D&D (2024) Here's The New 2024 Player's Handbook Wizard Art

 

[Oofta]

View attachment 353869

Huh. I was going more with this...

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Not in the medieval era in the style that she is wearing.

The designers realized that D&D is in the Renaissance, it's one of the justifications for why the new PHB has the Musket and Pistol on the equipment list.

 

[TheSword]

I think it’s cool. My money is on a blade ward. That looks like a spell that requires your action and lasts a round.

 

[kenada]

I can certainly understand shoulder pad hate (especially if it borders on Warcraft levels of insanity). This one doesn’t bother me so much. It’s pretty much a historical fact that those with power made sure people knew it by wearing overly-ornamented clothing. Have you seen the engraved abs on ceremonial amor in museums? Not to mention the cod pieces…heh. And any clothing worn by such people almost always had elaborate embroidery and the like, even for their ‘day to day’ wear.

There’s a balance though. Armor worn in battle needs to be functional. If there’s the wrong kind of ornamentation, it will be less effective and potentially endanger the wearer. However, that’s not the issue here. The armor the wizard in the illustration isn’t functional. It’s there to evoke a certain aesthetic, which is one I noted as not liking.

Which makes sense. When you can clear the room with a fireball, it saves time and effort if everyone knows it by looking at you, instead of you having to constantly prove it. Less mess on the carpet, as well .

I didn’t bother reading the previous 40+ pages, and what I skimmed with the search seemed kind of questionable at times. Am I missing some context? I think the illustration is fine even if I don’t like the shoulders. Maybe the time has passed for sharing reactions, but the post is only a few days old.

That was even a running bit in the Belgariad books. Where Belgarath, the legendary sorcerer dressed like a common slob, because he couldn’t be bothered. And was constantly running into people who refused to believe he was who he was. To the point where a couple of times he was forced to dress in fancy wizard robes by his daughter (also a powerful sorcerer) just to save time at the door when going to see some monarch or other.

Just in case it’s not clear: I think it makes sense for an illustration of a wizard to make the character look like a wizard. If there are issues being taken with the subject’s being depicted as cool or powerful, then that’s ridiculous. I assume the other classes are being portrayed that way, so why wouldn’t the wizard?

 

[Cadence]

Apologies if this was shared already. Some more BIlly Christian art:

a:"billy christian"

92 Magic cards found where the artist name includes “billy christian”

scryfall.com

The second page of it has Teyo, Aegis Adept; Thundering Sparkmage; and Vortex Runner which seem somewhat relevant.

 

[Vaalingrade]

The designers realized that D&D is in the Renaissance, it's one of the justifications for why the new PHB has the Musket and Pistol on the equipment list.

i can't wait until the designers realize that D&D also isn't on Earth.

 

[Reef]

There’s a balance though. Armor worn in battle needs to be functional. If there’s the wrong kind of ornamentation, it will be less effective and potentially endanger the wearer. However, that’s not the issue here. The armor the wizard in the illustration isn’t functional. It’s there to evoke a certain aesthetic, which is one I noted as not liking.


I didn’t bother reading the previous 40+ pages, and what I skimmed with the search seemed kind of questionable at times. Am I missing some context? I think the illustration is fine even if I don’t like the shoulders. Maybe the time has passed for sharing reactions, but the post is only a few days old.


Just in case it’s not clear: I think it makes sense for an illustration of a wizard to make the character look like a wizard. If there are issues being taken with the subject’s being depicted as cool or powerful, then that’s ridiculous. I assume the other classes are being portrayed that way, so why wouldn’t the wizard?

Sorry if it seemed like I was calling you out. I don’t know if there’s any specific context you’re missing. Probably I’ve just absorbed so much commentary on this piece over the last 40 pages, it’s all sort of stewed together in my head. .

My only point was that I didn’t think the shoulder pieces were meant to be protective or functional at all. They are there for pure aesthetics. Face it, if a wizard finds herself in a position where actual armor pauldrons are necessary, a whole lot of things have gone wrong .

But I was definitely not questioning your right to not like that aesthetic, and I apologize if it came off that way. Your post just led me down a specific chain of thought.

 

[kenada]

Sorry if it seemed like I was calling you out. I don’t know if there’s any specific context you’re missing. Probably I’ve just absorbed so much commentary on this piece over the last 40 pages, it’s all sort of stewed together in my head. .

My only point was that I didn’t think the shoulder pieces were meant to be protective or functional at all. They are there for pure aesthetics. Face it, if a wizard finds herself in a position where actual armor pauldrons are necessary, a whole lot of things have gone wrong .

But I was definitely not questioning your right to not like that aesthetic, and I apologize if it came off that way. Your post just led me down a specific chain of thought.

Yeah, I think if I were going to portray a wizard, I’d go a different route. You’d definitely be able to tell it’s a wizard though. When I saw the illustration, I drafted my response, then I saw it went over 40 pages in a few days. I was like: do I reply and risk stepping in it? Maybe I erred in my judgement this time.

 

[Cadence]

And if you just want lots of wizards from the other part of WotC

From oldest to newest

(game:paper) type:wizard is:firstprint

1,095 Magic cards found where (the card is available on Paper) and the card types include “wizard” and the card is the first printing

scryfall.com

and

newest to oldest

(game:paper) type:wizard is:firstprint

1,095 Magic cards found where (the card is available on Paper) and the card types include “wizard” and the card is the first printing

scryfall.com

[Note, search terms chosen above exclude cases where they updated the art on a single card]

 

[Blue Orange]

Looks like a nerd power fantasy.

Which is to say, it is exactly appropriate for the class that has been just that for the past 50 years. Dump all your points in INT by studying rulebooks magic for your whole life, hole up in academies, let your physique go to hell...that's what wizards do, and that's what this is.

Well done.