Are you interested? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are you interested? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
sirfrancisdrake
11-02-05, 06:31 PM Hey Everyone,

I have a question for you DM's.

I was working on my current campaign and i was trying to figure out what an alchemist's shop would look like. Then i started thinking about what any shops looked like. There have been a few shops detailed on Wizard's site, but no pictures. So here is my pitch.

I am an RPG illustrator. My plan was to illustrate with cutaway cross sections as well as standard illustrations, a number of shops, taverns, temples and the like. I would also provide a proprietor completely statted, with a background, plot hooks, as well as a list of what the NPC might sell at the location. If the location was a tavern or something like it, frequent customers would be statted out as well and treated the same way as the proprietor; with plot hooks and such. Floorplans would also be provided.

Would this be something you would be interested in purchasing?
how much would you pay for 10 or so of these locations?
PDF or Book?
What places would you like to see done up in this manner?

My current plans are to do:
Alchemist's lab
tavern
Temple
Roadside Shrine
Inn
Wizard's Library
Constable's hut
Military Waypoint
Fortress
Village Blacksmith(makes simple tools and paraphernalia)
Armorer
Weaponsmaker
Bowyer/Fletcher

I felt in my own campaign it would be nice to have which is why i am making it. But i think it could come in handy, and make the game come alive a bit more. its cool if you can show your players a picture of the tavern they are drinking/fighting in!

Mike
Kesht
11-02-05, 07:20 PM I think most people will want to see an example of your work before they consider purchasing it.
PenderGrass
11-02-05, 07:39 PM I think most people will want to see an example of your work before they consider purchasing it.
He does list a site with some of his artwork available. Not to say that he knows how to draw dungeon-worthy diagrams just because he can draw a minotaur. But, it is there, for people to see (hint: look at the bottom of his post).

Kesht, shhhh.... I think you just missed a Spot Check. ;)

:dragon:
****
Kesht
11-02-05, 07:52 PM *holds up a thin sheet of lead before anyone can cast 'Detect Moron'*

Belkar is my cousin you know...
Kesht
11-02-05, 07:54 PM Just checked your site. Your art is very admirable. Far better than anything I could create. I say go for it! :D

*Puts more ranks in spot*
PenderGrass
11-02-05, 08:03 PM *holds up a thin sheet of lead before anyone can cast 'Detect Moron'*

Belkar is my cousin you know...
LOL

Your lack of height probably gave you negatives to your roll.

The one thing I thought when I saw this was - "wonder what the CoC says about pandering your art for cash?"

But, maybe you could be a generous soul and just share it with everyone instead of making them buy it?

Put them on Fixxxer's Site?

On your site?

Nah. Where's the fun (or cash) in that, right?

:dragon:
****
UmbraLux
11-02-05, 08:52 PM Would this be something you would be interested in purchasing?
Possibly. Much would depend on price, usability, expandability, etc.
how much would you pay for 10 or so of these locations?
Depends, is it just an artistic picture? (If so, I may want the oil painting! :) ) Does it have a text description? With NPCs? Adventure hooks?
PDF or Book?
If it's just a picture, how about a cardboard template on the one inch = 5 feet scale to put on a battlemap?
What places would you like to see done up in this manner?
Your list covers many areas of interest, you may want to consider scaling some for villages, towns, and cities.
sirfrancisdrake
11-02-05, 10:25 PM Possibly. Much would depend on price, usability, expandability, etc.

Depends, is it just an artistic picture? (If so, I may want the oil painting! :) ) Does it have a text description? With NPCs? Adventure hooks?

If it's just a picture, how about a cardboard template on the one inch = 5 feet scale to put on a battlemap?

Your list covers many areas of interest, you may want to consider scaling some for villages, towns, and cities.

Hey there,

1. I plan on this being very modular. So it is useful in any fantasy campaign.

2. its not just a picture. If you read my original post, i talk about including adventure hooks, NPC's(fully statted, with backgrounds), and a list of items you might find in the various shops.

3. The Cardboard template is an interesting option, not sure how to make it(unless its a pdf and you print it yourself which would be easy to do)

4. I do plan on scaling it up and down. Depending on what people want. Right now in my campaign the players are in villages and the like, but i can see myself detailing guild halls and such.

Thanks for your input! The stuff on my site is fairly old. If you have any doubts about my work, Ive done work for many RPG companies. Margaret Weis Productions, Green Ronin, and Fantasy Flight to name a few.
Its true that i have no examples on my site of the work in question, but it doesnt mean i cannot do it. To allay your fears ill work up a test piece in the next week and see what you guys think.

As for doing it for free, i'll probably release a few for free. But any professional deserves to be paid. Nobody asks the plumber to work for free:)

Mike
On_the_wings_of_TPK
11-02-05, 11:14 PM I would not pay anything for that. It may be your trade and how you make living, and it's well and good. I just happen to find it very enjoyable to do that myself. Now I'm not an RPG artist by any means! Nope, I really suck at arts. However, I am a creative writer at heart. Actually, the most enjoyable thing about DMing for me is fleshing out my locations and NPCs. I would never pay someone to that for me; it would be like paying someone to eat ice cream for me. As for the art, well, for that I have google-fu. And many, many talented artists who do their best work for love of the art.

I completely understand that others don't find this enjoyable, and they would gladly pay for such a product, but you wanted my honest opinion, so there it is.
sirfrancisdrake
11-02-05, 11:30 PM hey On the Wings,

I can completely understand your point, and i thank you for sharing it. these are things i need to hear before i start in earnest(for actual production that is).

What i am planning is a little different than your run of the mill illustration though. Ive always been a big fan of Cross Sections and cutaways, and so plan on doing these in that same vein. I know there arent many tavern cross sections etc on google.

Even though you wont buy it, what locations would you like to see treated in this manner?

Mike
KGodwin
11-03-05, 12:10 AM I would consider buying the models, if they were reasnoble priced. I could care less about the rest of it, the entire fun of DMing is building a world to use. =) At least for me. Of course, some 'generic' npcs are nice but I can get those for free from various web resources.
yellowdingo
11-03-05, 01:21 AM The bakery does Pastries, pies, pasties, biscuits, buns, and all manor of Holiday specific window displays.

milks, creams and cheeses. At this stage it is bacon, egg and cheese pies ready for cooking. these early pleasures of the bakery are pre sugar.
sugars provide you with confectionaries and candies and jam fills with fruits.
honey gives you crumbles, glazes, rocks, fudges
chocolates give you all manor of layers, rolls, bars, bonbons, fruit and nuts dipped in chocolate.

discoveries in what is food and what is not, occur during times of famine and desperation.
On_the_wings_of_TPK
11-03-05, 07:35 AM hey On the Wings,

Even though you wont buy it, what locations would you like to see treated in this manner?

Fair enough. Well right now I would be interested in art work of artifacts, and museim pieces, and maybe, not likely the museim. Also ancient ruins. I would also need probally an alchemists lab, and many variouse taverns. But as the need shall riase, so too will my googlefoo.

Sorry about the spelling, it is 6:37 am here, I'll fix it after work.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
sirfrancisdrake 11-02-05, 06:31 PM	Hey Everyone, I have a question for you DM's. I was working on my current campaign and i was trying to figure out what an alchemist's shop would look like. Then i started thinking about what any shops looked like. There have been a few shops detailed on Wizard's site, but no pictures. So here is my pitch. I am an RPG illustrator. My plan was to illustrate with cutaway cross sections as well as standard illustrations, a number of shops, taverns, temples and the like. I would also provide a proprietor completely statted, with a background, plot hooks, as well as a list of what the NPC might sell at the location. If the location was a tavern or something like it, frequent customers would be statted out as well and treated the same way as the proprietor; with plot hooks and such. Floorplans would also be provided. Would this be something you would be interested in purchasing? how much would you pay for 10 or so of these locations? PDF or Book? What places would you like to see done up in this manner? My current plans are to do: Alchemist's lab tavern Temple Roadside Shrine Inn Wizard's Library Constable's hut Military Waypoint Fortress Village Blacksmith(makes simple tools and paraphernalia) Armorer Weaponsmaker Bowyer/Fletcher I felt in my own campaign it would be nice to have which is why i am making it. But i think it could come in handy, and make the game come alive a bit more. its cool if you can show your players a picture of the tavern they are drinking/fighting in! Mike
Kesht 11-02-05, 07:20 PM	I think most people will want to see an example of your work before they consider purchasing it.
PenderGrass 11-02-05, 07:39 PM	I think most people will want to see an example of your work before they consider purchasing it. He does list a site with some of his artwork available. Not to say that he knows how to draw dungeon-worthy diagrams just because he can draw a minotaur. But, it is there, for people to see (hint: look at the bottom of his post). Kesht, shhhh.... I think you just missed a Spot Check. ;) :dragon: ****
Kesht 11-02-05, 07:52 PM	holds up a thin sheet of lead before anyone can cast 'Detect Moron' Belkar is my cousin you know...
Kesht 11-02-05, 07:54 PM	Just checked your site. Your art is very admirable. Far better than anything I could create. I say go for it! :D Puts more ranks in spot
PenderGrass 11-02-05, 08:03 PM	holds up a thin sheet of lead before anyone can cast 'Detect Moron' Belkar is my cousin you know... LOL Your lack of height probably gave you negatives to your roll. The one thing I thought when I saw this was - "wonder what the CoC says about pandering your art for cash?" But, maybe you could be a generous soul and just share it with everyone instead of making them buy it? Put them on Fixxxer's Site? On your site? Nah. Where's the fun (or cash) in that, right? :dragon: ****
UmbraLux 11-02-05, 08:52 PM	Would this be something you would be interested in purchasing? Possibly. Much would depend on price, usability, expandability, etc. how much would you pay for 10 or so of these locations? Depends, is it just an artistic picture? (If so, I may want the oil painting! :) ) Does it have a text description? With NPCs? Adventure hooks? PDF or Book? If it's just a picture, how about a cardboard template on the one inch = 5 feet scale to put on a battlemap? What places would you like to see done up in this manner? Your list covers many areas of interest, you may want to consider scaling some for villages, towns, and cities.
sirfrancisdrake 11-02-05, 10:25 PM	Possibly. Much would depend on price, usability, expandability, etc. Depends, is it just an artistic picture? (If so, I may want the oil painting! :) ) Does it have a text description? With NPCs? Adventure hooks? If it's just a picture, how about a cardboard template on the one inch = 5 feet scale to put on a battlemap? Your list covers many areas of interest, you may want to consider scaling some for villages, towns, and cities. Hey there, 1. I plan on this being very modular. So it is useful in any fantasy campaign. 2. its not just a picture. If you read my original post, i talk about including adventure hooks, NPC's(fully statted, with backgrounds), and a list of items you might find in the various shops. 3. The Cardboard template is an interesting option, not sure how to make it(unless its a pdf and you print it yourself which would be easy to do) 4. I do plan on scaling it up and down. Depending on what people want. Right now in my campaign the players are in villages and the like, but i can see myself detailing guild halls and such. Thanks for your input! The stuff on my site is fairly old. If you have any doubts about my work, Ive done work for many RPG companies. Margaret Weis Productions, Green Ronin, and Fantasy Flight to name a few. Its true that i have no examples on my site of the work in question, but it doesnt mean i cannot do it. To allay your fears ill work up a test piece in the next week and see what you guys think. As for doing it for free, i'll probably release a few for free. But any professional deserves to be paid. Nobody asks the plumber to work for free:) Mike
On_the_wings_of_TPK 11-02-05, 11:14 PM	I would not pay anything for that. It may be your trade and how you make living, and it's well and good. I just happen to find it very enjoyable to do that myself. Now I'm not an RPG artist by any means! Nope, I really suck at arts. However, I am a creative writer at heart. Actually, the most enjoyable thing about DMing for me is fleshing out my locations and NPCs. I would never pay someone to that for me; it would be like paying someone to eat ice cream for me. As for the art, well, for that I have google-fu. And many, many talented artists who do their best work for love of the art. I completely understand that others don't find this enjoyable, and they would gladly pay for such a product, but you wanted my honest opinion, so there it is.
sirfrancisdrake 11-02-05, 11:30 PM	hey On the Wings, I can completely understand your point, and i thank you for sharing it. these are things i need to hear before i start in earnest(for actual production that is). What i am planning is a little different than your run of the mill illustration though. Ive always been a big fan of Cross Sections and cutaways, and so plan on doing these in that same vein. I know there arent many tavern cross sections etc on google. Even though you wont buy it, what locations would you like to see treated in this manner? Mike
KGodwin 11-03-05, 12:10 AM	I would consider buying the models, if they were reasnoble priced. I could care less about the rest of it, the entire fun of DMing is building a world to use. =) At least for me. Of course, some 'generic' npcs are nice but I can get those for free from various web resources.
yellowdingo 11-03-05, 01:21 AM	The bakery does Pastries, pies, pasties, biscuits, buns, and all manor of Holiday specific window displays. milks, creams and cheeses. At this stage it is bacon, egg and cheese pies ready for cooking. these early pleasures of the bakery are pre sugar. sugars provide you with confectionaries and candies and jam fills with fruits. honey gives you crumbles, glazes, rocks, fudges chocolates give you all manor of layers, rolls, bars, bonbons, fruit and nuts dipped in chocolate. discoveries in what is food and what is not, occur during times of famine and desperation.
On_the_wings_of_TPK 11-03-05, 07:35 AM	hey On the Wings, Even though you wont buy it, what locations would you like to see treated in this manner? Fair enough. Well right now I would be interested in art work of artifacts, and museim pieces, and maybe, not likely the museim. Also ancient ruins. I would also need probally an alchemists lab, and many variouse taverns. But as the need shall riase, so too will my googlefoo. Sorry about the spelling, it is 6:37 am here, I'll fix it after work.