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D&D Older Editions
Rambling thoughts about D&D 4th Edition
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<blockquote data-quote="cavalier973" data-source="post: 9138737" data-attributes="member: 91595"><p>This is a tangentially related thought, but I think the cover art of at least one of the rules books should depict what the game is about—and hat tip to Matt Colville for giving me this idea.</p><p></p><p>The 0D&D cover art, for example, was a guy on a horse, so that explains the subsequent covers depicting guys on horses—it’s traditional. However, a swordsman on a horse, in my opinion, does not properly depict what the game is about.</p><p></p><p>The Holmes Basic rules depicts an adventuring party in a dungeon, facing a dragon. So, the cover meets both qualifications for what I consider to be a proper cover for the Dungeons and Dragons game.</p><p></p><p>The original AD&D cover art is fantastic. It depicts a party of adventurers, in a dungeon, disposing of the bodies of slain lizard-folk, while two of their number are atop a giant idol, stealing the gems from its eyes. We have a dungeon, but, unfortunately, no dragon.</p><p></p><p>The Moldvay rules have a spearman and a lady magic-user, “one foot turned in the other direction” (hat tip Professor Dungeon Master), in a dungeon, facing a green dragon that is emerging from a pool. Dungeon, check. Dragon, check. Awesome.</p><p></p><p>The iconic Mentzer Red Box cover by Larry Elmore is my favorite. A young fighter is recklessly charging a red dragon, in a dungeon. Treasure carpets the floor. I have a good idea what this game is about. Dragon, check; dungeon, check.</p><p>As an aside, the Mentzer expert rules cover has a guy on a horse, being attacked by a dragon, but not in a dungeon—but this fits the purpose of the game, which was to introduce wilderness adventuring.</p><p></p><p>1e AD&D had a cover change from the excellent idol room to an elderly wizard in a non-descript location, doing wizard things. Boo on this cover. No dungeon, no dragon.</p><p></p><p>Second Edition brings back a guy on a horse, reminiscent of the 0D&D cover. The rider even has the wing-ed helmet. No dungeon, no dragon.</p><p></p><p>The “New, Easy to Master” Basic Black box has an image that I first saw, many, many years ago, in an ad in a comic book. A fighter with a long-handled, two-handed axe is facing off against a charging dragon, in what is presumably the dragon’s lair. This art is almost as good as the Mentzer red box cover. Dungeon, check; dragon, check.</p><p></p><p>The Rules Cyclopedia (I almost forgot this one) depicts a guy on a horse (Tradition!) being attacked by a dragon. Unfortunately, it appears to be in a swamp. So, dragon, but no dungeon.</p><p></p><p>The 2e book changed its cover, and depicts three adventurers—a muscled fighter, a wizard and a rogue (or ranger) in a dungeon. The fighter has just punched the door into flinders. Dungeon, check, dragon, no check.</p><p></p><p>3rd edition books were presented as ancient tomes, with no scene depicted, which is perfectly reasonable. Still, no dragon, and no dungeon.</p><p></p><p>4th edition, as I mentioned, is a weaksauce, uncomfortable-looking pose by a pair of adventurers. They look to be in a dungeon, but there is no dragon. Just a dragonborn.</p><p></p><p>The Essentials books both depict adventurers in dungeons on their covers, but no dragons.</p><p></p><p>The Fifth Edition cover shows a pair of adventurers taking on a giant, in what looks like an interior location, so dungeon, yes, dragon, no.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="cavalier973, post: 9138737, member: 91595"] This is a tangentially related thought, but I think the cover art of at least one of the rules books should depict what the game is about—and hat tip to Matt Colville for giving me this idea. The 0D&D cover art, for example, was a guy on a horse, so that explains the subsequent covers depicting guys on horses—it’s traditional. However, a swordsman on a horse, in my opinion, does not properly depict what the game is about. The Holmes Basic rules depicts an adventuring party in a dungeon, facing a dragon. So, the cover meets both qualifications for what I consider to be a proper cover for the Dungeons and Dragons game. The original AD&D cover art is fantastic. It depicts a party of adventurers, in a dungeon, disposing of the bodies of slain lizard-folk, while two of their number are atop a giant idol, stealing the gems from its eyes. We have a dungeon, but, unfortunately, no dragon. The Moldvay rules have a spearman and a lady magic-user, “one foot turned in the other direction” (hat tip Professor Dungeon Master), in a dungeon, facing a green dragon that is emerging from a pool. Dungeon, check. Dragon, check. Awesome. The iconic Mentzer Red Box cover by Larry Elmore is my favorite. A young fighter is recklessly charging a red dragon, in a dungeon. Treasure carpets the floor. I have a good idea what this game is about. Dragon, check; dungeon, check. As an aside, the Mentzer expert rules cover has a guy on a horse, being attacked by a dragon, but not in a dungeon—but this fits the purpose of the game, which was to introduce wilderness adventuring. 1e AD&D had a cover change from the excellent idol room to an elderly wizard in a non-descript location, doing wizard things. Boo on this cover. No dungeon, no dragon. Second Edition brings back a guy on a horse, reminiscent of the 0D&D cover. The rider even has the wing-ed helmet. No dungeon, no dragon. The “New, Easy to Master” Basic Black box has an image that I first saw, many, many years ago, in an ad in a comic book. A fighter with a long-handled, two-handed axe is facing off against a charging dragon, in what is presumably the dragon’s lair. This art is almost as good as the Mentzer red box cover. Dungeon, check; dragon, check. The Rules Cyclopedia (I almost forgot this one) depicts a guy on a horse (Tradition!) being attacked by a dragon. Unfortunately, it appears to be in a swamp. So, dragon, but no dungeon. The 2e book changed its cover, and depicts three adventurers—a muscled fighter, a wizard and a rogue (or ranger) in a dungeon. The fighter has just punched the door into flinders. Dungeon, check, dragon, no check. 3rd edition books were presented as ancient tomes, with no scene depicted, which is perfectly reasonable. Still, no dragon, and no dungeon. 4th edition, as I mentioned, is a weaksauce, uncomfortable-looking pose by a pair of adventurers. They look to be in a dungeon, but there is no dragon. Just a dragonborn. The Essentials books both depict adventurers in dungeons on their covers, but no dragons. The Fifth Edition cover shows a pair of adventurers taking on a giant, in what looks like an interior location, so dungeon, yes, dragon, no. [/QUOTE]
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