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]

That dragon's a lot smaller than a tiger, maybe puma-sized. It just sad looking.

It's probably based on a real safari pic. The dragons legs are dangling naturally for a dead animal, but the wings are tensed rather than hanging limp. I wager Elmore used a real image of a trophy kill to recreate the dragon but had to wing it (pun intended) on the wings and opted for simple "wings back" rather than a realistic "wings limp" pose.

So yeah, its a couple of big game hunters posing with their safari trophy redone as dragon hunters and their wyrmling. And considering that not one of them looks disheveled or injured, I wager they had as much success as a trophy hunter with a long rifle has.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The entire point of my post was to show that the picture is taking the game's mechanics, specifically level, into account.

If Elmore was taking game mechanics into account in his paintings, he somehow skipped the pages on armor.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Yeah as kids in 1989, that's absolutely how read it, like these people were kind of idiots - you could understand where they were coming from, but it was slightly sad/gross like a guy with a juvenile lion he'd shot or something, not like this was the result of a terrifying battle against an equal or superior opponent.

Nowadays, it would absolutely be the kind of image some entitled jerk would post to his Instagram feed.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I find it strange that a lot of people love that picture, when to me it always came across as dorky—and I tend to like Elmore's work.

I always liked it because its a bit dorky. They ganged up on a baby dragon and took its shoe box of loot. They're so proud and now the elf lady can afford pants! It's not really clear what kind of dragon it is. I landed on brass. Good work forces of Neutral! Now on to the blink dog hunt!

 

[Jahydin]

I'm mocking it because the person was complaining how the the Forgotten Realms cover was a staged photo composition. There was "no drama, no action" and I responded with a LITERAL posed picture; an image reminiscent of a hunting safari image (which I'm sure Elmore used as a reference, replace the dragon with a tiger and put the adventurers in plinth hats) that is "stand in front of the camera" posed. Not an sign of battle damage, not a single 80s hair out of place. To me, the same drama as the Forgotten Realms cover. Heros posed.

I think you're missing the point, which is this picture tells a story (low-level heroes face off against a superior adversary and are victorious), gives insight into the purpose of the game (kill things and take their treasure), and sets the tone of the system. And even at that dragon's youngest, he still does 2d6 + 1 breath and d8/d8/2d10 damage (is that right, someone correct me if I'm reading this wrong)! I think it's one of those situations where you either come out untouched or very dead! That's were the drama portion comes in for me; I remember taking those risks playing the game and man did it feel amazing when you pulled it off (even if one PC died in the process).

This new picture is just a bunch of cartoon characters looking to fight... me? Why are they so happy? Psychopaths maybe? What does this tell me about the Forgotten Realms? That it has adventuring parties too? Even if you know who the people depicted are, so what? Oh look, they're together on a ledge... cool? What does this have to do with me?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This new picture is just a bunch of cartoon characters looking to fight... me? Why are they so happy?

Have you met you? Also, you have very low AC and really good treasure for your level.

 

[Scott Christian]

I'm mocking it because the person was complaining how the the Forgotten Realms cover was a staged photo composition. There was "no drama, no action" and I responded with a LITERAL posed picture; an image reminiscent of a hunting safari image (which I'm sure Elmore used as a reference, replace the dragon with a tiger and put the adventurers in plinth hats) that is "stand in front of the camera" posed. Not an sign of battle damage, not a single 80s hair out of place. To me, the same drama as the Forgotten Realms cover. Heros posed.

I have no problem with "slice of life" artwork btw. I liked the species art in the PHB being family and gathering oriented. The 2e picture is similar. So I don't buy the "no drama/heroes posed" argument. I can find dozens of examples of similar "heroes standing for the camera" art in D&D.

I agree, it is a posed picture. But, if you look at my response, I am talking about the contextual meaning of the picture. There is an adventurer hurt. There are signs of damage. There is an image of what the threat was. There is treasure, which constituted a great deal of focus back then.
The new image people are complaining about said they look like they're posing. There is no sign of danger. There is no sign of damage. There is no sign of a quest objective. Hence - just a pose.

 

[Older Beholder]

There are plenty of old book covers with characters posing that no one complained about.
Personally, I think people just prefer the way oil paintings look.

 

[wizard71]

That 80s cover shared earlier made me realize that 100% of the complaints about the format for the current book apply to the 80s one (except for twee which now appears as some kind of not-quite-slur towards art with any modern woman).

The 80s cover has no sense of action, no sense of adventure. It's a blurry dude on a horse that is somehow floating over the a rough land, almost as if an AI forgot how horses walk. The image doesn't show anything unique to the Forgotten Realms. It doesn't evoke danger, merely twilight. The muted colors mean that there is a lack of definition. There's no focal point or activity. There's no magic. There's no party, as if D&D is played for one person only.

If that cover came out today the people railing against the modern cover wouldn't like it either (except they wouldn't call it twee).

I disagree. Based upon interpretation you can look at the lone rider as a messenger, threat, mystery, ally or any other myriad possibilities. The new players guide looks like influencers desperately trying to be hip or edgy. Nothing about the new art inspires me to pick up the book. It inspires me to say”Oh look an Eberon clone.” and move one without purchasing it.

 

[wizard71]

There are plenty of old book covers with characters posing that no one complained about.
Personally, I think people just prefer the way oil paintings look.

View attachment 412735

That is actual art that denotes fantasy and adventure. I would rather they recycle that than the new art they paid for.