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Play Advice: In which I cause Jason Morningstar's head to explode, maybe yours too

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  1.  
    •  
      CommentAuthorDave Younce
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2007 edited
     # 1
    It started innocently enough, I was looking for pictures of napoleonic soldiers, particularly sappers like this badass:


    Which led to The Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms, which was bad enough.


    And then, it led to this:
    The Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection Table of Contents
    I may never escape.

    Challenge: Everyone post the most amazing picture you find on NYPL's site. Specifically, find one you'd want to base an RPG character on. Mine is above. Go!
  2.  # 2
    Wow, thanks for posting this. What an awesome source of artwork.
    • CommentAuthorDirkGently
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2007
     # 3
    Wow, there are a ridiculous number of awesome pictures there... even after a cursory glance through I could scarcely settle down to pick a single one...

    How about, this one:



    Thanks for the link!
    • CommentAuthorBryan
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2007
     # 4


    Mah-to-toh-pa (The Four Bears) : 2nd chief of the Mandans

    Mind: Strong Willed
    Body: Struggled Power
    Spirit: Eyes of Soul
    • CommentAuthorCaesar_X
    • CommentTimeApr 25th 2007
     # 5


    Okay, this is awesome. My direct ancestor "Willem Adriense Bennet de Cuyper" was an early Dutch settler of America who built the first stone house on Long Island in the town of "Breuckelen". And he was evidently in with the then-current (but useless) governor of New Amsterdam, Wouter Van Twiller. So I like to think that is my ancestor there in the picture standing up, about to pimp slap the pipe-smoking book-balancing Mr. Van Twiller.

    Am I allowed to roleplay my own family twelve generations back?
    • CommentAuthorGaerik
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2007
     # 6
    David,

    I must now declare that I hate you. I have work to do today, dammit!

  7.  # 7
    Dave, seriously. You are hurting me. Here's mine:



    Those are the prime movers in the Modoc War, which was a singularly nasty genocidal conflict, much of it fought in California lava beds. I want to play the guy in the top hat.

    The NYPL, in their wisdom, is licensing these digital images for a profit, but they provide enough bibliographic information that if you wanted to use one of these public domain images, you can inter-library loan the books. This one is from from Ridpath, John Clark. Ridpath's universal history : an account of the origin, primitive condition, and race development of the greater division of mankind. New York : Merrill & Baker, 1899.
  8.  # 8
    this should be the cover to someone's next game, title and all

  9.  # 9
    Your character isn't going to last very long, there, Kevin. Unless you're playing the spider
  10.  # 10
    (shudder)

    I love the past.
    • CommentAuthorJDCorley
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2007
     # 11
    Those are awesome on a stick.
    •  
      CommentAuthorAnemone
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2007
     # 12
    I'm in heaven! :-)
    • CommentAuthorJ. Walton
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2007
     # 13
    Dave, way to be a hero. NYPL for the win! History for the win!
  14.  # 14
    This dude. No, the one on the left. I have no idea what's going on (although the dolphin does look rather agrieved), but it strikes me as a perfect PC for Blue Planet!

  15.  # 15
    Oh my yes.



    He was yet speaking when the rope severed under Black Yamon's breast and the three men were precipitated into the boiling waters beneath.

    What is in the box? Let's play and find out. I'm playing that first falling guy on the rope.
    • CommentAuthorMcdaldno
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2007 edited
     # 16
    Call me hopeless, but...



    ...that.

    I'd play either character.


    The way she drapes her hand across my shoulder 2d8
    That slight quiver in her lips 1d10
    The wrong man 2d4
    • CommentAuthorMcdaldno
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2007
     # 17
    Kevin,

    Would that be legal? to use that image as your cover?
  18.  # 18
    Joe,

    As I understand the Use Fee Schedule (pdf), for a b/w pic like that, it'd be $175 to license if your print run is under 5000, and goes up from there. Plus, for that one, you know you want to pay the extra $150 for unlimited promotional use.

    But, as Jason was saying, if the image is old enough and contained in something available for interlibrary loan, you can get your own digital image not subject to their licensing. At least I think that's what he was saying.
    • CommentAuthorDirkGently
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2007 edited
     # 19
    From their FAQ section:

    However, as the physical rights holder of this material most of which is in the public domain for copyright purposes, the Library charges a usage fee if images are to be used in any nonprofit or commercial publication, broadcast, web site, exhibition, promotional material, etc. The usage fee is not a copyright fee. You are free to obtain a copy of these images from a source other than NYPL.
    •  
      CommentAuthorJoel
    • CommentTimeApr 28th 2007
     # 20
    Just one. . .godDAMmit. Impossible.

    Very well:



    Peace,
    -Joel
  21.  # 21
    Posted By: Dave YounceAt least I think that's what he was saying.


    That's exactly what he's saying. Let me know if you need help; I work next to a research-1 academic library.
    • CommentAuthorArturo G.
    • CommentTimeApr 28th 2007
     # 22
    I can barely choose. Let us say this one...
    I want to play the character inside the safe, the one who is so close to appear.

    •  
      CommentAuthorBrand_Robins
    • CommentTimeApr 28th 2007 edited
     # 23
    Bengalis represent!

  24.  # 24
    Brand in Action:


    Brand Chillin':

    • CommentAuthorClinton
    • CommentTimeApr 29th 2007
     # 25
    Watership TSOY and the Snake Magician!

  26.  # 26
    I have to say this is my favorite thing ever.
    •  
      CommentAuthorJoel
    • CommentTimeApr 29th 2007
     # 27
    OK, I've let it simmer long enough--here's my runners-up:



    I'd be playing Mister Moustache there.

    And:



    I'd love to play any of them, especially the ones on either end.

    Peace,
    -Joel
    • CommentAuthorFLEB
    • CommentTimeMay 16th 2007
     # 28
    Posted By: DirkGentlyFrom their FAQ section:

    However, as the physical rights holder of this material most of which is in the public domain for copyright purposes, the Library charges a usage fee if images are to be used in any nonprofit or commercial publication, broadcast, web site, exhibition, promotional material, etc. The usage fee is not a copyright fee.You are free to obtain a copy of these images from a source other than NYPL.


    I saw that too. It smells funny, considering (hi-ho armchair attorney!) Bridgman v. Corel. A Googling revealed this discussion on MetaFilter:

    http://ask.metafilter.com/53469/Are-these-people-crazy-A-copyright-law-question

    where it was decided, as it is in most of these cases, that "maybe" the works are under some sort of protected right. (Grumble-grumble unclear precedent...)
  29.  # 29

    Nice hat!

    Prins Afranik van Mogk'h, Gabriel van Achrida.

    His name is Mogk'h.

    Man, the Byzantines were the awesomest.

    Also, it's amazing how much this is like a Miyazaki drawing, particularly from Nausicäa.

    •  
      CommentAuthorAndy
    • CommentTimeMay 17th 2007
     # 30

    Posted By: Joshua A.C. NewmanAlso, it's amazing how much this is like a Miyazaki drawing, particularly from Nausicäa.



    That's the first thing I thought as well.

    Beautiful!

    -Andy
  31.  # 31
    Nice club, dude.

    I've seen 'h used as an abbreviation for burgh, etc.
  32.  # 32
    Posted By: Jason MorningstarNiceclub,dude.


    My thoughts exactly. Afranik may have the cooler name, but my money's on Gabriel. And, Jason, he wears a gnome-cap, just like you!
    •  
      CommentAuthorRadaghast
    • CommentTimeMay 17th 2007
     # 33
    Dave, very cool website! I was browsing it for a while, but couldn't pick just one, so I have to pass...

    An addition you might find interesting: as a moderator of "History in RPG" forum, I maintain a list of such links here: they are annotated mostly in Russian, but it shouldn't be too hard to figure them out from urls. The post with links to image collections starts with "Web Gallery of Art".
  34.  # 34
    Related topic:

    Group downloads Smithsonian's historical photos & re-uploads them to flickr with a less constraining license:

    http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/05/advocacy_group_.html
  35.  # 35
    Holy crap this is cool.

    Ok, this one:



    Would be great for a Gaimanesque weird fantasy thing.

    This:



    is just begging to be a game. I really want to do the "incorrect future" game.

    For this:



    I could get into the freakish sex rpg market and finally:



    Time to see the goblin seer
  36.  # 36


    That's my guy. Le Roi, or as I like to call him, Leroy.
  37.  # 37
    Holy crap, now that's a crown!
  38.  # 38
    I just noticed the floating hat behind Leroy. Perhaps a familiar? An invisible assistant? Is he performing a levitation trick? Who knows!
  39.  # 39
    That airship piccie makes me tingly.
    •  
      CommentAuthorAnemone
    • CommentTimeJun 13th 2007
     # 40
    Here is another site that is ful of pictures usable for gaming goodness. Galactic Central is a big list of magazines giving their full bibliography, issue checklists, and lots of cover scans that are inspiration on the hoof. I highly recommend the following sections:

    Pulp
    Sci-fi and fantasy
    Mystery
    Western
    Etc.

    I just want to reach for my dice/cards/tokens/random randomizer when I see:
    •  
      CommentAuthorAnemone
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2007
     # 41
    Oooh! I just found yet another picture resource! Liam's Pictures from Old Books.

  42.  # 42
    Wow. That magazines one is super-amazing!
    • CommentAuthorJDCorley
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2007
     # 43
    And here I thought that when my wife called me "gorilla of the gasbags" that she was being mean!
  44.  # 44


    This is my character.

    What?

    It's for a Nobilis game. EnNobled New York City circa 1800.

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