D&D 5E Starter set cover art meh?

[Iosue]

I find the cover full of awesome and win. It's a single fighter vs. a dragon, so a call back to BECMI. It's a green dragon, so a call back to B/X. The fighter is a lefty, so yay! And I very much like the design of the green dragon. It's bad-ass, and yet classic, in a way this green dragon is so very not.

 

[Agamon]

Like Morrus, I'm not art connoisseur, so I can't say what draws me to it other than to say it's pleasing to look at. I also like that it's a great homage to the Mentzer cover.

 

[Plaguescarred]

No on the contrary its pretty awesome cover if you ask me!

 

[Boarstorm]

Honestly, discussing the art doesn't interest me.

I'm here (these forums) to discuss the game inside.

The reason I bring this up is that I expect you will find that people like me are the majority here. We-don't-know-much-about-art,-but-we-know-what-we-like types, which means that useful feedback will probably be at a minimum!

But I hope you get the discussion you're looking for. Sorry I can't contribute to it.

For what it's worth (i.e. "Not much"), I find the cover art exciting and dynamic, and in no way like a notebook sketch. Not super-fond of the logo, though, I have to admit.

 

[Emirikol]

Well, that's a start. The dragon does look menacing I suppose learning how to discuss art objectively is a learned skill much like discussing math equations for 3rd edition

The use of drab colors in the current cover makes me want to compare to the other covers...well.... They have menacing dragons too. I would argue that the 1st cover shown looks like it just woke up from a trip to Colorado.

The 2nd cover is Otis' typical "rubbery" style of 60's/70's psychadelica'. That's simply not going to work outside of the Hackmaster audience if you're trying to promote sales (to 12+)

The 3rd cover dragon has actual completion of the artwork and doesn't look so cheap, but Elmore wasn't actually cheap and I suppose in the heyday of D&D's income and independence, that was no object.

Compared to the 5e, that 3rd cover is a European masterpiece.

 

[doctorhook]

I love this piece of art. My only complaint is that it doesn't seem to match with the size (Large) of the dragon it's supposed to represent in-game. Unless the 5E size categories have changed compared to the sizes in 3E and 4E (and they may have), that dragon on the cover is Huge for sure.

 

[Emirikol]

Did they use the drab gray and GREEN to be".. warm and inviting, lending customers a pleasing feeling.. denotes health, environment and goodwill. Finally, green is the color of money, so it creates thoughts of wealth.."?

Terrible idea for Dungeons & Dragons sales of a product!

http://www.business2community.com/marketing/10-colors-that-increase-sales-and-why-0366997

What was the point of this product if not to sell D&D?

 

[Morrus]

Did they use the drab gray and GREEN to be".. warm and inviting, lending customers a pleasing feeling.. denotes health, environment and goodwill. Finally, green is the color of money, so it creates thoughts of wealth.."?

Terrible idea for Dungeons & Dragons sales of a product!

http://www.business2community.com/marketing/10-colors-that-increase-sales-and-why-0366997

What was the point of this product if not to sell D&D?

We get it. You don't like the art. Plenty of us do like it.

 

[Agamon]

Did they use the drab gray and GREEN to be".. warm and inviting, lending customers a pleasing feeling.. denotes health, environment and goodwill. Finally, green is the color of money, so it creates thoughts of wealth.."?

Green is also the color of the forest, where green dragons live. Green and hazy makes me think that this ruin is the forest lair of the dragon.

I suppose you could psychoanalyse it, but sometimes a dragon is just a dragon.

 

[doctorhook]

Did they use the drab gray and GREEN to be".. warm and inviting, lending customers a pleasing feeling.. denotes health, environment and goodwill. Finally, green is the color of money, so it creates thoughts of wealth.."?

Terrible idea for Dungeons & Dragons sales of a product!

http://www.business2community.com/marketing/10-colors-that-increase-sales-and-why-0366997

What was the point of this product if not to sell D&D?

It's one thing to dispute the art direction 5E is taking, but this "colours-reliably-invoke-feelings" BS is only a marginally more effective sales tactic than chicken blood and snake oil.