D&D (2024) Anyone wish the species playtest had come with art?

[Henadic Theologian]

Especially for the new linegages for Goliaths and Tieflings, like yeah Goliaths would draw inspiration from their respective giant types, but regular Goliaths and stone Goliaths look different beyond size differences. I imagine the two none infernal Tiefling subraces would too.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

We will get new art with the new books.

 

[Parmandur]

Especially for the new linegages for Goliaths and Tieflings, like yeah Goliaths would draw inspiration from their respective giant types, but regular Goliaths and stone Goliaths look different beyond size differences. I imagine the two none infernal Tiefling subraces would too.

They had to finalize the PHB Species selection before writing art orders, no doubt.

 

[Incenjucar]

I think it would have helped with ardlings more than anything else. We have plenty of pictures of old school tieflings and goliaths+elements isn't super hard to imagine.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Commissioning art for stuff that is not final can backfire.

 

[Incenjucar]

Eh. You just have a few different versions. They did it in previous editions with the succubus and the owl bear and it was fine and productive.

 

[Knight_Marshal]

If they allow whoever it was that did the abomination that is the Halfling art anywhere near the phb, I will got to WotC HQ with tar and feathers because I am old school.

 

[the Jester]

I think it's unreasonable to expect art in playtest material unless that art is actually necessary, e.g. a map for a playtest adventure.

 

[Charlaquin]

Eh. You just have a few different versions. They did it in previous editions with the succubus and the owl bear and it was fine and productive.

That was a pretty different case though, because there was never any question whether the succubus and owlbear would be in the game. They were soliciting opinions on what direction to take their visual design, and showed concept art they would surely have paid for anyway. Ardling and Goliath were never guaranteed to make it into the PHB, let alone in the forms they took in the playtest packets. So commissioning art for them before knowing if it’s get used would have been a much bigger risk.

 

[Incenjucar]

That was a pretty different case though, because there was never any question whether the succubus and owlbear would be in the game. They were soliciting opinions on what direction to take their visual design, and showed concept art they would surely have paid for anyway. Ardling and Goliath were never guaranteed to make it into the PHB, let alone in the forms they took in the playtest packets. So commissioning art for them before knowing if it’s get used would have been a much bigger risk.

Having a few rough sketches up of a new species shouldn't be cost-prohibitive. The look of a species is extremely important as a selling point. They could frankly just Photoshop a cat's head on top of the statue of David, or even use existing D&D art that uses the same design.