Castle Paradox

[Fortis]

I think you're underestimating your artistic abilities quite a bit. The best OHR games often began with terrible graphics. Some people kept at it and got better, but others with no patience for drawing, would release a game strong in non-graphical areas and usually the quality would speak for itself, and an artist would join up and help with redoing the graphics.

That's the sure-win strategy. Despite what a lot of people at CP might like to think, the attitude of the dedicated is "put up or shut up". We get a lot of people asking for graphics for nothing, so having a game that's awesome otherwise helps you get them a lot.

Otherwise no, Vikings is the only repository of public domain OHR graphics that's worth using. It (a repository of public domain graphics) is a pretty solid idea if you ask me, and the project has been started a few times by various people, but has always fizzled out.
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ARRRR, GLADYS! CHALK IT, DON'T PLEASURE IT

[TMC]

There was at least (probably more) one other public domain good OHR graphics package, with a couple of tilesets and things. I think it included tents. I can't find it. I suspect it's not on the gamelist. It probably wouldn't have been enough to make a game from... but if you combine several sets with your own to fill the gaps, I imagine you could manage.

When you do draw your own graphics, you have to ask yourself whether hours to perfect a tile is worth it (a polished game will have it). If you can draw a half decent tile quickly, consider stopping. Perfectionism is sometimes really just bad time management.
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"It is so great it is insanely great."

[MenosTorpe]

Short story long: I was grateful for the answers provided here, but because of how little I enjoy art (coughunderstatementcough) I decided to pursue other options. After looking into a wide variety of systems, I made a few small games but ultimately didn't find anything that I would like for a more substantial RPG.

In the end, my desire to create won out over the principle of not ripping off graphics. I made a brief but complete (4-8 hour) game, but it has only a handful of sprites not taken directly from Vikings of Midgard.

This kind of remix doesn't sit well with me, which is why I didn't mention the game here for some time. But I haven't found anyone willing to give in-depth gameplay feedback like this community enjoys, so I've found my way back here with this post. Would it be worth any of our time to present the game here?

[Moogle1]

Yes, do it. This is the kind of thing Vikings was pub dom'd for.
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Slime Salad :: Independent Game Design

[MenosTorpe]

Thank you. Off to the announcements forum, then.

[Chenzi]

Alternatively, you could get some template walkabout pictures, and draw more detail on them. It's a great way to learn, other than going through tutorials and drawing them yourself.
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Allow me to preemptively disclose that I probably hate the person posting below, including myself.