One of the challenges for RPG publishers involves obtaining exciting artwork while sticking to a strict budget. For many, the solution is stock art. Stock art is non-exclusive art, a concept I define in more detail as part of another article (here). I’ve talked about stock art, RPG art in general, and how to customize stock art so it isn’t exactly the same as the original (here, here, and here). Looking at costs, contents, and what can be done with art in an RPG is an ongoing conversation. But what happens when a piece of stock artwork is so great, it’s used repeatedly and often?
The Polyhedral Knights asked that question on Facebook on 2022-06-23 about the cover to their RPG, Wasteland Sagas, currently on Kickstarter. The cover mock up utilizes Tithi Luadthong’s stock image sci-fi concept of the man with robotic arm standing on ruined buildings looking at sunset sky with digital art style, illustration painting. I’ve covered the amazingly talented Tithi Luadthong in several write ups because his artwork is captivating, inspiring, and competitively priced. For a modest fee, you can add evocative Tithi artwork to your book, instantly elevating its production values. To give an idea of how many times that’s been done, check out the list of credits he has at DriveThruRPG. Here are some of the projects that used this specific image as their cover:
I share these examples to illustrate the point that The Polyhedral Knights’ challenge isn’t a new one. During the UFO Press Kickstarter for Legacy: Life Among the Ruins 2nd Edition, the creator, Minerva McJanda, shared this thought on their cover:
With so much reuse, what’s the upside of using stock art? I asked Mickey Barfield of The Polyhedral Knights for his thoughts on the subject.
It’s a valid solution. Reusing artwork isn’t a problem. Renaissance art adorns products the world over. Marvel has licensed Todd McFarlane’s covers from Amazing Spider-Man #301 and #316 to every company with a printer. If I say, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, you know the photograph I’m thinking of (and the book, movie, song, and band). Just because a great picture is re-used doesn’t lessen a truth: Spellbinding artwork is spellbinding artwork. For that very reason, reusing this cover makes sense.
Circling back to The Polyhedral Knights question about switching out the cover for Wasteland Sagas? On Facebook, the response was a resounding keep the cover from their fans and boosters. Their core of gamers are interested in Wasteland Sagas no matter what cover wraps it. They came to game and The Polyhedral Knights plan to deliver.
Turning to the broader question about whether stock art should be re-used in RPGs or not, what do you think? Does it lessen your interest in a project? Or is great art great art and you don’t mind the cover so long as the game is fun?
Wasteland Sagas from The Polyhedral Knights
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“It has been brought to our attention that this cover [for Wasteland Sagas illustrated by Tithi Luadthong] has been used in a published Skirmish game and a failed Kickstarter drive for Starfinder. This piece of art is from Shutterstock. This means anyone who pays the fee can use it for publication. The fee was paid by us. We like our cover and wondered what is your thoughts? Do we continue to use it? Or do we switch to another cover? Keep in mind this is currently active on Kickstarter right now for us.”
The Polyhedral Knights asked that question on Facebook on 2022-06-23 about the cover to their RPG, Wasteland Sagas, currently on Kickstarter. The cover mock up utilizes Tithi Luadthong’s stock image sci-fi concept of the man with robotic arm standing on ruined buildings looking at sunset sky with digital art style, illustration painting. I’ve covered the amazingly talented Tithi Luadthong in several write ups because his artwork is captivating, inspiring, and competitively priced. For a modest fee, you can add evocative Tithi artwork to your book, instantly elevating its production values. To give an idea of how many times that’s been done, check out the list of credits he has at DriveThruRPG. Here are some of the projects that used this specific image as their cover:
- Legacy: Life Among the Ruins 2nd Edition from UFO Press. Originally, Tithi’s stock art was planned for the cover, but the image was replaced on the core book before publication. Tithi’s piece did appear as the cover of the Legacy: Life Among the Ruins 2nd Edition: Handout Sheets.
- Psionics Guide for Starfinder RPG from Dreamscarred Press, a Kickstarter that intended to use the image for its cover. As an aside, the campaign funded with a delivery date of 2018, but has not shipped the promised book as of this writing.
- Mutant Outpost Massacre from Crushpop Productions
- Lore & Legacy : L'écho éthérique n°17 from Empyreal Media Productions
- And, lately, Wasteland Sagas from The Polyhedral Knights
I share these examples to illustrate the point that The Polyhedral Knights’ challenge isn’t a new one. During the UFO Press Kickstarter for Legacy: Life Among the Ruins 2nd Edition, the creator, Minerva McJanda, shared this thought on their cover:
“A good amount of Tithi’s art for Legacy we licensed under a non-exclusive agreement, and it looks like a lot of other people have started licensing their art too. That’s why we changed the cover to a piece of their art we had the full and exclusive rights to!”
With so much reuse, what’s the upside of using stock art? I asked Mickey Barfield of The Polyhedral Knights for his thoughts on the subject.
“Our company is a small indie game company and like many, we work on a shoestring budget. We wish we could have the budget to hire out top illustrators to do exclusive art. Many consumers have no idea of the cost of production that goes into publishing a book. Between printer cost, art cost, shipping, and other various fees by the time the book is complete the producer is lucky to pay for a cheap meal. I got into doing this because I have a love for this industry and feel I have something to give to it. Sadly, I don’t have the budget that a big company has. Due to this, it forces small companies such as myself to get creative on how to cut corners and still produce a quality product. Let’s face it, the public judges by looks. As much as many do not admit it, you will see people pick up any product, such as a book, food, DVD, or whatever. If it doesn’t grab their eye, they will pass over it. To keep production costs at a reasonable level, stock art is chosen. [T]his will probably continue until a better solution is found.”
It’s a valid solution. Reusing artwork isn’t a problem. Renaissance art adorns products the world over. Marvel has licensed Todd McFarlane’s covers from Amazing Spider-Man #301 and #316 to every company with a printer. If I say, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, you know the photograph I’m thinking of (and the book, movie, song, and band). Just because a great picture is re-used doesn’t lessen a truth: Spellbinding artwork is spellbinding artwork. For that very reason, reusing this cover makes sense.
Circling back to The Polyhedral Knights question about switching out the cover for Wasteland Sagas? On Facebook, the response was a resounding keep the cover from their fans and boosters. Their core of gamers are interested in Wasteland Sagas no matter what cover wraps it. They came to game and The Polyhedral Knights plan to deliver.
Turning to the broader question about whether stock art should be re-used in RPGs or not, what do you think? Does it lessen your interest in a project? Or is great art great art and you don’t mind the cover so long as the game is fun?
Wasteland Sagas from The Polyhedral Knights
- End Date: Thu, July 21 2022 10:02 AM EDT.
- “Post Apocalypse tabletop roleplaying game”