Erebor - The Lonely Mountain

[Falenthal]

I'm going to say somethign I know I'll regret, but... I would have prefered a cover by Jon Hodgson.

There it is.

Of course, my jaw dropped when I saw Howe's cover. I would have liked it anywhere, anytime. But to me, TOR is Hodgson as much as it is Nepitello's rules, Hanrahan's writing or Bourne's designs. There's a harmony in the covers, when you look at your collection of TOR supplements, that will now be broken with the Erebor supplement. "Blessed break", might say some, but not me. I would have liked my Erebor book to feel exactly the same as my Laketown/Heart of the Wild/Darkening of Mirkwood/... books. Maybe with Belir in a prominent place, leading the way of Caranthir, Trotter and Co. to the front door of his Kingdom Under The Mountain.

Then again, Howe's cover could have been a great über-sized poster included in the book, to hang up besides the dinner table for all guests (expected and unexpected) to behold.

[SirGalrim]

Didn't see this coming! Amazing news! Hope it don't take to long time to get out. My Wilderland campaign will probably end at the end of this year. And my player that has a dwarf hero was very excited. But I will get this book no matter what!

I hope the book has some adventure outlines also. I mean there is tons of good adventure seeds/ideas in the HoW "gazetteer", but I would like some few pages that helps the LM a bit more set up some possible adventures. Closer to what DoM has. But maybe just half a page or so fir each adventure idea.

[Earendil]

I'm going to say somethign I know I'll regret, but... I would have prefered a cover by Jon Hodgson.

There it is.

Of course, my jaw dropped when I saw Howe's cover. I would have liked it anywhere, anytime. But to me, TOR is Hodgson as much as it is Nepitello's rules, Hanrahan's writing or Bourne's designs. There's a harmony in the covers, when you look at your collection of TOR supplements, that will now be broken with the Erebor supplement. "Blessed break", might say some, but not me. I would have liked my Erebor book to feel exactly the same as my Laketown/Heart of the Wild/Darkening of Mirkwood/... books. Maybe with Belir in a prominent place, leading the way of Caranthir, Trotter and Co. to the front door of his Kingdom Under The Mountain.

Then again, Howe's cover could have been a great über-sized poster included in the book, to hang up besides the dinner table for all guests (expected and unexpected) to behold.

I've loved John Howe's art since I discovered it many years ago. I had never heard of Jon Hodgson before I got The One Ring, but I quickly came to love his art too.

I think they're both great, and I can't possibly be unhappy that John Howe has done a cover for TOR! It's true that it this cover looks like the odd one out, but that's only because it's the only one not by Jon (although stylistically it doesn't stand out much to me).

I'm happy to have a variety of artists doing the covers, or more by John, as long as we still get Jon's work inside the books. That would help this one blend in, although I'd certainly want them to keep up the extremely high standard set by Jon and John!

[aramis]

I look forward to this.

Really, I do.

Now to figure out whom to mug to afford it.

[Rich H]

... TOR is Hodgson as much as it is Nepitello's rules, Hanrahan's writing or Bourne's designs. There's a harmony in the covers, when you look at your collection of TOR supplements, that will now be broken with the Erebor supplement.

I think that's a lovely thing to say and not controversial at all. The fact that you associate the game with specific people not just for writing but for art and design will mean a lot to those you've credited. The cover is awesome and of the highest quality but it would have been great to see Jon's take on such a cover and I completely agree with you about 'consistency' and feel; on a similar note the 'glossy' cover of Heart of Mirkwood compared to the other 'matt effect' covers is something that I find a little jarring.

It is a gorgeous piece of art though.

[Falenthal]

It is a gorgeous piece of art though.

I'll never discuss that.

[Glorelendil]

I kind of agree with Falenthal. It's a nifty cover and all but I would have preferred something from Jon.

[Arthadan]

Of course, my jaw dropped when I saw Howe's cover. I would have liked it anywhere, anytime. But to me, TOR is Hodgson as much as it is Nepitello's rules, Hanrahan's writing or Bourne's designs. There's a harmony in the covers, when you look at your collection of TOR supplements, that will now be broken with the Erebor supplement. "Blessed break", might say some, but not me. I would have liked my Erebor book to feel exactly the same as my Laketown/Heart of the Wild/Darkening of Mirkwood/... books. Maybe with Belir in a prominent place, leading the way of Caranthir, Trotter and Co. to the front door of his Kingdom Under The Mountain.

I agree with you. Howe's cover is breath-taking but he has a different style. However, I'll wait to have the book, maybe when considered as a whole, it will blend in nicely with the rest.

About authors, all the line is great but I also agree Hanrahan's work seems to capture Middle-earth spirit masterfully and I'll be glad to have him back.

Can we have the authors names for this one please?

[beckett]

Didn't John Howe do the cover art for the slipcase edition? I think he also has some art within the pages of the core book, doesn't he? Regardless, I don't believe his style runs counter to Jon's great work. They compliment one another nicely in my opinion.

[Rich H]

Didn't John Howe do the cover art for the slipcase edition? I think he also has some art within the pages of the core book, doesn't he?. Regardless, I don't believe his style runs counter to Jon's great work. They compliment one another nicely in my opinion.

Yes he did, that's a great point, and I agree that they both feel like they draw from the same 'style pallette' so it isn't jarring at all.