HYPERBOREA / Junky covers {art}

**Posted by Scalydemon** 7/30/2015 7:30 pm

If something has what you deem to be very lame/cruddy art for a cover - do you pretty much avoid buying it?
I don't like to think I am that superficial but sometimes I have found myself to be.

There was a ruleset that came out sort of recently, don't recall the name. CoC basically but using old school D&D type mechanics (If i recall correctly). The author had written some other stuff I admired - but - I hated the cover art and didn't buy it. I'm sure I missed out.

I have found myself doing that also for books and magazines.

Any other experiences or opinions?

**Posted by Chainsaw** 7/30/2015 8:10 pm

Scalydemon wrote:
If something has what you deem to be very lame/cruddy art for a cover - do you pretty much avoid buying it?

I don't like to think I am that superficial but sometimes I have found myself to be.

I hear you, man. Honestly, though, if I see a module or game with cover art that I really dislike, especially if it's not just weak, but of a style I don't like, I'll pass on the product. I wish I had the money to buy everything and the time to read it and judge it on its own merits, but I don't, so I look to the writer's art selection as an indicator of what to expect. I'll be the first to admit it's not a foolproof strategy, but I don't feel too bad about it.

Now, you know, commmercially published fiction's a little different because the writer might not be responsible for the cover art. I try not to judge a book by it's cover in these cases, but sometimes I do it anyway.

**Posted by Doctor_Rob** 8/13/2015 6:29 am

Scalydemon wrote:
There was a ruleset that came out sort of recently, don't recall the name. CoC basically but using old school D&D type mechanics (If i recall correctly). The author had written some other stuff I admired - but - I hated the cover art and didn't buy it. I'm sure I missed out

Now you've got me all curious. Any ideas at all as to what this product was called (or where you saw it)...?

Rob

**Posted by Scalydemon** 8/13/2015 8:12 am

Doctor_Rob wrote:
Scalydemon wrote:
There was a ruleset that came out sort of recently, don't recall the name. CoC basically but using old school D&D type mechanics (If i recall correctly). The author had written some other stuff I admired - but - I hated the cover art and didn't buy it. I'm sure I missed out

Now you've got me all curious. Any ideas at all as to what this product was called (or where you saw it)...?

Rob

Ok I found it https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1637945166/silent-legions-a-sandbox-horror-rpg

Also the (supposedly) upcoming issue #15 of Fight On! Falls into this category.

Note: I am not bagging on these artists. These particular pieces just aren't my thing

**Posted by Doctor_Rob** 8/20/2015 2:24 am

Scalydemon wrote:
Ok I found it https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1637945166/silent-legions-a-sandbox-horror-rpg

Thanks for the link.

Yes, this certainly does look an interesting game with real potential...

**Posted by Scalydemon** 8/26/2015 11:50 pm

Doctor_Rob wrote:
Scalydemon wrote:
Ok I found it https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1637945166/silent-legions-a-sandbox-horror-rpg
Thanks for the link.

Yes, this certainly does look an interesting game with real potential...

Let me know if you pick this up what you think of the rules etc. I may grab it at some point.

**Posted by Blackadder23** 8/27/2015 3:46 pm

Anything that resembles WotC or Pathfinder art will prevent me from buying a product.

If I'm lucky I can confine my reaction to just dry heaves.

**Posted by tomas** 8/28/2015 7:50 am

You want to see lousy cover art? Take a look at Fantasy Hero Complete. Simply stupid.

http://www.herogames.com/forums/store/product/508-fantasy-hero-complete-bookpdf/

**Posted by mabon5127** 8/28/2015 11:40 am

tomas wrote:
You want to see lousy cover art? Take a look at Fantasy Hero Complete. Simply stupid.

http://www.herogames.com/forums/store/product/508-fantasy-hero-complete-bookpdf/

Actually the art is rather good. Thematically its odd because it is a humorous cover vs the typical combat, monster, serious cover. However there are a lot of folks that share your opinion yet I wish I could draw that badly.

**Posted by gizmomathboy** 8/28/2015 12:56 pm

I think the examples given aren't that bad. The Fantasy Hero Complete one is well done, but I agree with mabon, it's thematically off. I don't think a subdued dragon is gonna be any sort of happy.