D&D (2024) More Dragon Redesign Clues

[dave2008]

Copper Dragon. Art by Svetlin Velinov for the new books.

This makes me think perhaps the white dragon isn't covered in fur. Maybe spiky scales?

 

[RoughCoronet0]

This makes me think perhaps the white dragon isn't covered in fur. Maybe spiky scales?

Yeah, it kind of reminds me of a Horned Lizard’s spiky scales. Maybe that’s the inspiration?

All I know is now I want to give it an action where it shoots out cold infused spikes out at enemies.

 

[pukunui]

Eww. No! That just looks ridiculous. I am actually feeling an intense dislike of pretty much everything about that image.

The current copper dragon is one design that I really like. This new one looks horrid.

With a few exceptions, I am finding the art for the 2024 books off-putting. It’s making me less inclined to invest in the revision.

 

[dave2008]

Eww. No! That just looks ridiculous. I am actually feeling an intense dislike of pretty much everything about that image.

The current copper dragon is one design that I really like. This new one looks horrid.

With a few exceptions, I am finding the art for the 2024 books off-putting. It’s making me less inclined to invest in the revision.

So interesting! The art is having the opposite effect on me. We play our own custom version of 5e and will not be changing from that moving forward. However, I am buying the core books specifically for the art! They are just really great art books for me!

However, I don't really care for the "cutesy" look of the image or the design of the copper dragon in this image. I still really like the quality of the art though.

 

[Shardstone]

These redesigns are amazing, and I think this is by FAR the best dragons have EVER looked in D&D.

 

[Argyle King]

Blue and White look more like eels than I like.
Red seems okayish.
Green is very different than before.
I'm undecided about Black.

 

[Shardstone]

I like that these dragons draw on actual lizards for inspiration instead of all looking like a carbon copy of ye olde dragon art. Very nice to think about how other animals' might be seen as part of draconic evolution.

 

[pukunui]

I like that these dragons draw on actual lizards for inspiration instead of all looking like a carbon copy of ye olde dragon art. Very nice to think about how other animals' might be seen as part of draconic evolution.

Which actual lizard has a long, skinny, bendy neck with a big head on the end of it?

 

[Shardstone]

Which actual lizard has a long, skinny, bendy neck with a big head on the end of it?

That's thinking a little literally, isn't it? Like I'm obviously talking about the snake/cobra-vibes to the Green Dragon, the horned lizard to the White Dragon, the cool rhino horn for the Blue Dragon, etc, and yes I know a rhino isn't a lizard.

 

[pukunui]

That's thinking a little literally, isn't it? Like I'm obviously talking about the snake/cobra-vibes to the Green Dragon, the horned lizard to the White Dragon, the cool rhino horn for the Blue Dragon, etc, and yes I know a rhino isn't a lizard.

Sorry. The strength of my negative reaction toward these new dragon designs is surprising even me. I don't know why I dislike them as much as I do. I guess I'm just too attached to the previous looks that have now been well established since WotC first took over D&D. I am now an old man yelling at clouds, I guess.

But the art is a big part of the appeal for me. If I don't like the art, it makes me feel less interested in playing the game.

So far, I think the only new piece of art I've liked is the one of that halfling wild sorcerer with the prosthetic arm plus the alt covers of the DMG and MM.