I know what I have paid in the past, what about you other designers?

Of course some of you do your own--does that count only for time spent?

For non-designers, does the cover art make a difference to your purchase choices?

Quote from: Silverlion;315403I know what I have paid in the past, what about you other designers?

Of course some of you do your own--does that count only for time spent?

For non-designers, does the cover art make a difference to your purchase choices?

Well, I pay myself, then bitch about how cheap I am. If I had someone else do my covers, how would people know to avoid my games?

-clash

Cover presentation is very important.   It's the first message to the reader.

Spycraft 1e doesn't have a great art cover, but it was evocative.  I am a sucker for Palladium covers.  Rifts UE and Nightbane had such WTF covers that I had to pick up the books.   As did WFRP 1e.  

I know its not PC to say it, but we are in a recession and that means there are good deals to be had out there.   There are probably very talented people who need cash and may have more time than money at the moment.

For Derelict Delvers, I wonder what the cover would be like if it was obviously the SciFi-ization of a classic D&D cover...say the Basic Red Book cover.

Quote from: Spinachcat;315572For Derelict Delvers, I wonder what the cover would be like if it was obviously the SciFi-ization of a classic D&D cover...say the Basic Red Book cover.

Hehe. I was looking for something a bit more pulpy. Yet I'll talk to the artist I've asked see what he thinks. I'm easy in that I like good art, and am willing to try different things.

Quote from: Silverlion;315606I was looking for something a bit more pulpy.

Pulpy is good.   Gotta have rayguns!

I've googled pulp covers before and there are some really good sites.

There's a collection of 'Amazing Stories' covers here that might provide inspiration.

Quote from: Silverlion;315403I know what I have paid in the past, what about you other designers?

No one has posted actual $ amounts yet so I figured I would throw some out there...

I had some quotes done up a year ago (or more) for something I was working on (and never got finished). I don't have them here (at the office) but I recall some. Of course it varied but I recall I had one or two as low as $200-$300 or so and some up in the $1,000-$1,500 range (color).

It also varied based on how complex (detailed) the cover was... so, a single character was not complex (and as such was less expensive)... a city or crowds of people was more complex (and so, more expensive).

I also recall that some smaller work like quarter-page illustrations were anywhere from $25-$50.

Quote from: Silverlion;315403For non-designers, does the cover art make a difference to your purchase choices?

Yes, absolutely. Should it? No, I know it shouldn't but I do admit it plays a huge factor with me (which is the reason I was looking to have cover art done by a professional as opposed to doing something myself).

---edit---

Oh, post #1 for me btw!  

Nice information Weem, welcome aboard our crazy place on the net.

I've had quotes usually between 300-500 with some as high as 1000, but it depends a lot on the artist and the composition as you said. Cover art also matters to me some. Albeit I like some designs better than others. I love Traveller's look without art, and the minimalist approach of some games like LUG's Star Trek (which showed a bit of the show without being overwhelming.)