|
Post by zanshin on May 4, 2010 1:21:43 GMT -5
|
|
andrew
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 110
|
Post by andrew on May 4, 2010 4:00:03 GMT -5
A couple of things which may lead to confusion...The scroll down menu for Favorite/Least Favorite articles of TZ 1 contains articles from TZ 2.
There's also a place where you fill out What you would like to see most in TrollsZine 2; shouldn't that be TZ#3?
|
|
|
Post by zanshin on May 4, 2010 7:10:02 GMT -5
Fair point , I will ask Ydars, our survey king, to rectify
|
|
|
Post by zanshin on May 4, 2010 17:35:03 GMT -5
Looks to me like he has without being directly asked to. In any event, please complete
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2010 10:22:16 GMT -5
Love the TrollsZine! Especially the solo's. Great stuff. Consider the survey filled.
|
|
|
Post by cartomancer on May 18, 2010 10:46:57 GMT -5
Love the TrollsZine! Especially the solo's. Great stuff. Consider the survey filled. Why thank you. :0). The first solo is now available online at my website and 'Dark Rising' wont be too far away.
|
|
|
Post by zanshin on May 19, 2010 3:51:14 GMT -5
Thank you sunsetflip84. Always nice to get a positive response.
|
|
dekh
5th Level Troll
dekh by Grumlahk
Posts: 622
|
Post by dekh on May 25, 2010 6:36:10 GMT -5
The 'zine is great. Long may it continue. The internal layout could use a bit of rejigging. - Try a two column format - generally atm it looks like a memo in word rather than a magazine.
- Create an internal TrollsZine style - so every page is obviously a Trollszine page and TrollsZine is all about T&T.
- Match the art to the article - some of it seems a bit random - though of a high standard!
- Highlight some of the articles or GM/Solo adventures on the cover.
Fantastic cover art. This is only my 2p worth and Sterling isn't worth that much any more
|
|
|
Post by cartomancer on May 25, 2010 11:58:12 GMT -5
This is only my 2p worth and Sterling isn't worth that much any more Still worth more than the dollar though, American or otherwise. ;0). I agree though, those are certainly points that i feel would do well with being taken on board.
|
|
|
Post by zanshin on May 26, 2010 3:18:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback Dekh.
I would love to match artwork more closely and I am very pleased with the artists I have working for TrollsZine, but art is in much shorter supply than the written word. I am really lucky that David Ullery, Jeff Freels and Alex Cook have tailored some of their art to the articles.
If anyone knows any artists that will work for the glory of it I would love to hear from them.
|
|
dekh
5th Level Troll
dekh by Grumlahk
Posts: 622
|
Post by dekh on May 26, 2010 3:29:52 GMT -5
I hear your pain Zanshin.
Hopefully the wider the word spreads about TrollsZine the more desireable it will be to appear within it.
It would be nice to know that an artist got their break here.
Do you think they'd still talk to us?
|
|
sligo
4th Level Troll
Read my blog: http://indysligo.weebly.com/
Posts: 495
|
Post by sligo on May 26, 2010 7:36:22 GMT -5
There is always that risk. That just means we need to be busy recruiting young artists into our little cabal.
|
|
quoghmyre
7th Level Troll
The Summer Troll
Posts: 1,048
|
Post by quoghmyre on May 26, 2010 22:38:50 GMT -5
Thinking about your points as I do with all the comments we get...
1. Two column, I decided against this for 2 reasons, both relating to how it's most likely to be read. If it is most likely to be printed, then yes a two column format would be better, but weighing in at 90+ pages, who's going to print it all out? I know I did, but that was to proof it. Also 2 column effects the line length and with the font size I decided on, again for better on-screen reading, 2 column - Font size was at the wrong ratio. If I was laying up the Zine for print only then I agree, on-screen reading not so much.
2. I'm not sure what you mean here, the Font is the same as T&T 5, the footer has TrollsZine and the Issue Number in the "T&T" font, it has the graphics tags from the cover, and consistent Fonts and styles through out.
3. Oh for Artists who can draw to order and work for free... LOL, we are so lucky to have such generous donations of fan art.
4. Good point again, if the Zine was going to sit on a shelf as a printed product. On the 2 distribution sites the cover icons are far to small to read any text but both LuLu and RPGNet have text blocks where this can be added, why clutter the cover?
LOL, I've just noticed that RPGNow doesn't even have the correct cover, perhaps this is what you mean. But does have a great list of contents, while LuLu has the correct cover but no list of contents.
Zanshin, if you want to send me a "Features Block" I'll add it to the LuLu Page.
|
|
dekh
5th Level Troll
dekh by Grumlahk
Posts: 622
|
Post by dekh on May 27, 2010 4:55:19 GMT -5
Yes, I understand the art problems. I've been living with that particular problem for 7 years with Gristlegrim If anyone else wishes to contribute art it won't be turned away by me... To illustrate my style issues have a look at the attached jpg Unfortunately it doesn't inspire me to keep on reading. I see what you are saying about font size/line width but in this case it is hard to troll through whole pages of text on screen like this. Readers like to make quick progress. It makes them, (me too), feel clever and more inclined to read on. OK, single column, make it narrower, put a motif in the borders - even if it is just a light shade to draw the focus to the content. Use more headings, make them stand out more. If you aren't going for print, why have the offset margins? It's annoying as you read down to have to adjuct your view. Balance them equally left and right - this works fine if printed. (A niggle... TROLLS TALK TO on Page 1 is actually on page 4 and LEVEL AND ATTRIBUTE ADVANCEMENT on page 55 is actually on page 58 ... If you are aiming for viewer rather than print then redo the contents and page numbers to match Adobe's counting.) Finally 98 pages is a major achievment and something to crow over. But it is probably too long. Both from the point of view of the reader and quite simply from the point of view of putting it together. Stick to a shorter length so that you get the gratification of publishing sooner and for less effort. If you could publish shorter length but more frequently you'll feel better and you'll get more hits in the publicity machine. I'd suggest a maximum of 64 pages - including covers. I'd prefer 32 pages once a month rather than 98 pages every 10 weeks. OK, these really are just my opinions/preferences, not a major critiscism. Keep up the good work Cheers -dekh Attachments:
|
|
machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
|
Post by machfront on May 27, 2010 7:34:44 GMT -5
I fear I have to totally agree with dekh. It's incredibly boring, both visually and mentally on the part of the reader, to scroll through single-column stuff. Especially with no visual flavor. It's like reading a run-on sentence. It's also probably a good idea to have a 'set' length for most issues. You guys can always hold an article or three back for the following issue. EDIT: Besides, he uses Avast! for his anti-virus, so he's obviously brilliant! ;D
|
|