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.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Is it just me or does it look very video game CGI?

There is indeed one detail that is very videogamish:

Karlach’s axe. How is it attached to her back? It’s common in video games for 2H weapons to attach to character’s backs as if they are magnetic. More realisticly, it would have to be strapped, with the blade end at the top, and could not be drawn over the shoulder.

 

[Zardnaar]

Karlachs iconic. Pity they didn't do her justice.

Iconic cleric these days probably Shadowheart.

 

[Zardnaar]

I really like Fzoul; I tend to use him often. Somehow he survived his god dying, his second god going mad, and his first god coming back, all without losing his lofty station as high priest. There's some humour in his total willingness to turn coat, even against a god, and still walk away from it.

I also love his perpetual rivalry with Manshoon, who is indeed a wizard (though too handsome for lichdom last we heard). I like the idea that Fzoul betrayed Manshoon and executed this master coup, only to be saddled with clones appearing everywhere to get revenge due to a magical glitch. Lots of adventuring potential there.

Technically 1st god dying, 2nd god going made, 3rd god dying, 1st god reborn.

 

[aiouh]

I've mulled about it a bit and I think I understand now why I feel very lukewarm about the covers just from a communication standpoint.

They lack in function. They don't really display what is unique about the Sword Coast outside of the HUMANOID FR species and the background is so generic it could be anywhere. It's just 4 people "aurafarming".

To compare with PaThFiNdEr:

Tian Xia Character Guide highlights East Asian (in this case Japanese) Architecture, suggests a place of tradition filled with colorful beings and species. Fun.

The "default" Character Guide highlights capable, yet not overpowered looking heroes (Typical Edgelord Martial maybe Cleric, Caster, Non-Human with a chainsaw blade) braving the Wilds of Golarion. Danger and Peril is suggested by the wild terrain and huge ass naughty word Monster they're fighting. The monster evokes Grimm-dark eurofantasy but the Lizard man suggests that the setting is also open to stranger things. Which yeah, is Golarion.

So all in all, I don't like the new covers because I think it lacks content and communication of concepts and they could have done a lot better. The Sword Coast is a perilous place with a lot of named locations and iconic monsters so 4 heroes standing around in a group shot just feels lackluster.

Maybe show an enraged Owlbear or a Tarrasque in the distance godzilla-ing Baldur's Gate? Something to connect the characters to the world. Hope they do a lot better with the Alt Cover.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

They don't really display what is unique about the Sword Coast

It’s a FR book, not just the Sword Coast. But the thing is, FR is a generic setting - there is nothing unique about it apart from the characters who live there.

 

[mamba]

It’s a FR book, not just the Sword Coast. But the thing is, FR is a generic setting - there is nothing unique about it apart from the characters who live there.

I am sure you can show me something more interesting than four out of focus humanoids posing for the camera however…

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I am sure you can show me something more interesting than four out of focus humanoids posing for the camera however…

They aren’t out of focus. It would have been better if it had had more depth of field effect.

 

[EthanSental]

View attachment 412306

The character on the left has ral partha anti-paladin metal mini vibe going on to me

 

[Scars Unseen]

Not really doing anything for me, but I've mostly jumped ship from D&D Current Edition Current Revision since Tasha's. I'm more likely to hunt down more used 2E source books than buy these. Then again, I did buy the alternate cover Planescape book purely because of the cover art, so it's not like it would have been impossible to draw me back in. Not with this though.

Contrast with the "Without Number" books and pretty much all of The One Ring line for the kind of art I'd prefer. Something that gives a vibe of the actual setting (or in Without Number's case, genre) by using surrounding context and striking scenery to draw me in. This is just a bunch of people grinning for a portrait.

Honestly, this art is so off putting for me that it actually pushed me to order the offset print edition of Worlds Without Number, which I was kind of debating earlier today. So I guess it did get me to open my wallet after all.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

On the evil side, Fzoul Chembryl is an iconic evil cleric. I'd like to see him if only out of curiosity for how they'd modernize his glorious hanging moustaches.

Less so on the good side; or at least not many come to mind. There's a plethora of characters that probably are at the same level as Vajra Safahr (as in they have few appearances and feature in a supporting role in one 5e adventure) that could probably be raised to bigger status should WotC decide to.

The novels seem to have more iconic villian Clerics then good ones.

If they want to go old school they could use Tarl Desanea, cleric of Tyr from Pool of Radiance, although he'd be dead by this point in the timeline. Could also use Aden cleric of Mystra, formily of Sune, but he would be dead by now too, and honestly never liked him. Or if they want to go new school, they could just use Baldric from the fallback novels, he is alive current year and he deals with most if not all the Gods so he has a broader view of Gods & religion then other Clerics.