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.

 

[Remathilis]

View attachment 412398
Dark, brooding, threatening. This is how the Realms were portrayed when I started playing in them back in the 80s. Now it's the twee Muppet show.

I see you cover and raise you this.

A floating head, a photoshopped Drizzt from a different cover and a third person* posing on an overlook. No motion, muted colors, three portraits overlaid over each other. Nothing here excites the imagination. Hell, nothing here even explains what the tone is.

I return to my original statement: D&D art has always been crap. You are just nostalgic for the crap you grew up on.

 

[Parmandur]

WotCs could place crisp $20 bills in the back of each book and people would complain it's not a $50.

Then again, I'm increasingly convinced fandom is a net negative for any given franchise. I've yet to meet a a fandom that isn't overwhelmingly critical of the thing they claim to enjoy. Things are always better before, the franchise is always dying, the current owners are incompetent/greedy/hateful and it's the burden of the True Fans to save the franchise from the casuals who are watering it down.

I think the Internet has solidified what petty, vindictive and unsatisfied people the world is really full of.

The Cosmere fandom is extremely positive, I have come to suspect due to self-selection based on the barriers to entry.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

For the record this is what I consider to be the gold standard of TTRPG rulebook cover design

 

[EthanSental]

I think my metal head middle school friend drew something like that during lunch…. Edit like the fatal cover above.

 

[CacklinSlayers]

I see you cover and raise you this.

View attachment 412431

A floating head, a photoshopped Drizzt from a different cover and a third person* posing on an overlook. No motion, muted colors, three portraits overlaid over each other. Nothing here excites the imagination. Hell, nothing here even explains what the tone is.

I return to my original statement: D&D art has always been crap. You are just nostalgic for the crap you grew up on.

Hahaha, well played! That cover is indeed, by all means, not good. Thank you for putting things in a historical perspective.

If I didn't know these characters or wasn't familiar with the TSR logo, I would have thought this was some kind of homebrew publication. From a modern marketing standpoint, the new covers are way better. But that's exactly why the new artwork annoys me: it's just too slick... I miss the weirdness, I guess.

 

[guachi]

View attachment 412398
Dark, brooding, threatening. This is how the Realms were portrayed when I started playing in them back in the 80s. Now it's the twee Muppet show.

I hated this cover. Hated it.

I was poor in 1987 at the age of 13. This and the BECMI Gazetteer line both came out at the same time. I bought GAZ 1 Grand Duchy of Karameikos (a great purchase and I love that setting) instead of the Forgotten Realms boxed set. For months I saw a copy of this at my FLGS taunting me with its cover and cool looking trade dress.

Did I ever buy it? No. Too poor. But I always wanted it.

 

[Azzy]

I see you cover and raise you this.

View attachment 412431

A floating head, a photoshopped Drizzt from a different cover and a third person* posing on an overlook. No motion, muted colors, three portraits overlaid over each other. Nothing here excites the imagination. Hell, nothing here even explains what the tone is.

I return to my original statement: D&D art has always been crap. You are just nostalgic for the crap you grew up on.

That's even worse than the FR Adventures cover.

 

[GothmogIV]

I see you cover and raise you this.

View attachment 412431

A floating head, a photoshopped Drizzt from a different cover and a third person* posing on an overlook. No motion, muted colors, three portraits overlaid over each other. Nothing here excites the imagination. Hell, nothing here even explains what the tone is.

I return to my original statement: D&D art has always been crap. You are just nostalgic for the crap you grew up on.

“There is no accounting for taste,” as the Romans used to say.

 

[Birmy]

A floating head, a photoshopped Drizzt from a different cover and a third person* posing on an overlook.

Just for my own reference and accessing dusty memories, that's Arilyn Moonblade, right?

 

[Zardnaar]

That's even worse than the FR Adventures cover.

FR adventures isn't great. It's a masterpiece vs the latest atrocity.


Sigh
Forgotten Realms: Campaign Setting : Greenwood, Ed: Amazon.com.au: Books