D&D 5E (2024) Josh Herman (Head of Art) Interview with Silver and Blue Dragon Art

[Kobold Avenger]

Exclusive CBR Interview with Josh Herman, the Head of D&D's Art Department

In an exclusive CBR interview, Head of D&D's Art Dept. Josh Herman talks influences, art and vision with the 2024 5e Player's Handbook just ahead.

www.cbr.com

 

[MonsterEnvy]

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Notably while the piece is mostly the same the design did change from the early version of the Blue Dragon we saw a while back

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

...and kids, this is why blue dragons are the best.

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

Of mixed opinions on the blue... I like the design - quite a lot, actually - but it doesn't say "desert dweller" to me like the 3e design did. It's an awesome design for a blue-scaled dragon, but it doesn't quite say "blue dragon" to me...

Feels more like a kind of "storm" dragon. Something thematically linked to massive thunderstorms - maybe even hurricanes, which would imply a more oceanic habitat akin to the bronze - but not so much arid climates and sand dunes.

 

[Yaarel]

Of mixed opinions on the blue... I like the design - quite a lot, actually - but it doesn't say "desert dweller" to me like the 3e design did. It's an awesome design for a blue-scaled dragon, but it doesn't quite say "blue dragon" to me...

Feels more like a kind of "storm" dragon. Something thematically linked to massive thunderstorms - maybe even hurricanes, which would imply a more oceanic habitat akin to the bronze - but not so much arid climates and sand dunes.

The old school Blue Dragon never really made sense in the desert anyway.

I will use these mainly for aerial environment. Basically a "Storm Dragon", as you say.

The only way a desert theme makes sense is, the land is bleak to emphasize the great wide open, sky blue above.

 

[mamba]

Of mixed opinions on the blue... I like the design - quite a lot, actually - but it doesn't say "desert dweller" to me like the 3e design did. It's an awesome design for a blue-scaled dragon, but it doesn't quite say "blue dragon" to me...

Feels more like a kind of "storm" dragon.

I mean, the pictures show them in storms, and flying over a ship of all things, not very desert themed right there. Might be Spelljammers though or flying ships at least

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

I mean, the pictures show them in storms, and flying over a ship of all things, not very desert themed right there. Might be Spelljammers though or flying ships at least

I mean, yes, that's precisely my point.

The blue dragon has traditionally been a desert dweller - back in 3.5e they had spell-like abilities that let them destroy water and create illusions - desertification and mirages.

The imagery here is all storms - pouring rain and raging winds. It's a stark divergence from what I think of when I imagine blue dragons.

Now, it is absolutely possible to square these two with one another - I'm a massive fan of the manga One Piece and its "Alabasta arc" is all about an Egypt-themed desert nation suffering a devastating, years-long drought due to a sand-themed villain who has been quite literally stealing their rain for his own ends. While no blue dragon design could ever hope to live up to the sheer style of Sir Crocodile, it can be made to work - it's just less straightforward, thematically.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Woof, that interview needed to be edited down. Lots of paragraphs that basically say "so, I talked to artist and communicated things to him in very general terms."

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I mean, the pictures show them in storms, and flying over a ship of all things, not very desert themed right there. Might be Spelljammers though or flying ships at least

Storms are actually quite common in deserts