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"Are you a sucker for fancy cover pages in rulesets?" Topic


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No longer interested07 May 2019 4:02 a.m. PST

Hi.

A lot of years ago most rulesets and magazines were rather simple. The cover pages were usually dull and unattractive.

Now, the rulesets have very nice, elegant and attractive cover pages showing nice images of games with finely painted minis.

When I see any of these rulesets I find myself looking into its pages, and if the rules seems interesting enough I usually buy them (and many times I regret that decision).

Do you find yourselves in the same situation?.

PzGeneral07 May 2019 4:11 a.m. PST

Yup.

Ooohhh…shiny…..

redbanner414507 May 2019 4:35 a.m. PST

I'm just a sucker for new rule sets; it doesn't matter how pretty they are.

rustymusket07 May 2019 4:42 a.m. PST

Oh, yeah. Unfortunately. That is how I judge, initially, how good a rule set is: by it's cover. Pretty pictures of minis inside is even better.

irishserb07 May 2019 4:49 a.m. PST

No, I'm offended by gimmicks.

Soaring Soren07 May 2019 4:56 a.m. PST

If the cover looks like it was done by a teenager in a high school vocational arts class, then I usually pass on the rules.

Personal logo x42brown Supporting Member of TMP07 May 2019 4:56 a.m. PST

No

x42

Joes Shop Supporting Member of TMP07 May 2019 5:13 a.m. PST

No

Jcfrog07 May 2019 5:43 a.m. PST

No.
It does not hurt of course but the inside, the rules, the scales and design ( I love to understand and know what the designer wanted to do, how and why). Now that I am always away from shops, shows et all, a rule set without aar, reviews ( and not the page number, pics but actual play) and if possible design explaination, no go, no buying.

Vigilant07 May 2019 5:46 a.m. PST

Might make me look, but wouldn't make me buy.

14th NJ Vol07 May 2019 5:47 a.m. PST

Yyyyeeeeesssssss, oooohhhhhhhh. I'm all right now.

M1Fanboy07 May 2019 6:03 a.m. PST

I feel it never hurts from a marketing standpoint. That said, the contents should match the cover for quality!

robert piepenbrink Supporting Member of TMP07 May 2019 6:15 a.m. PST

Nah. By the time they're worrying about cover art, the rules are usually too long for me. Also I've seen too many attractive but unplayable projects.

Aethelflaeda was framed07 May 2019 6:15 a.m. PST

No, I usually by the rules on line as PDFs, after playing at a con and I don't print the covers. I have bought rules not even seeing the covers. That said, I appreciate good artwork but it's not the deciding reason I buy rules

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP In the TMP Dawghouse07 May 2019 6:44 a.m. PST

Presentation does generally influence sales … And most do like "Purdy Pitchers" … evil grin

USAFpilot07 May 2019 6:58 a.m. PST

One of the things I learned working on an Air Force staff is that you could have the best plan in the world, but if it is written on toilet paper no one will even look at it. But if you have a nice PowerPoint presentation, even if it is a crap plan, then that is acceptable. Unfortunately that is life and many people judge by the cover.

Old Contemptibles07 May 2019 7:12 a.m. PST

No I am not.

Dynaman878907 May 2019 7:14 a.m. PST

No – and not for fancy interiors either. Two of my favorite sets are Black and White interiors with line illustrations.

Green Tiger07 May 2019 7:36 a.m. PST

No – really not – nor magazines neither…

Jcfrog07 May 2019 7:36 a.m. PST

Yes USaF, unfortunatelly it does even unconsciously influence. If only by attracting the eye, or standing out.
But as I said it depends why and how you buy. If you are in front of Dave Ryan's stand in a rush, or thinking slowly in front of the computer.

Martin Rapier07 May 2019 8:32 a.m. PST

No. It is usually just an excuse with triple the price and pad it out with a load of irrelevant material.

Personal logo Flashman14 Supporting Member of TMP07 May 2019 9:16 a.m. PST

Snazzy art designs make good rules all the better (Black Powder, SAGA, British Grenadier, most of the now abundant Osprey offerings).

Note that not all low quality covers adorn good rules. I feel folks impulsively think that must be the case. I don't know what the exact correlation is between cover and content as tastes fluctuate wildly. One man's "Rules to Rule them All" is another man's brimming effluence bucket.

warwell07 May 2019 9:30 a.m. PST

No

Personal logo Tacitus Supporting Member of TMP07 May 2019 9:37 a.m. PST

Heck yes! "You can't judge a book by its cover" is from when all books looked the same on the outside. Covers today say a boatload about a book.

Bob the Temple Builder07 May 2019 9:54 a.m. PST

I designed the covers of all my PORTABLE WARGAME books to look 'old school' because my books are very much in that style. This was a conscious decision so that the cover reflected the contents.

Feedback seems to indicate that this was the right decision to make.

rmaker07 May 2019 11:41 a.m. PST

No

Thresher0107 May 2019 7:18 p.m. PST

Of course.

Isn't everyone?

Personally though, I much prefer well-written rules with a blank or line-art cover, that are inexpensive, and provide for a good game.

goragrad07 May 2019 9:05 p.m. PST

Nope.

CeruLucifus08 May 2019 9:27 a.m. PST

If I'm browsing on the shelf at the game store or book store then yes -- if it doesn't catch my eye then I may not pick it up and I rarely buy items I haven't picked up first.

If I already know the rule set then I don't care what's on the cover, but still enjoy being pleasantly surprised by good artwork.

Howler09 May 2019 3:51 p.m. PST

Cowboy Wars, Vampire Wars. All of the * Wars ruulesets I bought because of the theme and cover. So, I have indeed done so but not anymore

Uesugi Kenshin Supporting Member of TMP10 May 2019 3:41 p.m. PST

A good cover will get me to open the rules but only good content will get my $ most of the time.

The best "eye catcher" cover of all time for me was the original book cover for "Rogue Trader" in 1987. I'll never forget the first time I saw it.

von Schwartz10 May 2019 6:33 p.m. PST

Of course the artwork is merely to grab your attention. but since most of us have the attention spa…….

OH LOOK A SQUIRREL!!!!

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