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Mike

We need YOUR help to choose a cover for one of our books

March 6, 2009 12:00 AM
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COMMENTS
sutleress
06-Mar-2009 15:06

I prefer the cover with the soldiers on the beach/ cliffs fighting.

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Faganator
06-Mar-2009 15:28

Yup, I too prefer the 2nd one as well.

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GI Gene
06-Mar-2009 20:24

I believe the first cover with the ships would be a more effective cover for the following reasons:

1. It supports the subtitle better. Seeing a ship on fire along with several people drowning really underscores the fact that Actium was somebody's downfall.

2. Of all the covers (as seen currently on Osprey's home page) of the Campaign titles that deal with warfare in the ancient world, none of them show a sea battle.

3. The first cover is more eye catching and dramatic. People not entirely familiar with the battle of Actium will be drawn to the title because it reminds them of the sea battle sequence from the movie Ben Hur.

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deankal
06-Mar-2009 21:59

I will tie the game up. I like the first cover. Actium was decided on the water.

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JoJo Dog
06-Mar-2009 23:48

Another vote for the first cover. The sea battle is more eye-catching. It's different from many of the other Campaign titles, since it depicts a naval battle. When I think of Actium, I think of the destruction of the Mark Anthony's warships. --*-- Besides, the second cover--at least to me--seems like it could be used for a Warrior or Elite book or even any other Campaign book about a Roman Battle.

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Byron Farrow
07-Mar-2009 17:18

First cover. From a purely artistic point of view. The red campaign border works better with the blue artwork.

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formwiz
07-Mar-2009 20:49

Agree with Byron on the aesthetics. As for the subject matter, the first one also is best; not many people think of Actium as a land op.

PS Gene has a point sort of. There's a generation that remembers Actium only for the way Richard Burton bugged out when things got rough.

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Colin Upton
08-Mar-2009 08:04

The first cover, for the reasons already stated by others. I think of Actium primarily as a naval battle.
Colin

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xavierb
08-Mar-2009 13:58

I'd go withe second. The 1st is a little too subtle and would cause people to scratch their heads as to why the naval battle

xavier

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Paul Williams
08-Mar-2009 16:46

First of all I'd like to say that both are great pieces of artwork, Christa Hook is one of my favourite Osprey artists. As a cover I would say I preferred the first, basically for the same reasons discussed. Talking of artists I was really impressed with Giuseppe Rava's artwork in the new French Poliu 1914-18 book.

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SJay
09-Mar-2009 17:50

They are both excellent, but I would suggest the first because a) as mentioned this battle is remembered as a naval victory and b) the look of the first painting is more striking (galley bow on shot, flames, sailors/marines trying to stay afloat in the water).

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Archlord101
11-Mar-2009 11:31

My vote goes to the second of the two, mostly due to the fact that I pefer ancient land battle secenes, to naval ones (the roles are reversed when 1900 roles about!)

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cold0
12-Mar-2009 14:23

Another vote for the first one.

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Alessio
13-Mar-2009 18:17

I prefer the first one because it depicts a naval engagement, the main confrontation of the campaign.

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Alessio
15-Mar-2009 14:53

A question. What happens to the losing illustration? It will be dismissed or included anyway in the book?

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