New Player's Handbook Cover Art!

[Scholar & Brutalman]

What, those two blue blobs of cave wall that look like dwarves?

Yeah, I had to look twice, and you're right -- but they're so obscured as to be almost invisible. It looks like open space on the cover, rather than two people in front of a party of four, which is what I think he was going for.

"So obscured" at this size.

 

[Reaper Steve]

MM cover also slightly adjusted. Orcus' rod overlaps the top banner, for one.

 

[Zamkaizer]

What, those two blue blobs of cave wall that look like dwarves?

Yeah, I had to look twice, and you're right -- but they're so obscured as to be almost invisible. It looks like open space on the cover, rather than two people in front of a party of four, which is what I think he was going for.

Finally a cover that conveys roleplaying drama queen's tendency to hog the spotlight. We can only assume the 'twilit blobs' are spiked-chain-wielding Factotum munchkins stealing Orcus' and the red dragon's treasure while the lapsed Vampire: The Masquerade players take time to pose for us

 

[helium3]

Uhh, does anyone actually know why they decided to change covers?

I like the art better this time though I agree that the overall balance of the cover seems off.

I also get the impression that lack of balance exists because they took a larger image and cropped out a section for the cover.

So what I want to know is, why not commission a piece that specifically supposed to be the cover? Or did they tell him it was for the cover and he still decided to draw something twice as wide as it is tall?

Oh yeah. And I still hate the "gray" theme of the cover. Usually I'm a big fan of the color themes he chooses (or has imposed on him as the case may be) but this gray and purple theme just makes me want to yarf or yawn, I dunno which.

 

[Zamkaizer]

I did this awhile ago. Personally, I think its better than either of the covers they've done so far. Kudos to them for listening and re-commissioning the art though. At least they are willing to listen to their audience and make changes.

I stand corrected. The only issue I find with your version is perhaps the colors.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I guess the new covers don't really phase me that much in-terms of dislike, thus: generally like but not for that many reasons.

Is simply because D&D (in my mind) have never had the best covers for their books.

 

[JVisgaitis]

I stand corrected. The only issue I find with your version is perhaps the colors.

I did this in about 5 minutes. Needs some tweaking for sure, but that picture frames very well. I wish it was the cover, but alas...

 

[scrubkai]

I have to say...

I hate the covers of all three of the core books.
Particualry the PH and MM covers are everything I can't stand about fantasy art.
It's strange because I like most of Lockwood's art, but these pictures just strike me all wrong.

I hope this new cover art eventually grows on me or else I may have to make book covers I hate that new look so much.

 

[JVisgaitis]

It's strange because I like most of Lockwood's art, but these pictures just strike me all wrong.

These are all done my Wayne Reynolds (WAR) not Lockwood. I think Lockwood would have been a really good choice. Probably one of my first actually.

 

[Reaper Steve]

I like the green dragon art, but I'm glad it's not the cover.
Too busy, too cliche, too 'for-a-younger-crowd.'
I think it is a great piece for the intro box, sitting on Target shelves next to the board games (and I will buy it, too!)

But I think the PHB cover is more (for lack of a better word) sophisticated, and properly conveys that its about the PCs.