Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="MoogleEmpMog" data-source="post: 3697929" data-attributes="member: 22882">Actually, all he needs is a talented (not necessarily pro) graphic designer, at least one pro or semi-pro artist, and a sound business model.&nbsp; The only one of those that is all but guaranteed to cost him is the artist, although if he doesn't have a good grasp of design that will also get pricey.I've seen it said in design circles that most RPGs are heavily over-illustrated, and this rings true.&nbsp; One prolific artist or a small group with strong art direction (something the vast majority of even the glossiest RPGs lack) should be more than enough to illustrate an RPG release asked about here, which is to say a d20-derived one.The most important piece of art you'll ever need is the cover.&nbsp; If the cover isn't both extremely good and at least as original as the material within, you may as well pack up, production values-wise.If you have to make a production compromise, skimp on the hard back in favor of perfect binding and better quality paper (rough vs. glossy is more a matter of taste than it is of production values, but quality will out).&nbsp; Black and white interiors executed to a high standard and a really good full-color cover, rather than color throughout but a compromise in art quality.&nbsp; Better art rather than more.&nbsp; Sound design principles - make good use of white space, make the text readable.&nbsp; Clear but flavorful writing.Anyone who has the resources to seriously consider trying to get a printed product into stores, with all the production costs that entails, should have the understanding that you can dump money into your art and design budgets till the cows come home and not come close to the expense of printing and producing even the lowest quality products.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="MoogleEmpMog, post: 3697929, member: 22882"] Actually, all he needs is a talented (not necessarily pro) graphic designer, at least one pro or semi-pro artist, and a sound business model. The only one of those that is all but guaranteed to cost him is the artist, although if he doesn't have a good grasp of design that will also get pricey. I've seen it said in design circles that most RPGs are heavily [I]over[/I]-illustrated, and this rings true. One prolific artist or a small group with strong art direction (something the vast majority of even the glossiest RPGs lack) should be more than enough to illustrate an RPG release asked about here, which is to say a d20-derived one. The most important piece of art you'll ever need is the cover. If the cover isn't both extremely good and at least as original as the material within, you may as well pack up, production values-wise. If you have to make a production compromise, skimp on the hard back in favor of perfect binding and better quality paper (rough vs. glossy is more a matter of taste than it is of production values, but quality will out). Black and white interiors executed to a high standard and a really good full-color cover, rather than color throughout but a compromise in art quality. Better art rather than more. Sound design principles - make good use of white space, make the text readable. Clear but flavorful writing. Anyone who has the resources to seriously consider trying to get a printed product into stores, with all the production costs that entails, should have the understanding that you can dump money into your art and design budgets till the cows come home and not come close to the expense of printing and producing even the lowest quality products. [/QUOTE]

Verification