D&D General Initial Thoughts on the Two 2025 Forgotten Realms books

[Sulicius]

So what is the bloat in the book that can be used for more lore and mechanics? Art.

Well, a picture says more than 1.000 words.

Look, if you don't like the art, fine. It is definitely, 100% created by determined, skilled artists.

Calling it AI slop not only makes it sound like you value AI art more, it makes you seem cynical about the skill these artists used.

 

[Zardnaar]

Well, a picture says more than 1.000 words.

Look, if you don't like the art, fine. It is definitely, 100% created by determined, skilled artists.

Calling it AI slop not only makes it sound like you value AI art more, it makes you seem cynical about the skill these artists used.

That skil? Ive seen similar quality on local Facebook D&D groups with people trying to sell their art.

There's lots of people doing it.

Local guy here is doing ye olde fantasy oil paintings. Looks better than a lot of WotC art.

AI can also do better now.

5.5 is kinda in that bright, boring generic cartoon way. I've been buying the alt art ones because normal ones look so bad.

 

[bedir than]

5.5 is kinda in that bright, boring generic cartoon way.

They feature a dozen different art styles in each book released for 2024's rule set.
Saying that they are all cartoony is ignoring the work of skilled artists.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

is it objective or subjective?

Both. It’s objectively not AI, but “slop” is subjective.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Both. It’s objectively not AI, but “slop” is subjective.

"AI slop" is a specific term referring to mass-generated AI images.

 

[Spiral159]

I'm pretty new to the Forgotten Realms setting. I didn't really think much of it, but then I started reading through the Drizzt series and actually started to get pretty interested and while it might not live up to some people's expectations, I am interested how this will be for me as a new reader.

I'm not well versed in FR outside of what I've read from Salvatore, I have a general idea of the Time of Troubles, but the spell plague is new to me.

As for the art, personally I am a fan of what I've seen so far in 5.5 PHB and the covers of the alternate editions look awesome. I also find get interested more when there is artwork to go along with the writing, so hearing that it has a fair amount of (what I consider) good artwork is a plus for me.

I do hear a lot of good things about the 3e setting guide, and am a fan of SlyFlourish's video/episode on various older supplementary FR products. So hopefully these books will be a nice introduction for me as a new FR-fan.

 

[dave2008]

hehe, that is so true.

well, it's hard to beat 4E PHB in bad art category, but 2024 PHB did their best to beat it.

I think the 2e era of core book interior art was the worst. Some of the 1e art is pretty bad too, but that is the edition I started with so its nostalgia value is hard to beat.

EDIT: Actually there is some bad art in 3e too. Now that I think of it more. Each edition has some good and bad art, but, IMIO, the 2024 has consistently the most talented artist / best art. Now, I may or may not like the style of all of the art. But to my the consistent quality of the art is far and above the best during the 5e run.

is it objective or subjective?

Objective - it is not AI art. Whether or not you think it is slop or not is subjective. However, it is objectively not AI art.

I didn't say that we are not getting those, but OP did an analysis that we got that at twice the price.
So what is the bloat in the book that can be used for more lore and mechanics? Art.

OK. I misunderstood what you were saying. I still don't 100% agree, but I understand your point now. Thank you for clarifying.

 

[dave2008]

Technically its not. It kinda looks like it though except ive seen better AI.

Not sure were you get your AI art, but I haven't seen AI generated art better than what is in the core books (with the exception of one terrible piece in the MM IMO). Of course art is subjective, but AI general just looks off to me.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

but AI general just looks off to me

Most of my paintings look off (for the record, I am not AI). It’s becoming increasingly common to blame bad art on AI, when humans are perfectly capable of making bad art without using a computer.

 

[dave2008]

That skil? Ive seen similar quality on local Facebook D&D groups with people trying to sell their art.

There's lots of people doing it.

Local guy here is doing ye olde fantasy oil paintings. Looks better than a lot of WotC art.

AI can also do better now.

5.5 is kinda in that bright, boring generic cartoon way. I've been buying the alt art ones because normal ones look so bad.

Question for you @Zardnaar: why are you so dismissive of artistic skill?

I mean if someone on facebook has skills to match a published artist - great! That isn't a knock on either artist's skill. I mean before Elmore and Caldwell were published they had the skills, they were just not published yet. That is just how these things work.

Also, what is your artistic skill level? Are you familiar with the time and talent it takes to be an artist?