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]

If I was designing a cover for a FR sourcebook I would focus on the landscape, the party reduced to tiny figures (just big enough to be recognisable as established characters) looking on in awe.

The Secret Level animation seemed to get this, HAT did not.

I'd agree with you.
Buuut I imagine that the idea is to pitch to players as much as possible- for that, you want them to picture themselves playing characters in the game... it's the "OC" appeal. It's about the player character, not the world they happen to be in.

 

[Scott Christian]

There might be another reason people are a bit more sensitive or have a bit more angst towards the cover. We literally just heard Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Todd Kenreck, Mathew Cole, Emi Tanji, and James Wyatt discuss the new books and its art. And I think they repeated this mantra in various forms about 10 million times - We wanted the picture to tell a story.

The new cover seems to not do that. I know, it's an opinion.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

There might be another reason people are a bit more sensitive or have a bit more angst towards the cover. We literally just heard Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Todd Kenreck, Mathew Cole, Emi Tanji, and James Wyatt discuss the new books and its art. And I think they repeated this mantra in various forms about 10 million times - We wanted the picture to tell a story.

The new cover seems to not do that. I know, it's an opinion.

I think it tells a story, it just might not be a story most of that everyone particularly wants their game to resemble.

 

[Scott Christian]

I think it tells a story, it just might not be a story most of that everyone particularly wants their game to resemble.

I am going to have to disagree. Long has flown the idea that people need a dwarf, elf, and human highlighted on the cover. Long has left the idea that male characters can't be flamboyant, women muscular, etc. None of that matters if the artwork and story behind the picture is appealing. (And yes, there may be a select few holdouts, but that is a raindrop in an ocean of D&D enthusiasts.)

No, the problem with the cover is it does not to represent the book. It does not tell a story, nor does it hint at the rules.

 

[tombowings]

I think it tells a story, it just might not be a story most of that everyone particularly wants their game to resemble.

I don't get it. What's the story? I get the story on the 1e PHB, but not this one. For me, it barely provides a hint. But maybe I'm just dumb.

 

[Corinnguard]

There might be another reason people are a bit more sensitive or have a bit more angst towards the cover. We literally just heard Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Todd Kenreck, Mathew Cole, Emi Tanji, and James Wyatt discuss the new books and its art. And I think they repeated this mantra in various forms about 10 million times - We wanted the picture to tell a story.

The new cover seems to not do that. I know, it's an opinion.

The cover for FR: Adventures in Faerun does a slightly better job of telling a story than the one for FR: Heroes of Faerun. The cover for FR: AiF makes you, as the reader of said story, ask more questions than the cover for FR: HoF. By how much is the question.

 

[Scott Christian]

The cover for FR: Adventures in Faerun does a slightly better job of telling a story than the one for FR: Heroes of Faerun. The cover for FR: AiF makes you, as the reader of said story, ask more questions than the cover for FR: HoF. By how much is the question.

I agree. I don't dislike the the Adventure's cover.

 

[Corinnguard]

I agree. I don't dislike the the Adventure's cover.

Same thing here. The Adventurer's cover makes me wonder. Who is the main character on the cover? What is she doing in the Underdark? Is she an ally of the monsters seen behind her or is she getting ready to be their foe? And so forth. You can spin a story off of that image and those questions.

 

[plisnithus8]

Am I incorrect in remembering that we usually see glimpses of the alternate covers a few days after the regular ones?

 

[Jahydin]

Same thing here. The Adventurer's cover makes me wonder. Who is the main character on the cover? What is she doing in the Underdark? Is she an ally of the monsters seen behind her or is she getting ready to be their foe? And so forth. You can spin a story off of that image and those questions.

It's hard for me to tell, but seems the mind flayer is the one behind the hook horror/beholder ambush since it's looking up with purpose and anticipation? The lich lady looks like she's just photobombing to me, but suppose her prominent presence suggests she's the one orchestrating the entire thing?