and yet, point to a single other RPG cover that has been used, referenced, parodied, etc in a non-RPG context.

The AD&D1 PHB is the only cover that has that distinction, which is why it is Iconic.

Quote from: CRKrueger;1021389and yet, point to a single other RPG cover that has been used, referenced, parodied, etc in a non-RPG context.

The AD&D1 PHB is the only cover that has that distinction, which is why it is Iconic.

As does the red box design.  I dunno, I'll agree both are iconic, but I'm not sure as there doesn't seem to be any data claiming either is more popular.

Quote from: Skarg;1021349I see your point that the AD&D PHB seems like a great representation of the stereotypical D&D party doing various things to a dungeon room, which is nice and also why I too thought it's a great icon for AD&D.

It is D&D as presented of that era.  It's brilliant in that regard.  I can't think of another RPG cover that's managed to so clearly encapsulate exactly what the game inside is about as that cover.  In fact, I've been a little surprise reading through various OSR stuff when that came about just how many people never "got it" the first time around and it was only 30 years later that they figured it out.  The presentation inside didn't help, admittedly.  ...OTH, Moldvay is iconic in presentation and lots of people never got it there either, so I dunno....

QuoteTo me the TFT covers I picked above for icons of TFT similarly ....

Sure.  That's why  I mentioned RuneQuest in there too.  The front cover clearly illustrates a warrior bedecked with runes of her god and leads to some clear connections with the game world.  If a gamesystem re-using it's front cover concept repeatedly over the years makes it iconic, then nobody has anything on that RQ cover.  It's been the core concept of the cover of every subsequent version of the game.

Quote from: Christopher Brady;1021392As does the red box design.  I dunno, I'll agree both are iconic, but I'm not sure as there doesn't seem to be any data claiming either is more popular.

Has anyone ever made a parody or homage to that red box cover? Honestly, until this thread, I don't remember even seeing that cover. I remember the Otus covers, but ask me to remember the Menzter cover image and I couldn't tell you. Any of the BECMI covers, actaully.

I don't know what people are talking about, pointing at the Red Box cover. Sure, it's cool. Sure, that was maybe the personal gateway game for a a certain generation of gamers who roam these sorts of boards. But give me a break: there is no way it had anything like the visibility and cultural impact of the late 70's PHB and Holmes boxed set. Those things were everywhere, and drove an explosion of interest in the hobby.

The person running this website is a racist who publicly advocates genocidal practices.

I am deleting my content.

I recommend you do the same.

Quote from: Justin Alexander;1021470That property is not quite as unique to the 1st Edition PHB as you think.

That looks more like a homage to the red box, Dragon vs. one Fighter.

Quote from: Justin Alexander;1021470That property is not quite as unique to the 1st Edition PHB as you think.

Are you suggesting that the homage you linked is outside the hobby?  That's what CRKrueger was talking about, so I assume so.  If so, then you should look again as what you linked appears to be another RPG.  Lots of RPGs pay homage to all kinds of previous RPGs.  That's pretty meaningless.

I think the ad&d phb, and a close behind the DMG.  I like the red box cover, but it is not iconic to D&D in its most recognized form (a party working together to meet a goal) and the phb cover could not be more gygax IMO.

    Red box cover makes me think a bit more howard and less gygax.

Quote from: oggsmash;1021513I think the ad&d phb, and a close behind the DMG.  I like the red box cover, but it is not iconic to D&D in its most recognized form (a party working together to meet a goal) and the phb cover could not be more gygax IMO.

    Red box cover makes me think a bit more howard and less gygax.

Are folks confusing what what iconic means?

Quote from: Ras Algethi;1021528Are folks confusing what what iconic means?

  Nope.  I think maybe how broad an Icon we are looking for is a better question.

I don't think D&D should be included in this conversation simply because it's so ridiculously obvious. Most people play D&D... so you know.

Quote from: Trond;1020932One of the D&D covers no doubt. I'm not a D&D guy really, but the first that comes to mind is the red cover with a guy fighting a dragon.

However, for Scandinavians here it is probably this one:

I was going to suggest the cover of 4th edition Stormbringer, but the above has the same art!

Quote from: oggsmash;1021530Nope.  I think maybe how broad an Icon we are looking for is a better question.

Seems there are two main arguments, one is what best represents what D&D is and the other is what is most recognizable (outside of gaming circles) as D&D.

Quote from: tenbones;1021533I don't think D&D should be included in this conversation simply because it's so ridiculously obvious. Most people play D&D... so you know.

Agreed.

I was going to say CP2020, but it's just obvious that it's going to be D&D in some form. Probably 2nd Ed.