A guide for using Public Domain art in RPGs

[BookTenTiger]

I was linked to this article, which I found really fascinating:

Using Public Domain Art in Tabletop Game Design

I think it's an interesting read and resource, especially with the current discourse around AI art.

There are a lot of images that would look great in an RPG book, or that could be easily manipulated to fit a book's design.

 

[Reynard]

I seem to recall that one of the RetroClones (the 2E one, maybe?) relied almost entirely on public domain art.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Here's an amazing collection of public domain landscapes that can be used in both personal and commercial work!

Artvee Landscapes

Honestly I want to start designing settings and adventures just based on these images.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I seem to recall that one of the RetroClones (the 2E one, maybe?) relied almost entirely on public domain art.

Thousand Year Old Vampire (and the forthcoming So You've Met a Thousand Year Old Vampire) are largely built on public domain pieces that the game's creator modifies, combines, etc., into uncomfortable collages. They work great, grounding you in the "real world" that's gone sinister, sometimes in ways that are hard to point to.

 

[Distracted DM]

There are a lot of indie TTRPG products that make use of public domain art- the good ones curate their choices to make the colors and/or styles fit one-another well.