D&D 5E Vecna: Eve of Ruin Coming May 21st!

[Henadic Theologian]

Does anyone know what the symbols mean? I assume that the outer symbols are for each of the settings (any guesses which are which?), and I think one of the Inner ones is Bhaals symbols whivh suggests the other two are Gods that ally themselves to Vecna, but who?

 

[Queer Venger]

Both covers look horrible. You've got cyborg vecna in the first, and a pencil sketch of a hand in the second that looks like it was done via AI.

I like them! The FLGS cover is stunning, I hope it gets that soft-touch Matte feel to it

 

[Queer Venger]

Why make one disappointing gazetteer when you can make seven?

Snark aside, they haven't published anything for Greyhawk (in this current edition) and I can't see just their typical "mini-gazetteer in the beginning of the book" being adequate. Dragonlance fans weren't happy with how much War of the Dragon Queen glossed over the setting, I'm sure the Greyhawk fans won't be if if gets similar treatment.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but aren't Planescape and Spelljammer really just names given to concepts? Should they really classify as separate settings?

good catch! I actually philosophically integrate SJ with PS, they are not so much settings as vehicles to settings

 

[Queer Venger]

People gotta stop accusing art of being AI.

Your other point, OTOH, I think has a point. These covers could be a WHOLE lot better than they are. There's not enough going on in either of them, IMO.

WotC also just had a big lay-off and their art budget probably got slashed. I think we should consider ourselves fortunate we are even getting printed books at this point..

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Does anyone know what the symbols mean? I assume that the outer symbols are for each of the settings (any guesses which are which?), and I think one of the Inner ones is Bhaals symbols whivh suggests the other two are Gods that ally themselves to Vecna, but who?

The three in the middle are probably the Dead Three - Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul.

The seven other symbols are probably NOT the worlds, but the pieces of the Rod of Seven Parts.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I like them! The FLGS cover is stunning, I hope it gets that soft-touch Matte feel to it

You are, of course, free to like them! I think the design work in the FLGS cover is nice, but the hand is only... meh. Maybe if Vecna's face was behind the hand I'd like it more. The "regular" cover just looks kind of muddied to me, and all those swirls just fill the space without saying anything. I'd like it more if the Vecna was zoomed forward a bit, but it's not a particularly great picture of him either, so... they're fine, but they're not great.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Does anyone know what the symbols mean? I assume that the outer symbols are for each of the settings (any guesses which are which?), and I think one of the Inner ones is Bhaals symbols whivh suggests the other two are Gods that ally themselves to Vecna, but who?

The upper right one is the symbol for the Curse of Strahd campaign and tie-ins. As they used the Bhaal symbol for the Descent to Avernus and tie-ins, I'm assuming all three are campaign tie-ins. I think the third was the Spelljammer one, but I'm not sure (the DMs Guild has all the symbols up to Icewind Dale). Backing me up on this is that the regular cover shows three scenes in the crystals - the two in the front are (presumably) Castle Ravenloft and a Spelljamming ship, while the one on the back seems to be Avernus. I'm guessing those three are going to be of particular importance in the campaign.

EDIT: Yep, pulling out my Spelljammer set shows that lower symbol on the books. So, Ravenloft, Spelljammer, and Descent to Avernus are going to be important in this adventure.

 

[Demetrios1453]

The three in the middle are probably the Dead Three - Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul.

The seven other symbols are probably NOT the worlds, but the pieces of the Rod of Seven Parts.

Nope, the upper right one is the symbol they used for Curse of Strahd and tie-ins.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I mean, my question was, "Wait, why is Vecna trying to destroy the multiverse? Isn't that Tharizdun's job?"

Reading the link, it instead seems to be a repeat of the Die Vecna Die! transform-to-take-over plot. Perhaps Vecna has simply forgotten that didn't work last time?

"What are we going to do tonight Vecna?"

"Same thing as we do every night Kas..."

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Nope, the upper right one is the symbol they used for Curse of Strahd and tie-ins.

I stand corrected!