Favorite AD&D and/or B/X Module Covers

[Snarf Zagyg]

This topic came up in a different thread, so I thought I'd start a different thread. For once, this won't be my typical long post. Instead, it's an invitation.

What are your favorite module covers from the early TSR era?

Rules: List your top 5 (in order to keep it manageable). Explain each pick. I'd say to keep it to 1986 and before, but exercise your judgment. Certainly keep it to TSR-era module covers. Thanks!

Here are mine. They are not in order, but I'd go with these-

UK1 Beyond the Crystal Cave

Yeah, no feet and almost no hands. I know ... the artist is hiding some issues. But still, this cover always drew me in to something more magical.


I3 Pharaoh

This was my original avatar. Simple and magical.


I6 Ravenloft.

There's a vampire.

S3 Barrier Peaks.

A cover that provided most parties for more questions than answers.


WG4 The Forgotten Temple of ---------

Everything, from the pale and sickly purple, to the disquieting evilness of the ersatz Georgia O'Keeffe, combined to make the experience of looking at this module the same as playing it.

 

[Maxperson]

Here is my list, also in no particular order.

It's got a lich on the cover about to extinguish two adventurers. What's not to love?

I've always loved old Egypt, so these modules really appealed to me. I love the ghostly Pharaoh and the pyramid.

A purple worm smashing up through a glass sea to attack a land ship?! The art is amazing.

This is one of my favorite modules of all time, and the cover is one of my favorites. A behir launching lightning at the party while grappling a PC(or hapless henchman) is goodness.

Mordenkainen is my favorite D&D wizard hands down. Seeing him on an awesome cover casting a spell with one hand and using a wand with the other is pure gold. Love this art.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

@Maxperson

I was so so so so so close to including Martek. I didn't want to put in two Desert modules though.

So good.

 

[Maxperson]

@Maxperson

I was so so so so so close to including Martek. I didn't want to put in two Desert modules though.

So good.

I initially had the same reservation and then was like, it's supposed to be 5 favorite covers and this is one, so in it goes!

 

[deganawida]

These covers are awesome! I so miss the late 1e/early 2e art style.

 

[James Gasik]

I have a real soft spot for these two:

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I have a real soft spot for these two:

Great covers, and excellent deep cuts!

That said, and I warn you ... I am going to put something in the spoilers tag because once you see it, you can't unsee it.

Spoiler

The giant metal man ... on DA3 ... on the right.

Squint at it for a while.

Some more.

Wait for it.

Is it Twiki's older brother? I'm not saying it is ... but I'm also not saying it's not.

 

[James Gasik]

Bidi, bidi, bidi! That's all, folks!

 

[David Howery]

not my fav supplement, but definitely my fav cover art.

 

[Yora]

Saga of the Shadow Lord looks amazing. Never read it, and have not heard it getting any praise, but I really like the cover.

 

[RealAlHazred]

I don't really have favorites, as I thought most of them were pretty good, but I will mention these:

 

[Mort]

Most of my favorites have been covered.

Though I've always been partial to Flame:

 

[Jacob Lewis]

Just about every Dragonlance module, but I'll narrow it down a bit.

 

[GuyBoy]

The first is just a classic for me. Simple yet full of action and redolent with so many memories as both DM and player.
The second (and I know you said TSR, but....) delivers a world to explore.

 

[James Gasik]

Does anyone mind if I expand this to include other module art?

 

[Mark Hope]

 

[RuinousPowers]

I love the action in this one.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I really like this cover. I'd probably replace the shrimp with something a little more scary though! Although in Elden Ring, these things be NASTY.

 

[overgeeked]

I1 - Dwellers of the Forbidden City.

I3 - Pharaoh.

Lankhmar - CA2 - Swords of Deceit.

N1 - Against the Cult of the Reptile God.

S3 - Expedition to the Barrier Peaks.

B3 - Palace of the Silver Princess [Green Cover].

CM1 - Test of the Warlords.

DA1 - Adventures in Blackmoor.

DA2 - Temple of the Frog.

ALQ3 - A Dozen and One Adventures.

Ruined Kingdoms.

 

[Voadam]

I do like a lot of Dragonlance cover art and Blues are my favorite so DL8 Dragons of War is up there. A great dragon and it is an active action scene. The dragon and the knight focused on each other while the tower explodes in the background is fantastic.

I found the blue-nosed hobgoblins and the fighting PC types very evocative in B1 Keep on the Borderlands. It might be the nostalgia and the formative impression of my first module but it still really works for me.

A2 Secret of the Slavers Stockade portrays very heavily armed PCs sneaking around a frontier fortress while the goblin soldiers try to hunt them down with a tracker boggle on a leash. I like the tension of the situation here. The mix of medieval elements and fantasy nonhumans here are also very D&D for me.

D1-D2 Descent Into the Depths of the Earth has a great D&D combat going on including inhuman foes with weird weapons. I love the cult statue of Blibdoolpoolp in the background eerily lit up and not clear whether it is a statue or not. A very dark pulp fantasy Lovecraftian feel here.

CA2 Swords of Deceit shows the Gods of Lankhmar, a bunch of liches emerging from their temples to wreak havoc in defense of the city at a horrible cost. A great detailed portrayal of Undead menaces that fits both D&D and Lankhmar. For D&D this suggests that they are coming your way, do you get out of the way and hide?