Cover Art: An Experiment

[Agamemnon]

Agamemnon here, and I thought I would drop something for your consideration.

As we're making the final passes on the beta, the subject of the cover has come up and been tossed around. While we haven't settled on something yet, we did have an unorthodox idea that did have a certain appeal. You can get into the reasoning behind it on Sword and Scoundrel (which, incidentally, is where most of my "what was he thinking" rants wind up), but I will leave it here for discussion as well.



Tell us what you think!

Do you like the faux-book look, or would you rather see a more traditional fantasy cover?

[hector]

I like it - it's fairly nice looking (at least on the screen, which is likely to be the only way I'll see it), and I think the simplicity works for it.

[EinBein]

Looks good! My first two impressions though that are entirely a matter of taste:

1. the font made me think of Pirates of the Caribbean. But I haven't compared it objectively yet.

2. the sword looks more late middle ages to me, what might not fit to the font.

Other than that, I like the style very much!

[Marras]

I am far from being an artist of any level but I think myself as a pretty visual guy. So, if I don't know much of the game before deciding to purchase it the cover means a lot to me. Same applies to cover of books, if I like the cover I might buy it even if I am not certain that I will like the book or not. Sadly, same applies vice verse and a bad cover might mean I don't notice the book. So, I agree that it is good advice to invest in the cover.

In the case of 'Bastards I will get it no matter how the cover looks. Fortunately this one looks great! I don't need conventional fighting scene as a cover. The game doesn't have an extensive default setting that might be good showpiece. As characters are assumed to be humans it's no use to show characters, either.

I can't comment much about font. It looks nice and you don't have to guess what it says, so it is good for me. The sword looks cool, too but it might be good to think what type of sword you use depending on the time period you want to promote. If you want to give musket era feel, I would test how a rapier would look like or even if you could include a musket pistol. Maybe cross the rapier and musket? Those tell that the game supports black powder weapons which is not given in most fantasy games.

[Arrow Odd]

Do you like the faux-book look, or would you rather see a more traditional fantasy cover?

I like the faux-book look. Simple and striking.

However, for good or ill, it immediately reminded me of the cover of Renaissance Deluxe (a BRP variant).

[higgins]

1. the font made me think of Pirates of the Caribbean. But I haven't compared it objectively yet.

Ummm... apparently you are correct on this. I mean, I love the first movie, but I had no idea.

Well, the positive side is that since we picked that font from some 30+ we considered, it turns out we have an eye for multi-million dollar franchises, right?

Right!?!?!?

[Marras]

Absolutely!

[Agamemnon]

1. the font made me think of Pirates of the Caribbean. But I haven't compared it objectively yet.

Ummm... apparently you are correct on this. I mean, I love the first movie, but I had no idea.

Well, the positive side is that since we picked that font from some 30+ we considered, it turns out we have an eye for multi-million dollar franchises, right?

Right!?!?!?

I did go back to make sure it was a similar font, and not an actual copy of the font. The ..missing bits are in different pieces, and there are some other minor differences. We double-checked that the font we were using is fine for commercial use, etc. So that's kind of a big deal for us. heh.

Honestly, I don't mind the association too much. A swashbuckler feel to the font can only help advertise what the game is.

As for the sword, I've considered changing it, but I can't decided to what. As it stands, the sword we have there is a nice almost iconic image. You look at it and know immediately what it is, and it brings to mind a whole swath of eras. Adding a more period specific sword may help sell our exact setting idea, but it is also more limiting. I think the big thing would be finding a good sword to use from the renaissance, as most are either asymmetrical, or ornate to such a degree that it won't work with the silhouette art style. Any kind of basket-hilt sword there would wind up looking like a particularly dainty-handled mace. I'm definitely open to suggestions though.

[Siggi]

I like the faux-book look too! And I'd rather make it even more faux-book'ish. The color of the text seems to bright to my liking. Such shiny yellow looks vivid, yet somewhat unrealistic - there are no such real life books out there (and if there are - they have quite different background).

So, I would either change the background a bit, leaving the bright shining letters, or leave the background and make the letters look like they're actually printed. Make it look like a real old and tattered book with bloody stains and all.

Another point: the font of the subtitle is distinctly different from the font of the title. Maybe (just maybe!) something should be done about that.

Finally, try to play around with the sword. This one is fine, but I imagine that a french-style rapier would probably look good too. Instead of making just one bright sword, consider putting there silhouettes of many different blades ("You cannot have too many knives"!). Let the readers see that the book (and the game) is about blades and making use of many different blades (the book is about much more than that, but that's one of the points, as far as I can tell).

Kick your illustrator gently, let him make several drafts - then choose the best one. Maybe, this cover is the one, maybe not. Hope, that's helpful.

[higgins]

Such shiny yellow looks vivid, yet somewhat unrealistic - there are no such real life books out there (and if there are - they have quite different background).

Really? I thought using gold leaf and gilded text for book decorations was quite common throughout history, and I always figured that's what Agamemnon was going for here.

Finally, try to play around with the sword.

We will!

Kick your illustrator gently, let him make several drafts - then choose the best one.

Despite Agamemnon's humble presentation, this ain't the first draft. Not by far.

[Siggi]

I thought using gold leaf and gilded text for book decorations was quite common throughout history, and I always figured that's what Agamemnon was going for here.

Well, it's, probably, my lack of knowledge on the subject. I really can't remember seeing such books around, - maybe I was hanging out in the wrong bookstores. So, never mind that comment.

[higgins]

Take a look at the first Holy Bible you come across.

[hector]

Take a look at the first Holy Bible you come across.

Well, the first old fashioned, leather bound one at least .

[higgins]

Well, the first old fashioned, leather bound one at least .

Yes, that would be the best. Although I've seen gilded letters on most newer ones as well.

[EinBein]

I like the version as it is. It's not entirely "realistic" (no blood on the letters) but it's artsy anyways and does fit the theme!