• JimLotFP
  • Lord of All Fevers and Plagues
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  • From: Helsinki, Finland
  • Registered: 2009-10-07
  • Posts: 613

Topic: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

I just received an excellent sketch from Laura Jalo for the Grinding Gear cover.

It has all the individual elements, yet the image as portrayed is more of an exaggeration impression of the location depicted within the adventure.

So far I've been pretty anal with the art in making sure that the illustration matches the written description. You don't want to know how many different sketches, with only the most minor variations, I made Laura do for the High Priest Temple in Death Frost Doom until I was happy...

But this drawing rocks, and would surely be a most eye-catching cover. But it doesn't match.

In your opinion, is this a problem?

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  • From: Helsinki, Finland
  • Registered: 2009-10-09
  • Posts: 20

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

I'm not sure what you mean by exaggeration impression. Could you elaborate a bit? I'm assuming it has something to do with artistic liberties taken which add to the style or mood, but detract from the functionality as described in the text? Anyway, kind of hard to comment on whether or not this is a problem without knowing what the illustration depicts in the first place.

Ah, well. I'll just wing it. Say its the picture of the main villain's palace. The text says there's a moot and drawbridge, but these are lacking from the picture. I'd still use the picture as reference material in my games. I'd just tell the player's "It looks like this, but there's a moot and drawbridge here." So, the answer would be no, I don't think what you're describing is really a problem at all.

Navdi's Website

  • JimLotFP
  • Lord of All Fevers and Plagues
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  • Registered: 2009-10-07
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Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

You know, things like "The pile of bodies is not nearly that massive in the module. And that building in the distance there should really be closer."

Everything is there, just not exactly in the right place or right amounts. big_smile But I think I'm going to go with it anyway. "Gee, we need to make the picture less exciting to match the situation exactly," is probably not a good policy for front covers.

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  • From: Helsinki, Finland
  • Registered: 2009-10-09
  • Posts: 20

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

JimLotFP wrote:

You know, things like "The pile of bodies is not nearly that massive in the module. And that building in the distance there should really be closer."

Everything is there, just not exactly in the right place or right amounts. big_smile But I think I'm going to go with it anyway. "Gee, we need to make the picture less exciting to match the situation exactly," is probably not a good policy for front covers.

If the picture is more exiting than the description in the module, why not just change the description to match the picture? wink

Anyways, the front cover is what sells the module. It should be as evocative as possible. Matching it up with the actual content is of secondary importance in my opinion. I still remember a lot of those old D&D modules specifically because of the covers.

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  • JimLotFP
  • Lord of All Fevers and Plagues
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  • Registered: 2009-10-07
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Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

Navdi wrote:

If the picture is more exiting than the description in the module, why not just change the description to match the picture? wink

It's literally the first thing PCs will see in the adventure. No need to make that over-the-top in the adventure, not to mention that many details besides appearance would have to change if the appearance changes. If the cover art showed the true state of affairs, nobody would ever reach the dungeon. smile

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  • From: Helsinki, Finland
  • Registered: 2009-10-09
  • Posts: 20

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

"So, guys... I'm having second thoughts about entering this dungeon. See that 20 foot high pile of bodies over there? I think those used to be adventurers." big_smile

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  • Registered: 2009-10-11
  • Posts: 2

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

I for one don't mind some exaggeration - I even sort of expect it. Sure, it's your adventure; you have the ultimate say - but IMHO allowing the artist some creative latitude shows a certain respect and humility for his or her (in this case her) imaginative contribution to the work. After all, isn't real art less about absolute fidelity to the subject and more about the artist's interpretation? I understand your concern - you don't want to create false expectations or evoke an atmosphere incongruous with your style - but judging by your positive feelings about the quality of the work I'd say go with it.

  • From: Corpus Christi, TX
  • Registered: 2009-10-13
  • Posts: 3

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

I think eye-catching is the most important thing, as long as you don't think the cover art egregiously misrepresents the product.

  • Registered: 2009-10-14
  • Posts: 54

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

I would consider such as artistic freedom on cover illustration, if I would take notice at all.

  • From: Tasmania, Australia
  • Registered: 2009-10-08
  • Posts: 8

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

I have no problems with it not being accurate.

  • JimLotFP
  • Lord of All Fevers and Plagues
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  • Registered: 2009-10-07
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Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

Good to hear, guys. smile

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  • Registered: 2009-10-09
  • Posts: 2

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

That kind of deviation I probably wouldn't even notice...

When what's depicted on the cover has nothing to do with the contents... that's where I have a problem.  The old 2E module "Murky Deep" and the Necromancer Games 3E adventure "Grey Citadel" are both violators of that.

  • JimLotFP
  • Lord of All Fevers and Plagues
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Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

http://lotfp.blogspot.com/2009/10/grind … dates.html

There's the cover art...

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  • From: Helsinki, Finland
  • Registered: 2009-10-09
  • Posts: 20

Re: Question to You Guys About Cover Art

Looks good. I'd crop a centimeter or two off all the sides to bring out the details a bit more, and place the Grinding Gear -text so that its an equal distance from the top and right side edges.

Is there going to be any other text on the front page? Say, "A dungeon adventure with a mean streak by James Edward Raggi IV" or "from the creator of Death Frost Doom", "by James Edward Raggi IV", "Lamentations of the Flame Princess", or some such, centered at the bottom of the page.

Last edited by Navdi (2009-10-25 13:38:03)

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