Lords Of Olympus Without Interior Art?

RPGPundit · December 28, 2011, 01:40:29 PM

I want to know what people feel about the possibility that Lords of Olympus will be released as a no-interior-art "pre-release" edition, with the possible promise (if sales allow) of a full release with art later?

Would you buy it if that was the case? And if not, would you buy an actual edition with art?

RPGPundit

Rincewind1 · December 28, 2011, 01:52:52 PM

I'd rather just buy the art - release.

What about doing Anima/Inspectres' trick - release text - only pdf, and hard/soft cover edition with the art? I dunno how that worked out for Anima, but Inspectres printed copies sell rather well - even I've got one.

danbuter · December 28, 2011, 04:02:50 PM

I wouldn't pay for a no-art edition. I bet many others would be the same way. Considering just how much Greek art is public domain, it makes zero sense to not have art in the book.

Silverlion · December 28, 2011, 07:33:49 PM

I like art--but I'd rather a good layout, index, and a little quality art than a lot of art of marginal quality.

VectorSigma · December 28, 2011, 11:49:19 PM

I think it would come down to price point for me in the end.

No art and cheap? Sure, I'll go for it.

No art and just as expensive as a 'standard' book (or pdf), or nearly so? I'd likely pass, or wait for several reviews. Unless there were some kind of preview pdf to check out which won me over.

Obviously I'm not privy to behind-the-curtain, and I'm no publisher, but I must say I'm blown away by the idea that getting art for the game has been such a lingering hurdle. Shit, you could probably get donated art from people who would be happy with the publishing credit. (Would it be the best art ever? Maybe not, of course). This is, of course, a layman talking out of his ass.

I presume Brett (or the art director, or you, or some combination) has sat down and thought about "okay how many pieces of art do we really need to be 'just enough art'". A cover, frontispiece and opposite-chapter-headings, maybe? Call it one in color and less than a dozen black-and-white? Fuck it, do the cover as a graphic of a crumbling Doric pillar or or a mighty mountain or something, that's photoshoptastic and one less piece of art to commission or solicit.

Fuck, Pundit. I want this game, but I want it right. I wish I could help but all the artists I know are anime-types, and I know damn well that would not suit.

Someone's going to suggest Kickstarter before long, and that'll just make you cranky.

Rum Cove · December 29, 2011, 12:57:20 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;497976Would you buy it if that was the case? And if not, would you buy an actual edition with art?

I would never buy any RPG without art. It is just as important as the rules and text to setting the mood.

brettmb · December 29, 2011, 02:37:49 AM

OK. Here's the deal. The initial release will be PDF only as a pre-release with no art. It will be discounted from the final version, but as a pre-order of sorts, you will be entitled to a free PDF of the final version with art -- and also the print version at a discount.

Spinachcat · December 29, 2011, 03:21:22 AM

Even Mazes & Minotaurs had art.

Why not just Kickstart this mofo? It would raise the funds for real artwork and get the word out about your game. Advertising, PR and marketing are good things.

I probably wouldn't buy a RPG with zero art. Especially today with all the public domain art and ubercheap art on the web.

RPGPundit · December 29, 2011, 11:02:32 AM

So, does that change things? If you can get the no-art PDF soon, and doing so will let you get the art-filled PDF later for free plus a discount on the print edition?

RPGPundit

Rincewind1 · December 29, 2011, 11:06:44 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;498518So, does that change things? If you can get the no-art PDF soon, and doing so will let you get the art-filled PDF later for free plus a discount on the print edition?

RPGPundit

I'd probably buy that. It's pretty much a better version of pre - order bonus

.

VectorSigma · December 29, 2011, 02:09:53 PM

Yup, that's better.

Lawbag · December 29, 2011, 03:52:04 PM

@Pundit,

just curious why you are considering this?

I know you made a call a while back regarding artists - did it not work out, or have you still not finalised the art or layout?

RPGPundit · December 29, 2011, 05:11:24 PM

This isn't my decision, lawbag. I'm just the writer, Brett is in charge of everything to do with the publication, including questions about art. I'm willing to concede that he knows best what can work for Precis, and has far more experience in this than I do.

That said, combined with the delays in getting LoO to publication, this was something that I had some doubts about, so in what might be considered a fit of pique, I felt like some public consultation on this subforum might be a good idea.

As for the question of why this is under consideration, that's something Brett would have to answer, as to whether its been problems with artists, the costs of art, or just a plan to get some version of LoO out as soon as possible to make up for the delays.

RPGPundit

Lawbag · December 29, 2011, 05:40:17 PM

Im looking forward to seeing how this game works in conjunction with Amber. One of the key problems I feel with Amber is the lack of ability to transfer the "rules" of a diceless game to any other genre or a different style of game. Id find it impossible to run Amber in say a low fantasy/Harn type setting.

Consider the questions levelled at Brett instead then.

Rincewind1 · December 29, 2011, 05:44:53 PM

Quote from: Lawbag;498736Im looking forward to seeing how this game works in conjunction with Amber. One of the key problems I feel with Amber is the lack of ability to transfer the "rules" of a diceless game to any other genre or a different style of game. Id find it impossible to run Amber in say a low fantasy/Harn type setting.

Consider the questions levelled at Brett instead then.

I think you could generally run a game based on Amber's diceless with, for example, Black Company style toughened mercenaries who know each other from years of campaigning.