Races of Eberron Cover Art and Petition
- Thread starter BrooklynKnight
- Start date
Frankly, I agree with those stating, "IT. IS. NO. BIG. DEAL.". And I haven't yet seen the cover art for either version.. It's a matter of principle - it's quite inconsequential.
I do think that, commercially, using the Eberron Style covers on all Eberron products would garner them more customer loyalty and identification with the product - but probably they have people at WOTC who are better than me at evaluating this kind of stuff. After all Monsters of Faerun came out with a cover looking like Monster Manual, and not with the FR look.
I'm planning on buying it, in either case, since I'm loving the Races books up to now, and actually the content is what I think should make one decide.
One point, though; it's true that the "core" look they're using for Completes, Races, and Environments has a very classic feel I enjoy. But it's also true that the Eberron cover look is very snazzy, and I think it has a great and modern feeling to it.
As for the D&D boards, I concur: thanks, thanks, thanks for existing, ENWorld.
I actually quit going on the D&D forums, I kind of grew bored with people proudly displaying their lack of anything interesting to say. I'd really like to hear the reasons that made that one person say "no matter the content, I'm not buying it cause it has the wrong cover". it's a dreary day at work, and a good laugh would help.
I do think that, commercially, using the Eberron Style covers on all Eberron products would garner them more customer loyalty and identification with the product - but probably they have people at WOTC who are better than me at evaluating this kind of stuff. After all Monsters of Faerun came out with a cover looking like Monster Manual, and not with the FR look.
I'm planning on buying it, in either case, since I'm loving the Races books up to now, and actually the content is what I think should make one decide.
One point, though; it's true that the "core" look they're using for Completes, Races, and Environments has a very classic feel I enjoy. But it's also true that the Eberron cover look is very snazzy, and I think it has a great and modern feeling to it.
As for the D&D boards, I concur: thanks, thanks, thanks for existing, ENWorld.
I actually quit going on the D&D forums, I kind of grew bored with people proudly displaying their lack of anything interesting to say. I'd really like to hear the reasons that made that one person say "no matter the content, I'm not buying it cause it has the wrong cover". it's a dreary day at work, and a good laugh would help.
reanjr
First Post
For me it's a matter of bookshelf organization. When I get the book (as I was going to before the cover switch, and will be going to now that the cover is switched), I want to file it under Eberron. But now I can't.
The FR Monster book has been giving me the same irksome issue for years now. I simply don't use it. Every time I look at it, it makes me seethe with hatred. Why do they do such things?
Oh yeah, because they want to snow non-Eberron players into buying an Eberron product or Forgotten Realms in the case of Monsters of Faerun.
The FR Monster book has been giving me the same irksome issue for years now. I simply don't use it. Every time I look at it, it makes me seethe with hatred. Why do they do such things?
Oh yeah, because they want to snow non-Eberron players into buying an Eberron product or Forgotten Realms in the case of Monsters of Faerun.
Falldog
First Post
reanjr said:
Although I sympathise with the organisational issue (or, let's be honest, "It just won't look right on my shelf!), this really doesn't wash, surely?
There are loads of players - myself included - who'll pick up the occasional FR or Eberron book, to mine for ideas for a homebrew campaign. I don't think it's a case of hoodwinking the buyers - a core-only player who's never heard of Eberron (a rare beast indeed!) might be confused at seeing the word in the title of a book, but the book itself would stand and fall on its content for that particular player.
For Eberron fans (and I do love the setting, even though I don't play in it), surely it's the content that matters - and as Baker pointed out, that's just what they want it to be.
Aesthetically, sure, the core design ain't as pretty as the Eberron one, but I can't see how it's enough to get that worked up about. This way, presumable, WOTC are hoping it'll sell more, and so ensure Eberron's popularity will continue. Which is something fans of the setting should be grateful for, surely?
Aris Dragonborn
First Post
This is from WotC's products page, for Races of Eberron:
"This supplement for the D&D game provides detailed information on the psychology, society, culture, behavior, religion, folklore, and other aspects of the races originally presented in the Eberron Campaign Setting. In addition, Races of Eberron also provides new substitution levels, prestige classes, feats, spells, magic items, equipment, and other options for creating exciting characters ready to explore any campaign world."
I think that those who are playing in an Eberron campaign will probably use this book much more than those using FR, Dragonlance, or another published setting (people using homebrew CS's will probably use this more than latter, but not as much as the former). So while we all know that this is really an Eberron supplement, officially, this is a general D&D supplement for the Races line, hence the standard cover.
My two cents: I like the Eberron covers too, though I don't really mind the standard covers either. As long as they deliver the material promised, It's no big whoop.
"This supplement for the D&D game provides detailed information on the psychology, society, culture, behavior, religion, folklore, and other aspects of the races originally presented in the Eberron Campaign Setting. In addition, Races of Eberron also provides new substitution levels, prestige classes, feats, spells, magic items, equipment, and other options for creating exciting characters ready to explore any campaign world."
I think that those who are playing in an Eberron campaign will probably use this book much more than those using FR, Dragonlance, or another published setting (people using homebrew CS's will probably use this more than latter, but not as much as the former). So while we all know that this is really an Eberron supplement, officially, this is a general D&D supplement for the Races line, hence the standard cover.
My two cents: I like the Eberron covers too, though I don't really mind the standard covers either. As long as they deliver the material promised, It's no big whoop.
Klaus
First Post
I liek the new (classic "Races") look better. We can see Wayne Reynolds' art in it.
The Eberron look has nice intentions but it *seriously* need some scaling back. If you're sticking so much stuff onto the cover, why order an illustration in the first place?
That being said, it really is no big deal.
The Eberron look has nice intentions but it *seriously* need some scaling back. If you're sticking so much stuff onto the cover, why order an illustration in the first place?
That being said, it really is no big deal.
Illvillainy
First Post
Prefer the old version an awful lot more. After all, it's not a core book, plus I love the Eberron design. However, I really don't mind either way.
They'll probably change back most likely.
They'll probably change back most likely.
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buzz
Adventurer
I think the word "Eberron" in big letters on the front of the book is enough proof that this is hooey.reanjr said:
I would be more likely to believe that this is for the benefit of retailers, i.e., it now looks like a D&D book, so they know a) they should stock it and 2) where to shelve it. I've seen RPG books in all sorts of bizarre places at big bookstores like Borders, generally becasue the employees obviously don't know what they are.
Davelozzi
Explorer
Actually, I can simpathize with those that think it matters (actually, I'm one of them). The Races of _________ line has been one of the worst that WotC has put out yet, IMO, while the Eberron line has been very strong. The new cover tells me that I should expect something along the same level of quality and usefulness as the other race books, not something more akin to the other Eberron books, or similar to Races of Faerun.
Now I will still flip through it, but it will be with a much more critical eye. Sure, we're hearing that it'll be exactly the same on the inside, but based on the quote from the product page posted by Aris above, I have to wonder if this is true. The blurb makes it sound like a guide to using these races anywhere, not a book giving further details on how they fit into Eberron. I want the latter, not the former.
Furthermore, I think the marketing department has already led the trade dress of the Races of _________ series in the wrong direction. It doesn't match any of the other current WotC books, it matches the old, out of print, softcover splat books. It seems to me that it would make a lot more sense to have them match the new splats (Complete _________) instead.
Now I will still flip through it, but it will be with a much more critical eye. Sure, we're hearing that it'll be exactly the same on the inside, but based on the quote from the product page posted by Aris above, I have to wonder if this is true. The blurb makes it sound like a guide to using these races anywhere, not a book giving further details on how they fit into Eberron. I want the latter, not the former.
Furthermore, I think the marketing department has already led the trade dress of the Races of _________ series in the wrong direction. It doesn't match any of the other current WotC books, it matches the old, out of print, softcover splat books. It seems to me that it would make a lot more sense to have them match the new splats (Complete _________) instead.
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