D&D 4E Vote for your favorite 4E PHB cover!

[Klaus]

Cláudio, did you make the third cover? Is there any higher resolution version?
A big one.

As mentioned before, that's WAR's cover to the Character Record Sheets. It's available on the web somewhere at reeeally big resolution.

 

[Zamkaizer]

You can't dungeon from the players handbook, but you can play a halfling. Just because it appears on the cover doesn't mean it can be run. I think it's entirely too nitpicky.

The focus of the second cover is the two adventurers, the focus of the third cover is the dragon.

The subject of the Monster Manual is a rampaging monstrosity. The subject of the Dungeon Master's Guide is an unseen orchestrator. Is it not logical, then, that the third member of that triumvirate would also focus on it's subject?

I'd hate to sound fanatical, but while the third cover might be better in a vacuum, the second makes a better Player's Handbook cover.

 

[HeinorNY]

BTW, I voted for #3.
Reason: Because it's an exciting cover. The battle looks tense, about to blow. There is a Dungeon and a Dragon, and a group of adventures fighting the dragon. What could be more D&Dish than that. It's the Player's Handbook! THE BOOK. Not some splatbook. The #3 cover is simply the RIGHT one.
When I look to it I feel like wanting to play D&D right now!

In the other two covers NOTHING is happening. There are just two characters posing in a cave. There is no context. It's boring. It's not inspiring. When I look to it I don't even feel like playing a dragonborn nor a wizard...

 

[HeinorNY]

As mentioned before, that's WAR's cover to the Character Record Sheets. It's available on the web somewhere at reeeally big resolution.

I know, I said "did you make the cover" regarding the D&D logo, etc.
Did you make the fake cover?

 

[fba827]

Hmmm.. as last as much as I can see on my screen, 1 and 2 look a little ...how shall I say... boob-a-licious

So I go with 3 as it is more action oriented and I wouldn't feel embarrassed to have the book laying around in my room without someone raising an eyebrow at it's presence.

Having said that, something about the base color of the reddish light in 3 is a little off for me... I'd prefer the more muted background coloring of 2 or 1.

But if I had to pick one as is, I'd go with 3 - focus on the epic action, not the outfit of characters I'd never be playing...

 

[Chocobo]

Ooooh maybe the PHB will have collectible foil covers like a 90s comic book. They really should have gotten Rob Liefeld instead of Wayne Reynolds if that's the vibe they're going for.

I voted for #1. I am in favor of hookerplate. I also like #2 except for the dragonborn, I race I don't care for at all. I think 2 has good coloration that fits with the frames, but I just don't like dragonborn. #3 is the weakest IMHO, because the dragon is in the foreground, not the characters... and the dragon is stupid looking. I'm getting used to the green dragon though, so I could accept that picture for a monster manual I suppose.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The subject of the Monster Manual is a rampaging monstrosity. The subject of the Dungeon Master's Guide is an unseen orchestrator. Is it not logical, then, that the third member of that triumvirate would also focus on it's subject?

Not if it's not FREAKING AWESOME.

Useful Philosophy of Life: Awesome trumps patterns.

 

[Sphyre]

The focus of the second cover is the two adventurers, the focus of the third cover is the dragon.

While the Dragon may be the biggest part of the third cover, it certainly isn't the focus. The battle is the focus. Right in the very center is a fighter in the middle of swinging his sword against the dragon who seems to be hissing like a snake at the adventurers, while the rest of the adventurers are approaching the dragon. It's a scene, not just a picture of things.

For a cover of the most popular book, along with instilling the idea of a party of adventurers, I still think that the 3rd cover is the best cover for the PHB. I mean they've already decided that they are going to use non-functional names in 4e (Golden Wyvern Adept) so why not make it so the covers are non-functional as well? I would think that a mug-shot line up of character classes and races would be pretty dull for a cover, much less, cutting that down to only 2 races.

 

[JVisgaitis]

If anyone one doesn't know my position on this yet, I guess I should be happy that I wasn't too obnoxious.

I like cover #3. When I look at it, I instantly think of playing D&D. Its evocative, shows what the game is about, and has a cool battle going on. On the tiefling cover the characters are
super stiff, look over posed, and overall its just boring. The newest cover is better, but still doesn't invoke the same sense of wonder that the Character Record Sheets one does.

Green dragon all the way (goofy nose horn and all)!

 

[Xethreau]

The second. I realize the third is more 'D&D', but it's the Player's Handbook, not the Dungeons & Dragons Handbook--the focus ought to be on the player characters.

I voted for the third, but I agree with Zamkaizer.