PUBLISHERS: Cover Credit?
- Thread starter Erik Mona
- Start date
Orcus
First Post
I think Mike is being a little humble. I personally have my attention drawn to a product that has his name on it.
At Necro we put the primary author's name on the front (unless it is truly written by a team, which is rare). Mike, for example, is on the front of Durgham's Folly; Lance is on What Evil Lurks and Patrick is on Rainbow Mage. Just like Bill Kenower will be on Larin Karr.
I think authors deserve to have their name on the cover. I know I love putting my name on the cover.
Clark
At Necro we put the primary author's name on the front (unless it is truly written by a team, which is rare). Mike, for example, is on the front of Durgham's Folly; Lance is on What Evil Lurks and Patrick is on Rainbow Mage. Just like Bill Kenower will be on Larin Karr.
I think authors deserve to have their name on the cover. I know I love putting my name on the cover.
Clark
2WS-Steve
First Post
I'd agree with the demon lord there Mike; I've picked up products because I saw your name on it. Also, I never would have purchased Hero Wars or Dying Earth if I didn't know Robin Laws wrote them.
On a side note; I notice that most of my favorite books have either single writer or team of writers that I assume worked in fairly close communication with each other (such as Godlike and Delta Green).
On a side note; I notice that most of my favorite books have either single writer or team of writers that I assume worked in fairly close communication with each other (such as Godlike and Delta Green).
Morrus said:Maybe they've got silly names?
Well, not everyone can have a porn star's name, Russell Morrissey
MEG Hal
First Post
Hi Erik,
Both of our products have the cover art credits on the title page...Paul Chapman did the cover art for Bluffside: City on the Edge. It is listed, sorry if it was hard to find, we like to promote our freelancers, and we did miss a few and that will be corrected when we finish our errata page. Thanks for buying our stuff!
Both of our products have the cover art credits on the title page...Paul Chapman did the cover art for Bluffside: City on the Edge. It is listed, sorry if it was hard to find, we like to promote our freelancers, and we did miss a few and that will be corrected when we finish our errata page. Thanks for buying our stuff!
der_kluge
Adventurer
As a nobody freelancer, I would be amazingly surprised if anyone paid any attention to anything that said "curtis bennett" on the cover. 99.99999% of all gamers would read it and go "who?"
And, call me a "scab", but I already have a full time job that pays quite well, so writing for me is strictly a hobby, and something I can brag to my friends to say "I've been published". I'm not doing it for the money, or the name recognition.
Although, the money is going to pay for my computer so I can play NWN when it comes out, but that's a different topic.
And, call me a "scab", but I already have a full time job that pays quite well, so writing for me is strictly a hobby, and something I can brag to my friends to say "I've been published". I'm not doing it for the money, or the name recognition.
Although, the money is going to pay for my computer so I can play NWN when it comes out, but that's a different topic.
Kid Charlemagne
I am the Very Model of a Modern Moderator
I think that cover credit is very important; I also am a "Danceyist" (did I just invent a new term?) where it applies to pricing of product and freelance compensation.
One thing that seems a likely outgrowth of the D20 market is that smart consumers will start paying much more attention to the names on the cover. I think we'll see the development of "star" authors, who will be recognizable names to the general RPG public, creating their own brand, essentially.
People will be able to predict the quality of a product based on the authors name, much like we can predict the quality of a film based on if it was directed by a Cameron, a Raimi, a Lucas, or Scorcese. We'll also have a good idea if the product will fit in our game as we get more familiar with the author's style, and associate it with the author, and not the publisher or the rule set. Just like we know what a Scorcese film is like, regardless of whether MGM or Paramount releases it.
We've already seen it with Monte Cook, obviously Gary Gygax falls in this category, and there's a whole stream of quality guys who keep getting good reviews and putting out good product who could become stars: Mike Mearls, Kevin Kulp, and so on. Sean K. Reynolds will be one, if and when he puts out some freelance D20 products.
Eventually, those "star" performers will be able to pull down larger dollar amounts, or will form their own boutique companies (like Monte did with Malhavoc) and gain more control over their product, possibly also leading to more earnings.
In order to do this, those people have to market themselves as well as their product, to a certain extent.
One thing that seems a likely outgrowth of the D20 market is that smart consumers will start paying much more attention to the names on the cover. I think we'll see the development of "star" authors, who will be recognizable names to the general RPG public, creating their own brand, essentially.
People will be able to predict the quality of a product based on the authors name, much like we can predict the quality of a film based on if it was directed by a Cameron, a Raimi, a Lucas, or Scorcese. We'll also have a good idea if the product will fit in our game as we get more familiar with the author's style, and associate it with the author, and not the publisher or the rule set. Just like we know what a Scorcese film is like, regardless of whether MGM or Paramount releases it.
We've already seen it with Monte Cook, obviously Gary Gygax falls in this category, and there's a whole stream of quality guys who keep getting good reviews and putting out good product who could become stars: Mike Mearls, Kevin Kulp, and so on. Sean K. Reynolds will be one, if and when he puts out some freelance D20 products.
Eventually, those "star" performers will be able to pull down larger dollar amounts, or will form their own boutique companies (like Monte did with Malhavoc) and gain more control over their product, possibly also leading to more earnings.
In order to do this, those people have to market themselves as well as their product, to a certain extent.
Wil,
I consider a magazine like a "team-written" book. That said, I have often wondered if I should put the designer of the Polyhedron mini-game on the associated cover of the magazine. It may happen one of these days. In fact, it'll probably happen with the next issue.
I'm frankly shocked by Mike Mearls's humility. I think, at least among EN World readers, that his name, along with Kevin Kulp's, is CERTAINLY taken into account by purchasers. It astonishes me that the most prolific freelancer in the d20 industry doesn't care about people knowing who he is.
But it's been an astonishing week.
--Erik
I consider a magazine like a "team-written" book. That said, I have often wondered if I should put the designer of the Polyhedron mini-game on the associated cover of the magazine. It may happen one of these days. In fact, it'll probably happen with the next issue.
I'm frankly shocked by Mike Mearls's humility. I think, at least among EN World readers, that his name, along with Kevin Kulp's, is CERTAINLY taken into account by purchasers. It astonishes me that the most prolific freelancer in the d20 industry doesn't care about people knowing who he is.
But it's been an astonishing week.
--Erik
Wulf Ratbane
Adventurer
I had taken Mike's comments to mean that he hadn't seen any difference in recognition between having his name on the cover or inside. I thought he was saying folks recognized his works regardless of where his by-line appeared.
At any rate, at the end of the day Mike's 'customer' is the publisher. As long as they value his name, great. If the publisher thinks Joe Player values the Mike Mearls by-line as well, it behooves the publisher to put it front and center.
Wulf
At any rate, at the end of the day Mike's 'customer' is the publisher. As long as they value his name, great. If the publisher thinks Joe Player values the Mike Mearls by-line as well, it behooves the publisher to put it front and center.
Wulf
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