D&D (2024) New D&D Edition's Player’s Handbook Cover Reveal

Game Informer has revealed the cover to the 2024 Player’s Handbook.

The cover features a gold dragon behind the old-school D&D characters Strongheart the paladin, Mercion the cleric, Elkhorn the dwarf fighter, and Molliver the thief. Ringlerun the wizard is absent (then again he got his showcase on one of the 1E AD&D Player's Handbooks), but a drow mage appears to have joined the party!

 

[MGibster]

I like the cover just fine. While I haven't really been a huge fan of the art used in D&D for the last 24 years this sells the idea of what I might expect from the game. A party on an adventure.

 

[JDR]

I can't say I like it. For the 50th anniversary I guess I expected more of a glorious, knock out cover. This isn't it. Looks fuzzy like there's not enough detail.

 

[Burnside]

I really like the wide pieces for the player backgrounds:

https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/13/d1764098/gidnd10.jpg

 

[Emirikol]

Interesting they did it as the Pride Flag color palette. Suppose that was by Wizards or a choice by the artist?
Left to right it is red to violet with the pink included.

 

[MGibster]

I can't say I like it. For the 50th anniversary I guess I expected more of a glorious, knock out cover. This isn't it. Looks fuzzy like there's not enough detail.

I think it's just the art style that's in vogue at this time. It might be an age thing, but the best art produced for D&D was during 2nd edition in my opinion. They weren't all winners of course, but nothing produced since 2000 has really done much for me. I'm comfortable with the idea that I'm out of style these days.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Interesting they did it as the Pride Flag color palette. Suppose that was by Wizards or a choice by the artist?
Left to right it is red to violet with the pink included.View attachment 363062

I think that's just pretty standard movie poster-style composition.

 

[MGibster]

I really like the wide pieces for the player backgrounds:

Oh wow. I just post about how I don't really care for D&D art these days and you post a picture I really, really like.

 

[Parmandur]

The game had been doing gangbusters for years as an early access title, it didn't really "come out" in 2023. Hell WotC greenlit an entire MTG set about the game years before it came out; they could've used some of the art from those cards.

It wasn't a big hit until the final release.

 

[Stormonu]

I think that's just pretty standard movie poster-style composition.

Yeah, it's just done in the style of action movie posters for the last 10 years or so - orange/blue.

 

[Skayaq]

the cover art on it's own is fine ii think, but i wish just once they would do party illustrations that weren't fellowship of the ring remix. It's always humans and elves and maybe a dwarf or halfling. Don't get me wrong like Lord of the Rings just fine, but it wouldn't kill them to use the other phb species from time to time.