My Favorite Art from the 2024 Player's Handbook! (D&D 5.5e)

[@ger_hynes]

Here are the art credits as best as I can find them. @SupergeekMike Displacer Beast vs PCs - Igor Grechanyi College of Lore Bard - Mike Pape Life Domain Cleric - Tomas Duchek Light Domain Cleric - Jodie Muir Archfey Patron Warlock - Erion Makuo Great Old One Patron Warlock - Magali Villeneuve Wizard title page - Billy Christian Tieflings Playing Cards - Clint Cearley Tiefling legacies - Jodie Muir or John Grello Cleric casts Daylight - David Astruga Fey Wanderer Ranger - John Grello Draconic Sorcerer - Lauren Walsh Charlatan Background - Luca Bancone Character creation sketches - Chris Seaman Players and their PCs - John Grello The Ravenloft characters - Zoltan Boros The Dragonlance characters - Antonio Jose Manzanedo Yolande's Regal Presence - April Prime Shapechange duel - Michael Broussard Slaad Tadpole - David Astruga Trinkets - Coupleofkooks My personal favourites are the Path of the World Tree Barbarian by Marcela Medeiros and the Diviner Wizard by Jodi Muir. I instantly wanted to play as those exact characters.

[@SupergeekMike]

Thank you so much!!

[@ger_hynes]

@@SupergeekMike No problem at all.

[@cameronsydnor7330]

Another fun detail in that Tiefling image, the one with the snake is cheating. You can see her hiding cards in her sash and she also has the largest stack of coin. It almost looks like the one with the dagger may see the cards in her sash and is getting ready to attack the cheater.

[@esbeng.s.a9761]

Your soo right well spotted

[@Sootielove]

Your comment on the sexy ladies really hit it for me. I love getting sexy character designs, it's just sexier when the characters look like they want to be sexy (and get a range of facial expressions)

[@catherineelmore2004]

Ok- the art for the wizard had been giving me Storm from the XMen if she were a DND wizard and I had loved it for that- but as soon as you said it was reminding you of Aabria’s characters in CR and WBN, I had to pause and shout “OMG that absolutely is Suvi!” So thank you for that!

[@EnchanterAntlee]

Thank you for highlighting the Wizard Title card art! That art piece is the one. It just screams Wizard to me. And the fact that D&D is leaning away from the old decrepit man stereotype for Wizards is a god send!

[@markuscorneliussen2919]

12:05 I know the artist for the Draconic Sorceror is Lauren Walsh because she fittingly for the channel has also done a lot of official art and fanart for Critical role

[@tonysladky8925]

Another cool thing about the Displacer Beast art? The Displacer Beast is not the kind of creature you might think of as taking up a 10'x10' square. They're based on panthers. They're long and lithe creatures, so a new player might not *get* why it's 10'x10'. 10'x5'? Sure, maybe. But 10'x10'? That takes some getting used to. It wouldn't illustrate that as well if it was a big, fat Hill Giant squatting on all four squares, but the Displacer Beast taking up the squares that make sense for it and its tentacles threatening the others really make a kinda weird facet of D&D on a grid pop.

[@tonysladky8925]

Re: Physical character sheets, I'm the exact opposite. I can't handle a digital character sheet because I don't trust myself with a device at the table because then the time where nothing is asked of my character becomes checking social media time for me. Gods help me if I ever have to play an actual digital D&D game. I didn't manage to get my spells written down on physical media (I'm a big fan when I play a Wizard of making myself an elaborate spellbook out of one of those fancy leatherbound journals you can find at Renaissance Faires or by the checkout at chain bookstores, but *for some reason* I got really depressed a couple of weeks ago, and all the arts and crafts I would normally put into a new D&D character just didn't happen), and having to reference spells in D&D Beyond last night was agonizing.

[@tylereggleton2257]

I absolutely adore the college of lore bard, the first time I flicked through my copy of this book it stood out to me for having so much flair and joy whilst also looking like someone I might have at my table rather than a skinny white model (not to say the bard there isn't attractive). I'm sure if I had another skim I'd be reminded of 4 or 5 other pieces of art that scratched my brain nicely.

[@andyenglish4303]

My favorite is the old lady Paladin. Makes me think of Granny Goodness as an Asmodean conquest Paladin.

[@ger_hynes]

The Art credits are in tiny font in the gutter on each page.

[@joshscholman]

The art credits are in fine print text on the inside of the same page as the art, close to the spine. You might have to open the book a bit further than expected to read them.

[@youngsponge92]

I agree with your take on the Lore Bard art! It stood out to me so much even while I was reading just from my DDBeyond version and I appreciate that it exists ❤ I look forward to looking at it on my physical copy...when it finally gets shipped to my country

[@ger_hynes]

Also, I just love the use of tiny Supergeek logos as pasties in the Frazetta and Frazetta-inspired art.

[@Stephen-Fox]

Honestly, no matter the game or the context (i.e. interior vs exterior), Mike gushing about art in TTRPG books (or being a bit more analytical about it as per the cover videos) is something that will never not bring a smile to my face. (Which, yes, is me saying that if you wanted to do this sort of video for some of those indie games you've mentioned picking up even before you had time to read them I'd be very interested in watching those, however much interest I have in the game in question)

[@thehonk3899]

As soon as Mike showed the picture of the wizard my IMMEDIATE thought was "This has the same vibes as Suvi from Worlds Beyond Number" and then he just straight up says it. I feel like I see so little WBN content out there and whenever I see it out in the wild, it makes me giddy!

[@merchantarthurn]

The artwork in this book absolutely pushed me over the edge to getting a copy for myself. I'm new to DnD so having a players handbook that I can make my own tabs and notes in and quickly reference has been a gamechanger (DnDBeyond and other online resources are either too overwhelming or so automated that I don't even really know what I'm doing with them - and at the moment it seems kinda broken with the new content so our table has just used physical sheets for this campaign). Flipping through and stopping at whatever art most interested me and reading the accompanying info has made going through a lot of very dense information a lot more fun ahaha. I also really liked the sub-class and class characters appearing elsewhere in this book and in the DMG (e.g. the Paladin and Warlock covers fighting that displacer beast!)

[@merchantarthurn]

My favourite art was the feywild ranger - I'm a big fan of orcs generally and I thought he looked cool as hell.

[@Kalin5513]

Another cool thing about the daylight spell image is that Astarian from BG3 is in the bottom right side of the screen, NOT being burned up

[@NickMunch]

I own too many of the 2014 books to make the jump over to 2024, but I really enjoy the art that you shared and I'm glad that WOTC made a lot of good choices for the new PHB.

[@talscorner3696]

I'm afraid the current style of DnD art is not Renaissance and late XVth century enough for me, but I do love that people are happy with it ^^ It's nice to see the conversation not being negative about everything, for once.

[@Marb315]

honestly same I do wish it had more of a medieval fantasy vibe, but I do also get that to a certain extent they want to show players that DnD doesn't just have to be that ya know? same reason the wizard on the class page is a young woman instead of a frail old man with a long beard, they're trying to draw more people into the hobby and to do that they want to show that the worlds and characters they build don't have to follow all of the imagined tropes of the genre even if I do wish there were a bit more of the classical designs making their way in I think making a more distinctly open community will always be a good thing!

[@notanotaku1101]

Hey, thank YOU for expressing that even if something isn't for you, it can still be good for someone else. You're definitely being the positive change online that you're hoping for and I wanted to make sure you knew that

[@talscorner3696]

On one hand, that is absolutely true. On the other, though, once you shed a precise visual language, the art-style of an IP tends to flatten, which is usually a loss for everyone involved.

[@talscorner3696]

@@notanotaku1101 oh, you and the fuzzy warmy feely feeling you're making me old bones feel... and so close to Christmas, too! I won't be able to recover in time for my mandatory grinchery... dreads and lamentations!

[@henryhere]

​@@talscorner3696I think this might be my new favorite interaction to have existed on the Internet

[@jacobhughes-gartin1057]

My personal favorite is the Circle of the Stars Druid art - that was the one that made me want to play *that* character exactly

[@ilmari1452]

Regarding the daylight spell: just two weeks ago I had the joy of informing one of my players that actually, he *could* use daylight to harm the vampire they were fighting! And balance wise against a senior vampire? It's not really a problem. It does damage once and forces the vampire to retreat from the lighted area. Maybe a couple of opportunity attacks if the players have positioned advantageously... That's all. But if feels really satisfying to players to finally rub the parasitic bastard's face in some sunlight and put them on the back foot.

[@SupergeekMike]

What’s your favorite piece of art from the new Player’s Handbook? Thanks so much to Dscryb for sponsoring this video! Visit dscryb.com/supergeek and use the code SUPERGEEK at checkout to get 10% off of your first subscription payment. dscryb.com/supergeek

[@JoULove]

Definitely the bard, she looks amazing

[@jesselittle1964]

Patron of the archfey warlock. I want those scissors as a weapon so badly.

[@brucebrenneise430]

D&D books currently credit the artist in light grey type almost hidden in the gutter on the same page as the piece, so it's entirely fair that you could miss that info.

[@RottenRogerDM]

Can we get over the yogurt shop colors from the 90s, or the only one shade of color art. I am glad Daylight got an upgrade. Still wish Detect Good and Evil got a name change to Detect Undead and Planar.

[@zippomage]

i did love all the art. The class arts are especially good. About your other vid, I watched and loved it, but forgot to comment and say: I always wanted to try playing a charlatan with no magic whose use of magical items made them seem to be a wizard. Possibly a failed professor of magic who was laughed out of rooms because he had the knowledge, but didn't have the magic.

[@jacobforster8420]

just ordered my copies of the PHB and DMG, hopefully arriving soon

[@Psymonkee]

For the digital books the art credit is usually just above the picture. I'm a huge fan of the Glamour Bard by Hocheol Ryu from the bard subclass section. I still ned to finish reading the book and get my hands on a physical copy at somepoint.

[@jandersegemark1568]

Could be wrong but i think the daylight spell is actually daylight now raw too.

[@jonathanstern5537]

I feel like the College of Glamour Bard is also sexy without being objectifying. The character looks like the elven equivalent of Lita Ford or Deborah Harry, who are two very talented and in control women. Also, I love the way they made the Diviner Wizard look like of nerdy and the Illusionist Wizard look... just freaking adorable.

[@manuelmialdea5127]

My fav art in this book is the one for orcs. I'm sorry but cowboy orcs are just so fucking cool and I cannot wait to play one. I had 0 interest in orcs before but that piece of art really sold me on them.

[@Marb315]

as an elf hater I am unfortunately a massive fan of the glam rock elf bard for college of glamor

[@mjcordiner]

I’m shocked that one wasn’t here. It’s an amazing art piece!

[@mjcordiner]

My head canon is that the wizard is Vajra Safahr

[@cryptoness5567]

Take a shot every time Mike says "Book"

[@Aidscapade71]

Artist sources are available on yhe digital version, dunno about normal. But thry all definitely day the artists name! Thats how k found out one of my Fave artists is in the book lol

[@elilevinger5981]

Lov this art vids :)

[@koboldqueen3055]

ok I know this doesn't really matter but as the #1 slaadi fan I must say only blue slaads reproduce like that, red slaads reproduce like werewolves. and red slaads make blue slaads and blue slaads make red slaads

[@Zr0din]

@12:07 "...draconic sorcerer with top surgery scars..." I admit I have to take a double take on that one. Cracked open the book and everything (p148). But I guess that's why Alter Self is on the subclass spell list. Good Catch!

[@BigKlingy]

Seeing the College of Lore Bard and Wizard art made me realize that we don't see a lot of black female wizards in mainstream fantasy media.

[@jacobwillis7596]

hm, i'm tempted to ban daylight now lol. I don't like the idea a player can just use 1 spell to kill a bbeg for almost no cost

[@henryhere]

I'm sure the vampire stats will have something to account for it, ultimately we just have to wait until the new monster manual releases. I can understand banning it in curse of Strahd or something, but just banning it in general seems kinda unnecessary

[@jacobwillis7596]

@ guess what campaign I’m running lmao /lh. I also think it conflicts with Dawn.

[@MrSilvUr]

​@jacobwillis7596 I probably wouldn't ban it against Strahd. To kill Strahd with 'just one spell,' Strahd would have to linger in the spell's 60 foot sphere for the start of 10 of his turns (144HP + 50 from the Heart of Sorrow - 20/round = 10 rounds.) That's a lot to ask of a guy who has a speed of thirty, spiderclimb, and Legendary actions that let him move outside of his turn. That last feature alone means that he might never START his turn within the sphere. In Castle Ravenloft, there are often walls and corridors that will hem in the sphere's area, and Strahd can, through a lair action, give himself the ability to phase through the walls, floors, doors, and ceilings of the castle. He also often has minions that can soak up enemy actions or at least punish them if they focus on him. He always has these outside of his lair, and can generally use his flying fucking horse or mist form to take to the skies and flee. To me, Strahd is an ambush predator who wears down his foes through hit and run tactics. So long as he can get away, he'll regenerate and the party won't. He has a +14 to Stealth, so his ability to surprise the party should be pretty solid, and his bite can drop the victim's Hit Point maximum. So, if Strahd can consistently get away after a fight, he'll just about always come out ahead, especially if he can get a bite off. I think having Strahd plan to sneak in, perform one bite, and then escape is a good plan for him, especially if he can stalk the party until they make camp and keep them from resting -- or launch a decisive ambush while they're asleep. If your style is such that you make sure the players can't really lose (Not my cup, but whatevs), then Daylight is a handy excuse for having Strahd bail when they're too low level to scrap. If that's not your style, it also makes for a nice bit of false security -- Strahd is always hitting and running anyway. If they think they've found a spell he doesn't have an answer to and so must flee... When they meet him in his lair, they may get too cocky.

[@under20over40]

Totally a superficial comment but, i still like referring to the 2024 update as 5.24 instead of 5.5

[@Rexx8492nd]

Great update either way lol

[@GAdmThrawn]

"Both male and female characters were presented as forms of wish fulfilment for male readers" and female players. Don't forget that there were female players at the start of DnD. And I'm willing to bet that they too perceived their characters as wish fulfilment versions of themselves, badass fighters and wizards and rangers. Like, this is the 80s for crying out loud. This was the height of low-budget storm and sorcery films and shows that depicted Amazonian warriors, half-naked gladiators, and badass princesses who rode horses, wielded swords and bows, and fought for honor, revenge, and glory. Doesn't sound any different to me than what men envisioned themselves as.

[@tylamcgilverson3923]

You are absolutely allowed to love this book. I how ever will not be but or looking at this book. I don't like the changes, I think the marketing for it is all wrong. I much prefer Tales of the Valient.

[@A.Hanson]

Not a fan of that bard art. It just doesn't look like a classic fantasy character. I prefer the art of Frank Frazetta, Larry Elmore, or the Brothers Hildebrant. Those characters just feel more "fantasy" to me. Part of my problem with modern D&D is that seems to left high fantasy behind in favor of something more chaotic and modern and this art really drives that point home. I will be passing on the 2024 book and exploring other fantasy RPGs that deliver something more classical. Edit: After I wrote this I saw the art of the siblings from Dragonlance and... yes.. more of that! That is the kind of art I am looking for, something that wouldn't be out of place in a fantasy game or book cover from the 90s or early 00s.

[@disneydreamers95]

Good for you.

[@spongemanhere]

i like the orc art cus it made chuds upset

[@Marb315]

still no clue how people could see cowboy orcs (the coolest thing of all time) and get mad

[@RottenRogerDM]

@@Marb315 In just 40 years we when from green pig faced orcs. To grey pointed eared Latinx humans with teeth problems.

[@andyenglish4303]

@@RottenRogerDM I see no reason both can't coexist. D&D is a big tent.

[@henryhere]

​@@RottenRogerDMjust a heads up btw, in case you didn't already know, as far as I've heard most Latino people actually renounce the term Latinx as they find it offensive to see white people trying to mess with their culture. I don't know if you're Latino or anything so I might just be saying stuff you're already plenty familiar with, but just in case you're saying it to try and avoid offending people you're probably better off just using Latino.

[@elliec4154]

Ughh really don't like it. Looks like a year book for Californian undergrads. I'll wait for that cycle of history to spin.