We've recently had some threads about writers/designers you adore or names you avoid like the plague.  I've read a lot of comments here along the lines of I wish the interior art had more to do with the game instead of stock images or characters in sweet poses.  Personally, one of my litmus tests is the character sheet.

Instead of all that, I'd like to talk about judging an RPG product by its cover.  Can you think of any cover art that got it right?  Maybe it wasn't fine art, but it successfully communicated what the game was all about.  Conversely, who screwed up?

GURPS Basic Set 3rd: Looking at it today, I don't find it quite as charming, but GURPS and I had a bad breakup.  When I first laid on eyes on it though I was compelled by the idea of one game that could let me be an army guy, wizard or space dude all in one book.

Necessary Evil: By the time I learned about Savage Worlds, there were more comprehensive supers supplements. When I saw this evocative cover for a full-blown setting book, I investigated that instead.  The Necessary Evil book, even if it was less comprehensive, included a cool setting where super-villains had to step up and repel an alien invasion.

D&D Rules Cyclopedia: A bit of a cop-out for me..maybe, since this is my favorite D&D.  However, I didn't know the book even existed when I found it while my older brothers were shopping for comics so the cover did its (understated) magic.  If it hadn't been for the cover I might still be trying to figure out how a 1e PHB fit with a 2e DMG and the D&D Basic Rules.

Got it right:

So, so wrong...

Holmes edition D&D was what introduced me to the game. The specific one I got was the monochromatic cover. It IS D&D.

The 1e Player's Handbook. No explanation needed.

One of my most favoritest covers ever.

Traveller's original box set has, as far as I'm concerned, the sole example of a text-only cover that evokes exactly what the game is.

HackMaster's original Player's Handbook was both a parody of the original AD&D PHB, but also a damned good piece of RPG art in its own right.

Quote from: Peregrin;424588One of my most favoritest covers ever.

Yeah, I dig on that one too.  I suppose every individual must have their favorite depiction of Cthulhu, but I find this one appropriately eerie.  What it doesn't do is really capture the game experience.  I doubt it matters for that demographic though.

Quote from: Soylent GreenSo, so wrong...

I didn't even believe that was real at first.  Way to suck.

A lot of D&D covers had a lasting impression on me, but Moonshae was the first one. At the time, I was just beginning to play D&D and I had no book of my own. This one, as cheesy as it is, really caught the attention of the young boy that I was.

Another one would be the Alternity core books. Once again, I was impress by them and got really curious about the game.

Quote from: winkingbishop;424591I didn't even believe that was real at first.  Way to suck.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I've got that book and even I don't believe its real.  It's shame because in actually fact it's not a bad supplement. But everytime I took it out we'd somehow always end up discussing just how bad the covers was for a good half hour.

Should I start a thread for my game covers?
Since I'm going to be needing a few more in the next two years?

I love this one, and Shadowrun1E (which I can't find a copy of)

I lusted after Runequest III for months as a kid, based almost solely on this cover. It just seemed so serious and grown-up and real!

Quote from: Tim;424609I lusted after Runequest III for months as a kid, based almost solely on this cover. It just seemed so serious and grown-up and real!

I love this cover. The characters seem wary, alone, and in a place that is very alien to them.

I love that cover too.

French cover of RuneQuest (scan really doesn't make it justice):



Hawkmoon cover:

Quote from: Cole;424613I love this cover. The characters seem wary, alone, and in a place that is very alien to them.

The back cover of the boxed set...erm...backed this feeling up: Riders (a caravan) lost in a windstorm in a desert. Or so I recall. My box disintegrated years ago.

Benoist, no offense, but that French RQ cover is an example of someone getting it very wrong. At least in my eyes.  

Quote from: Tim;424609I lusted after Runequest III for months as a kid, based almost solely on this cover. It just seemed so serious and grown-up and real!

Quote from: Tim;424623[...]
Benoist, no offense, but that French RQ cover is an example of someone getting it very wrong. At least in my eyes.  

I'd agree with both remarks (loved the RQ cover, never caved).  But then again, I'm a Yank and Ben is French.  So maybe someone got it absolutely right.  What do you say Ben, do the French dig on giant plumes as a rule?