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Let's look at the layout & physical design of @uhcoolguy Tyler Crumrine's "Beak, Feather, and Bone"
Inspired by other map-making games like Avery Alder's "The Quiet Year," with some PbtA designs sprinkled in, BF+B is a 32 paged (5.5'' x 8.5'') zine with a single-column layout.
Inspired by other map-making games like Avery Alder's "The Quiet Year," with some PbtA designs sprinkled in, BF+B is a 32 paged (5.5'' x 8.5'') zine with a single-column layout.
This was one of Zinequest 2020's projects that I was really excited about but didn't find time to write a full review for. So, to rectify that a little, and to get everyone excited for Zinequest 2021, here we go...
Exhibit A: The Typography
Budding zine writers and designers, take notice. You can use freely available typefaces without depriving your work of a unique identity. It's all about the deployment and arrangement of these elements. If my eyes are correct, these are google fonts.
Budding zine writers and designers, take notice. You can use freely available typefaces without depriving your work of a unique identity. It's all about the deployment and arrangement of these elements. If my eyes are correct, these are google fonts.
The sharp, beaky typefaces are easy to read and perfectly in-theme with BF+B's city of raven folk.
The game's iconic use of Pirata gives the game character and a sense of place. Partly because it is a "humanist" typeface, as in, descended from handwriting. It's organic.
The game's iconic use of Pirata gives the game character and a sense of place. Partly because it is a "humanist" typeface, as in, descended from handwriting. It's organic.
Exhibit B: The Art
The bold, clean-lined typography balances well against the ravens' textured charcoal illustrations and even more so against the detailed, hand-drawn maps—the game's focal point.
Again, this is balance. Tyler and his collaborators found it.
The bold, clean-lined typography balances well against the ravens' textured charcoal illustrations and even more so against the detailed, hand-drawn maps—the game's focal point.
Again, this is balance. Tyler and his collaborators found it.
Exhibit C: The Layout
The layout works, but I'd like to see some more variation. Section headings are too uniform for me, whether it's the intro, a character archetype, or what could have been a subsection within a larger category.
They use the same header style and size.
The layout works, but I'd like to see some more variation. Section headings are too uniform for me, whether it's the intro, a character archetype, or what could have been a subsection within a larger category.
They use the same header style and size.
A change in the size ratio between typefaces could have helped make it more pleasing and be recalled as separate sections better.
I'm also curious how a third or fourth header style could have transformed some of the book's more procedural sections.
I'm also curious how a third or fourth header style could have transformed some of the book's more procedural sections.
This book reads at a very solid clip. So, some variance or a stricter adherence to a panel-like system (not letting entries or sections get cut in half from page-breaks), would have helped give us a moment to register rules.
But don't let any of this betray how I feel overall.
But don't let any of this betray how I feel overall.
These are all really tiny "rooms for improvement" as opposed to "problems that need solutions."
You know why I don't really mind any of this? BF+B is short. It's an actual zine-sized zine, with simple well-articulated mechanics, and keen visual direction.
You know why I don't really mind any of this? BF+B is short. It's an actual zine-sized zine, with simple well-articulated mechanics, and keen visual direction.
It because the zine is so concise, that I don't feel comfortable showing you photos of the actual pages and spreads. If I share pictures, I'm giving away the thing you should be paying for!
So, don't worry, rpg connaisseurs, this book meets great standards for physical design.
If uncovering the history and community of Ravenfolk is your fancy (and I think it should be), you can buy BF+B at https://tyler-crumrine.itch.io/bfb?ac=S9A7ja4hVvG
It's $5 and is worth more.
If uncovering the history and community of Ravenfolk is your fancy (and I think it should be), you can buy BF+B at https://tyler-crumrine.itch.io/bfb?ac=S9A7ja4hVvG
It's $5 and is worth more.
