GM Shield

I’ve got this idea in my head to make a GM’s shield for The Artifact. I figure I might be able to get it done in a week here if I get the time. I’d like a landscape shield more than a portrait and some recent discussions I’ve read about GM’s shields makes me think GMs tend to like the landscape because it doesn’t completely cut them off from players.

The back pages are probably easier than a front picture so I’ll start with those. All I need is all the tables from the rules section along with frequently looked up stats and lay them out.

My problem with the front picture is two fold. I don’t know how I’d scan such a large format picture for one. I’ve heard of people using digital cameras to “scan” a large painting but I’ve never been able to get the lighting right. I might have to do the artwork all by tablet which I’ve also had trouble with in the past. To quote SB – “But then, when have I ever backed down from a bad idea?”

The other problem I always have is trying to come up with a single image that represents the entire game. Rob Lang was the one who kicked me in the butt about the image on the blog here and told me to make a montage picture. It didn’t occur to me before that (so thanks Rob). But now this is kind of the same problem.

Maybe to alleviate both, I should do three separate but thematically connected pictures?

So this week I’ll post the parts as they get finished. I might miss a post or two Wednesday and Thursday to make more of my time in drawing for the front. I’m a little out of the habit of drawing these days. I can get a concept down on paper more quickly in type than I can in pictures these days but pictures are faster to take in for the reader so I guess you get what you pay for (in time that is).

On to working on the shield!