RPG Moments of Awesome 5: Jody Lee’s cover for Runequest, Third Edition

[james_davis_nicoll]

Unable to purchase Chaosium’s RuneQuest outright, Avalon Hill instead licensed rights to publish a new edition of the game. Unfortunately, for various reasons the hoped for sales synergy between Chaosium’s established product and Avalon Hill’s market presence failed to pan out. Nevertheless, nobody could deny Jody Lee’s art for the Deluxe Runequest box was exquisite looking.

Jody Lee delivered arguably the best RPG cover of the era, using as her models Kate Elliott and Elliott’s husband.

Yes, it's true. My spouse & I were the cover models for Jody Lee's cover illo for 3rd edition Runequest pic.twitter.com/TzTrMb9l01

— Kate Elliott is working (@KateElliottSFF) September 20, 2017

Comments

[mindstalk]

That is a cool cover.

I had the booklets but not the box, so never saw that.

[catherineldf]

That is a great cover!

[leecetheartist]

I'm finding that playing RuneQuest on Roll20 during this interregnum very rewarding.

[dragoness_e]

I have that box set, though it is sadly tattered. The cover of "River of Cradles" (the Prax/Pavis supplement for RQ3), by the same artist, is also spectacular, as are the covers of "Shadows on the Borderlands", and "Sun County". (two more supplements for Praxian regions)

[ba_munronoe]

What year was this?

[james_davis_nicoll]

1984.

[ba_munronoe]

Early 80s? Good show, indeed.

[(Anonymous)]

Agreed. I loved that cover when I bought the boxed set, and still love it today 8-) There are so many little things it gets right, and so many big things it doesn't get wrong.

Riderius

[roseembolism]

That is indeed my favorite Runequest cover. Much better than the Chainmail bikini or hypno-boobs editions.

It also set a standard for practical women warrior outfits that's for the most part not been met.