It being the 80s, there had to be ninjas, right? This is Games Workshop’s Land of Ninja (1987), their reprint of the Avalon Hill box set of the same name for RuneQuest.
Again, the biggest problem here is that there is little in the system the reflects the world of feudal Japan, and vice versa. RuneQuest works for Glorantha. It kind of works for the Avalon Hill Vikings box set. Ninja seems like a stretch, mostly because the magic systems figure so prominently in RQ and they feel so utterly unconnected to anything in Japanese culture, particularly the cult-based divine magic. The magic systems are there, and attempts have been made to reconcile them to Japanese culture, but it is not so much the focus of the game. Which, again, seems like a strange choice for a RuneQuest campaign setting.
Actually, Land of Ninja begins to make sense if you look at it less like a RuneQuest setting and more like a stealth reimagination of Fantasy Games Unlimited’s Bushido (1979). For starters, the first author of the book is Bob Charrette, who co-wrote and illustrated Bushido. Next, well, is everything else. The use of Ki to fuel special abilities, the focus on social and cultural obligations, the embrace of anachronism over historicity. This thing is Bushido with a candy RuneQuest coating.
It is easily the most cohesive of the Games Workshop RuneQuest books, owing to the strong theme of the text. I haven’t looked at my Avalon Hill copy of Land of Ninja in a long while, but I am reasonably sure all the art is new. Most of it is quite good. Many color pieces are by Richard Hook, who, like Angus McBride, did lots of work for Osprey’s military history books. The real star though is mystery man Colin Sullivan. I don’t have a ton of interest in ninjas when it comes down to it, but his paintings, which I gotta say, seem to visually anticipate Mortal Kombat in some strong ways, really make me buy in to a ninja-centric RPG. Love ‘em. If you know anything about Sullivan, let me know, I am dying to see more of his stuff.
Colin Sullivan is my uncle. He illustrated fantasy and science fiction covers in the 80s and early 90s. I am sure he would be chuffed reading[ your kind words ( If he had the internet he would ). *old school* . His artworks inspired me to become an illustrator. I remember him painting all these artworks. Massive influence on my creativity and direction.
Oh man, this is WILD. I love his stuff, though my favorite of his paintings is a White Dwarf cover that wound up re-used for Advanced RuneQuest, a couple posts earlier than this one. Why’d he hang up the brushes? Very cool that he set you on the path, though, and very interesting how different your style is!
Yes very different but both of us would have a similar technique of painting thousands of brushstrokes. lots of 000 brushes in attendance. .
Back in the 80s I remember lots of cover and interior arts for magazines. Personal Computer World in mid 80s I think of a Julie Andrews (Sound of Music) character running in the hills carrying a Spectrum 48k and a Commodore I think..something very similar.
He illustrated a lot of YA fantasy and mystery books and YA books on History ,Space, Science, and Myths
I hope you dont mind me adding links here to the various artworks I located online of his.Its a little tricky tracking them down.
These are a few of the game related book art I could find online.
Intergalactic Quest.
https://gamebooks.org/Series/209/Show
Front cover illustrations to all the books and a large part , almost all of the interior illustrations if I remember which I don’t think he was credited for.
Star Challenge series UK versions ( first 1-6 ) on this page.
https://www.boogleandbadgersemporium.co.uk/search?q=Christopher+Black+-+Star+Challenge
Way of the Tiger books 1-6 cover art 1985 https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9ToAAOSwU5hg~bUa/s-l1600.jpg
Aerosmith European Tour picture disc art 1989* https://i.etsystatic.com/27077652/r/il/a341f5/6271346911/il_1588xN.6271346911_fxua.jpg
which he started and finished it in a weekend and I remember he had it speed drying upside down in the living room with the fan heaters full blast .
-Spiders http://rvgfanatic.com/wordpress/index.php/spiders/
A Blackbird in Silver – 1986 https://vinylkitchen.co.nz/products/a-blackbird-in-silver-freda-warrington
Anackire – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anackire-Orbit-Books-Tanith-Lee/dp/0708881467
White Dwarf – https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1192100854/white-dwarf-issue-126-cover-framed-art
Lots others but tough to remember the titles.
cheers for the interest .:)