I am a traveller newbie, but I have become very interested in T20 (I saw the ad on ENWorld, so they are working) and I will definitely get it when it comes out.
It seems like most of the decisions have been made about the book regarding content, but I thought that I would make an appeal on an issue that still seems in flux: the book's layout.
I currently writing a review for a space opera D20 book that has almost univerally received outstanding feedback from other reviewers. And while it's a book that I like a lot, I don't think it merits quite the acclaim it gets. One of the aspects of the book that I think needs work is the art/layout, and the process of writing the review has made me more sensitive to these sorts of things. I have a few suggestions...
I think art in a rules books works better when it is seen as utilitarian rather than decorative. Pictures and graphics should directly relate to adjacent text. If possible, they should elucidate this text (as in a graphic that shows positionings, moves, areas of play, or action types). Pictures of things in the book should be labelled. Most of the major items of equipment should have a corresponding graphic. There should not be any random art strewn throughout the book. Perhaps some of these items will seem rather obvious, but the book I am reviewing consistently broke these expectations (ahem, my expectations).
The best example I know of a book that does this well is the Manual of the Planes, by WotC.
It also seems clear that layout can have a subtle yet real effect on the reader. A book which uses space effectively is more impressive than one that demonstrates a relatively unsophisticated approach to space usage. I have less to say on this than I did on the point above, but one thing I want to note is that sidebars can be usefully incorporated to clarify particular points. Again, a book with a particularly good layout is the MotP; others are the new SWRPG RCRB (which I just purchased) and Green Ronin's superb Freeport. These are books that have a dense information profile.
Anyway, these are just some random thoughts. I am looking forward to T20.
It seems like most of the decisions have been made about the book regarding content, but I thought that I would make an appeal on an issue that still seems in flux: the book's layout.
I currently writing a review for a space opera D20 book that has almost univerally received outstanding feedback from other reviewers. And while it's a book that I like a lot, I don't think it merits quite the acclaim it gets. One of the aspects of the book that I think needs work is the art/layout, and the process of writing the review has made me more sensitive to these sorts of things. I have a few suggestions...
I think art in a rules books works better when it is seen as utilitarian rather than decorative. Pictures and graphics should directly relate to adjacent text. If possible, they should elucidate this text (as in a graphic that shows positionings, moves, areas of play, or action types). Pictures of things in the book should be labelled. Most of the major items of equipment should have a corresponding graphic. There should not be any random art strewn throughout the book. Perhaps some of these items will seem rather obvious, but the book I am reviewing consistently broke these expectations (ahem, my expectations).
The best example I know of a book that does this well is the Manual of the Planes, by WotC.
It also seems clear that layout can have a subtle yet real effect on the reader. A book which uses space effectively is more impressive than one that demonstrates a relatively unsophisticated approach to space usage. I have less to say on this than I did on the point above, but one thing I want to note is that sidebars can be usefully incorporated to clarify particular points. Again, a book with a particularly good layout is the MotP; others are the new SWRPG RCRB (which I just purchased) and Green Ronin's superb Freeport. These are books that have a dense information profile.
Anyway, these are just some random thoughts. I am looking forward to T20.