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CharonsHelper
2019-06-08, 04:03 PM
I'm currently nearing the final stages of designing a TTRPG. (See my signature - the rules are done; mostly just fleshing out The Threat Guide.)

One thing that I definitely want to have upon release are a few modules aside from a really short one in the back of the core book. I just think that modules are a great way to get used to a new system and figure out how it plays - plus they basically act as advertising for the core game.

Unfortunately though, my budget isn't unlimited. While I already have some artwork and plan to get a whole heap more, I know that as a general rule modules don't sell super well.

As a consumer of RPGs, how would you feel if (other than the cover) most/all of the interior artwork was the same artwork as from the Core Book & Threat Guide (kind of a MM equivalent)? Would it seem cheap/repetitive, or if the base quality of the artwork is high, would it not matter too much?

Yora
2019-06-08, 04:32 PM
Even some of the bigger companies do it.

If you have an image that can fit in different contexts, there's no reason not to use it if the alternative is not having an image at all. But it would be out of place if the image shows specific places or characters from one adventure and then it's later reused for a different place or different characters.

LibraryOgre
2019-06-08, 05:59 PM
You might also look into some public domain art. Hackmaster, for example, uses The Accolade (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Accolade_(Leighton)) by Leighton in the section about honor. It's public domain, so it's free, and it can illustrate your point well.

But, yeah, reusing is no problem.

CharonsHelper
2019-06-08, 06:32 PM
You might also look into some public domain art. Hackmaster, for example, uses The Accolade (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Accolade_(Leighton)) by Leighton in the section about honor. It's public domain, so it's free, and it can illustrate your point well.

But, yeah, reusing is no problem.

Unfortunately for sci-fi it's a lot harder to find viable stock art, much less stuff in the public domain. Especially since I have more custom aliens (No rubber forehead variety).

Some stock art for passageways and maybe some NASA starscapes, but mostly it has to be custom.

But yeah - since I'm already going to be getting artwork for a bunch of various aliens, I'll probably reuse a lot of them for modules then.

Faily
2019-06-08, 08:05 PM
It's not like other game companies don't reuse art. Especially looking at you, Fantasy Flight Games.


However it bears to keep in mind what the agreement with the artist is. If it's for personal use, for a product you're going to make a profit on and if yes on that if it's for one product in specific or free for you to use as you see fit on everything you ever create.

It enters the territory of "how much rights do you and the artist each have to the artwork". Which is one that even gaming companies have gotten into trouble with if what I've heard from the pros is anything to go by.

CharonsHelper
2019-06-08, 08:13 PM
However it bears to keep in mind what the agreement with the artist is. If it's for personal use, for a product you're going to make a profit on and if yes on that if it's for one product in specific or free for you to use as you see fit on everything you ever create.

It enters the territory of "how much rights do you and the artist each have to the artwork". Which is one that even gaming companies have gotten into trouble with if what I've heard from the pros is anything to go by.

Oh - I've always made sure that I get the full rights to all of the artwork that I've purchased so far. (Just 20-some pieces so far) I don't want to have to deal with keeping track of all that jazz.

Kadzar
2019-06-09, 04:39 PM
Unfortunately for sci-fi it's a lot harder to find viable stock art, much less stuff in the public domain. Especially since I have more custom aliens (No rubber forehead variety).

Some stock art for passageways and maybe some NASA starscapes, but mostly it has to be custom.

But yeah - since I'm already going to be getting artwork for a bunch of various aliens, I'll probably reuse a lot of them for modules then.If it helps, Kevin Crawford, author of Stars Without Number, always includes a stretchgoal in his Kickstarters to pay the artists enough to release the artwork for free use by anyone, and compiles them into art packs. Here's the one for Stars Without Number: Revised Edition (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/231355/Stars-Without-Number-Revised-Edition-Art-Pack?manufacturers_id=3482) (a sci-fi system) and Starvation Cheap (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/165407/Starvation-Cheap-Art-Pack?manufacturers_id=3482) (a sci-fi military supplement).

There's also ones for other systems that are less likely to be useful to you, but I'll link them anyway: Spears of the Dawn (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/110838/Spears-of-the-Dawn-Art-Pack?manufacturers_id=3482) and The House of Bone and Amber (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/113884/The-House-of-Bone-and-Amber-Art-Pack?manufacturers_id=3482) (an African-inspired fantasy setting and adventure for it, respectively), Scarlet Heroes (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/114894/Scarlet-Heroes-Art-Pack?manufacturers_id=3482) (a system for solo play that uses a somewhat Asian-inspired setting), Silent Legions (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/146840/Silent-Legions-Art-Pack?manufacturers_id=3482) (a Lovecraftian/Call of Cthulhu-type system), and Godbound (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/186927/Godbound-Art-Pack?manufacturers_id=3482) (an Exalted-like system).