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(...)GameMastery Modules are 32-page, high-quality, full-color(...)
So that's what we can read at the Gamemastery column about the new modules to be released this year by Paizo.
Can anyone explain to me, why WotC doesn't manage to make 32-page modules in full-color, but only in this stupid b&w? I thought that with the Barrow of the Forgotten King-adventure WotC would change that, but nooooooo, again, black and white. Ok, the map had been color, but their adventures always look like fotocopies. I can remember the first three Eberron modules: great adventures, terrible design of the booklet and again, b&w!
Is it so hard to make this in full color? Paizo even prizes the full-color modules cheaper than WotC does with their mostly b&w ones...
Why should I ever buy a WotC module, when Paizo makes it that much better???
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BTW Dryder,
congrats for your work on Exag !!
Thanx, silenttimo! But the bulk of the work was done by F2K (farewell2kings). I was mainly responsible for Vile Addiction.
We did proofreading and checking for mistakes with the other authors regularly, and they all helped me a lot to straighten out my english, which is far from being correct...
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Thought I would chime in....
Paizo products seem to be geared towards gamers, with an eye for what gamers like.
WotC products seem to try to target a demographic and find ways to cut corners so as to maximize profit.
I am not saying that Paizo isn't out for the bucks also, they just have a higher standard and want gamers to get more for their buck, which tends to bring return customers.
WotC is a big corporation that probably loses touch with it's consumers in their attempts to hit certain marks in their quarterly review. They are relying on their almost monopolic stance. Everyone knows that second party d20 stuff is (with some notable exceptions) not very good.
That is the reason we don't have an Age of Worms Hardcover. WotC has control over what Paizo can do in regards to magazine content and doesn't want the competition as they really start producing adventure modules.
That's my 2.
FH
Part of this may be that black and white printing is cheaper than full color and one can expect a quicker deadline from an artist if the work is done in black and white, as well as a reduced fee. I don't mind it that much, especially in The Voyage of the Golden Dragon with Steve Prescott's great illustrations.
Another reason may be that a lot of WoTC's third party competitors in the module market are smaller companies that lack a huge budget, which leads THEM to using black and white artwork. So WoTC can get the most return on their investment if they cut out the more expensive color printing.
Paizo publishes two full color magazines each month at a very reasonable cost to the consumer, though. So maybe they have an advantage in that area of publishing or perhaps they just realize that in order to stand apart from the competition, a full color product just makes more sense.
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Thanx, silenttimo! But the bulk of the work was done by F2K (farewell2kings). I was mainly responsible for Vile Addiction.
We did proofreading and checking for mistakes with the other authors regularly, and they all helped me a lot to straighten out my english, which is far from being correct...
I meant that both the backdrop and the adventure seem very nice (and quite dark).
I didn't get that F2K had also worked on it !!
Good work to both of you.
It's very nice indeed to see that some players and so-called "lords of the board" have written adventures in Dungeon lately : Chris Wissel, F2K, Dryder and Lilith (IIRC).
Nice input from the Dungeon team...
We split the four parts of the project up as follows:
Dryder--Vile Addiction (Part One)
Steve Greer--Spawn of Sehan (Part Two)
Great Green God--Dread Pagoda.... (Part Three)
Yours truly--Exag Backdrop
Ashavan (Koldoon) was the project editor, who proofread and added/deleted parts and suggestions to all of the pieces. We couldn't have written the four pieces without him and his creative touch is present throughout. We all cross-checked each others work and suggested minor adjustments and ways to tie them all together.
The logistics were overwhelming at times. One day I had 68 e-mail messages waiting for me in regards to the project we were all working on. Somehow we pulled it out. It was great fun, and a great experience to work with these fine individuals, of whom I've only ever met Steve Greer face to face.
So this was truly a cooperative group effort. I am impressed. A cooperation is never easy to do, and cooperative creativity is quite a challenge. I tip my hat to all of you. (I did not get around reading it yet, but I will ASAP).
Stefan
...It's very nice indeed to see that some players and so-called "lords of the board" have written adventures in Dungeon lately : Chris Wissel, F2K, Dryder and Lilith (IIRC).
What? Where?
I haven't done anything for Dungeon (...yet...), but I do provide a cabbage garden for those afflicted with a rare strain of lycanthropy. :)
Your cabbage garden is the best thing on the 'net for me, Lilith. Remind me to commission some more artwork from you!!!
One thing I really don't understand is why colour became a standard. I perfer BW art in my RP supplements. Plus, it makes the books cheaper.
I reel the same way about hardcover as well. What a waste of resources that is. For core rulebooks yes, supplements no.
Can anyone explain to me, why WotC doesn't manage to make 32-page modules in full-color, but only in this stupid b&w?
To understand it, examine what modules are being produced in color versus the monochrome ones. Modules like the Expedition series or Paizo's SCAP are in color because they are known commodities. Because those modules are comprised of previously published material, the respective companies are relying on familiarity and good word of mouth to drive sales. General confidence in good sales permits them the luxury of making more of an investment in production costs. Contrast that against those titles in B&W which are sight-unseen until one is purchased and whose quality is essentially a gamble. Bare bones production is a tool to mitigate potential losses in profit should the thing turn out to be a dog.
Also a factor in presentation, is that Paizo can bank on its reputation for good adventure design; whereas WotC has a record for being erratic when it comes to the quality of their products. In that regard, the individual gamer will approach a WotC module with more caution, given their record, versus being far more assured of something with the Paizo logo on the cover...
Ah, but what about "Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde"? That was in full colour, and included poster maps, but there really wasn't anything about it to make it a known commodity. Likewise, "Red Hand of Doom" was in full-colour, and must have represented a huge risk, what with being the first non-setting module published in years.