GOD RULES: Player's Guide (5e) Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page

[ArcanistDragonborn]

To add my own 2 cents, I'm neutral on the technology of AI art myself, and I think the God Rules' usage of it is just fine in my book imo. Also, since we're talking about Thor, what Divine Rank is he again?

 

[Upper_Krust]

To add my own 2 cents, I'm neutral on the technology of AI art myself, and I think the God Rules' usage of it is just fine in my book imo. Also, since we're talking about Thor, what Divine Rank is he again?

I appreciate the support amigo.

Thor is an Intermediate God (Divine Rank 5) which is Challenge Rating 32...albeit my CR 32 is a bit tougher than other CR 30 official monsters. Thor is equivalent to 19 Epic Tier characters.

One of Thor's Divine Boons is called "Quod Damage" and increases Critical Hit multipliers by 2, to x4.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Personally, I would prefer a a version with no AI. Whether stretch goals make it viable to replace, or the pages become blank.

I heavily dislike AI “art”, so even a text-only version would be favorable for me.

The idea of a blank page version does not sit well with me so how about this idea: Artist Sketch Edition...?

I'll pay one of my artists to do a (relatively) quick pencil sketch in place of ALL the books art. It will end up looking like an artists sketch book.

That way the completely AI Free version will still be illustrated but not look like some Frankenstein's monster of a book.

 

[dave2008]

The idea of a blank page version does not sit well with me so how about this idea: Artist Sketch Edition...?

I'll pay one of my artists to do a (relatively) quick pencil sketch in place of ALL the books art. It will end up looking like an artists sketch book.

That way the completely AI Free version will still be illustrated but not look like some Frankenstein's monster of a book.

That is an interesting idea. Personally, as a bit of a sociological experiment, I would love to see how many people would buy the book with AI art just removed and blank spaces. Though I understand you are putting you name on product and not running an experiment!

 

[GreatestHonor]

The idea of a blank page version does not sit well with me so how about this idea: Artist Sketch Edition...?

I'll pay one of my artists to do a (relatively) quick pencil sketch in place of ALL the books art. It will end up looking like an artists sketch book.

That way the completely AI Free version will still be illustrated but not look like some Frankenstein's monster of a book.

I think that is a fantastic idea. Sketched pieces could add some nice variety.

I appreciate the time, effort, and capital you have invested into this project so far, and the mechanics and written content are still worth purchasing as far as I’m concerned. I sincerely hope this project goes well.

 

[Upper_Krust]

That is an interesting idea. Personally, as a bit of a sociological experiment, I would love to see how many people would by the book with AI art just removed and blank spaces. Though I understand you are putting you name on product and not running an experiment!

The idea of just having Blank pages in place of the art feels a bit silly to me. I understand you'd like to see what percentage would back the Blank Page version BUT isn't it more likely people strongly against the use of AI will more likely choose not to back the project at all, rather than back the AI Free version, even though...

• Multiple artists have already been paid lots of money
• Any AI art has (to different degrees) been re-painted by a real artist
• I'm fine with adding Stretch Goals to commission new art to replace uses of AI art.
• As to an AI Free version...

I mean I know GreatestHonor seems very keen on the Artist Sketch Edition version (I appreciate the support amigo) and I personally really like the idea myself. But the financial reality is that itself might even take £1000+ to get funded. So that might need to be baked into the Stretch Goals - which means if someone backs the Artist Sketch Edition and we don't reach that Stretch Goal and its not funded then what happens?

I suppose hypothetically I could set the Stretch Goal that at £10,000 (or whatever - haven't priced it out yet) I will get the Artist Sketch Edition made out of the Kickstarter funding myself and then I can have that for sale on Drivethrurpg AFTER the Kickstarter. However, my concern with that approach at this point would be what happens if only 5-10 people end up wanting the Artist Sketch Edition costing £1000 to create and recouping £150-300 profit.

I think for the moment at least - I'll go with Steampunkette's method of commissioning more art when certain Stretch Goals are hit. That seems the best approach.

Following is Steampunkette's Kickstarter stretch goals:

Stretch Goals!​

By far the most important, and requested, stretch goal is to replace, or compliment, all of the AI Art in this book. So that's what we're going to do.

• $2,500 Unlocks a full color cover-art commission. UNLOCKED!
• $4,500 Unlocks the Nedraz as a full color commission. UNLOCKED!
• $6,500 Unlocks the Imaginary Friend as a full color commission. UNLOCKED!
• $7,000 Unlocks the 7 Archetype Images as B&W commission. UNLOCKED!

For every $1,000 beyond that, we'll select another piece of art to commission until all 40 images in the book have a version drawn by an artist in the community.

And if we hit the $35,000 mark, we'll issue a second version of the book using exclusively hand-drawn art, and make the AI Art into a pack.

The most amazing thing I noticed from the Kickstarter was not the Stretch Goals but the $50 price tag for a 64 page book.

However, just concentrating on the Stretch Goals (which seem to be from a base of 100% AI art) I think if I take a similar approach and say every £1000 after £10,000 commission a new art piece (to replace a use of AI art, starting with the least re-painted).

Maybe if the Kickstarter somehow hit £25,000 (or something like that) an Artist Sketch Edition would be viable (now that I have considered the idea I sort of want to see it become reality)...But it seems a bit of a Catch 22...will people back a Kickstarter/Book that uses (some) AI art to fund a Version with no AI Art?

 

[Upper_Krust]

I think that is a fantastic idea. Sketched pieces could add some nice variety.

I love the idea of it, I am just not sure of a good way to implement it (see my previous post)...at least not yet.

I appreciate the time, effort, and capital you have invested into this project so far, and the mechanics and written content are still worth purchasing as far as I’m concerned. I sincerely hope this project goes well.

I appreciate the kind words amigo. The last thing I want to do is upset anyone, I just want to make the best book I can on a subject I am extremely passionate about and share that with people.

 

[dave2008]

The idea of just having Blank pages in place of the art feels a bit silly to me. I understand you'd like to see what percentage would back the Blank Page version BUT isn't it more likely people strongly against the use of AI will more likely choose not to back the project at all, rather than back the AI Free version, even though...

• Multiple artists have already been paid lots of money
• Any AI art has (to different degrees) been re-painted by a real artist
• I'm fine with adding Stretch Goals to commission new art to replace uses of AI art.
• As to an AI Free version...

I have no idea, that is why it would be interesting to me. If I wasn't clear, I am not suggesting you do this as a sociological experiment. I was just saying that I am interested in finding out what people would really do vs. what they say they would do. It was not advice on how to conduct your business!

 

[dave2008]

FYI, I found a KS project that uses AI images and is D&D 5e and god related:
Galactic Pantheon: Gods of the Future (5e)

A couple of thoughts:

1. I think they are lying. Based on the preview images I think all of that art is AI generated and, probably, only mildly edited in photoshop. To clarify, I think all of the images they are showing on the KS page are AI generated. What is included in the final book - i have no idea.
2. IMO, this style of AI image looks like it is made by a person more than the "glossy" style that it seems you have gone with.
3. I think #2 allows people to fool themselves that it is largely and artist work an not AI. They are wrong, this is 100% AI (IMO).
4. The KS AI disclosure is at the very bottom of the KS page. If I hadn't expected the art was AI generated, and was thus looking for a disclosure, I would have completely missed that it uses AI art.
5. This is a niche project that has earned almost $10,000 with 10 days to go. I think you can do better!

 

[Upper_Krust]

I have no idea, that is why it would be interesting to me. If I wasn't clear, I am not suggesting you do this as a sociological experiment. I was just saying that I am interested in finding out what people would really do vs. what they say they would do. It was not advice on how to conduct your business!

I know amigo - I'd be interested to know myself (if I wasn't the one having to plan it all out and pay for it).

For now I will adopt Steamunkette's solution and see what happens.