D&D (2024) New D&D Edition's Player’s Handbook Cover Reveal

Game Informer has revealed the cover to the 2024 Player’s Handbook.

The cover features a gold dragon behind the old-school D&D characters Strongheart the paladin, Mercion the cleric, Elkhorn the dwarf fighter, and Molliver the thief. Ringlerun the wizard is absent (then again he got his showcase on one of the 1E AD&D Player's Handbooks), but a drow mage appears to have joined the party!

 

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Alternat cover art in the Polygon article...

Dungeons & Dragons’ collectible alt art Player’s Handbook has immaculate vibes

And it will be available first at local game stores

www.polygon.com

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This is beautiful, the worst thing is now having to choose between this and the standard cover, as both are absolute bangers.

For the record, I've had tea with a dragon during a 5E campaign.

 

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I'm really keen to see the DMG and Monster Manual covers now.
The 2014 cover, for example, I think works better when looked at within the 3 book set.

 

[ssvegeta555]

The standard cover is meh.

The alternative cover is maybe a bit too cozy but I do love the art style and I will go for that.

 

[MGibster]

None of the characters on the cover look like characters that I self-identify with. But thats ok.

Not even the dragon?

 

[Distracted DM]

maybe they shoulda stuck with AI art, it's just as generic and bland.

Oof. That's a bit harsh, no?

 

[Zardnaar]

Oof. That's a bit harsh, no?

Not really it looks very similar. And I have seen better AI art.

That's basically what I mean when I say it's generic. It's very common now doesnt really stand out in any way.

IMHO you need specific D&D characters or monsters. Eg 2014 covers.

 

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I thought that most of the figures on the cover are specific characters?
Which is very much the opposite of generic.

 

[MNblockhead]

If that is the case, why isn't the dragon wearing glasses?

I think they saw the epic thread on the wizard-character art and did a quick revision.

They wanted to make @Stormonu happy. But they don't know that is an impossible feat. ;-)

 

[MNblockhead]

I think some folk can forget that not everyone on the internet is the same person. You see a bunch of people hating on "new blue" on a subreddit/forum/etc, saying that they miss "classic blue." Then when they bring back classic blue, a bunch of folk in the forums hate on that! But those probably aren't the same people that were hating new blue.
Or maybe they did a terrible job with the returned classic blue and it's justifiably disliked

BRING BACK THE BLUE! ;-)

 

[MNblockhead]

The expression on the dragon's face suggests a benevolent smile. It's also reaching out with a claw as if to move a piece. I would suggest it symbolically represents the DM.

By golly, you are right! I posted upthread that the wizard art depicted the same gold dragon in polymorphed form. But I'm wrong. The polymorphed form of the gold dragon is actually....

Spoiler

*also representing a golden (50 year) anniversary.

Yep. D&D Gold Edition. Edition nomenclature and numbering solved!