D&D 5E There Will Be No More Hydro74 Alternate D&D Covers

For the past 10 years, there have been alternative covers for the Dungeons & Dragons hardcovers available at local game stores. These covers were usually designed by artist Joshua M. Smith, aka Hydro74.

Hydro74 has confirmed that Vecna: Eve of Ruin was their final alternate cover for D&D.

Just got my copy of Vecna, Eve of Ruin from D&D in. The Gold & Silver really are fantastic. Sadly [Wizards of the Coast] said this was my last book since they are changing direction, which is disappointing but freelance life! Was a fun ride!

Photo by Hydro74
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Here's a look at just some of Hydo74's alternate covers over the years.

 

[ngenius]

End of an era. But similarly the Eberron D&D3.5 covers era ended for Wayne Reynolds but he then moved on to become an iconic cover artist for all Pathfinder.

 

[ngenius]

I just noticed that the very different style for The Wild Beyond The Witchlight alternate cover is also by Hydro74 and would have been nice to feature in the list of sample cover art.

 

[Sulicius]

Thanks Hydro74 for years of art. I personally didn’t like them as much, and if the current alt art will be the standard, I’m happy.

 

[Weiley31]

Best Alt Covers by far.

 

[Reynard]

I wonder if "changing direction" means less attention to game stores and more to DnDBeyond print plus digital bundles.

 

[darjr]

I wonder if "changing direction" means less attention to game stores and more to DnDBeyond print plus digital bundles.

They already have special covers for game stores only, for the new three core. They are letting game stores sell two weeks early.

No. It doesn’t mean that.

 

[Nikosandros]

I wonder if "changing direction" means less attention to game stores and more to DnDBeyond print plus digital bundles.

I honestly don't know, but it feels more changing direction in the style of art. The new three core books AC are very different from the ones done by Hydro.

 

[Morrus]

I wonder if "changing direction" means less attention to game stores and more to DnDBeyond print plus digital bundles.

I read it as changing art direction.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

There is usually a change in the art style every time there is a new edition.

In a sense, it gives new artists a chance to get established, whilst established artists have a portfolio of work to show for their time on D&D.