The alternate cover of the Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook radiates a wholesome vibe for players who want to play D&D and relax.

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The cover art for the alternate version of the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook has been revealed.

Last week, the cover art for the Player’s Handbook for the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game was revealed. Featuring depictions of classic characters from the RPG’s history (such as Strongheart the Knight, Elkhorn the Dwarf Warrior, and Yolande the Elf Queen), the cover art depicts a group of D&D adventurers and heroes preparing to fight off a horde of Kobolds, a classic Dungeons & Dragons enemy, with a friendly golden dragon behind them.

The artwork strongly implies that the party is in the middle of a battle, thus emphasizing the action elements of fantasy role-playing over anything else, which is what D&D is widely known for, at least among the general public.

Alternative cover of the Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player's Handbook.

Image credit: Wizards of the Coast, Wylie Beckert

In contrast, the cover design for the alternate version of the new D&D Player's Handbook was revealed shortly after, showing a very different approach. (Thanks Polygon) Designed for collectors or players who don't like the look of the standard version, the alternate versions of D&D books don't differ much from their standard counterparts beyond the exterior aesthetic and cover art.

The cover illustration for the alternate version of the upcoming D&D Player’s Handbook also depicts a group of adventurers, this time in a very different setting than those depicted on the cover of the standard book. A classic Dungeons & Dragons group (complete with wizard, cleric, fighter, and rogue) is shown sharing a teapot in what looks like the inside of a cave. Included in this serene tea party is a golden dragon (which somewhat ties things back to the standard cover) clutching a full-sized teacup in one massive paw, with the party’s rogue balancing part of the dragon’s body on top.

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This illustration by artist Wylie Beckert, who is also responsible for the cover of the alternate version of Dungeon & Dragons: Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, certainly gives off a very different vibe than the cover of the standard version of the new Player's Handbook, which was created by Tyler Jacobsen, providing players who prefer a more relaxed, introspective approach to roleplaying with a more suitable option.

The alternate version of the new D&D Player’s Handbook will be available at local game stores beginning September 3, ahead of the book’s wider release on September 17.

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