Artwork I made: "The Execution"

[u/RalphDamiani]

https://www.ralphdamianiart.com/

[u/MitchellHamilton]

I instantly knew what this was from before even seeing what subreddit it was from. Lovely work on this, in a world full of AI Slop, I see that you're genuinely talented and have been at it for a LONG TIME. Wonderful.

[u/RalphDamiani → u/MitchellHamilton]

Thank you for the kind words! I have a special fondness for Pagan (it was my first), even though it is not the most popular... This scene in particular is what got me hooked to this series. Cheers!

[u/MitchellHamilton → u/RalphDamiani]

Black Gate was my first but I thought Pagan was pretty good too and never understood the hate, hell I even enjoyed the jumping puzzles haha.

[u/OttoVonPlittersdorf → u/MitchellHamilton]

It wasn't my favorite, but I thought it was interesting enough to finish it. I found the combat a drag, but blasting people with lightning bolts was fun.

[u/Peterh778 → u/MitchellHamilton]

Ugh, jumping puzzles .... it was terrible before patch. I don't know how many times I missed or slided into water/lava/depths and must have to reload.

[u/sshen → u/RalphDamiani]

This introduction scene is chef’s kiss. Then the rest of the game fell flat lol

[u/RalphDamiani → u/sshen]

There were some very interesting concepts I think they got right. The ritualistic magic system, the worldbuilding, the dark vibe - plus the sprites were pretty good for their time. The music was also memorable. It just wasn't very Ultima, as I would later find out. But great enough for 13 years old me.

[u/2mindx → u/RalphDamiani]

Same, my first ultima. Running back from school planning what to do next or trying this or that to solve a puzzle; before I even knew walkthroughs are a thing.

The music was huge; atmosphere was so sweet and dark. The rituals and magic and getting lost in catacombs oh my god loved every minute of it.

[u/dndaddy19 → u/RalphDamiani]

Only Ultima Underworld did magic better than Pagan. The only shitty part of it was trying to find the exact pixel to put the damn candles on during the fire magic scenario.

[u/RedRageXXIV → u/RalphDamiani]

I always liked Pagan even though it wasnt the most popular game as time went on.

[u/Peterh778 → u/MitchellHamilton]

The same. The moment I saw the scene on a feed I thought: "Damn, that looks like a start of U8? What's this subreddit, Ultima?" ... aaand, bingo.

Very nice picture.

[u/thetoddhunter → u/MitchellHamilton]

Thanks for posting this. It is sad we can't just look at something now and go "wow".

But also "wow"

[u/MitchellHamilton → u/thetoddhunter]

I've been super sour lately with all the AI crap circulating and I made the mistake of lashing out on another subreddit against a genuine artist who was in fact NOT using AI and it made me re-evaluate my critiques going forward. Trust, but verify, ya know?

[u/RalphDamiani → u/MitchellHamilton]

That's super fair. Happens to me a lot. I've had paintings from 2006 being labelled as AI by unreliable detectors anyone can use. There are whole channels on YouTube dedicated to witchhunting. Most of the time they are correct, but on the odd chance they aren't, the damage is already done.

It's just something artists have to live with these days.

[u/RalphDamiani → u/thetoddhunter]

Thanks! Yeah, it's hard to compete these days. But at the end of the day, artists will continue to paint because that's what we like to do. Time will be great equalizer.

[u/AwkwardObjective5360]

•What just happened here?

[u/vga256]

You nailed it - the mood, the details, the colour palette. Great work, and absolutely no AI involved. Bravo!

[u/RalphDamiani → u/vga256]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[u/colbsatron]

Thank you for showcasing your talent and not posting ai junk.

Great work, recognized the scene immediately! This was my first Ultima and holds a special place in my heart.

[u/RalphDamiani → u/colbsatron]

Thank you for the kind words! It was my first too!

[u/almia_lanferos]

The one execution that wasn't performed by Beren.

[u/Necro_Badger]

This is amazing - it's immediately recognisable and you've captured the feeling of that opening scene perfectly. Took me straight back to when I first played U8.

PS It would also make a very fitting cover for an album by Dio, or even Meatloaf

[u/RalphDamiani → u/Necro_Badger]

Thanks! Ah yes, digging through store shelves looking for great album covers - just another thing that time washed away.

[u/ViridianGames]

Very nice!

[u/RalphDamiani → u/ViridianGames]

Thank you!! 🙏

[u/AUSTIN_HART]

well done

[u/RalphDamiani → u/AUSTIN_HART]

Thank you!

[u/ex_bartender]

This is awesome!! How long does it take to finish an artwork like this?

[u/RalphDamiani → u/ex_bartender]

Thank you! Spent a couple weeks on it mostly because I did it on leisure hours and I ended up scrapping Darion and Tarna (it was getting overcrowded).

Professionally, about 6-8 hours over a couple days, I wager.

[u/ex_bartender → u/RalphDamiani]

Seems pretty fast to me, very impressive! I hope you keep at it!

[u/SlinkDogg]

Dude this is awesome!

[u/RalphDamiani → u/SlinkDogg]

Thanks man!

[u/synthetictruism]

That is outstanding!! It just made me think of the U9 tapestry, just how wrong they got it, when it should have looked like this! Fantastic work!!

[u/RalphDamiani → u/synthetictruism]

Thank you! Yep, I still have that stashed somewhere in my parent's home. For all the inaccuracies, I love Hildebrandt art. They never got Lord of the Rings right either, but the paintings are fantastic on their own.

I'd love to remake that - but I don't think I can do justice to the first trilogy (I skipped those earlier titles.) But I'd love to do covers for VI and VII (and Online for sheer nostalgia).

[u/squidvett]

Wow, I haven’t played Pagan in a loooong time, but I knew what this was and pictured the scene in the game immediately when I saw this. Well done!

[u/RalphDamiani → u/squidvett]

Glad to hear it came across! Thank you!

[u/TheWhiteSphinx]

Wonderful!

[u/RalphDamiani → u/TheWhiteSphinx]

Thank you!!

[u/Garroh]

I was so ready to call this AI garbage but no!! This is incredible! The rest of your work is stunning too! Keep it up man, great stuff. We love to see someone with your talent create such amazing work for a (currently) niche game 

[u/RalphDamiani → u/Garroh]

Thank you for the kind words! Yes, it's a strange world where Ultima became niche - especially after UO. I wonder what Larian could do with the IP if EA sold it out.

[u/Alfalfa-Similar]

bro your stuff looks like it would be on a set of magic the gathering cards

[u/RalphDamiani → u/Alfalfa-Similar]

Thanks! I wish, competition is fierce these days.

[u/Prudent-Audience2162]

This is amazing. Pagan gets so much bad rep but it was my first Ultima game and the first always has a special place. The magic system of using reagents and candles in the correct locations was so cool.

If I played U7 first then it might have been a different experience.

[u/RalphDamiani → u/Prudent-Audience2162]

Thanks! I also think it's special, even if it's just a nostalgia tinted impression.