Artistic Exploitation

While I'm not quite ready to start accepting artwork submissions for my un-named "space game," I DO want compile a list of interested persons wanting to contribute. Here are the specifics:

- At this time, the presumption is the game will be in a similar format to my B/X Companion; i.e. 64 pages, black & white interior, full color cover.

- The Companion had 27 illustrations, plus the cover leaf, plus the cover. Over-all, that's not a whole lot of room for drawings and it's quite possible the new game will have LESS room, depending on how good I am at stream-lining the rules. That means there ain't a whole lot of room for artists, so get on the boat now if interested.

- Payment: I feel a little bad about not paying anyone anything for the last project; though not TOO bad (it's not like I took a trip to Hawaii with the profits!). Still, I understand some folks would prefer to be paid for their work in cash rather than free product. Last time, I gave a book to anyone who had at least three submissions accepted. This time, I'm thinking $5-10 per submission, based on size of illustration OR a free book with three to four decent-sized pieces. This is for the interior B&W pieces only; anyone interested in doing the cover leaf (also black & white but expected to be friggin' awesome) or the color cover can negotiate with me via email. However, my budget IS limited (there ain't going to be any "pre-order" on this thing).

- Artwork must be original and not-previously-used-or-sold. You retain the rights to your artwork and are free to re-sell it once the book comes out; I get to use it in my book without anyone complaining or hitting me with a lawsuit.

- Stylistically sound: all artwork should be "serious" in tone, though you might change my mind with a particularly cool piece. Spacecraft, aliens, robots, adventurers, weird tech, planets, ship battles or "scenes" - all are fair game. If your specialty is in fantasy work rather than SciFi, you may STILL want to submit stuff...antenna-ed Amazons with spears mounted on bipedal lizards in a jungle setting might be perfectly suitable for some planets. This is a "space opera" game after all, not hard SciFi. On the other hand, I don't want any damn "cat people." Period.

- Lastly, I don't want ANY submissions yet. If you are interested in contributing to this project, please email me at my contact email address. Once the book is complete, I will contact the people who are interested, and put out another submission request here at the blog. Again, if you are interested in doing the FULL COLOR COVER or B&W COVER LEAF please state your interest in the email. Right now, I don't have an idea for what I want these to look like; if YOU have an idea, please feel free to bounce the idea off me.

All right...back to work.

: )

Art Beggary - What I Need

I know I said I'd get this list out last night...sorry for the delay. Here's the space I'm still looking to fill in my B/X Companion:

Chapter 0: Need a cover leaf for the first page. Ideally this would be a large, landscape layout illustration showing a group of high level adventurers either kicking ass or getting ready to kick some ass (think of the Willingham art in the Basic and Expert sets). As for, "what do high level adventurers look like?" ...use your imagination! Outrageous-ness is fine, but it should still be a serious composition, not humorous. Because of the importance of this piece, the illustrator will receive a free copy of the B/X Companion when finished.

Chapter 2: Characters. Need one illustration of any single or pair of characters (though it should be one of the human classes). "Decorative pieces" for illuminating the tables in this section would also be cool.

Chapter 3: Spells. Need some "wizard in action" shots. Room for three pieces OR one plus one half-page (landscape layout) piece. See below for some possibilities.

Chapter 5: Encounters. Just need one piece, ideally of a piece of siege equipment (a catapult or trebuchet for example).

Chapter 6: Monsters. Room for three or four pieces. Two can be combined into one half-page, landscape monstrosity but it better be a good one (perhaps incorporating multiple monsters, fighting each other or player characters). See below for example critters.

Chapter 7: Treasure. Room for two pieces or one large piece (but it would have to be a high level treasure trove, not just a few scraps being argued around a table!). Could also use a couple decorative "border pieces" to fill out the tables...a sword or two, a bag pouring a stream of coins and/or gemstones, etc.

Chapter 8: DM Section: Space for three pieces OR one plus one large. Ideas for possible composition provided below.

Chapter 9: Special Adventures. Only room for one small piece. Could be a weird, alien landscape (the moon's surface with binary suns) or a picture of a mage sitting lotus and projecting his astral form or something similar.

ANYONE THAT PROVIDES ME WITH AT LEAST FOUR USEABLE ILLUSTRATIONS WILL RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THE GAME WHEN PUBLISHED. This also applies to those artists that have already provided at least four illustrations...you guys know who you are (and thank you so much for your hard work!). All images need to be original artwork, need to be black & white and need to be scanned into the computer. You can email me at my contact address.

Some ideas/examples for chapters 3, 6, and 8:

Chapter 3 (Spells)

- a wizard summoning an efreet from a cloud of smoke (lots of tusk)

- a cleric speaking a holy word, blasting opponents to powder

- a mage commanding a dancing sword

- two wizards dueling (with one obviously getting the better of the other)

Chapter 6 (Monsters)

- a two-headed troll

- a tribe of lurking yeti

- a quizzical sphinx

- a dark and bundled black night atop a fiery steed

- an incubus

- a shedu (partial or full image)

- a fierce nightmare (the equine variety)...partial profile or on-rushing shot

Chapter 8 (DM Section)

- an angry mob of outraged peasants

- a master thief revealing himself from behind his disguise

- wizard at the bow of a flying ship

- a swashbuckling warrior wielding two weapons

- an open chest, glittering with treasure

- a dwarf fingering a pretty axe

All right, that's enough ideas for now, though I'm happy to provide more to interested parties. Just contact me at my email address if you have any questions:

bxblackrazor AT gmail DOT com

If anyone is interested in taking a shot at the cover please contact me...for a color cover I'm willing to talk actual money changing hands, but my resources are extremely limited (hence the March begging).

OH, and one last item. If ANYONE is interested in doing artwork for the adventure module, I could sure use some for that as well. I have half-a-dozen new monsters that wouldn't mind being illustrated and then GOBLINS GOBLINS GOBLINS. What a goblin actually looks like, I leave to individual interpretation (hobgoblins = militant goblins; bugbears = large goblins; etc.). Anyone with a penchant for goblins or a goblin doodling fetish is encouraged to submit stuff...including goblins dressed for arctic conditions. If you're interested in illustrating the new monsters, email me.

Thanks in advance, folks.

Back to Begging - Artwork Needed

Those folks wondering what the hell happened to the B/X Companion project have every right to be frustrated with me, its creator. I've been totally slacking. I expected to have everything ready but the cover by the end of February; instead I allowed myself to be distracted by Star Wars blogging, Olympic television coverage (congrats on the hockey win, Canucks!), regular work stuff, secret projects, and...well, a lot of movie rentals.

So it's MY FAULT folks. I got a little down when my cover artist of choice fell through, but the whole reason for my pushing back the release date till May was to coincide with his schedule. Since it ain't happening, I am simply going to get this thing out ASAP.

I have guaranteed the Doc that I will be getting him the module maps for finishing THIS WEEK. As in, "by Friday." Which means I have a deadline of Wednesday evening to have till Wednesday night, assuming I am mailing 'em from the post office Thursday morning (he lives down in Oregon, so he should get 'em pretty quick). I am already committed to designing the module cover myself (the Doc will be doing the paint job), and depending how that goes I may or may not be using my buddy's roommate/graphic designer for the cover of the Companion itself.

On the other hand, maybe I'll just go the Traveller route and put the thing out black cover.

; )

No, no...that's probably a joke (maybe a threat?). But I really, REALLY need interior artwork to finish both, and I've decided that I might as well beg the beJesus out of you folks that read this blog and that have ANY ARTISTIC TALENT AT ALL.

That's right, I want finish this mother with a quickness, and that means the bar is going to be set lower than ever before (well...not to the level of Order of the Stick-People, but pretty low). Tonight I will be taking an inventory of what I need (space-wise and theme-wise) and will be posting a general call for any and all contributions in a variety of subjects. Prizes may be a possibility, but let me find my exact need first.

As we enter the time of Pisces, we should all take the route of humble doormats and Buddhas with the begging bowl out (that's the energy of the month, people)...in all humility, I beseech those of you with extra creativity (and extra time) to tune up your drawing instruments and consider if you'd like to contribute to my little Old School offering.

Thank you in advance, and keep your eyes open for my next post which should have a list of items.

[oh, and to you folks who've already said you had some more contributions in the works, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get 'em to me at your earliest convenience. I want to get this thing published so that I can move onto the next project, whatever that might be! Thank you so much for your hard work, folks! You are all extremely awesome, I mean that whole-heartedly!]