Another cover critique...

[jdrakeh]

Is that particular triskele important to your setting? You could always pick another one that is more recognizably bronze age

Well, for me, the triskel I'm using is plenty 'bronze age' (but more importantly, it's what ties this revision of the game to the first release). I've also incorporated the triskel in question into a chapter footer and the main map for the setting... so, yeah, it's fairly important. I guess it might be important to shed a bit of light on what Bronze is.

Unlike most fantasy roleplaying games, the rules in Bronze aren't focused on mechanically modelling a pre-existing reality (i.e., a setting defined and/or assumed by the author), but on providing players with the tools to organically define a setting in the vein of Swords & Sorcery fiction during actual play.

The setting contained in Bronze (Karthum) is very loosely defined, serving as a jumping-off point for players to expand upon. Fact is, a lot of players are really uncomfortable creating a setting from scratch during actual play (and I don't blame them - it's tough going).

In gamerese, Bronze falls somewhere between being a traditional roleplaying game and a shared authoring experience. Symbology is a big part of it, but not in the traditional sense. So given the optional and open status of the included setting, tying it specifically to the Aegean Bronze Age might not be necessary...

 

[MadMaxim]

jdrakeh, isn't the Bronze cover taken from the new Deathtrap Dungeon cover? Just wondering...

 

[jdrakeh]

jdrakeh, isn't the Bronze cover taken from the new Deathtrap Dungeon cover? Just wondering...

Actually, it was inspired by a piece of artwork used for that cover (apparently) that was posted to the web four or so years ago as fan art. I'm guessing that the publishers of the new FF adventures the found the original in the same place that I did and purchased the rights to use it.

I actually re-painted my own version of the fan art (which I used as a study), but seeing as how it has already been used as cover art by somebody else, I guess I should probably scrap it (as much as that sucks, I guess the painitng will still look cool on my wall). So thanks for calling my attention to that.

 

[MadMaxim]

I would just like to say that I'm not trying to stop you from using it or anything. I just immediately saw the similarities between the two and thought I'd better tell you. It looked nice by the way.

 

[jdrakeh]

I would just like to say that I'm not trying to stop you from using it or anything.

Oh, I know, but better safe than sorry. Anyhow, a bunch of my friends just got back from a three month contract in Mosul, so I have quite a few pictures of desert terrain to work with.

I just immediately saw the similarities between the two and thought I'd better tell you.

Again, I appreciate that.

It looked nice by the way.

Thanks.

 

[Jdvn1]

Dude, I think it looks awesome. I wish all my covers looked that exciting.

 

[jdrakeh]

I still need to smoothe out the title font a bit and firm up the outline of the city, but here's a rough mock-up og the replacement cover for Bronze...

Any more 'bronze age' than the previous (for those that saw it)? Also, I'm thinking about adding some stars to the sky - yea or nay?

 

[Jdvn1]

I would think it could stand to take tiny specks of stars. I'm not a big fan of the black-and-white anyway, though.

 

[Sejs]

Hmm. I'd say add stars, but make them faint. Note their presence, but leave the moon as the primary object of focus in the sky. The fortress seems a little bare. Anything that might be doable to spruce it up a tad? Either decoration, action, or people (sentries, etc)?


As it stands, it seems to suggest the book is a book on forts. A good base, it just needs to evolve a little. *nod*

 

[jdrakeh]

As it stands, it seems to suggest the book is a book on forts. A good base, it just needs to evolve a little. *nod*

The 'fort' is actually a photo of ancient Kasbah that my friend took on a layover in Morocco. On the cover I meant it to serve as representation of a walled city state. As for people on the battlement... at that distance, they'd be little more than little, black, flecks. So that's probably not practical. I might throw in a palm tree or something for scale, though. And possibly some lights in the windows. I'll take another look at it Friday.