D&D 5E (2024) Here's The Covers of BOTH of November's Forgotten Realms Books

We've known for some time that in November, WotC will be releasing not one but two Forgotten Realms books--one aimed at players, the other at Dungeon Masters. Thanks to Game Informer, we now have a look at the covers of Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerun and Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun. The article showcases more art, and is well worth checking out--and for those who want more, the print magazine has a full feature previewing the books.

 

[Distracted DM]

I'm just curious, what do you like about the mock book look?

For me, it just screams "this is fake" and takes me out of the mindset I'm trying to get into. However, I realize that is my issue. So what works for you about the mock book approach.

I really liked the 3.Xe mock book covers... I just thought they looked really cool, and I guess it promised "a tome of adventure" or something. Just aesthetic appeal. I like cool art inside, the outside looking like crazy weird real-books was appealing to me; OPEN THIS TOME AND REVEAL ANOTHER WORLD OF ADVENTURE. Donno. It could also be nostalgia. I also like the hydro74 covers. The standard covers were "fine" or "good," but I prefer the faux-book covers.

 

[pukunui]

I'm just curious, what do you like about the mock book look?

For me, it just screams "this is fake" and takes me out of the mindset I'm trying to get into. However, I realize that is my issue. So what works for you about the mock book approach.

Honestly, it’s hard to explain, but I think it had the opposite effect for me. I think it helped me get into the mood more. Like @Distracted DM, it’s primarily an aesthetic thing.

I can understand where you’re coming from, though. The clean, color-coded 4e design did the same for me as the 3e design does for you.

That being said, now that I’m in my mid forties, my eyes can’t deal with small, densely packed text like they could when 3.5e was new (and I was in my twenties). The 5e design is much easier on the eyes.

 

[wizard71]

Which doesn't make it AI. Just art you don't like.

I disagree because I have seen numerous art that is AI and it shares these characteristics. Do you know for sure this isn’t AI art? WOTC has been busted for AI art before and management has been on record previously for being enthusiastic about AI art because it’s one less person they have to pay for services.

 

[wizard71]

I am pretty confident it is not AI. AI art would be a lot better, have more flavor and be deeper. I am not saying AI art is the best, but it is generally better than what is on the cover and better than a lot of the art used by TSR and WOTC over the years.

I disagree. AI art has nothing on classic TSR art and does not hold up to pre 4E WOTC art or MTG art. The poor quality of D&D art is mostly 4E and 5E 2024 art. Coincidentally this is also the time frame that AI art became available easily on the mass market. Most D&D fans are against AI art and have caused WOTC to backtrack quite a bit as WOTC upper management has been very enthusiastic about embracing it so they don’t have to pay artists.

 

[aiouh]

YOoooooo we finally received the BG3 tie in product! 2 years later, but better late than never

 

[Horwath]

will there be a cheaper book without all the "artwork"?

 

[Scott Christian]

I do have to wonder why they chose computer characters for this. I get that that BG3 is popular. But I believe there are many out there that buy the books that have no idea who these characters are. I for one, before reading the thread, just stared and tried to guess their species and class.
I am open to being wrong. Maybe everyone knows these characters because of the game. Are there any numbers on it that people have handy?

 

[Morrus]

Wont happen. Hes a white male.

You created an account specifically to do this? You won't be posting in this thread again.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

characters for this. I get that that BG3 is popular. But I believe there are many out there that buy the books that have no idea who these characters are

Sure. But there will be a lot more people who recognise characters from BG3 than any other D&D characters.

And for the people who don’t recognise them, they are a party of generic adventurers, same as SCAG.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I do have to wonder why they chose computer characters for this. I get that that BG3 is popular. But I believe there are many out there that buy the books that have no idea who these characters are. I for one, before reading the thread, just stared and tried to guess their species and class.
I am open to being wrong. Maybe everyone knows these characters because of the game. Are there any numbers on it that people have handy?

More people can probably recognize the image of Karlach and Minsc than the images of probably any other FR character besides Elminster and Drizzt. Because no other Realms characters have been immortalized visually to as wide an audience as what we see from the video games. How many of us could pick out what Storm Silverhand looks like right now unless we specifically had bought a FR campaign guide in the past and found and remembered her picture? That number is so much smaller than the number of people who have played any of the three Baldur's Gates games.

Ask me to pick out Manshoon out of a lineup and I'd fail miserably. But ask to me find Jan Jansen out of a morass of gnome pictures and I'd have very little problem.