CONAN: Shadizar map debacle?

[GentleGiant]

Not to defend what happened, but I know that Clayton recently had some major health issues that were pretty severe and probably were a factor in what lead up to the incident. He is still a very talented artist regardless of what happened with Mongoose.

I'm certain you will see his work again in future projects down the road once he is able to get his self and his work back into top form should he want to do more cartography work. The key is being able to manage his workload properly so incidents like this never happen.

I don't think anyone is doubting Clayton's skills at doing marvelous maps.
I hope we get to see his work again, it would be a waste of a great talent for someone not to hire him again in the future.
Sure, it was a very, very stupid and unfortunate decision on his part, and I'm sure it has damaged his reputation quite a bit, but I also think he has learned a very valuable lesson and is going to do his utmost to assure future customers that this won't happen again.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I just don't understand why anybody would pull such a bone headed stunt. Did he think that no one would notice that he'd cribbed a map from a publicly accessible web ste? I certainly would not hire him at this point, and I supect that there are a fair number of people who would feel the same.

The Auld Grump

 

[Turjan]

I just don't understand why anybody would pull such a bone headed stunt. Did he think that no one would notice that he'd cribbed a map from a publicly accessible web ste? I certainly would not hire him at this point, and I supect that there are a fair number of people who would feel the same.

I cannot really understand that, either. Although the map in question is not a good fit for a city like Shadizar, it's a map that stands out in terms of recall value. It depicts a city in Thay, thus the somewhat funny layout of the city. I suppose that everyone who ever had a glimpse at the original TSR map or the WotC download will immediately recognize this peculiar map.

I also agree with your hiring comment. Threads like this show what kind of reputation damage an artist can cause for a company like Mongoose. For a new employer, it's hard to ignore that; except the publisher is short on cash, because I think the prices for maps by this artist will have gone down.

 

[Psion]

It appears that Mongoose has commissioned Ed Bourelle to do the replacement map. Anybody know his work?

Does anyone who has any exposure to d20 products not know his work?

(Until this post, I wouldn't have thought so.)

 

[Crothian]

Does anyone who has any exposure to d20 products not know his work?

(Until this post, I wouldn't have thought so.)

Not everyone pays attention to the cartographers. heck, the only reason I know the name is becasue other people kept hammering the name in threads saying how great he is. The name stuck and I started seeing it for myself.

 

[Psion]

Um, okay. I guess by time as a reviewer and ENnies judge are showing. But it only took looking at best cartographers in products by two or three different companies before a pattern started to show...

 

[Crothian]

Um, okay. I guess by time as a reviewer and ENnies judge are showing. But it only took looking at best cartographers in products by two or three different companies before a pattern started to show...

Right, but first you have to look. It took awhile before I really started paying attention to the credits of the book. Writers first, but then editors, illustrators, ect.

 

[Erik Mona]

I certainly would not hire him at this point, and I supect that there are a fair number of people who would feel the same.

I can think of at least one person who feels the same.

--Erik Mona

 

[Krieg]

I can think of at least one person who feels the same.

--Erik Mona

ROTFLMAO!

 

[Faraer]

The map the cartographer submitted is Dennis Kauth's Eltabbar map from Spellbound. Are we to think he surmised no one who bought Shadizar knew the Forgotten Realms?