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.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Am I the only one who always was 100% sure that the warrior on the cover of the red box was the same warrior you play in the introductory adventure and who shows up in several other places in the rules manuals. The similarity is so obvious to me...

You're not, but basic scrutiny would reveal they are two different characters. Totally different armor.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

He was always 'me'. That no longer holds.

Especially given your male pattern balding.

 

[Dioltach]

Patty Smyth already announced back in 1984 that she was the warrior.

 

[Azzy]

Patty Smyth already announced back in 1984 that she was the warrior.

Talk about a Scandal.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Yeah but, my point was he has his back to me, so his identity is unknown, he's an avatar for me, or you, or her, or anybody.

Now that has changed. His identity has been revealed and he's not me.

I know it's not official, I know it's not important. It's petty.

 

[Reef]

Petty? Because they released an unofficial miniature take on it? Tell me, if the new miniature had been male, would you still feel like "he's not you"? I mean, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the odds of you looking like however they sculpted the hypothetical male figure would be pretty low. Would you be here complaining about it?

And even if this new take somehow poisoned the well of your self-insertion, isn't that balanced by the myriad of other people who suddenly can self-insert?

 

[billd91]

Yeah but, my point was he has his back to me, so his identity is unknown, he's an avatar for me, or you, or her, or anybody.

Now that has changed. His identity has been revealed and he's not me.

I know it's not official, I know it's not important. It's petty.

Allow me to repeat myself (from back in 2024):
"YOU feel excluded? How do you think women have felt for much of D&D’s history? At least you had this piece of art speaking to you, INCLUDING you, for FORTY YEARS. And now someone has produced a mini interpreting the character as female. The GALL of them, right?

You’re not being excluded. You’re just finally being asked to MAKE ROOM for women gamers and are acting hurt by that because you’re no longer the sole focus. Privilege, people, it’s a hell of a drug."

 

[Sacrosanct]

Allow me to repeat myself (from back in 2024):
"YOU feel excluded? How do you think women have felt for much of D&D’s history? At least you had this piece of art speaking to you, INCLUDING you, for FORTY YEARS. And now someone has produced a mini interpreting the character as female. The GALL of them, right?

You’re not being excluded. You’re just finally being asked to MAKE ROOM for women gamers and are acting hurt by that because you’re no longer the sole focus. Privilege, people, it’s a hell of a drug."

It reminds me of a conversation someone had on a youtube video that highlighted my Chromatic Dungeons. Despite there being a ton of interior art depicting white men, this was the cover:

One of the commentors made a comment about how they didn't feel welcome to play the game because they (a white male) wasn't prominent on the cover. They were this close to getting it.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Petty? Because they released an unofficial miniature take on it? Tell me, if the new miniature had been male, would you still feel like "he's not you"? I mean, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the odds of you looking like however they sculpted the hypothetical male figure would be pretty low. Would you be here complaining about it?

And even if this new take somehow poisoned the well of your self-insertion, isn't that balanced by the myriad of other people who suddenly can self-insert?

I apologize about the clipped sentence, but yes--it's petty, as in, it's a small thing that is unimportant. My point is that it is a small, petty thing that they didn't need to do. It's just one of the growing number of petty things to add to the pile of discord between old players and new players.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I apologize about the clipped sentence, but yes--it's petty, as in, it's a small thing that is unimportant. My point is that it is a small, petty thing that they didn't need to do. It's just one of the growing number of petty things to add to the pile of discord between old players and new players.

I started playing in 1981. I consider myself an "old" player. I played AD&D as my main game until the 5e playtests stated. Things like this aren't sowing discord between me and new players. I'm glad more people feel welcome. A rising tide raises all ships. I was catered to for 40 years; it would be awfully selfish of me to feel somehow attacked because I'm no longer being catered to specifically.

When you're used to getting 90% of the pie, when it finally starts getting distributed evenly, it probably feels like something is being taken from you when it's really just making things fair.