You Know Unleashed! – Catrick’s First Trick (Woof & Wyrm.exe)
You Know Unleashed! is a character-driven illustration inspired by a Phase One boss encounter from my ongoing worldbuilding project, Woof & Wyrm.exe.
In this encounter, the antagonist—Catrick the Cheat—initiates combat not through direct confrontation, but by forcing players into a distorted, UNO-inspired card game. The system uses a standard deck of playing cards, with additional mechanics layered in to create volatility, including the ability to convert face cards into powerful “wild” effects.
The intent behind this piece was to visually capture the transition point where a familiar, playful system becomes unstable and threatening.
Concept & Design Goals
This illustration explores three core ideas:
Familiarity vs. Instability
The visual language draws from recognizable card game elements while emphasizing disruption and unpredictability.
Playfulness vs. Threat
The central corgi character represents high energy and accessibility, contrasted with the underlying tension of the game mechanics.
System-Driven Narrative
The artwork reflects a design philosophy where gameplay systems themselves tell the story—particularly in boss encounters that redefine player expectations.
Process
Created in Procreate, focusing on:
Strong silhouette and readable character shape
High-saturation color choices to reinforce chaotic energy
Dynamic pose and motion to suggest forward momentum and escalation
Clean linework paired with bold color blocking for clarity at multiple viewing sizes
Context Within the Project
This piece is part of a broader system of Phase One encounters within Woof & Wyrm.exe, particularly tied to the Barker’s of Ruin framework.
Each Phase One scenario introduces a different gameplay structure or mini-game, acting as both a narrative device and a mechanical challenge before transitioning into a more traditional combat phase.
“You Know Unleashed!” represents one of these encounters, where survival depends on adapting to an unstable rule set rather than dealing direct damage.
Links
Full Blog Breakdown:
https://www.theartisticshepherdart.com/blog/blog_posts/you-know-unleashed-when-the-game-becomes-the-battle
Process Video:
https://youtube.com/shorts/voj5a9-7YbI?si=juQVLAM2G3j15KDI
