Midnight Dark - Cover Art Sketch

One thing I've learned over the nearly-eight years I've been doing this as a regular thing is that artists benefit from clear guidance.

And while I may lack the technology and experience to create my own digital art to the standards I want to see on my book covers, I can still find my way around a pencil.

But one thing that had always defeated me is mechs. I spend ages looking at beautiful mech art online, trying to see and understand how the artists can visualize so perfectly the exterior mechanics of these walking tanks. But I've never been and to quite grasp it myself.

Nevertheless, I'm taking my best stab, here. I wanted a bipedal mech on the cover, even though I think quadruped mechs are more feasible. Most people are familiar more with bipeds and, thanks to Gunpla and Titanfall and Battletech etc, I think the bipedal mech catches people's interest more reliably.

But i also wanted to emphasise the role of heroes in the new rules. And to do that, I decided to depict a mech that is simultaneously in combat with its greatest nemesis, the tank, but also a pilot in the middle of fighting of a hostile takeover by another hero!

If you want a rules explanation, this is a hero who has ejected from their mech and then engaged a mech in CQB. Their odds may not be good, but it's always worth a stab!

I hope to get some heavy infantry and some kind of attack helicopter into the background along with at least one famous national monument. Suggestions are welcome. Right now, I'm leaning towards Pisa Tower (no pun intended).

The mech also has a main weapon that can be fixed into three main positions: overhead, on its side or underslung to permit maximum flexibility, depending on its needs. Its left forward manipulator has been destroyed - presumably by the guy climbing on its face.