D&D 4E I really don't like the new 4E PHB cover
- Thread starter Quartz
- Start date
Yaezakura
First Post
You know... I really dislike that picture that's being toted around the topic, the one with the adventurers fighting the red dragon. I think it would make a horrible cover for the 4E PHB.
The art is archaic. Now, I'm not dissing old-school style. But that picture is a prime example of the limitations of older artwork. It's possible to create pieces with an old-school feel but with a refinement that particular image lacks, and suffers for. On top of the generally outdated feel of the art itself, the dragon is simply horrible. Human-like arms, no structural support for the wings... It's simply not a believable or enjoyable image of a dragon. If I saw a book with that cover sitting on a store shelf, I would pretty much immediately dismiss it as something from 20-30 years ago, and likely not even give it a second glance.
And, with that part done... I actually like the new cover, and like it more than the original one. Guess I should explain why.
The original piece (the one with the Tiefling) feels so... static. Like the characters are made of wax. They have no life to them, and this is apparent in no more obvious place than their faces. The Tiefling is completely expressionless, despite obviously being in (or getting ready for) a fight. His partner isn't much better off... while her face is twisted into an aggressive, angry snarl, her eyes feel lifeless and unfocused, and distract from the experience. The ambient lighting also distracts from the feel of the piece--they're underground, but the place is lit up brighter than Time Square.
Now, onto the final piece. I like it. I really do. The wizard has the slightly wide-eyed look of someone quickly trying to figure out the best thing to do, while the Dragonborn's eyes are narrowed and his mouth just slightly open, as if eagerly anticipating the perfect moment for him to lunge forward and bring down that massive sword of his. Their poses are also much more appropriate for a fight than the poses in the Tiefling picture--the wizard has her staff held in front of her to help fend off incoming blows, while the dragonborn is presenting his off-hand, heavily armored shoulder. The scene is bright, but the colors are more subdued, and the fog obscuring the background gives the scene a better atmosphere (IMO, anyway). The presence of other characters in the background gives it a more "traditional" D&D feel, as it's obviously just not the two of them alone, and it shows something important is happening for them to have moved that far apart... likely a battle on two fronts, which I draw the feeling off from the fact that the other characters aren't looking towards their comrades, but off to the right of the scene, far behind them. All in all, it has a much more action-oriented feel, which I think is just right for a game like D&D.
The art is archaic. Now, I'm not dissing old-school style. But that picture is a prime example of the limitations of older artwork. It's possible to create pieces with an old-school feel but with a refinement that particular image lacks, and suffers for. On top of the generally outdated feel of the art itself, the dragon is simply horrible. Human-like arms, no structural support for the wings... It's simply not a believable or enjoyable image of a dragon. If I saw a book with that cover sitting on a store shelf, I would pretty much immediately dismiss it as something from 20-30 years ago, and likely not even give it a second glance.
And, with that part done... I actually like the new cover, and like it more than the original one. Guess I should explain why.
The original piece (the one with the Tiefling) feels so... static. Like the characters are made of wax. They have no life to them, and this is apparent in no more obvious place than their faces. The Tiefling is completely expressionless, despite obviously being in (or getting ready for) a fight. His partner isn't much better off... while her face is twisted into an aggressive, angry snarl, her eyes feel lifeless and unfocused, and distract from the experience. The ambient lighting also distracts from the feel of the piece--they're underground, but the place is lit up brighter than Time Square.
Now, onto the final piece. I like it. I really do. The wizard has the slightly wide-eyed look of someone quickly trying to figure out the best thing to do, while the Dragonborn's eyes are narrowed and his mouth just slightly open, as if eagerly anticipating the perfect moment for him to lunge forward and bring down that massive sword of his. Their poses are also much more appropriate for a fight than the poses in the Tiefling picture--the wizard has her staff held in front of her to help fend off incoming blows, while the dragonborn is presenting his off-hand, heavily armored shoulder. The scene is bright, but the colors are more subdued, and the fog obscuring the background gives the scene a better atmosphere (IMO, anyway). The presence of other characters in the background gives it a more "traditional" D&D feel, as it's obviously just not the two of them alone, and it shows something important is happening for them to have moved that far apart... likely a battle on two fronts, which I draw the feeling off from the fact that the other characters aren't looking towards their comrades, but off to the right of the scene, far behind them. All in all, it has a much more action-oriented feel, which I think is just right for a game like D&D.
While I disagree that many of the pictures from the massive list of examples on the last page aren't examples of what was asked for...
It still does show that action shots with monsters are a popular cover choice. There has to be a reason why it is popular. This reason could be that all of the marketing executives for the examples in questions were asleep at the wheel and did what everyone else was doing. I, however, doubt this is the case. I'm guessing that the exects think that adventure and excitement (and... well... violence) sells.
(I'm a computer programmer and not a professional marketer. This is just how I interpret what I see before me.)
So the question becomes why is WotC going against the grain for the new PHB?
Change is fine. But the question I always ask myself when I see change is 'why'. (Yes I'm a cynic, why do you ask?) If the change is to stress something that is different is fine. Change simply for the sake of change tends to not work out so well.
So WotC wants to put a dragonborn or a tiefling on the cover to show the change in races. Good for them. They changed from the horned monster looking thing on the cover to a dinosaur looking thing on the cover because they were getting some slack for the demon looking guy on the cover. I fully endorse these changes.
I do have to wonder why, a game about exploring dangerous locations and having exciting battles does feature a cover about exploring dangerous locations and having exciting (usually violent) adventures. The two covers showing the pair of explorers covers the dangerous locations part (or at least "mysterious locations" which I am going to count in my written ramblings) but it doesn't say 'excitement' to me.
The PHB, the main book for the entire system (not just the players) I believe should cover the adventure and excitement portions of what the system supposedly intends to provide. The dragonborn cover has enough to say 'adventure' to me, but it doesn't portray excitement very well. I think the Green Dragon cover covers both.
So why go against the normal style of fantasy cover for the new edition, WotC?
It still does show that action shots with monsters are a popular cover choice. There has to be a reason why it is popular. This reason could be that all of the marketing executives for the examples in questions were asleep at the wheel and did what everyone else was doing. I, however, doubt this is the case. I'm guessing that the exects think that adventure and excitement (and... well... violence) sells.
(I'm a computer programmer and not a professional marketer. This is just how I interpret what I see before me.)
So the question becomes why is WotC going against the grain for the new PHB?
Change is fine. But the question I always ask myself when I see change is 'why'. (Yes I'm a cynic, why do you ask?) If the change is to stress something that is different is fine. Change simply for the sake of change tends to not work out so well.
So WotC wants to put a dragonborn or a tiefling on the cover to show the change in races. Good for them. They changed from the horned monster looking thing on the cover to a dinosaur looking thing on the cover because they were getting some slack for the demon looking guy on the cover. I fully endorse these changes.
I do have to wonder why, a game about exploring dangerous locations and having exciting battles does feature a cover about exploring dangerous locations and having exciting (usually violent) adventures. The two covers showing the pair of explorers covers the dangerous locations part (or at least "mysterious locations" which I am going to count in my written ramblings) but it doesn't say 'excitement' to me.
The PHB, the main book for the entire system (not just the players) I believe should cover the adventure and excitement portions of what the system supposedly intends to provide. The dragonborn cover has enough to say 'adventure' to me, but it doesn't portray excitement very well. I think the Green Dragon cover covers both.
So why go against the normal style of fantasy cover for the new edition, WotC?
Wolfspider
Explorer
Wormwood said:
Bah. We see too many comparisons between 4e and a boardgame as it is.
Wow. Those are boardgames? They look cool.
What is the first one? Descent?
I can't make out the name of the second one....
EATherrian
First Post
Steely Dan said:
I have to agree with Steely Dan here. I was already reading Savage Sword of Conan before I finally managed to get gaming stuff. So any fantasy trope on the cover was fairly innocuous to my parents. They were more worried about me becoming a devil-worshipper (seriously). Luckily, my love of swords and sorcery and mythology convinced them to let me buy the Red Box and the Monster Manual. The rest is history. Anyway, Hail Satan!
All those zillions of covers Maelstrom posted are better than the current PHB cover IMO. Not for the quality, of course, but for the excitement. There is something actually happening on those covers. 4E PHB's is so boring I fall asleep everytime I look at it zzzZZZzzzzz... oops sorry.
It's a pitty.
It's a pitty.
