The Acaeum Dungeons & Dragons
Collecting Forums

Erol Otus Commissioned Work by the Acaeum
Post new topic This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies. Page 17 of 73123 ... 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 ... 717273
Poll: What kind of artwork would you have Erol Otus Commission for the Acaeum?

I have no interest in any Erol Otus artwork. 9%       9%  [ 11 ]
I prefer a color, 11x17 print. 15%       15%  [ 18 ]
I prefer a black & white 11x17 print. 5%       5%  [ 6 ]
I prefter a color, 17x24 print. 59%       59%  [ 69 ]
I prefer a black & white 17x24 print. 6%       6%  [ 7 ]
I prefer something else larger. 5%       5%  [ 6 ]
Total votes : 117

Author

User avatar

Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 7050
Joined: Jan 03, 2005
Last Visit: Jul 24, 2026
Location: UK

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:06 am 
 

Seems as though because it is a bulk PM, the content is not included within the e-mail notification, but the content is available in your inbox.

Question for the Committee
Whilst EO is retaining the original, and presumable has the rights to sell it. Does EO have the right to reprint the artwork, sell it to a publisher for reprinting purposes, or sell it on to an individual and confer the right to republish the works? Or do the Acaeum Committee retain publishing rights over the artwork piece? That to me seems like a critical question.


This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

 WWW  

User avatar

Verbose Collector
JG Valuation Board

Posts: 1670
Joined: Jul 01, 2006
Last Visit: Aug 19, 2025
Location: Moncton, NB Canada

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 7:19 am 
 

Very nice and concise update Benjoshua!
Thank you!


Check out my Chaosium sourcebook.
Secrets of Tibet

  


Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3066
Joined: Jul 09, 2004
Last Visit: Apr 30, 2015

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:21 am 
 

I think Foul mentioned a while back something about email notifications being blank and it being a bug and he was going to fix it.  I don't use 'em, currently.

 YIM  

User avatar

Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3865
Joined: Feb 21, 2004
Last Visit: Jul 20, 2023
Location: Milford, Michigan

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:36 am 
 

Thanks for the update.


And I could've bought these damn modules off the 1$ rack!!!

New modules for your Old School game http://pacesettergames.com/

Everything Pacesetter at http://pacesettergames.blog.com/

 WWW  

User avatar

Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3865
Joined: Feb 21, 2004
Last Visit: Jul 20, 2023
Location: Milford, Michigan

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:39 am 
 

And yes, the email notification was blank on all counts, also.


And I could've bought these damn modules off the 1$ rack!!!

New modules for your Old School game http://pacesettergames.com/

Everything Pacesetter at http://pacesettergames.blog.com/

 WWW  

User avatar

Grandstanding Collector
JG Valuation Board
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 5029
Joined: Oct 11, 2004
Last Visit: Jan 16, 2017
Location: Texas

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:06 am 
 

mbassoc2003 wrote:Seems as though because it is a bulk PM, the content is not included within the e-mail notification, but the content is available in your inbox.

Question for the Committee
Whilst EO is retaining the original, and presumable has the rights to sell it. Does EO have the right to reprint the artwork, sell it to a publisher for reprinting purposes, or sell it on to an individual and confer the right to republish the works? Or do the Acaeum Committee retain publishing rights over the artwork piece? That to me seems like a critical question.


I think your first line answers the rest.

Since EO retains the original, then (I would think) he also retains the right to reprint/produce.
Or to create a revised print (IE. One without the Acaeum inclusion).


"Guys, I am starting to think Tegel Manor might be haunted..."
Stated by me as a PC during a run of Tegel Manor DMed by killjoy at NTRPGCon 2010

Charter Member of the ATM

  

User avatar

Long-Winded Collector

Posts: 4756
Joined: Oct 31, 2004
Last Visit: May 02, 2025
Location: Caddo Mills, TX

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:40 am 
 

deimos3428 wrote:I think Foul mentioned a while back something about email notifications being blank and it being a bug and he was going to fix it.  I don't use 'em, currently.


The notifications being blank wasn't what concerned me....it was the fact that Hotmail identified it as malicious content.  I've used Hotmail for ten years and never had that happen.  I didnt open it so I had no idea if it was blank or not.  Thought it might be some sort of attempt at spoofing until I logged onto the forum and compared time stamps.


You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

  

User avatar

Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 7050
Joined: Jan 03, 2005
Last Visit: Jul 24, 2026
Location: UK

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:42 pm 
 

Aneoth wrote:Since EO retains the original, then (I would think) he also retains the right to reprint/produce.
Or to create a revised print (IE. One without the Acaeum inclusion).

It would be good if the committee could clarify this. It seems that this does have an impact on the value one receives from commissioning such a piece, if we then find you can buy copies direct from EO for $19.99.


This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

 WWW  


Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 6600
Joined: Dec 13, 2004
Last Visit: Aug 06, 2026

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:48 pm 
 

Here we go again.


"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." -Neitzche

  

User avatar

Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 8079
Joined: Jun 23, 2003
Last Visit: Jun 24, 2026
Location: DFW TX

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 3:59 pm 
 

mbassoc2003 wrote:It would be good if the committee could clarify this. It seems that this does have an impact on the value one receives from commissioning such a piece, if we then find you can buy copies direct from EO for $19.99.


You won't be able to buy a first printing of the first 50 copies from EO, no matter what he decides to do.  And that is something we will definitely clarify.  My take is that EO wants the original for himself because he's been hosed in the past when it comes to ownership of original artwork; however that's just speculation. We can ask him when the time comes, and find out what his intentions are.

I want to stress that nothing in this world is absolute (see the ongoing POTVQ thead) and unless the original is torn to pieces right after printing is done, or an ironclad contract is forced down EO's throat (or whoever purchases it) as to what he can and can't do with the original, we can never say with any finality that these will be the ONLY copies of this to EVER be released.  The 1st print 50 copies will be unique, and each should have an accompanying certificate signed by EO and the committee (just try to counterfeit THAT!), but I will suggest that if absolute certainty is a deal breaker that we cannot furnish that as part of this deal (and very few items in life fall under this category anyway).

But seriously, if someone wanted to drop off the list and wait for the $20 2nd print, we have no problems with that.  We'll just move the wait list up a notch..... :wink:

Mike B.


"THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT WHY i DONE WHAT i DONE THE MORE i LAUGH" Cougar
"The Acaeum hates fun" Sir Allen
"I had a collecting emergency" Nogrod
Co-founder of the North Texas RPG Con
NTRPGCON

 WWW  

User avatar

Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3865
Joined: Feb 21, 2004
Last Visit: Jul 20, 2023
Location: Milford, Michigan

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:06 pm 
 

There absolutely has to be some sort of certificate. It should be signed by EO and the committee and correspondingly numbered to go with the print. I will go one step further and suggest the owner's name be included - sort of like a car title.


And I could've bought these damn modules off the 1$ rack!!!

New modules for your Old School game http://pacesettergames.com/

Everything Pacesetter at http://pacesettergames.blog.com/

 WWW  


Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3807
Joined: Feb 23, 2005
Last Visit: Feb 12, 2025

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:08 pm 
 

Personally, I don't really care what Lord Otus does with the original or any subsequent re-prints of it.  The thing that turns my crank is being part of an Acaeum commissioned piece that 49 of my brothers here and I worked together to make happen.


Let mirth prevail!

  

User avatar

Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3865
Joined: Feb 21, 2004
Last Visit: Jul 20, 2023
Location: Milford, Michigan

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:20 pm 
 

bombadil wrote:Personally, I don't really care what Lord Otus does with the original or any subsequent re-prints of it.  The thing that turns my crank is being part of an Acaeum commissioned piece that 49 of my brothers here and I worked together to make happen.


I agree with this 100%. I just want to make the original 50 are the orginal 50. I don't really care if he prints more after that. But the original 50 should have some sort of unique label - i.e. numbered "1 out of 50" etc.


And I could've bought these damn modules off the 1$ rack!!!

New modules for your Old School game http://pacesettergames.com/

Everything Pacesetter at http://pacesettergames.blog.com/

 WWW  

User avatar

Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 8079
Joined: Jun 23, 2003
Last Visit: Jun 24, 2026
Location: DFW TX

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:47 pm 
 

Jaybird216 wrote:Count me in for 1 as well, as long as the price stays under $75.

Speaking as an artist, the usual arrangement with a publisher is that they get a hi-res scan/photo of the work to use for varied rights, while the artist retains the original piece. There may be some contractual stipulations depending on the agreed-upon publishing rights (maybe the artist can't re-license the piece for 12 months, or maybe he can never license it again), but he usually retains the actual product. As long as he doesn't break the contract regarding selling it to other publishers, he can do whatever he wants with the original: auction it, hang it in his study, use it roll doobies, whatever. From what I've heard, we have Frank Frazetta to thank for that.

Now, if someone asks for the physical art in addition to publishing rights, it behooves the artist to ask for more money up-front. In basic terms, he's losing an opportunity for future financial gain (and the buyer stands to make more in the event of an eventual sale), so he deserves to be compensated for that on the front end.

I'm just offering this for informational purposes. Obviously, this arrangement is a bit different in that the only "publishing" will be 30-50 prints with a legal agreement not to make another series of prints. Another thing to think about is the possibility other future goods. If you want to protect the integrity of the project, the contract needs to limit *all* reproduction. I doubt many investors here would be keen on the print being sold on t-shirts or coffee mugs because that wasn't covered in the contract.


Just reprinting a relevant post by Jason Braun.....

Mike B.


"THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT WHY i DONE WHAT i DONE THE MORE i LAUGH" Cougar
"The Acaeum hates fun" Sir Allen
"I had a collecting emergency" Nogrod
Co-founder of the North Texas RPG Con
NTRPGCON

 WWW  

User avatar

Sage Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 2763
Joined: Sep 25, 2007
Last Visit: Feb 22, 2026

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 7:58 pm 
 

I agree, too, that it should be signed, numbered and maybe dated.

One added idea I'd throw out there to make it as unique as possible is we could ask Erol to sign it as his alter ego Drow name "Ool Eurts" that he does rarely.

  

User avatar

Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3718
Joined: May 30, 2007
Last Visit: Aug 04, 2026
Location: USA Georgia

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:00 pm 
 

mbassoc2003 wrote:Question for the Committee
Whilst EO is retaining the original, and presumable has the rights to sell it. Does EO have the right to reprint the artwork, sell it to a publisher for reprinting purposes, or sell it on to an individual and confer the right to republish the works? Or do the Acaeum Committee retain publishing rights over the artwork piece? That to me seems like a critical question.


This question is fair. EO wants the print for himself for reasons we don't know at this time. If we find out why he wants to keep it, and he doesn't mind us passing that along, we will gladly do so.

The committee's intention has always been to create "50 Limited Edition prints." Even if additional prints are created in the future, the paper used, the printing process used, the time in-between when any additional prints might be created, and their cost all make this a special print, limited in its own way.  

These prints will be signed and numbered from 1 to 50.  The presence of the word "Acaeum" within the art makes it special.  However, the main method of establishing this as a "Limited Print" will be by including a Certificate of Authenticity (or something similar) signed by the committee and hopefully the artist.

It should be noted that wherever the original goes, there is always the possibility for additional attempts at profiteering by producing more prints or using it for other purposes. The committee feels that, other than destroying the original, the art is safest with its creator.

Finally, and most importantly, this project was and remains a labor of love. If you love EO art and you want something special, this should be rare and amazing. The committee considered these issues and is satisfied with the arrangement. 8)


Truth is worth finding and life is too short to work for money.

  

User avatar

Verbose Collector

Posts: 1945
Joined: Mar 26, 2004
Last Visit: Jul 17, 2026
Location: UK

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 9:00 pm 
 

benjoshua wrote:Finally, and most importantly, this project was and remains a labor of love. If you love EO art and you want something special, this should be rare and amazing.


Having followed this (with a vested interest I might add!), I think that this comment really sums up what we are doing here.

I rarely (never!) buy stuff for investment, I buy stuff because I really want it, and this art work is pretty much a dream come true for me. Chances are it won't take pride of place in my home (Mrs Gyg is not the enthusiast that I am, to say the least!), but it will take pride of place in my heart, and in my meagre collection. Personally, I have never been more eager to shell $50 or so; I just cant wait. :D


You can never have too much of something you didn't need in the first place.

  

User avatar

Grandstanding Collector
JG Valuation Board
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 5029
Joined: Oct 11, 2004
Last Visit: Jan 16, 2017
Location: Texas

Post Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:50 pm 
 

gyg wrote:I rarely (never!) buy stuff for investment, I buy stuff because I really want it, and this art work is pretty much a dream come true for me.
.... it will take pride of place in my heart, and in my meagre collection.
Personally, I have never been more eager to shell $50 or so; I just cant wait. :D


Well said.
And I feel the same, although I will get to frame and then place my original print on a wall...
Upstairs in the game room, along side a few other original prints that I was lucky enough to have become the proud owner of. 8)


"Guys, I am starting to think Tegel Manor might be haunted..."
Stated by me as a PC during a run of Tegel Manor DMed by killjoy at NTRPGCon 2010

Charter Member of the ATM

  
PreviousNext
Post new topic This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies. Page 17 of 73123 ... 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 ... 717273