David S. LaForce
Encyclopedia
David S. LaForce is an artist
, noted for his artwork in fantasy
role-playing game
s.
, Erol Otus
, Jim Roslof
, David C. Sutherland III
and David A. Trampier
, LaForce is recognized as one of the first-generation artists for Dungeons & Dragons
(D&D), the seminal role-playing game (RPG).
move from a two-story house to their new offices in a former hotel and was initially given a job in their shipping department. Shortly after being hired, David Sutherland, the head of TSR's Art Department, found out that LaForce liked to draw and asked him to submit some sample pictures. Two of the three samples were bought for the Dungeon Master's Guide
and LaForce was hired by the Art Department, where he stayed until 1998. His first assignment was C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan
and he also provided many internal illustrations for many of the first D&D manuals, such as Deities & Demigods
.
, ended up being given more map assignments than the other artists. When LaForce started out at TSR they had a mapping style he considered "sterile and blocky", but as he worked on different campaign settings he took inspiration from historical cartography and started to introduce unique cartographic styles to each setting, attempting to make each of them look as artistic as the historical maps he was inspired by. Some of the settings his cartography influenced are Dragonlance
, Planescape
, Birthright
and Dark Sun
.
, United States
with his wife Lisa. He commercially produces sculptures, mostly of fantasy and Gothic themes.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, noted for his artwork in fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s.
Career
Along with Jeff DeeJeff Dee
Jeff Dee is an American artist and game designer. Based in Austin, Texas, he is a recognized figure in the role-playing game community and game industry...
, Erol Otus
Erol Otus
Erol Otus is an American artist and game designer, known internationally for his contributions to the fantasy RPG genre, most notably for the early Dungeons & Dragons franchise...
, Jim Roslof
Jim Roslof
James Paul "Jim" Roslof was an American artist and graphic designer particularly well known for cover art and interior illustrations of fantasy role-playing games published by TSR, Inc. during the "golden age" of Dungeons & Dragons...
, David C. Sutherland III
David C. Sutherland III
David C. Sutherland III was an early Dungeons & Dragons artist. Sutherland was a prolific artist and his work heavily influenced the early development of Dungeons & Dragons.-Early life and inspiration:...
and David A. Trampier
David A. Trampier
Dave A. Trampier is a former artist and writer who worked on some of the earliest editions of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and was the creator of the Wormy comic strip that ran in Dragon magazine...
, LaForce is recognized as one of the first-generation artists for Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
(D&D), the seminal role-playing game (RPG).
TSR
LaForce came to the notice of Kevin Blume in 1979, after he helped TSRTSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
move from a two-story house to their new offices in a former hotel and was initially given a job in their shipping department. Shortly after being hired, David Sutherland, the head of TSR's Art Department, found out that LaForce liked to draw and asked him to submit some sample pictures. Two of the three samples were bought for the Dungeon Master's Guide
Dungeon Master's Guide
The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
and LaForce was hired by the Art Department, where he stayed until 1998. His first assignment was C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan
The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan
The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, set in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for use with the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules...
and he also provided many internal illustrations for many of the first D&D manuals, such as Deities & Demigods
Deities & Demigods
Deities & Demigods , alternatively known as Legends & Lore , is a reference book for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game . The book provides descriptions and game statistics of gods and legendary creatures from various sources in mythology and fiction...
.
Diesel
There were several people called "David" at TSR and LaForce was given the nickname "Diesel" by his editor Mike Carr, after Carr noticed that LaForce was signing his artwork with his initials "DSL" and slurred those letters into the word "Diesel". The nickname caught on and even LaForce's wife calls him Diesel.Fantasy cartography
Most of the artists in TSR's Art Department did not enjoy doing cartography, preferring to work on illustrations. Because LaForce was happy to do cartography, he, along with Steve SullivanStephen D. Sullivan
Stephen D. Sullivan is an American author, artist, editor, publisher, and radio host. Sullivan is well known in the gaming community for his work with TSR, the publishers of Dungeons and Dragons.-Career:...
, ended up being given more map assignments than the other artists. When LaForce started out at TSR they had a mapping style he considered "sterile and blocky", but as he worked on different campaign settings he took inspiration from historical cartography and started to introduce unique cartographic styles to each setting, attempting to make each of them look as artistic as the historical maps he was inspired by. Some of the settings his cartography influenced are Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
, Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
, Birthright
Birthright
Birthright is a term that refers to something that is acquired or inherited at birth. It may further refer to:- Ancient and modern Law :* primogeniture, rights of the firstborn* birthright citizenship- Literature :...
and Dark Sun
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
.
After TSR
LaForce currently resides in Manor, TexasManor, Texas
Manor is a city in Travis County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census; it was 1,877 in the 2005 census estimate. The approximate population for the City of Manor is 5,500, which is calculated from the number of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his wife Lisa. He commercially produces sculptures, mostly of fantasy and Gothic themes.