D&D 5E Toward a new D&D aesthetics

[Stefano Rinaldelli]

Reminds me of the responses of the new Hero Quest art.

Original:
View attachment 154515

New:
View attachment 154516

For many, it's just an update. To others, like me, it's a complete abomination and eye sore, lol. Although INCREDIBLY similar, one just has that softer tone to it that I can't stand.

The first is better to me. It is real while fantasy. The second is coarse

 

[Mind of tempest]

The first is better to me. It is real while fantasy. The second is coarse

so what you want is pseudo-realism correct?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

To the extent there's been an aesthetic shift in recent years, it's strongly tied to the theme of the work itself.

I would like to draw attention to this. The early 5e books have very conservative cover designs. They aren't going to offend anyone's sensibilities, but they where frankly rather boring. The later books have shown a much bigger variation and willingness to take risks. This means there are more I hate (Acquisitions Inc, Explorers Guide to Wildemont) and more I love (Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Journeys through the Radiant Citadel).

But for me I prefer not to judge a book by it's cover, so I really don't care.

 

[Minigiant]

Reminds me of the responses of the new Hero Quest art.

Original:
View attachment 154515

New:
View attachment 154516

For many, it's just an update. To others, like me, it's a complete abomination and eye sore, lol. Although INCREDIBLY similar, one just has that softer tone to it that I can't stand.

The first looks weird and forced. The second more like "realistic" fantasy.

One of the big things to mewith art is the idea of "Could I see this scene happening and looking like this". A lot of art, old and new, always felt forced and contrived.

 

[reelo]

The first looks weird and forced. The second more like "realistic" fantasy.

The first one looks weird, and the second one realistic?! Do you have no sense for human anatomy? The barbarian in the second picture looks comically grotesque! Whereas characters in the first picture are all well-proportioned and anatomically correct.

 

[Stefano Rinaldelli]

so what you want is pseudo-realism correct?

Just to make an example the last illustrations in chronological order I like are those from rotfm

 

[Stefano Rinaldelli]

But for me I prefer not to judge a book by it's cover, so I really don't care.

I'd like to punctualize that illustrations are organic part of a rpg book, so judging this kind of products ALSO by those is not being superficial.
Your decision to buy it or not is legitimately influenced by art. For instance, I will buy radiant because I'm curious of different cultural approach while I absolutely don't like art. On the contrary, Strixhaven who I find has the worst art I've ever seen in 5ed repulse me to the point that only a masterpiece content would push me to buy it.

 

[Fifth Element]

The first one looks weird, and the second one realistic?! Do you have no sense for human anatomy? The barbarian in the second picture looks comically grotesque! Whereas characters in the first picture are all well-proportioned and anatomically correct.

But their poses are more forced, which I think was the point (thus the use of the word). There's more to realism than anatomical correctness.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Just to make an example the last illustrations in chronological order I like are those from rotfm

ROTFM?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

ROTFM?

roll on the floor masters