D&D 5E The cover of the 5E PHB: What I'd like to see

It would be good to have b/w title with little credits on top and down.
(For my ebook reader, of course )

Minigiant said:

I think they should go with 5 characters.

The classic 4 races plus 1 other nonclassical but not too weird like a half-elf.

The 4 classical classes plus one other less core class but not too offensive and weird class like a ranger, paladin, or sorceror.

Foreground: 2 party members doing some non combat action like disarming a trap or healing a NPC.

Background: The rest of the party holding back the monster.

Something like the "Rituals" picture in the 4th edition PHB but with a dwarf or elf instead of a dragonborn. And a wizard blasting those drow.

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This is close to what I was thinking.

The rogue is trying to unlock a stone door with a dragon sigil on it, while the wizard is holding a staff shedding light from one end so that the rogue can see what they are doing (which puts me in mind of all the times I have had to hold the flashlight for my Dad; not necessarily a horrible reference).

Meanwhile, the cleric and fighter are running interference with their backs to the other two. The cleric should be holding something unholy off with their holy symbol, while the fighter is either engaged with or looking for another foe. One option I was thinking of was a swarm of skeletal rats for the cleric, and their wererat necromancer master for the fighter, though there may be more classic options.

Go male dwarven rogue, female halfling wizard, male elven cleric, and female human fighter.

I like the Forge of Fury one:

Klaus said:

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But I think we should have two, at least. One that tells a story and another that is a puzzle. Covers to appeal to multiple sides of the gamer population.


Also, put kids art on the 8-13 year old version (y'know, the slightly easier to read and shorter version of the same core game?)

Morrus said:

What would you like to see on the cover?

I'd like to see a 4-person traditional adventuring party (human, dwarf, elf, halfling; of the classes fighter, rogue, cleric, wizard; not necessarily in that order). I'd like them to be discovering something, not fighting something. No action poses, but a sense of wonder as you share their awe as they, say, see a scary door in the lamplight. They should be ordinary looking people in realistic-looking armour/clothing, and they should have backpacks, lanterns, etc. A sense of mystery and foreboding, speaking directly to the exploration side of the game.

Something that gets your imagination going. What's behind that door?

How about you?

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I like this idea and I would extend it further that future supplements show those same adventurers in a different scene/setup relevant to the topic of the book.

Example: a supplement that has tactical module rules has those 4 PCs in combat with the door behind then (as in, they just came through from the PHB1 door and now are in combat). while a supplement that talks about underdark stuff might have those 4 adventurers searching a catacomb and dead underdark creature whose body is slightly off screen so you only see the legs with a pc hunched over it, all the while the door that they just came through (from PHB1) in the background. or a supplement that has a focus on items might have them exploring a treasure chamber with that same door from the PHB1 behind them like they just entered.

don't know how well it would work in the long run but that's my thought..

This.

I would like to see an amalmagation of each edition's PHB/main rulebook.

Not sure how it would be done but they have some really creative artists out there. Maybe have an open art contest for the cover.

For the DMG I want the cover to be filled with a picture of the green devil face annihilation portal from Tomb of Horrors, with the title and all the writing in the black section of its open mouth.

I like the art on the cover of the re-release of the Dungeon! boardgame. A dragon in a dungeon... I think it would be perfect for the cover of 5e:

I think my ultimate cover set would be

PHB:

An armored fighter stands at the top of a twisting set of stairs, her sword held in one hand and a shield in the other. The blade's tip is firmly set in the ground. She's visibly on guard, her eyes glancing at some unseen enemy in the shadows along the ceiling.

Behind her at the top of the stairs is a massive, oval portal. To the left, the party's rogue sits on the ground, holding a bruised hand as the cleric kneels nearby, hand on the rogue's shoulder as the other is held in the supplication of prayer. A begrudging look adorns the rogue's face as the party's wizard - open book in hand - points at both the portal and the rogue, expounding upon some point we can only guess at.

In the darkness above the group, something sinister glares with yellow, hungry eyes at the group.

DMG:

We stare upon a vast, heaped treasure where a dragon reclines, consulting with kobold adorers. One kobold in the foreground guardingly holds a readied sword and sling, as if waiting for some unseen enemy to enter from the left.

MM:

A maze of circular caverns seems to stretch in every direction. An umber hulk sniffs at the ground while a band of goblins stands slightly and behind to the right, quietly and guardingly commenting on their "pet's" actions.

In the far background, a florescent underground city glows as humanoid figures can be seen dealing, trading and moving about.

Under a nearby cleft in the rock in the left foreground, a kobold attempts to hide, readying his spear should the Umber Hulk find him.

If the books are arrange with the PHB in the center, the DMG on the right and the MM below it forms one continuous picture.

Am I the only one who liked 3E's covers? They just seemed a bit classier and timeless to me. Realistic artwork always seems to look dated after a few years, especially when you look at hairstyles or ornamentation.

I might like something more abstract. Maybe stark silhouettes, or something that plays with light and shadow, instead of traditional art.



This is closer to what I'd like to see.