D&D (2024) New Dungeon Master's Guide Cover Features Venger (From the D&D Cartoons)

The cover of the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide has been unveiled.... in the Mirror, a mainstream newspaper in the UK.

The cover art features villains (as opposed to the heroes on the Player's Handbook cover revealed last week), with skeletons in the foreground, the classic villains Skylla and Warduke in the mid ground, and then Venger from the 1980s Dungeons & Dragons cartoon looming in the background, and right at the back lurks a dracolich.

The DMG will be released November 12th, 2024.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Maybe there are examples of similar art from previous editions, but I never really thought that Mind Flayers would carve giant stone monuments of themselves. While they are super egotistical, it doesn't vibe with my view of them. They're too logic-driven and emotionless to make art, IMO. When I think "massive stone statues" for D&D, I think Dwarves, Giants, or Dhakaani Goblinoids. The back cover art is really cool, but it isn't really something I'd considered before.

 

[teitan]

I bow to this great father.

He’s a legend.

My 19 month old also loves the D&D cartoon alongside his Spidey shows.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Maybe there are examples of similar art from previous editions, but I never really thought that Mind Flayers would carve giant stone monuments of themselves. While they are super egotistical, it doesn't vibe with my view of them. They're too logic-driven and emotionless to make art, IMO. When I think "massive stone statues" for D&D, I think Dwarves, Giants, or Dhakaani Goblinoids. The back cover art is really cool, but it isn't really something I'd considered before.

I have seen several art pieces that show statues and carvings like that for the Mind Flayers. I agree they would not make it themselves, but that’s what they have thralls for.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Uni finally gets her time in the spotlight, soloing Tiamat.

I know you were joking, but the Tiamat part might not be unreasonable, actually.

 

[teitan]

Maybe there are examples of similar art from previous editions, but I never really thought that Mind Flayers would carve giant stone monuments of themselves. While they are super egotistical, it doesn't vibe with my view of them. They're too logic-driven and emotionless to make art, IMO. When I think "massive stone statues" for D&D, I think Dwarves, Giants, or Dhakaani Goblinoids. The back cover art is really cool, but it isn't really something I'd considered before.

Cults dedicated to them similar to Cthulhu? The cultists make them?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Dear WotC: if you do a The Realm setting, it is imperative that the PCs be from our world by default. Kthx.

It remains weird that there's no WotC background that allows for this. (Third party stuff, of course, covers it well.)

 

[RoughCoronet0]

I have seen several art pieces that show statues and carvings like that for the Mind Flayers. I agree they would not make it themselves, but that’s what they have thralls for.

It definetly makes sense to me that thralls would carve such statues of their Illithid masters, especially if they viewed them as beings to be revered.

Heck, maybe these ancient statues are remnents of the Duergar from when they were a slave race to their Mindflayers masters before they revolted and freed themselves.

 

[Dire Bare]

Most of the campaigns in the past decade have been original and not retreads.

Hey now, the internet is for negative hyperbole, not facts. Get back in line!

 

[John Lloyd1]

Did the cartoon get broadcast in Australia? I can't remember seeing it, but I was an ABC watcher.

I'm not enthusiastic about the DMG cover. Waiting to see that alt-cover. I liked the alt-cover for the new PHB.

 

[Stormonu]

Plus they have new toys of Warduke, Strongheart etc from NECA and new cartoon figures from Super7. Hopefully Hasbro is retooling their D&D figures to actually sell.

I've got the Zarak, Warduke and Elkhorn figures. Crossing my fingers for a Paraley/Melf. Maybe a Kelek and/or Ringlerun if those come out.

I'd buy a Strongheart, but I liked Xenk's figure better and got that instead.

Yeah, it's the LJN figures in the pictures lately that have had my interest, not so much the cartoon characters, though they too bring a smile to my face.