L04: Review of Assets

Front Cover

Masthead:

I wanted to use a sans serif font as they are more accessible and easier to read. I decided on this specific font as it is creative but still easily readable from a distance. Furthermore, this font features a square grid behind the letters, I felt that this added to the TTRPG genre as maps on square grids are common throughout TTRPGs. I chose to make the masthead text dark blue as the colour blue has connotations of stability and reliability.

The alternating dice denote the 6 different dice that are common throughout TTRPGs, I felt that this was an important feature to include as it would instantly tell the audience what the genre of the magazine was. Furthermore, I wanted to alternate the red and blue colours as, once again, blue connotes stability and reliability while red juxtaposes this completely by connoting the adventuring aspects and the aggressive nature of TTRPGs.

I overall like how this masthead came out, and I still like the creative decisions that I made. However, there are a few amendments that I would make. The first and most significant change I would make is changing the colour of the text. Although the colour of the text matches the colour of the blue dice, the text being this dark of a blue makes it difficult to read, and so it doesn't stand out as much as I would like. To fix this, I could make the blue a lighter blue (perhaps the same blue as the dice), or I could change it to a lighter colour like yellow. The second amendment I would make is how the colours of the dice alternate. Instead of how the alternate currently, I would make it so that the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th dice are blue and the 2nd and 5th dice are red. I believe that this would make the masthead more visually appealing.

Main Cover Image:

For my main cover image, I photographed Michael Hearne. He is a relatively new Dungeons and Dragons player. I wanted him to act as an ideal self (Carl Rogers) on the front cover. To do this, I specifically used a medium close-up at an eye-level angle as this shows the equality between Michael and the audience. Furthermore, I had Michael wear a more abstract shirt for this photoshoot as it connotes creativity. I also wanted him to look curious and excited in order to engage the audience.

Although I really like the feel that this image creates, it is not the highest quality image. The camera was slightly out of focus, focussing on his hand rather than his face. The camera was also at a bit of the angle, but I rotated the image in photoshop to fix this.

Ribbon:

This banner is designed in the shape of a ribbon to give connotations of exclusivity. I used the colours red and yellow to show continuity on the front cover. 

In hindsight, this banner isn't particularly relevant as it doesn't reference an article. If I was to change how I made this banner, I would add another, smaller but longer banner beneath this which states the title and page of the article. I would I also make the colours of this banner opposite to the big one (Yellow inside, Red outline).

Main Puff:

This is the main puff on the front cover, the shape of it is designed to be angular as I wanted it to denote the shape of dice. It is made with the red and yellow colours to show continuity on the front cover.

Although I do like the shape and colours of this puff, I wish I made the model (Elijah) bigger as he is the most important part of the article, and the size of his image should represent this.

Compact Puffs:

These puffs are designed to show the three small articles in the magazine, the shape of them is intended to denote the shape of dice and the colours red and yellow are chosen to show continuity.

I don't know why I made it this way, but the text isn't aligned and it makes this section look really messy. I would need to more careful about this in future.

Contents Page:

Masthead and Heading:

I like this asset for the same reasons that I stated for the masthead on the front cover. I wanted to include the heading 'Contents' to clearly indicate the presence of this page. I have gone with a red colour as it connotes importance. I believe that the contents page of a magazine (In accordance with magazine conventions) is important as it should contain a healthy amount of teasers for each of the articles, hopefully engaging the reader.

My problem with this asset however correlates with my issue with the masthead on the front cover. It doesn't stand out. The 'Contents' heading does, but the masthead doesn't. The black fade behind it makes it difficult to read. Although for the reader to be seeing this page, they will be holding the magazine close, I believe that this page would be more visually appealing if I fixed this. In my eyes, there are two possible ways to do this. I could either change the colour of the fade to a lighter colour, or I could change the colour of the masthead. Which option I go for should align with how I modify the masthead on the front cover in order to show continuity within the magazine.

Main Puff:

This puff is very similar to the one that I made for the front cover. I did this in order to show continuity. However, I did make some changes. The most obvious change is using the full Patriot Games logo. The reason I did this here is due to the teaser for this article being in a separate section just above this puff, therefore I did not need to include the teaser within the puff. Furthermore, I also added a picture of real dice which I took. I wanted to include these here to further the convention of the TTRPG Genre.

I don't particuarly have any issues with this asset, but if there is something I would change, it would be the page numbers. All other page numbers on the contents page are shown on dice faces. I don't know whether this would be a worthwhile change however as it would take up more space within the puff and make it look disorganised.

Side Puff:

This puff is very similar to the compact puffs on the front cover. The colours are chosen to further the creation of continuity.

The only amendment I would make to this asset is the colour of the text, 'The story of my first session.' as it goes against the established black front colour on the rest of this page.

Death of The Month Puff (Gravestone):

To begin with, I very much dislike this asset, while it does everything I intended it to (tease the content of the 'Death of the Month' section), it stands out in all the wrong ways and does not convey the same feel as the rest of the magazine. Furthermore, I find that the main grey gravestone colour is not complementary to the background colour of this page.

To fix this, I would completely scrap the gravestone idea and instead use a puff that is representative of the genre.

Main Image (People playing D&D):

In the photoshoot in which this was taken, I set the group of players up with a game and started taking photos. I did this as I wanted the photo to feel natural. Furthermore, I wanted the players to look genuinely intrigued and entertained as this would help to engage the reader. Although not considered at the time, this photo supports Earp and Katz (1999) theory that men have a pathological need for control and violence as Dungeons and Dragons is a game which contains fantasy violence, and the table is surrounded by males. I also think this photo is effective at conveying what Dungeons and Dragons and other TTRPGs are about as it breaks Henry Jenkins theory that we now live in a convergence culture.

I don't have any major issues with this image as it serves its purpose well. However, where the main focus of this image will be the game they are playing, the focus of the camera is on the players.

First Session Image:

This image intends to show a new TTRPG player having fun in their first game. I believe that this image encapsulates this well and suits its intention. The background of this image is removed on the contents page, so none of the background details are an issue. However, I do not like the outfit that he is wearing. I believe that the coat he is wearing makes the image look rushed.

Page Numbers:

I chose to have the page numbers for each article on the faces of dice in order to represent the TTRPG genre a dice are a common convention of TTRPGs.

The only change I would make to these assets are the '22' dice should be closer as they look as if they are separate. Putting them closer together would make them feel more connected.

Double Page Spread

Patriot Games Puff:

As this puff was going to be next to an image of Elijah Mangnall, I wanted it to be representative of the other puffs that he is featured on. Hence the shape and Colours. I have no complaints about this puff.

Heading:

As mentioned in L03: Following Codes and Conventions, I took inspiration for this heading from a double page spread in the magazine, 'Tabletop Gaming.' I used this specific shape as it is representative of the shapes used for the various puffs. For the heading text, I used the same font as I used for the masthead in order to show continuity. I don't think I would want to make any changes to this asset.

Elijah Mangnall Image:

I like this photo as it is high quality and makes Elijah look professional due to his outfit and facial expression. Furthermore, the eye-level angle creates a sense of equality between the reader and Elijah which makes the magazine seem less intimidating.