my favourite pieces from this game, and links to any art I can find on the interweb to share with fans.

There is a way more art than I can possibly put here at once, so these examples are some of my standout faves.

The Golems

From clockwise: Earth Golem, Water Golem, Fire Golem, Death Golem.
The format of the game means that the artist is working to a small format, unlike print. If they were for print it would be equivalent to a traditional trading card size, like those produced by Fleer, for example.

Despite the small format, these kick ass and I would love to know who the artist is. The green Earth Golem is pick of the bunch (and to be honest, is very reminiscent of a Space Marine), Death Golem is close second. The low resolution captures of my antique iPod don't do them justice. I just love the feeling of power in them.

The Djinns

Another awesome bunch. These are ubiquitous in the game. Advanced players will know that they kick hard.
Clockwise: Djinn of Growth, Djinn of Vapour, Djinn of Flame, Djinn of Ire.

Leviathan

Designated a 'Super Rare' card, I think this was the image sealed it for me (this was during the first War of the Mages). It feels so epic. It reminds me of Victorian era art, but I can't put my finger on what or who, and my memory could be playing me false. Will visit the National Gallery for research some day.

Phoenix

Simply beautiful. The artist uses a lot of photo manipulation, taking real landscape photos and turning them into atmospheric backdrops, or possibly using landscape generators like Vue, and in the first card photographing a life model and digitally painting her. I think there are specialist Photoshop plugins that can produce flames.

Stormbird

Have to wonder about the tiny figure that looks like it has a staff and a pointy hat.


War of the Roses

Clockwise: Jealousy, Wrath,  Scorn, Ecstasy. What has been very apparent to me is the direction HellFire has taken, going away from massively implausible monsters that feature in many of the first wave of cards (like those in Rage of Bahamut for example) to encompass old world gods and fairy tales. 

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