D&D 5E Let's talk about WoTC Book Covers

[Ruin Explorer]

I think the main issue with the 5E core book covers, for me, is that they feel like they're from a recent but outdated aesthetic era, and even when they were new, they didn't feel fresh.

I think this was the result of underinvestment in 5E, particularly the art, by WotC generally, who I suspect didn't have huge faith in it, and where they certainly didn't anticipate the level of success it was going to have. Back at the time I was whinging a lot about how MtG had fantastic art even on tiny one-off cards, but 5E's actual covers didn't even seem to be at that standard. It seems like more recently the gap has closed somewhat though. Which makes sense given D&D is now this huge profit driver. Also I don't think anyone, even new players, can be particularly attached to the smeary cover and "huh"-ish covers of the PHB and DMG (the MM maybe).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think the paintings are generally fine, but I hate the trade dress. The red "blood," if that's what it is, on the spine looked cheesy the moment it came out, and I suspect it's going to age terribly.

 

[Casimir Liber]

I agree the first edition books were not particularly bright (though the Fiend Folio was a nice bright blue). I guess if I were WoTC, I might have got a different artist to do each cover.

I mean ultimately it's not a Big Deal in the scheme of things...just something that has bugged me about this and colour schemes in general

 

[Parmandur]

I guess if I were WoTC, I might have got a different artist to do each cover

I mean, they did...?

 

[Casimir Liber]

I mean, they did...?

Damn - have to check now as it certainly doesn't look like it........

(runs off to start looking)

wow.....that is depressing. Looked at about 5 books and they're all different artists yet they're really similar in technique

 

[Parmandur]

Damn - have to check now as it certainly doesn't look like it........

(runs off to start looking)

wow.....that is depressing. Looked at about 5 books and they're all different artists yet they're really similar in technique

Yeah, they have a consistent art direction, but WotC uses a wide variety of artists.

 

[MGibster]

The colors of 5e are pretty heavily banking on the nostalgia of 1e where almost all the colors were variations of black and brown.

It's amazing to me that the Player's Handbook with the thieves prying the jewel from the eye of a statue is still my favorite cover of all time. It's certainly not the best picture but it's my favorite.

 

[Parmandur]

It's amazing to me that the Player's Handbook with the thieves prying the jewel from the eye of a statue is still my favorite cover of all time. It's certainly not the best picture but it's my favorite.

It's alright.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

wow.....that is depressing. Looked at about 5 books and they're all different artists yet they're really similar in technique

I would definitely consider a consistent house art style a feature not a bug, but to each their own.

 

[MGibster]

I would definitely consider a consistent house art style a feature not a bug, but to each their own.

I can't point to anything specifically bad about the 5E art but I don't find it particularly evocative. It's serviceable but I don't think I've seen anything I'd want hanging on my wall.