D&D General D&D Art across the editions

[dave2008]

The original 2e art is miles better than the 2e black cover reprint interior art. Seriously, that was garbage. Worst art in any D&D project IMO

Did I post the wrong printing of the 2e PHB?

 

[dave2008]

Budgets man

also, I misread your OP and thought you were talking about covers, so that’s what my comment was in reference to

Also which cover, the original or the Easley revised edition I posted?

 

[Leatherhead]

The 5e PHB really nails those moody shadows that were in 2nd and 1st edition art.

 

[Wiseblood]

Thank you for this! There is one design conceit I would like to not see anymore in these. The dutch angle.

Okay so there are more but that one really grates on my nerves.

 

[Catolias]

I've posted the 3e/3.5 PHB art, which didn't technically fulfill the brief, but it is what it is!

I had a quick look and my thought is that each of the chapters in 3/3.5 are artwork too. It just so happens that the text overlays technical drawings that fade out behind the text and towards the bottom of the page.

Certainly, the full page artwork in 3/3.5 is not comparable to previous and subsequent editions. I have to say of the editions, side by side, 5e stands out and, thankfully, loses that leery, 1970s quality. It’s much easier to sell D&D to my girls.

 

[dave2008]

I had a quick look and my thought is that each of the chapters in 3/3.5 are artwork too. It just so happens that the text overlays technical drawings that fade out behind the text and towards the bottom of the page.

Certainly, the full page artwork in 3/3.5 is not comparable to previous and subsequent editions. I have to say of the editions, side by side, 5e stands out and, thankfully, loses that leery, 1970s quality. It’s much easier to sell D&D to my girls.

Yes, I thought about that as well, but i just didn't feel it met the brief of "full spread art" since it was half covered with text. Of course that was clearly to restrictive in 3e's case. I may go back and add those later.

 

[dave2008]

Thank you for this! There is one design conceit I would like to not see anymore in these. The dutch angle.

Okay so there are more but that one really grates on my nerves.

I am scared to ask, what is the dutch angle.

EDIT: nevermind I looked it up, not nearly as salacious as I thought!

 

[Parmandur]

Dude, neat idea! I'm actually surprised, but it looks like the 5E book has the most full page art??

 

[Sacrosanct]

Did I post the wrong printing of the 2e PHB?

no, you posted the right ones. Early 90s they did black cover reprints, and the interior art was god awful

Also which cover, the original or the Easley revised edition I posted?

. Easley. Best PHB cover of all editions IMO. Best quality, and it was all about the PC as the feature subject of what your PC could become

 

[dave2008]

Dude, neat idea! I'm actually surprised, but it looks like the 5E book has the most full page art??

Yes, and by far the most full color full page art.