Defending Creative Choices
As evidenced in the saga of the logo, I haven’t always made creative choices that align with my values. Sometimes, those decisions were concessions to the "community," under the assumption that no one would buy the book unless certain things were included, even if they compromised the integrity of the work. Consequently, the book falls short of its potential because I lack faith in the broader audience's ability to appreciate its uniqueness.
My design philosophy remains centered on simplicity. As such, I've discarded various explanations of concepts like black box theater, art brut, lo-fi, minimalism, and others. The material needs to be easy for me to create, easy for you to read, simple to prepare and run, and effortless to engage with during play. We all need to get out of our own way, and it starts with the written content.
I'm sticking with the “art free” approach. It's a deliberate design choice. Your game at your tabletop is your own narrative, and I refuse to impose imagery upon it. Make it your own.
Consistency is key, so all books will adhere to the same format: 6x9 size (because publishing in A5 in the United States is cumbersome), same font, and same type size. Page length will vary as needed, without the previous 96-page restrictions, but I still aim to keep things concise.
Regarding trade dress, there will be changes for new products and lines. While older ones will remain unchanged, I've realized the importance of maintaining consistency within each line. It's fine for all DoubleZero books to have a similar appearance, as I learned from Traveller, but they shouldn't be indistinguishable from Foragers Guild books. Each line will have its own distinct look, hopefully exuding a sense of sophistication.
Simplicity also extends to surrendering language battles. Fine, I'll use terms like game (roleplaying isn't a game), gamemaster (a cooperative activity shouldn’t need an authority figure), rules (which we all bend in pursuit of fun, so why be so uptight about them), and so forth. Yes, words are a design choice, influencing the perception of the work. It's the most significant compromise I'm willing to make, but don't be surprised if the occasional snarky remark slips out.
I hope you’re doing well today.
