D&D (2024) Here's The New 2024 Player's Handbook Wizard Art

 

[mamba]

do you mean the corporate standard high-level mmo look of the design?

that probably works too

It's the whole genericness and superhero style to me, it's just bland and boring, I've seen too many pictures like this, probably 1000s, so it just is not interesting

 

[Scribe]

I'm going to say, it is vaguely Anime, but that is a huge plus for me. The aesthetics, magical systems, and overall fantasy (not just high fantasy) depictions in Anime are far more advanced and innovative then what we typically see in the West. I love leaning into a more attractive, cool looking character that has some kind of supernatural powers for pretty much all of the art. I'm tired of seeing scumbags in armor with little knives or old men with crusty beards pissing themselves as they cast magic missile. This new aesthetic of wizard is the first time I've wanted to play the wizard class in years; I finally feel like its appealing to something more then overproduced European psuedo-Renaissance aesthetics.

As for the color, I get that we in the West are conditioned ot see yellow/gold as divine, but I like that the wizard is yellow for that very reason. I don't believe that the cultural biases we have towards aesthetics should go unchallenged. D&D is a massive game that has a lot of influence; it's better IMO if it challenges stereotypical aesthetics and provides something new for us to stare at and think about.

This is just my personal opinion, but I really just don't respect any argument that wants to see more of the same. I'm tired of D&D aesthetics being locked up by the antiquated tastes of people from 50 years ago. Let me see something new.

While I have no issue with this art, I feel personally attacked over pretty much every point you raised. (not offended, just attacked)

 

[Shardstone]

While I have no issue with this art, I feel personally attacked over pretty much every point you raised. (not offended, just attacked)

Mine sword is a bloody and chaotic one...

 

[Reef]

Obviously personal style tastes vary. But I really don't understand the criticisms about her floating/flying. Levitate is a 2nd level spell. Fly is only 3rd. She's a wizard. There's two (relatively low level) spells right there on the Wizard list that can do that. Why is showing her using them as a display of power such an overreach?

 

[mamba]

This is just my personal opinion, but I really just don't respect any argument that wants to see more of the same. I'm tired of D&D aesthetics being locked up by the antiquated tastes of people from 50 years ago. Let me see something new.

I feel like I have seen these types of pictures for the last 20 years or so, so I am not agreeing with the argument that this is something new

I am fine with new, I am fine with distinct and recognizable, this is pretty much the opposite of that to me, generic, bland, and forgettable.

 

[DarkCrisis]

By the by, I like the picture. I like pretty much any and all well drawn/painted fantasy art.

I say this as someone who thinks D&D art peaked at 2E and 3E. Mostly 2E

 

[Shardstone]

I feel like I have seen these types of pictures for the last 20 years or so, so I am not agreeing with the argument that this is something new

I am fine with new, I am fine with distinct and recognizable, this is pretty much the opposite of that to me, generic, bland, and forgettable.

And that's a fine opinion to have. If this kind of thing is basic to you, then I believe it. To me, its nice seeing a younger, more sleek femme-wizard as opposed to first party wizards that are usually anything but.

 

[Scribe]

Obviously personal style tastes vary. But I really don't understand the criticisms about her floating/flying. Levitate is a 2nd level spell. Fly is only 3rd. She's a wizard. There's two spells right there on the Wizard list that can do that. Why is showing her using them as a display of power such an overreach?

Because its not just about the capacity for a Wizard to cast those spells. I would bet.

I think it against speaks to over all direction. My view on the game, my view of what the overall setting, structure, feel, tone, of D&D is is not going to match with everyone. This piece of art, is clean. It is powerful, it looks well produced.

It is not gritty, it is not 'real' it is not the Fantasy of my youth.

Now again, I have no issue with the art itself, but I loved Overwatch (even if the Devs failed that game honestly) and I loved MtG to a degree that was unhealthy, and I loved the art and diversity in both.

I can absolutely see however any number of ways this art reflects not so much a shift, but a reinforcement that official D&D is going in a specific direction, and it may not be one that everyone cares for.

 

[ezo]

Depends on how you define needing glasses. Is it really a disease to be cured?

Wrong quote?

Who said anything about it being a "disease to be cured"? I said it is a condition which lesser restoration removes.

Once you get out of Tier 1, 5e is a game of fantasy superheroes.

Not really. Superheroes pretty much do their things at will, all the time. D&D (even 5e) has severe limitations.

Perhaps to say "superheroic", sure, but not "superheroes" IMO.

Obviously personal style tastes vary. But I really don't understand the criticisms about her floating/flying. Levitate is a 2nd level spell. Fly is only 3rd. She's a wizard. There's two (relatively low level) spells right there on the Wizard list that can do that. Why is showing her using them as a display of power such an overreach?

It's the "overall effect". Not just floating, but glowing eyes, some sphere of magic with ruins, floating or flying spellbooks (and a staff!) all around, bright radiance of light, etc.

I am fine with new, I am fine with distinct and recognizable, this is pretty much the opposite of that to me, generic, bland, and forgettable.

Well said!

It is not gritty, it is not 'real' it is not the Fantasy of my youth.

Now again, I have no issue with the art itself,

Pretty much, but in such a way also not representative of anything D&D. This could be any fantasy art for anything.

I can absolutely see however any number of ways this art reflects not so much a shift, but a reinforcement that official D&D is going in a specific direction, and it may not be one that everyone cares for.

And so, I vent. "Bad call, ref, bad call!"

 

[Mind of tempest]

"Omega Level Threat Detected."

I do not understand this refrence.

that probably works too

It's the whole genericness and superhero style to me, it's just bland and boring, I've seen too many pictures like this, probably 1000s, so it just is not interesting

yeah I know this complaint from some guy who makes youtube character-design explanation shorts.
it is the blandness and MMO ness that get boring.

Because its not just about the capacity for a Wizard to cast those spells. I would bet.

I think it against speaks to over all direction. My view on the game, my view of what the overall setting, structure, feel, tone, of D&D is is not going to match with everyone. This piece of art, is clean. It is powerful, it looks well produced.

It is not gritty, it is not 'real' it is not the Fantasy of my youth.

Now again, I have no issue with the art itself, but I loved Overwatch (even if the Devs failed that game honestly) and I loved MtG to a degree that was unhealthy, and I loved the art and diversity in both.

I can absolutely see however any number of ways this art reflects not so much a shift, but a reinforcement that official D&D is going in a specific direction, and it may not be one that everyone cares for.

do you need it put into words by someone with some articulation talent?