D&D 5E (2024) Opinions on the Topaz Dragon Reverse Wings?

[Charlaquin]

The concept art for Fizban's is more clear with the backwards orientation.
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That does make it much clearer.

I think the slight ambiguity of the Fizban's official art is why Palmer mentioned "leaning into it." Palmer's art is undeniably back-winged, much like this concept art. Very much, "If this is the design guidance I'm getting, I'm going to go ham on it and not try to 'fix' things or occlude what's happening - these are backwards wings, and they will not be denied!"

Which I respect, honestly. Leaning into the weird and unique elements of a design is a pretty good artistic instinct, because the last thing I need is another 5 dragons who look kind of like cats or whatever.

Yeah, I mean, if WotC is commissioning the art, and what they’re asking for is a dragon with wings that go the wrong way, then it is absolutely correct to give them what they’re asking for, and to do so to the best technical execution you can manage. I think it’s a godawful design, but I can’t fault the artist for doing what the client wanted, and doing it about as well as such a thing can reasonably be expected to be done. But, no matter how good the execution, the concept itself just flat-out doesn’t appeal to me.

Fortunately, it’s just one dragon out of 15, that I was probably never going to use anyway, and on the off chance that I do, WotC will probably have too many other, more pressing concerns to send the Pinkertons after me for describing a dragon differently than the official concept art.