D&D 5E The cover of the 5E PHB: What I'd like to see

[Viking Bastard]

What about a pair of armed goblins standing over, searching through, poking with their weapons, stealing the boots of a happless party of four traditional adventuring party members...with a hobgoblin admiring his shiny new sword he just picked up.

I like this for the back cover.

 

[Minigiant]

I think they should go with 5 characters.

The classic 4 races plus 1 other nonclassical but not too weird like a half-elf.

The 4 classical classes plus one other less core class but not too offensive and weird class like a ranger, paladin, or sorceror.

Foreground: 2 party members doing some non combat action like disarming a trap or healing a NPC.

Background: The rest of the party holding back the monster.

Something like the "Rituals" picture in the 4th edition PHB but with a dwarf or elf instead of a dragonborn. And a wizard blasting those drow.

 

[Sadras]

I like this for the back cover.

Good call!

 

[TarionzCousin]

What if they turn tradition on its head and show a group of dragons with torches, ten foot poles, and a mule descending into a dungeon?

 

[Bedrockgames]

I have learned it is sometimes better to be surprised by an artist rather than set forth specific expectations. However i agree with morrus that a sense of wonder, exploration and mystery is important. I would like the cover to display the scope of D&D if possible, perhaps a wrap-around that shows a party exploring on the cover, but have the back image show something like a city in the distance to show D&D isn't all wilderness and dungeons.

In terms of style I am hoping for a return to more naturalistic and less stylized. Not a big fan of D&D art over the past ten years or so.

 

[Hussar]

One thing I always liked was the 1e DM's screen. You had a bunch of scenes kinda mashed together.

Why not the same sort of thing - a collage (is that the right word?) of images showing all the very cool things you could be doing with your character.

Only, with like, better art.

 

[Fifth Element]

or this:

I always liked this one. But the "OMG NOSE SPIKE" furor seemed to do it in.

 

[darjr]

What ever it is I want it placed someplace iconic, like the 1st ed AD&D DMG cover at the shores of the City of Brass.

Something like the painting of the caves of chaos on the playtest caves of chaos adventure.

 

[grimslade]

I kind of like the covers for the rerelease of the AD&D hardbacks. A tome with an inset illustration on the covers. The insets should be at least 3/4 of the cover but faux leather effect and metals clasps as borders.
The PHB should show a party entering a Cave or maybe an evil temple.
The DMG should show the party exploring the Temple with a collage of talking with sages, loading mules, camping and finding fabulous treasure.
The Monster Manual should show the battle of the party and iconic monsters, the back cover should show the monsters admiring their new loot.

 

[KesselZero]

Definitely something that tells a story-- I think we all agree on that-- but I'd personally prefer something outside of combat. We know full well that D&D is a combat-heavy game; I'd love a reminder of the exploration elements right there on the cover. Plus it should have some personality, rather than just being "THIS GUY IS STRONG" or "WE ARE FIGHTING A MONSTERS." Maybe an updated version of that famous pic of the adventurers all looking into a newly-opened treasure chest, or something along those lines.