D&D General D&D Red Box: Who Is The Warrior?

The Dungeons & Dragons Red Box, famously illustrated by Larry Elmore in 1983, featured cover art of a warrior fighting a red dragon. The piece is an iconic part of D&D's history.

WizKids is creating a 50th Anniversary D&D miniatures set for the D&D Icons of the Realms line which includes models based on classic art from the game, such as the AD&D Player's Handbook's famous 'A Paladin In Hell' piece by David Sutherland in 1978, along with various monsters and other iconic images. The set will be available in July 2024.

Amongst the collection is Elmore's dragon-fighting warrior. This character has only ever been seen from behind, and has never been named or identified. However, WizKids’ miniature gives us our first look at them from the front. The warrior is a woman; the view from behind is identical to the original art, while the view from the front--the first time the character's face has ever been seen--is, as WizKids told ComicBook.com, "purposefully and clearly" a woman. This will be one of 10 secret rare miniatures included in the D&D Icons of the Realms: 50th Anniversary booster boxes.

The original artist, Larry Elmore, says otherwise. (Update—the linked post has since been edited).

It's a man!

Gary didn't know what he wanted, all he wanted was something simple that would jump out at you. He wanted a male warrior. If it was a woman, you would know it for I'm pretty famous for painting women.

There was never a question in all these years about the male warrior.

No one thought it was a female warrior. "Whoever thought it was a female warrior is quite crazy and do not know what they are talking about."

This is stupid. I painted it, I should know.

- Larry Elmore​

Whether or not Elmore's intent was for the character to be a man, it seems that officially she's a woman. Either way, it's an awesome miniature. And for those who love the art, you can buy a print from Larry Elmore's official website.

 

[Scribe]

Now, I don't really understand how the character on the cover can be such an issue. It already was a faceless character.

"He had my face."

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

I think both things are true: Wizkids/Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro made the change to promote inclusivity (possibly as a performance, possibly not), and to get a reaction out of people both negative and positive.

It's a small thing. It's petty. But it was unnecessary and didn't help bring people together.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

But it was unnecessary and didn't help bring people together.

Famously the mission of people who produce plastic miniatures.

 

[Belen]

Famously the mission of people who produce plastic miniatures.

Well, not a good idea to drive people apart either.

Personally, I play D&D to escape the grind of the real world. You can market the game and be inclusive and do it inclusively. The marketing concept that hate-watching is still watching is exhausting and manipulative.

I do not think that was the point of the change on WizKids part although it would have been genius to make a uncommon male version and an ultra rare female version and watch the same people who complained about the swap chase the ultra rare female version.

 

[dave2008]

It's a small thing. It's petty. But it was unnecessary and didn't help bring people together.

You could make the same statement if they created the figure as a man.

 

[Gradine]

I think we're maybe bring a little too generous about what is or is not a reasonable way to react to things

 

[Dire Bare]

Ok, I do not care what gender or species the art is tied too. It is a non-issue to me.

However, the folks who grew up with the red box tended to be the first geeks who were hounded for being different, bullied in school, and called devil worshippers.

Heck, my wife, in 2002, grew up being told D&D was evil.

Are there some real bad actors in the community who are trolling this on purpose? Yes.

However, the folks who grew up with this art were often the people who were different and bullied.

Yes. And?

I was one of those kids in the 80s bullied for being nerdy, fat, smart, and physically slow. Since I was bullied, it's okay for me to get all upset about D&D becoming more inclusive? Becoming a safe hobby for all sorts of folks it wasn't back in the 80s?

No thank you.

 

[Reef]

I’m not sure what I find stranger: the idea that a miniature company would say “Hey! Let’s make this new figure female! That will really stick the knife into those old guys who want to be exclusively catered to! Do it enough, and they’ll finally stop giving us money!”…

Or, the fact that it appears such a strategy would actually work….

 

[Belen]

Yes. And?

I was one of those kids in the 80s bullied for being nerdy, fat, smart, and physically slow. Since I was bullied, it's okay for me to get all upset about D&D becoming more inclusive? Becoming a safe hobby for all sorts of folks it wasn't back in the 80s?

No thank you.

It’s always been a diverse an inclusive hobby. I was gaming with diverse people of various backgrounds from the beginning. It has been a strength of the community.

I do not support intolerant people but I also see purposeful division because it seems advantageous for certain groups.

 

[Willie the Duck]

THAC0 was definitely a dig, specifically at the Pundit (the whole pipe thing). Now, I can't be bothered to have any sympathy for that guy, but I can see how some folks would get upset that WoTC went out of their way to take a dig at them

Pundy went out of his way* to state this as clear and obvious truth, but it doesn't pass the sniff test. How many people knew he was really a pipe-smoker? Certainly how many people at WotC? Those who enter his echo-chamber know he always uses that picture of (I think it is) Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York as his forum avatar, but even then it's not really clear that the pipe was real to him and not just the character (who seems to fit his self image regardless). But again that's not something the average WotC employee would know about. Beyond that, he's just never been important enough to take a swing at. Zak Sabbath, Ken Whitman, heck, Justin Lanasa -- even among foils or thorns in the game's side, Pundy has been something of an also-ran.
*well, deeply into his way, since self-declared victimhood is part and parcel of his personal brand