PHB, MM, DMG covers

[Horacio]

I really like the cover, even if I think they are still "mock-ups" and that final cover will be a bit different, more polished.

 

[Ron]

They are not great but they aren't bad either, especially the MM & the DMG, which I actually like. However, considering 3.x covers, they were a huge improvement. But then, a plain grey cover would also be a huge improvement.

 

[Sound of Azure]

Yup. I would like the cover NOT beeing designed by Wayne Reynold. I'm somewhat tired of his "screaming and attacking" characters, and they should be, given the usualy akward position he draw them. Why not Lockwood or Sam Wood ?

I have to agree. I'd love to see some Brom covers, myself.

 

[Gez]

Yup. I would like the cover NOT beeing designed by Wayne Reynold. I'm somewhat tired of his "screaming and attacking" characters, and they should be, given the usualy akward position he draw them. Why not Lockwood or Sam Wood ?

Or something like the mock parchment illustrations made by Arnie Swekel for the original 3e books. Those were gorgious.

I know I'm in a minority, but I don't like Wayne Reynold's style; and I find him overused.

 

[RPG_Tweaker]

I don't mind WAR, his stuff is a tad cartoony yet pleasingly action-packed, but I'd much prefer the graceful style of Lockwood for covers.

Actually, the way they're listed in the Plane Sailing's thumbnails—it seems like it'd be cool if each book was a third of a single scene:

• PHB players on the left side figting some monster on the right side.
• MM monsters marching across the cover towards the left.
• DMG A boss-monster in a commanding pose.

 

[RFisher]

Wow. These meet most of my criteria for good RPG covers. Wow.

A clean, solid color border with a well done piece of art at the center, and the title across the top and on the binding.

<shrug> I think full-bleed art makes for a much more compelling RPG cover. Framing it makes feel contained (even when the artwork "breaks the frame", IMHO); full-bleed makes it feel more like it's jumping off the book at you.

& compelling artwork is second most important thing on an RPG cover, so let it take up as much of the cover as possible as long as it doesn't obscure the very, very clear title logo.

 

[RFisher]

Actually, the way they're listed in the Plane Sailing's thumbnails—it seems like it'd be cool if each book was a third of a single scene

That would rock.

Some of my favorite RPG covers are the Rolemaster core books where all the cover illustrations are of the same group of adventures. They even seem to be depicting a sequence of events in the same adventure.

 

[BluSponge]

Ah man, with WoTC actually using illustrations and not some werid design on the cover, how will 3rd party publishers get away without using art on their covers for years aping the style?

On THIS I agree 100%. I've really grown tired of everyone immitating the look of the 3e books. Not that the ole "leather bound tome" idea was that unique, but for some reason only Tekumel tried it before WotC did it. Then EVERYONE jumped on the wagon.

So if this gets us away from that, its a good thing.

But for some reason, these covers don't inspire me nearly as much as the original 3e covers did. Bejeweled or not, they were beautiful work. But I seem to be in the minority, so...

Tom

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I prefer the tome-style covers, myself.

 

[Klaus]

Notes:

PHB - I don't quite like the "adventurers posing while looking at different directions with nothing dangerous in sight".

DMG - Looks like the dragons are keeping their 3e looks! Woot!

MM - Wow! Orcus made the cover! With a Demon Lord on the cover of the MM and the tieflings added as a PC race, looks like 4e will have a fiendish bent (the sales of the Fiendish Codeces must've been good).