Ingeniators Art and Playtesting

Never build a level two show in the game of Coliseum, and never build the University in the game of Puerto Rico. They're priced wrong, so that all other options are always better by the time you can buy them. It's a shame, because each and every piece of equipment printed in a game offers a strategic choice, and it's wasted unless there is a circumstance under which it's strategically advantageous to use it. That's the kind of flaw I'm looking for in Ingeniators, and I'm happy when playtesters discover one so it can be fixed. I'd like the "save up for big purchases" strategy to be competitive with the "spend early and often" strategy. I'd like the diversity strategy to compete well with the uniformity strategy. I designed the gadget cards so that there are several design paths that support these strategies, and if you see an opponent building toward one you should get there first. Which strategy to use should depend on circumstances.

What worries me about publishers is not that they'll tweak the strategic options (for which I would welcome the help) but that I'll lose control of the art, theme, and fonts. If they take it away and when it comes back it's a historical period piece about covered wagons, or if the rules are printed in an illegible font on an illegible background, that would not be acceptable. Most game designers are not artists and graphic designers like I am. But if this is going to have my name on it, I have decided I need some measure of creative control over the visuals.

P.S. Speaking of illegibility, check out this title image I made. I know modeling pretty well, and have started teaching myself lighting in 3D graphics. Here is a work-in-progress draft. I'm going to add a lot more gearteeth and chains to the backdrop, but lower its contrast. I'll add steam floating through the air. I'll make the lighting warmer, fuzzier, and more sepia. I'll also add backlighting to make the edges of the letters stand out more.