D&D (2024) 2024 PHB/DMG/MM art/layout: like or dislike?

[Moonmover]

I do not own it, yet. I did flip through it at my FLGS the other day, but it will be a while before I use it and therefore it will be a whole before I spend money on it. So, I don't have experience using it as a reference in-play, which is the really important thing.

But, all the artwork I saw was  gorgeous. It maybe takes up too much space, but I can hardly blame the layout guys for wanting to make the art highly visible!

 

[Clint_L]

I like the art. But then again, I've barely glanced at the new PHB; I've got it through DDB and already know most of the changes through the playlets, so I haven't really gone through it in detail. Take my initial reaction for what it's worth.

 

[billd91]

I've been reading through my Players Handbook and I'm finding it highly readable and the art with its placement supports that pretty well as far as I'm concerned.

 

[pukunui]

I like the layout of the new PHB. The art is a mixed bag for me but that’s nothing new.

Can’t speak to the DMG or MM since they’re not out yet!

 

[Ondath]

I'm neutral on the art, but (as someone who's been very critical of WotC and 5.5 in the past) I really, really like the layout. I genuinely think they finally nailed the PHB as a rulebook that introduces the game to newbies with this layout. I'm getting inspired by it in how I layout my own homebrew rule documents (well, that and OSE which also has an amazing layout).

 

[Doc_Klueless]

Just arrived in the mail today from WotC and DDB, so I haven’t had time to play it. BUT I really like the Art and Layout.

 

[Stormonu]

I an no desire to go back to the wall of text days - no thank you.

Same. As an example, I have the old WEG Star Wars 2E initial book, which is page after page of text walls. Compared to the WEG Star Wars 2E Revised and Expanded book, it's no contest. The Revised and Expanded is sooo much easier to read, stay interested and pick out important information.

While there's a lot of good 1E (& some 2E) art, this 50-year-old can't help slumbering off when trying to get through page after page of straight text.

Example WEG Star Wars 2E page

Spoiler

Typical WEG Star Wars 2E Revised and Expanded Page

Spoiler

 

[Xeviat]

I love most of the new art. I only have two complaints really, and they're just because they aren't my preference.

1) I don't like that all of the character art has very human faces. I assume they chose that art direction because it helps people project onto the characters more, but I personally prefer when nonhuman characters look different from humans other than their rubber foreheads and ears. I noticed orc art that looks way more human than I'd want.

2) I don't like most of the new dragon designs. The art is great, but I prefer Lockwood's designs.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Dislike. I wish they spent more time and space focusing on the rules of the game and then put all this fabulous art out in a picture book of some sort.

Agreed. No reason from my perspective to front art so much. The words are much more important (to me) in a game book. Art (even great art) is never never going to be enough of a selling point for me, and art I don't care for can detract.

 

[ECMO3]

Update since I got the book myself:

I am not a fan of the art. There is too much of it and I think more content would be better than more art. They could have either made a smaller book or they could have put more in the book.

I also can say I have not been impressed with the layout so far. Many of the early you tube reviewers who got an advanced copy raved about the layout and how easy it is to find things. Those were mostly sponsored reviews so I question their objectivity. I do like the rules glossary, but in general things are more difficult for me to find in the new PHB. Part of that could be 10 years experience with the old PHB and maybe it will be different 6 months from now.