Thanks for your input. I'm sorry you don't like it much, but I feel the need to address a couple of your points.
There are several factors that could make white and/or saturated colors appear too "intense" on your monitor, and I can't control them all. You identified a couple already. But, as an aside, I can confirm that the new map Morrus mentions is in all ways superior to the map I kludged together, based on the draft version I've seen. I don't know whether it will be any better for your eyes, though.
I do find deeply mystifying the suggestion that black text on a mottled/splotchy gray background* is superior to black text on a white page. The notion is quite outside my experience and runs counter to the conventional wisdom that colored or gray backgrounds make text harder to read for most people (difficulty in reading increases as the contrast between the background and the text goes down), especially people with imperfect eyesight, and moreso if there are splotches or variations in color in the background. The higher the contrast between text and paper, the more legible the text, as a general thing.
* The previews I was able to locate suggest to me this is the sort of thing you mean.
As to Privateer Press, according to the preview I located, the Iron Kingdoms Monsternomicon (at least) appears to have an entirely grayscale interior, so I'm unsure what you mean by Privateer's color scheme. Do you mean their product covers and website? I can't agree with the assertion that cribbing a color scheme from Privateer's products is "fair play to all." It's certainly not fair to Privateer, whose graphic designer(s) worked hard to create attractive and distinctive looks for their various product lines. In any case, Zeitgeist is *not* Iron Kingdoms, though of course they share some thematic similarities.
In short, I'm not shooting for an "Iron Kingdoms" look: I'm creating a "Zeitgeist" look. While it happens that I'm still trying desperately to squeeze in time to weigh my options and refine the layout I'll be using for the final books, covering up the white paper with a grungy or cloudy texture is not looking like something I'm likely to consider (unless of course I'm directed to). There are a few reasons for this, including (but not limited to) reduction in text legibility, as I mentioned, and ink expense for our customers who (plan to) print the Zeitgeist PDF pages on their home printers (and I plan to format the PDF such that some of the graphics can be "switched off" via layers).
In closing, I do find that it's true what they say about desktop publishing: you never hear about it unless someone dislikes it.
