D&D 5E There Will Be No More Hydro74 Alternate D&D Covers

For the past 10 years, there have been alternative covers for the Dungeons & Dragons hardcovers available at local game stores. These covers were usually designed by artist Joshua M. Smith, aka Hydro74.

Hydro74 has confirmed that Vecna: Eve of Ruin was their final alternate cover for D&D.

Just got my copy of Vecna, Eve of Ruin from D&D in. The Gold & Silver really are fantastic. Sadly [Wizards of the Coast] said this was my last book since they are changing direction, which is disappointing but freelance life! Was a fun ride!

Photo by Hydro74
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Here's a look at just some of Hydo74's alternate covers over the years.

 

[TiQuinn]

Fresh takes on the art are a good thing.

 

[Reynard]

Fresh takes on the art are a good thing.

The Hydro74 covers WERE a fresh take on the art.

Not that the new alternate covers aren't pretty. But I like the abstract art a lot and I hope that they get lots more work in the space.

 

[JustinCase]

Best Alt Covers by far.

Well, I certainly like those Hydro74 covers (although I don't own any of them), but the best alt covers are, in my opinion, for Planescape.

 

[TiQuinn]

We need a deep sigh emoji.

 

[Stormonu]

I never picked up any of the Hydro covers (honestly, just wanted the books as cheap as I could get for the shelf since I was mostly doing electronic anyways, so usually went with basic covers off Amazon - excepting campaign settings), but they did look rather nice. I'm honestly sad to see there will be no more Hydro covers. Best of luck to him, hope another RPG group (maybe Free League or Paizo?) is smart enough to pick him up for their book covers and art.

 

[Rabulias]

I was really hoping that Hydro74 would do the standard covers for the new core books. Alas...

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

A big thank you to Hydro74, and best of luck in his future endeavors! The art was amazing, and will always be remembered.

I hope that the next alt covers can live up the amazing standard that has been set.

 

[doctorhook]

It’s a new era of the game, so it’s not too strange that they’re choosing a new look

 

[Reynard]

It’s a new era of the game, so it’s not too strange that they’re choosing a new look

Which is weird, given that the backwards compatibility of a decade's worth of adventures and settings means that it isn't really a new era, is it?

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Which is weird, given that the backwards compatibility of a decade's worth of adventures and settings means that it isn't really a new era, is it?

I mean, I thought the whole point was to have their cake and eat it too. It's a new era, but it's the same game. We've made everything better, but everything that came before is in no way deprecated. Etc. That's why they're refusing to give it any kind of actually distinct name, like 5.5e or the like, because doing so would be admitting that it is a distinct thing. But giving new art is a different story; every new book has new art by definition, so they can give the feeling of newness without giving the label of newness.