D&D (2024) What do people think of the new dragon designs?

[dave2008]

I'd rather go back to the days when the artist could pretty much draw them how they wanted and didn't have to stick to a design sheet template. You could have as many variations of how a red dragon looks as there are different expressions of beholders. Or humans, for that matter.

That change started with Dragonlance. DL dragons were specifically different from regular D&D dragons, but they had a consistent design within DL (at least mostly - Easley did some weird things with dragons)

 

[dave2008]

FYI, here is a black dragon by the same artist that did the new red and bronze concept art. This is a personal painting, not for WotC as far as I can tell.

 

[pukunui]

What do people think of the new designs?

I guess I’m the outlier here in that I don’t like the new designs at all. I guess I’ve just gotten too used to the 3e–5e designs that these new ones just don’t appeal to me. They remind me too much of the goofy-looking mega-dinosaurs from Bigby’s.

Also, are we sure they’re actually using all those new designs? This silver dragon looks like it’s still of the older design:

 

[Reynard]

Just want to clarify that the image you liked was not close to city sized. Heck, Godzilla is not city sized.

Hyperbole is my jam.

 

[dave2008]

I guess I’m the outlier here in that I don’t like the new designs at all. I guess I’ve just gotten too used to the 3e–5e designs that these new ones just don’t appeal to me. They remind me too much of the goofy-looking mega-dinosaurs from Bigby’s.

Also, are we sure they’re actually using all those new designs? This silver dragon looks like it’s still of the older design:

View attachment 363264

No we are not sure. This silver is from the PHB and the gold on the cover is too. In that cover you can see a red dragon that looks similar to the new concept art shown.

However, the designs in the Drizit book may not reflect the direction, or they may. I have already pointed out differences in the Drizit red and the new red shown. These could simply be stylistic or they could mean things have evolved since Drizit

Though I do think it is time we had some new designs, I had a thread on this very topic several years ago. I like most of these, but would change some things if I was given them direction.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

I guess I’m the outlier here in that I don’t like the new designs at all. I guess I’ve just gotten too used to the 3e–5e designs that these new ones just don’t appeal to me. They remind me too much of the goofy-looking mega-dinosaurs from Bigby’s.

Also, are we sure they’re actually using all those new designs? This silver dragon looks like it’s still of the older design:

I'm definitely not a fan of that silver design at all, especially the colours. I thought it was just a statue at first. While the new designs have far more variation of colour which makes the 'pop' more on the page.

 

[dave2008]

I'm definitely not a fan of that silver design at all, especially the colours. I thought it was just a statue at first. While the new designs have far more variation of colour which makes the 'pop' more on the page.

I like the design, though I agree it could use more "realistic" color variation (like the new bronze). But the rest of the design is quite good IMO, basically the 3e silver which I like best 2nd to the 3e red.

 

[dave2008]

I completely missed the wizard by the red's tail at first! IDK, that looks like it does more than 19 (2d8 + 10) bludgeoning damage!

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I guess I’m the outlier here in that I don’t like the new designs at all. I guess I’ve just gotten too used to the 3e–5e designs that these new ones just don’t appeal to me. They remind me too much of the goofy-looking mega-dinosaurs from Bigby’s.

Also, are we sure they’re actually using all those new designs? This silver dragon looks like it’s still of the older design:

View attachment 363264

We haven't seen concept art for a Silver Dragon yet. They could just be looking similar to how they used to.

 

[pukunui]

We haven't seen concept art for a Silver Dragon yet. They could just be looking similar to how they used to.

Yeah I realised I had mistaken the white dragon for a silver one after I posted. Nevertheless, that silver is so far the only one I like.