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

Polygon revealed the alternate art for the 2024 Player's Handbook.

"Illustrated by Wylie Beckert, the alt art cover of the Player’s Handbook (2024) features a party comprised of D&D’s four iconic classes — the fighter, the wizard, the cleric, and the rogue — all gathered around a friendly gold dragon, sharing tea. This gentle scene stands in stark contrast to the mainline Player’s Handbook (2024), which will have a bright, bold cover by Tyler Jacobsen with similar characters posed in the moments before striking a blow."

 

[bedir than]

What I like about these two very different styles is that they are a clear demonstration to shoppers that D&D isn't confined to one set of stories.

 

[TheGlen]

It does have winglets, and I could have sworn the standard cover gold dragon had wings, but perhaps they were little winglets too and I misinterpreted. I would be happy for the wingless gold dragon to return.

Depends on the artist

 

[ezo]

Better, but still "no".

 

[zenopus]

Both Lung and Gold (historically)
Here is the 1e gold:
View attachment 363386
and the 2e gold:
View attachment 363385

Good call and reference art!

The top one is the Gold Dragon by David Sutherland, from the 1977 AD&D Monster Manual.

 

[zenopus]

I like the standard cover, but I like this one much better! It might even get me to buy a copy.

The font on this alternate cover is very reminiscent of that on the original 1978 PHB, down to the yellow color.

(PHB 1978 cover from Wayne's Books)

 

[TheGlen]

It's very stylistic and I like it much more than the other cover but the characters all look like deep gnomes.

ALL HAIL SVIRFNEBLIA!

 

[Charles Lowry]

Pass. I do not like the art style at all and did not grab my attention.

 

[Cadence]

I can imagine my son will shortly be figuring out how to get one...

Just showed him both. Gold dragons are his thing ... and he wants the regular one. (I will be on the look out for this special one for me I guess!)

 

[Weiley31]

Looks gorgeous. Now I just need to know if they will be offering all three at once with a screen next year. If so, I am getting that. If not, I have to reserve one now.

I wanted to do the same thing, but it feels like it'll take too long for them to do that. Especially since they decided to do the staggered release of the core set.

 

[Dion D Ritter]

I like it!