D&D (2024) Dragon Delves Cover Revealed

At MagicCon: Chicago this last weekend, WotC revealed the cover art for July's Dragon Delves hardcover.

Two covers were revealed--the regular cover by Greg Staples, and the alternative cover by Justine Jones.

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Dragon Delves, coming out July 8th, is an anthology of 10 dragon-themed D&D adventures ranging from levels 1-12. Each adventure features a different type of dragon.

 

[pukunui]

Just curious what you don't like about the standard cover graphic design? I think I prefer the more traditional cover image wrap around, compared to this. But I am not against them trying other things, and there is some logic since this is an anthology.

I don't think this will be the standard as it doesn't match any of the core books (except the black out area being at the bottom now). Though perhaps that is what you don't like!

I will still get the standard cover of this rather than the alt (which I really don't care for at all).

Although I am a graphic designer myself, I sometimes find it difficult to articulate what I do or don't like about a particular design. I don't like the gradients. I think they will look dated very quickly. I think all that bright red is too loud and in-your-face. The diagonal split-screen effect on the back cover is too comic-booky for my taste. The little curved cut-out pieces in the corners of the red bits are also kinda distracting. I preferred the more subtle / minimal design of the 2014-era covers.

Interesting that it says "Quick start guides for DMs" are included. I wonder what that means.

I wasn't really planning on getting this until this back cover reveal of what is included. I could probably use 10 dragon themed dungeons and the history of D&D dragons sounds interesting. Finally, the only reason I had previously considered getting this before - 10 unique art styles. I am interested in that.

I suspect that they are going to include a dungeon for each dragon and then provide three short adventure outlines for each one in the same style as they've used in the new DMG.

 

[Parmandur]

Interesting that it says "Quick start guides for DMs" are included. I wonder what that means.

I wasn't really planning on getting this until this back cover reveal of what is included. I could probably use 10 dragon themed dungeons and the history of D&D dragons sounds interesting. Finally, the only reason I had previously considered getting this before - 10 unique art styles. I am interested in that.

Well, one thing thst has been previously established to be in this book that is not explicit in the bullet points might be part of the "Quick Start Guides for DMs", and that is apparently it will have 3 somewhat detailed outlines for linking these together into a Campaign similar to the Campaign outlines in the DMG.

 

[Parmandur]

I suspect that they are going to include a dungeon for each dragon and then provide three short adventure outlines for each one in the same style as they've used in the new DMG.

It is interesting thwt they seperate out having 10 Adventures and 10 Dungeons: might be some Build-A-Bewr guidelines for mixing and matching or moving the CR up and down for each.

 

[pukunui]

Well, one thing thst has been previously established to be in this book that is not explicit in the bullet points might be part of the "Quick Start Guides for DMs", and that is apparently it will have 3 somewhat detailed outlines for linking these together into a Campaign similar to the Campaign outlines in the DMG.

It is interesting thwt they seperate out having 10 Adventures and 10 Dungeons: might be some Build-A-Bewr guidelines for mixing and matching or moving the CR up and down for each.

I don't know how much "mix-and-match" there will be, but I do agree that it's likely each adventure has a "If you're using Campaign Idea A, do this; if you're using Campaign Idea B, do that; if you're using Campaign Idea C, do this other thing."

 

[Parmandur]

I don't know how much "mix-and-match" there will be, but I do agree that it's likely each adventure has a "If you're using Campaign Idea A, do this; if you're using Campaign Idea B, do that; if you're using Campaign Idea C, do this other thing."

I just wonder if they have Adventure outlines that yoy can swap out if the BBEG is the Blie or Green Dragon, say.

 

[Burnside]

I like the alt cover more after seeing the full cover and the back.

I’m troubled by the idea that the format the 2024 DM’s Guide takes with the sample adventures is something WotC plans to use with actual published adventures and not home brew ones - I thought the point of the ones in the DM’s Guide was to provide examples of how little you need to do to prep adventures of your own that are NOT for publication. I want a lot more that that out of an actual published adventure.

 

[DavyGreenwind]

Full covers, a la ICV2

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Reading the back of the book copy, I'm wondering how excited people will be to have five of the adventures be about metallic dragons. One or two -- gold and silver, especially -- sure, but how many players will be excited to also have copper, bronze and brass dragons they have to care about, compared to going up against five different chromatic dragons?

I know there are some fans of all of these metallic dragons, but realistically, if you are told "this is going to be an adventure with a dungeon and a dragon," you're probably not hoping for a shapechanged bronze dragon giving you a fetch quest. I'm hoping the writers have some ideas on how to make the metallic adventures as compelling as "and now we need you to sneak into a black dragon's lair and rescue the hostages without getting caught."

 

[pukunui]

Full covers, a la ICV2

Scroll up to post #48.

 

[Starmaster]

I've noticed that the price listed on the covers is $49.99. I've also seen it listed at that price for pre-order with some retailers. I figured the core books were reduced to $50 to promote sales of the core set since that's been done before with the core D&D books, but I wonder why this book is $50 also. They mentioned that one of their other upcoming releases this year would be sold at a different price point than the other books but, to my knowledge, they said nothing about his one being different than normal. Perhaps WotC is backtracking on the new $60 price point from a couple of years ago and going back to $50 for all their books.