D&D (2024) New D&D Edition's Player’s Handbook Cover Reveal

Game Informer has revealed the cover to the 2024 Player’s Handbook.

The cover features a gold dragon behind the old-school D&D characters Strongheart the paladin, Mercion the cleric, Elkhorn the dwarf fighter, and Molliver the thief. Ringlerun the wizard is absent (then again he got his showcase on one of the 1E AD&D Player's Handbooks), but a drow mage appears to have joined the party!

 

[Gradine]

Is every pose now just going to get called "marvel"? You have a guy ready to swing a sword, a woman with two crossed blades, a dwarf with an axe and shield, a woman with a mace and shield.... and it is MARVEL posing?

Things start to make a lot more sense when every time someone says "Marvel posing" you instead hear "Marvel casting"

 

[John R Davis]

Your group has never sat down with a gold dragon and had tea?

Not in the last 45 years.

 

[beta-ray]

The cover is okay. Don't hate it, but I'm not that into that much brushwork generally. it is definitely serviceable and it would not prevent me from picking the book up. Concept-wise I am definitely okay with it, though I like the art of the back cover a tiny bit more (but the composition of the front cover makes it more suitable as the frontpiece).

It's fine, I am not unhappy with it.

 

[Gradine]

Not in the last 45 years.

 

[Zardnaar]

Is every pose now just going to get called "marvel"? You have a guy ready to swing a sword, a woman with two crossed blades, a dwarf with an axe and shield, a woman with a mace and shield.... and it is MARVEL posing?

Also, I guess adventurers never get ready for battle. No combat for adventurers?

And finally... have you seen a cartoon? I have. Cartoons don't have this much detailing.


I have no problem with people hating art, though it is crazy how negative some people can be about something so harmless, but can your criticisms at least make sense? The colors are too bright and you hate adventurers grouped together preparing for battle? Fine. But marvel doesn't have a monopoly on people posing, and not all bright colors are cartoon style.

MCU has been run into the ground and the art is very digital like an MCU movie.

The art is also very generic.

1E phb with statue they're not posing in some fake looking action pose.

2E 89 it's an action scene not pose.

RC 1991. Action scene.

1995 2E it's posing and kinds a meh piece. Hand drawn though.

3.0 and 3.5 didn't have it.

4E posing and WAR art. Very meh. WAR very distinct style not for me but escapes MCU comparisons.

5E action scene not posing. King Snurre iconic D&D character.

5.5. Generic digital art similar to AI art. Very common. Not much D&D related maybe gold dragon. They're not unique to D&D though.

It's not bad but nothing outstanding one can go to other forums or AI art threads and see similar art style.

The new cartoon characters about to enter a dungeon is a better piece imho not for a cover though due to 80s throw back.

 

[Stormonu]

You forgot the 1E Revised cover. Very posing.

And for the record, I DESPISE the 2E PHB cover as the worst PHB cover ever.

 

[RoughCoronet0]

Your group has never sat down with a gold dragon and had tea?

No tea with a gold dragon, but my player’s characters did have Rimefire Whiskey shots with a White Dragon in one of my campaign’s early sessions.

 

[John R Davis]

Have played lots indie,/parlour RPG where drinking tea is perfect.
But not the way I wanna play DND.

 

[Uta-napishti]

Alternat cover art in the Polygon article...

Dungeons & Dragons’ collectible alt art Player’s Handbook has immaculate vibes

And it will be available first at local game stores

www.polygon.com

View attachment 363393

Wow, now that is brave and non traditional! Bravo to that!

 

[Reynard]

And for the record, I DESPISE the 2E PHB cover as the worst PHB cover ever.

Which one? 2E had a revised printing in 1995 (I think).