AD&D 1e Reprint Thread

[T. Foster]

Considering I assumed the "new" covers were going to look something like this, I'd say those classy, understated covers are far enough above that to, at least by way of comparison, qualify as gorgeous and awesome. And FWIW I'm assuming (possibly wrongly) that the brown sections are going to be leatherette, with the "pattern" imprinted and the titles and corners embossed in gold leaf. They are, after all, calling this a "premium" reprint, and IIRC their previous "premium" printings (of the 3.5 and 4E core books) have all been done that way. If I'm wrong about that and it's instead just a plain brown glossy cover with that pattern drawn on it then, yeah, I agree that's considerably less nice and in fact looks pretty cheap and bland.

It also seems telling and significant that since the mock-up we saw from DDXP and this they've restored the "Advanced" to the titles, presumably in response to negative fan-reaction to it having originally been dropped (even though from a branding perspective that made total sense). They're clearly listening and want this to be a release that the old-edition fans will be happy with. There's really no need to constantly look for new things to complain about.

[Terrex]

There's really no need to constantly look for new things to complain about.

Except I think all the complaining may've been what put the "Advanced" back on the cover.

[T. Foster]

Except I think all the complaining may've been what put the "Advanced" back on the cover.

Touché. Though even there I understood WotC's reasoning and thought the complaining was silly (since despite what the covers said the interiors of the books were obviously still going to say ADVANCED all over them). If anything this shows me that WotC is perhaps too concerned over keeping the old-edition fans happy.

[Chainsaw]

Who knows, perhaps the blurry, leaked covers we saw were only very rough drafts and WotC always intended to include Advanced.

[Terrex]

Except I think all the complaining may've been what put the "Advanced" back on the cover.

Touché. Though even there I understood WotC's reasoning and thought the complaining was silly (since despite what the covers said the interiors of the books were obviously still going to say ADVANCED all over them). If anything this shows me that WotC is perhaps too concerned over keeping the old-edition fans happy.

Yeah, I was mainly kidding. But, I do have to admit I really like "Advanced" on the cover. Of course you're right about most of the complaining. All the crying about the price and WOTC/Hasbro's secret agenda is pathetic.

[Falconer]

“Don’t get mad at me because your girlfriend didn’t have a good time! For God’s sake, this is Advanced, Mark!”

“Advance this!”

[WSmith]

Like Foster's sig had said:

"I won at Dungeons and Dragons, and it was Advanced!" ~ Piers Hawthorne.

[TRP]

I'm buying the books (multiple copies even), I think the covers are "good enough". I'll be damned, however, if I'm going to hail these covers as anything other than "okay" just because "they could have been worse". Well, if they were worse, then I'd be cancelling my order.

You know, THIS HERE, K&KA, is THE AD&D FIRST EDITION forum, and if we're willing to accept the crumbs of mediocrity, then some other sites must be creaming their jeans over these covers.

So, pardon me if I'm not hailing these covers as any type of "old school" victory. They're a compromise, and that's fine, but that's all it is. It doesn't mean I'm not allowed to wish they had been better.

Did I mention that I'm buying multiple copies? Shouldn't that be enough for WoTC?

[TRP]

I'm in semi-rare form this evening.

But if you can't hold 1e to a high standard at K&KA, where can you?

[Philotomy Jurament]

I think they're acceptable. Not great, not terrible, not even "bad." Seeing a better picture of the faux-book design and color makes me wonder if they were also trying for a nod to the Greyhawk books from the boxed set.

Anyway, "better than I expected" is a good thing, in this case. I'm glad they used at least a portion of original cover art for each book.

[T. Foster]

So, pardon me if I'm not hailing these covers as any type of "old school" victory. They're a compromise, and that's fine, but that's all it is. It doesn't mean I'm not allowed to wish they had been better.

If these covers represent a compromise, what would you have considered a victory? If these covers are "okay" and just barely good enough for you not to cancel your order, what would you have considered good? That, I guess, is what I'm failing to see - what the folks complaining about these covers would rather have seen instead. The exact original covers (and, if so, which printings? would they need to have the TSR logo and Lake Geneva address? would they be allowed to add a bar-code and UPC?)? New pieces of art that would have miraculously looked nothing like any art produced by this company in the last 30 years? Something else?

[AxeMental]

I'm in semi-rare form this evening.

But if you can't hold 1e to a high standard at K&KA, where can you?

Exactly.

I agree with what you say Terrex. But I also think if the shout was loud enough, its feasable that the final cover might include more of the cover art.

Also, if the idea is to get the oldschoolers back on the wagon, new art done to the standards of the 70s pallete would be in order. Imagine for a second, an artist given the assignment to copy the figures from the original covers and have them battling a chimera in some cool underground location. Its not like they are selling these to newbies, and its not like we wouldn't all immediately recognize the wizard with the staff, and the two thieves sneaking around going for a back stab, or maybe helping themselves to some treasure. Sure, Fosters probably correct, they would have screwed this up. But if they hadn't...it could be steller. IF THEY ARE LISTENING WHY DON'T WE TELL THEM WHAT WE WANT?

Rog, even a copy of the original cover is plenty to get back to something useable using something like Photoshop or hell repainting them. It wouldn't be very expensive in either case.

[Benoist]

Wow... these covers are awesome....

I had completely the opposite reaction.

EDIT: Or I'm missing the Sarcasm tags in your post.

I was being honest, actually. A little bit over the top, maybe (it could be better), but yeah, basically, I like these covers, sure. I was expecting something terrible, like Wayne Reynolds doing the covers 4e style or something.

And you know what? These covers look like they're made for a Classic. A REAL Classic game. And that's what matters. I want this game to be a Classic that hopefully will either be reprinted every now and then, or even better, stay in print forever as such.

[TRP]

What would have been worse, and probably a deal breaker, would have been 3e/PF art.

What would have been better are the full DMG & PHB covers and a more professional re-image of the original MM.

C'mon', TF, wouldn't "Satan" still holding Miss America hostage been better?

I think my very minor discontent with the covers may be coming across here, on teh intarwebz, as more significant than it really is.

[Kramer]

Latest covers are now up on Wizard's site with product info. 'Advanced' has been added again.

They still have the page counts in the MM and PHB reversed.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx ... c/02410000

Personally, I really like them (the covers); they're new but with the spots pay an homage to the originals.

I just hope that they reset the interior typography; even to copy the line and page breaks exactly. I cannot see trying to create printing plates by shooting negs from a printed book. That'll just be cr@p for the 'premium' price tag of $30-odd dollars (don't forget, you'll be a hun'erd dollars down by the time yer done adding these to your book shelf). I've been a party to such a project...there's just no way to make it look good.

I hope this is an honest attempt to rejoin with older players, and not merely a disingenuous attempt to squeeze yet more cash out us 'cause we're not paying customers anymore. I am not really convinced that getting them for nostalgia sake is enough to part with the money.

As a sidebar on price: I cannot help but make the comparison that I bought my 400 page OSRIC hardback for...what...$26 bucks...and the Black Blade version is the same (granted, there's no profit in either one of those books). And this is essentially the PHB, MM, and DMG all rolled up into one lovable bunch. Meanwhile, the 'Premium' DMG has a street price of $45 and comes in at 230 pages, and you still have to get the other two books to make a complete rules set? And I am sure that by printing overseas they're gettin' a helluva per unit price break...just sayin'...)