Saturday, August 13, 2011

Prelim Mutant Future Rulebook Cover Discovered?

Hmmm...this is an interesting discovery. While Googling around for hidden Mutant Future gems, I came across a rulebook download at one of the many file-sharing sites. You can find the core rulebook (and earlier art-laden free versions) everyplace, but what caught my eye was the cover attached to the rulebook. I have grabbed it and posted it here for your review.

My first thought was that it was a custom fan-made cover. But there are a few details that a fan would not have used. First up -- the original Goblinoid Games logo appears at the bottom of the cover. An odd detail for a homebrew cover designer to add. But what got me curious was the title itself. The font used is very definately Metal Lord, which is the font used for the original cover's title as well as throughout the book. The font is rather obscure, and why would a fan go to the trouble of using the same font as the "official rules" rather than using something different? The artwork though appears to be from a Gamma world product, but I'll be darned if I can put my finger on it...

So my question is this: Is this the preliminary cover that appeared on the Mutant Future rules during the original playtesting? It would make sense if this were the "placeholder" cover used, as the artwork is obviously culled from another source, but indicative of the "feel" of the final rules. So if anyone can shed some light on this mystery, I'd be appreciative!

11 comments:

  1. The cover art is from the Second Edition Boxed Set.

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HdfNRuK8oqk/TVVHx4IpzhI/AAAAAAAAAb8/47RgBUsKXZE/s400/Gamma+World+2.jpg

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  2. I didn't see it in play-testing.

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  3. This is one of my alternate covers. I did this a while back and printed my own copy of Mutant Future with a cover I thought was more evocative of what it really represented.
    I've done this with other games as well, such as Swords & Wizardry, Labyrinth Lord, and Humanspace Empires.

    JM.

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  4. I can confirm that Goblinoid Games was not involved in making this cover. There was a mockup for playtest (never before revealed) but this was not it.

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  5. Ah, seems the mystery is solved then. Thanks for clearing this up everyone. Nice work John!

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  6. So John is there anyway you might post those custom covers that you made for those other games as well because this is a sweetheart of a cover! I know where it comes from but man is that cool! Thanks Sniderman for bringing this to our collective attentions!

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  7. I'll second Needle's request--let's see those alternate covers John! Also, Dan, any chance we'll see the official mock up?

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  8. Right now my access to the interwebs is intermittent at best, but when it becomes more regular and consistent, I'll see what I can do!

    JM

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