Has there been any feedback that this is a good thing? No doubt there's someone somewhere who would be dismayed to be forced to look at the covers with a title and author included, but to me reprinting just the artwork at the end is a wasted page - it's particularly disappointing when it happens in modules since the back cover is such a perfect place for maps. (And there are times when the module is light on in various details, no doubt due to space constraints).
I would like to ask you to at least consider dropping this practise in preference to a whole page of added content in all the various product lines you produce.
Cheers
Steve
Hm... that page could indeed be put to better use. Put some sort of cheat sheet there. Cliff notes, if you like.
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Has there been any feedback that this is a good thing? No doubt there's someone somewhere who would be dismayed to be forced to look at the covers with a title and author included, but to me reprinting just the artwork at the end is a wasted page - it's particularly disappointing when it happens in modules since the back cover is such a perfect place for maps. (And there are times when the module is light on in various details, no doubt due to space constraints).
I would like to ask you to at least consider dropping this practise in preference to a whole page of added content in all the various product lines you produce.
Cheers
Steve
Not at home, so can't check, but isn't chronicles the only one that does this? I enjoy having the art without the words, and they pay for it to be full page size, so it should be full page size. I think that James wrote out a long post about the various inside covers in one of the AP forums about 6 months ago, and how/why it was done the way it is.
I like it the way it is, but can see both sides.
I actually like when the cover art is used for the inside cover in pale tones. I always liked that.
Put me in with the likes-the-cover-reproduced-without-logos-and-stuff crowd. Heck, if I had the money I'd buy a second copy of the Qadira Companion just so I could cut out the cover-image and put it up on the wall.
Creative Director
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1) We spend a LOT of money on the cover art, and it's kind of a shame we have to cover parts of it with logos and stuff. Reprinting it on the inside back cover's a great way to show off the art in all of its glory.
2) The request for this type of full page reproduction of the art is something we started doing a LONG time ago due to huge customer demand.
3) The inside covers are one of the more complicated elements we do, and being able to fill one with something that has zero impact on design/development/editorial is actually pretty huge.
4) Reprinting the cover on the inside back cover is part of the trade dress for the Pathfinder Campaign Setting and Player's Guide lines. We'll normally use that area for maps in the modules and for other content in the AP line.
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Personally, I don't find that paizo products are severely lacking in information. While I agree using the inside back page for something else is useful, I also happen to like the inside back cover used for the unruined cover art.
I do remember a long time ago when there is much request for the cover to be printed uncluttered...
1) We spend a LOT of money on the cover art, and it's kind of a shame we have to cover parts of it with logos and stuff. Reprinting it on the inside back cover's a great way to show off the art in all of its glory.
2) The request for this type of full page reproduction of the art is something we started doing a LONG time ago due to huge customer demand.
Cheers. I can't understand it, but at least knowing that means I won't hold my breath.
3) The inside covers are one of the more complicated elements we do, and being able to fill one with something that has zero impact on design/development/editorial is actually pretty huge.
Fair enough.
4) Reprinting the cover on the inside back cover is part of the trade dress for the Pathfinder Campaign Setting and Player's Guide lines. We'll normally use that area for maps in the modules and for other content in the AP line.
I've never noticed it in the AP line and the modules line is where it particularly bugs me (mainly because I really like having the 'main maps' on the inside of the covers for ease of reference).
One example where I found it frustrating was in Crypt of the Everflame where the module omitted various salient points (like mentioning stairs in room descriptions, where keys to certain doors were and that kind of thing). All easy to come up with or to work out "what they meant", but it would have been nice not to have to.
Thanks for clarifying the reason, anyhow.
I love the clutter free reprint of the front page art! I'm a hugely visual guy, so art is very important to my enjoyment of any given material.
Didn't you start doing this all the way back with Dragon Magazine, exactly because people wanted to see the cover art without all the text and logos?
Anyway, I'd just like to chime in to support your decision to continue this practice. :-)
Being an artist myself, I love the reprinted and untainted cover art. The art of the covers are magnificent, and I enjoy seeing them as they should be seen.
In my mind, there's nothing wrong with more artwork, on the back cover or otherwise. Professionally-printed artwork is something that adds value to a physical book above and beyond the value of the corresponding PDF.
Whilst I don't share people's enthusiasm, I hope it's clear I wasn't saying 'artwork is valueless' I was saying 'repeated artwork is not as valuable as more adventure/supplement content'.
I'm not trying to persuade anyone, I wasn't here for the previous discussions (James gave a pretty clear explanation as to the why behind the decision and the fact the modules examples were more abberation than policy cheered me up somewhat). I didn't fully appreciate the number of people who enjoy superior versions (yet duplicates) of pictures in an RPG supplement in preference to more content.
No worries. I merely meant to say that artwork gives me a strong reason to purchase a product as book instead of a PDF.In my mind, there's nothing wrong with more artwork, on the back cover or otherwise. Professionally-printed artwork is something that adds value to a physical book above and beyond the value of the corresponding PDF.Whilst I don't share people's enthusiasm, I hope it's clear I wasn't saying 'artwork is valueless' I was saying 'repeated artwork is not as valuable as more adventure/supplement content'.
To be honest, art has always seemed a bit 'meh' to me. However, I've recently gone from a 'buy everything' kind of gamer to a 'buy everything Paizo and WotC produce' and I'm beginning to think that's largely due to the high production qualities. Other third party products just don't excite me as much and I suspect it's in large part due to the superior artwork.
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I suppose I'd like to qualify my earlier statement. If the extra space is needed for a bit more crunch or fluff that would improve the supplement, definately use the inside cover for the extra info. But when you find yourself with that one extra page to fill, a clean version of the cover artwork is almost always a great idea.
