Dungeons and Dragons Player's Handbook Cover Art Tier List (By My Non-Geek, Art Teacher, Wife)

It's time to have a little fun and get a non geek art perspective on the various D&D covers with my wife Julie. Totally not for clicks. :-P Also it goes without saying be nice in the comments. She isn't coming from 50 years of nostalgia in her opinions and observations.
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[@EverythingFan02]

This was really neat to hear, it’s easy to forget that the principles of art apply to conventionally less respected genre illustrations. I appreciated hearing it.

[@torenielsen9993]

That was great! I'm incendescent with rage of course, but I really enjoyed it, and would like to see more harsh-but-entirely-fair critique of rpg covers.

[@matthewconstantine5015]

This is an interesting experiment. It's also weird just how much nostalgia can play in things. I know I've said it before, but I'm very much not a D&D guy and never was. But that AD&D cover with the demon idol holds a special place in my heart, because it was always laying around the house when my dad and older brothers played D&D in the late 70s/early 80s. But yeah, when you look at it, especially with all of TSR's stuff blocking the image, it does have real problems. Also, it's weird looking at these and seeing how many covers honestly weren't very good. I know they had a lot of good artwork to chose from. I've got a couple old Art of TSR books and they're full of amazing images. But what they chose? Other than on the Red Box, they picked some of Easley's most boring pieces. Weird.

[@mykediemart]

Interesting insights and takes. I enjoyed listening to them even though some of my favorites didn't make the top tier. That D tier is spot on imo. fun video.

[@kylegraywolf]

Enjoyed this :) One correction: Larry Elmore painted the BECMI covers, not Jeff Easley.

[@OrcusDorkus]

You are right. Thanks for the catch. Sometimes the database inquiry from the old noggin glitches. 😅

[@kylegraywolf]

No worries, it only jumped out because they recently fulfilled the last Elmore book KS; so his art has been front of mind.

[@ryanrank3070]

I think this was really fun. And you need to do something good for her because to be married to a geek takes a special kind of patience.

[@JonathanHStone]

"Does he always talk this much?" I mean, Julie, do you need to ask?

[@matthewcarpenter7393]

Great concept, sounds a fun new way to annoy my partner.

[@trebormills]

Wrong on so many levels, to the Dungeon with her. A great video to show how art is subjective. At least the Expert set didn't get dumped in the trash can. Try to get her to do module covers next

[@JonathanHStone]

You tried to save her and get in front, but Julie wasn't having it. SHE MURDERED TRAMP! RIP Dave Trampier, the greatest of all early D&D artists.

[@dungeondumbo]

Mostly disagree with her but fun video, thanks!