FO! Advertising handbill

[labsenpai]

Greetings,

I thought I'd try to use one of my OD&D-esque illustrations for a handbill we could distribute to shops or at game conventions. I hastily brainstormed a basic layout, which you can see on my site:

www.crithitcomics.com/FOflyer1.htm

First, it could use a new catchy headline, something that suggests nostalgia and excitement (I typed what you see there after reading Moldvay's Basic Ed. foreword).

Second, is the publication "officially" a fanzine, magazine, or journal

Lastly, I need a 300dpi logo file and maybe some notable reviews to quote (snippets will go in bottom right corner where the box is).

Upon final edit, I will upload a pdf to a hosting service.

[kevinmayle]

That actually looks like it was drawn in the 70's.
I love it!!!

[jrients]

Is that knight a member of the House of Strange?

[calithena]

I think of it as a fanzine, and usually call it that, but I guess if someone wanted to be pigheaded they could point to the very small amount over lulu's fee we take in per issue (which is getting either reinvested in the magazine or buying wine, which contributors can drink if they ever come by my house). If you prefer to call it a magazine for that reason I'll be OK. "Fanzine" definitely fits the spirit of what we're doing more, though.

Once this flyer is done and hosted we can just run them off and leave them in game shops, at cons, etc. Guerrilla advertising at its finest!

[jimlotfp]

I'd wait until the domain name is ready and the Fight On! site is up... distributing a flyer with a "coming soon" website announcement seems half-assed somehow... better to use a working site address like stores.lulu.com/FightOn than a "coming soon" I think.

Otherwise, looking good!

[jrients]

I agree with jimlotfp.

[labsenpai]

Target completion would be for distro at Indy GENCON in a few weeks. I will substitute the store address if the website isn't online then. I will keep the "fanzine" description.

The knight is modeled after one of my Britain's Deetail figurines, whose tabard featured a germanic cross. Now that I changed it, the glyph looks indeed "Strange"

[BeZurKur]

I really enjoy the art. It has an old-school feel, but it isn't just pastiche. It has its own style. I agree with the whole web-site thing. Fortunately that's a minor issue easily fixed, compared to an otherwise great illustration.

[Deleted]

Great idea and great artwork.

[labsenpai]

Now that the website is visible, I've revised the first draft.

Hit the link in my 1st post and scroll down to see the updated design. To help fill the bottom fifth of the flyer, I created a mock dungeon map. Instead of locations, each "room" is part of a description.

For this draft, I named some of the compatible rule systems (who knows what kids think is old-school these days ;D). Alternately, each zone could mention one of the features like new magic, monsters, and adventures (replacing the sentence in the middle paragraph). Either is OK with me...

[kesher]

Okay, the mock dungeon room thing is brilliant! Have an exalt for that...

[labsenpai]

Here is an upload link to the latest, still unofficial, version in PDF.

www.mediafire.com/?8puniy6qpox

In with my GENCON badge paperwork was a warning against circulating flyers and posters. I suppose I'll just hand out a few to persons/vendors I meet...

[greyharp]

labsenpai, on the LL forums a fella called Barrataria has called for filler ads for publications he is planning. It struck me that your handbill would be perfect.

[labsenpai]

For this project, I'm only focusing on the handbill aspect. I'm the kind of designer who prefers to start each task from scratch, with permission and a schedule.

I made the flyer to fill a "news gap" that could vastly increase the visibility of Fight On to gamers (considering the halls I'll be roaming soon).

[apeloverage]

Hi,

Here are a couple of banners I made a while ago. Obviously they were for Tunnels & Trolls, but the idea should be convertable.

[calithena]

Love the handbill. I am a little worried about the compatibility claims at the bottom (you'll notice that we don't make such claims in the magazine). OTOH everyone says that's legal. FO! presents itself as a magazine for people's own fantasy rules, many of which are of course close to the systems you mention. But anyway, if people want to print out this flyer or just color copies of the issue 2 cover with the website on them, and distribute them at cons, gaming stores, student lounges, whatever, that would be grand. Spread the word!

[labsenpai]

I will alter the "dungeon text" so it lists magazine features instead.

I did a lackluster job distributing at GENCON. I think the intensity of the Exhibition Hall numbed my brain.

[labsenpai]

Here is a new link to a design without mention of rule systems:

www.mediafire.com/?q6t5lxdflam

I have another Con this year, so I can try some promotion (on a smaller, less thunderous scale).

[calithena]

Thanks for all your work on this, Lee!

[barrataria]

Aug 25, 2008 20:31:46 GMT -6 labsenpai said:

Here is a new link to a design without mention of rule systems:

De-lurking to say... looks good!

[barrataria]

Aug 25, 2008 20:31:46 GMT -6 labsenpai said:

Here is a new link to a design without mention of rule systems:

www.mediafire.com/?q6t5lxdflam

Just to follow up, I wanted to let Cali and everyone know that I am including this in both of the modules I've sent off to lulu. Thanks again, and I'm glad to have had this available.

As a side note, in one of my previous proof copies, I included the handbill as a 1/2 page and it came out a bit blurry. It seems to be happiest at 1/4 page, if anyone else decides to place it in a print product.

Calithena, if you see this, as a change-up in future items I'd like to include the FO#2 cover (or some future cover) as a 1/4 page, with the fight on! url superimposed. Please let me know here or via email at your convenience.

[calithena]

It seems like that's fair use to me, since you're not charging us for the ads or anything, just calling people's attention to stuff you like. But it might be a nice courtesy when you use covers to ask the cover artist (Andrew Reyes for issue #1 and Kevin Mayle, who posts here, for issue #2). I'll put you in contact if you can't get them yourself.

[barrataria]

Sept 6, 2008 10:44:17 GMT -6 calithena said:

It seems like that's fair use to me, since you're not charging us for the ads or anything, just calling people's attention to stuff you like. But it might be a nice courtesy when you use covers to ask the cover artist (Andrew Reyes for issue #1 and Kevin Mayle, who posts here, for issue #2). I'll put you in contact if you can't get them yourself.

That's fine; I'll do that before I use it... if you drop me an email when you have a moment I can reply with the jpg I prepared with the web address on it, in case you want it for something else.

[labsenpai]

Sept 6, 2008 8:25:39 GMT -6 barrataria said:

As a side note, in one of my previous proof copies, I included the handbill as a 1/2 page and it came out a bit blurry. It seems to be happiest at 1/4 page, if anyone else decides to place it in a print product.

If anyone wants to use my handbill design for something other than a flyer, please contact me beforehand. I'd rather recreate the design than have the current one shoehorned into a different format or such. Presentation of my artwork is a concern; I've had to split from other organizations/publishers that didn't feel the need to consult.