How I created distressed old sci-fi novel covers for my DEEP SPACE TTRPG

I was asked how I create distressed old sci-fi novel covers for my DEEP SPACE TTRPG so here's a guide for my fellow indie creators!

After deciding on the fonts I want I build the cover using LibreOffice Writer which is basically a free version of basic MS Word. I choose to build that way because I want to emulate similar restrictions that typesetters had when creating covers of the time, so I have to be creative with the layout of the lettering and how the image in the background fits.

I then source the images from wherever I can find free images, and there's plenty to choose from.

After making sure the image site is reputable, the image isn't AI and doing a final search to make sure that the image hadn't been lifted from anywhere, I crop it to size and put in the background.

Once I'm happy with it I snip the final picture and save it as an image file. Then I open MSPaint and copy it in. Nothing fancy, just basic MSPaint. It's here I want to add some lines to make the book look creased so I draw white lines at the corners, add some to the edges to make it look a bit torn and even draw it down the spine to look used.

Then I save and open an online tool to help distress the book called iPiccy. This gives me the ability to add layers of grunge, lighting effects and paper styles, and as a bonus the white of the lines I drew are then browned and look even more worn. Once finished, I can then download the image at it's highest resolution and that's it.

The whole process from deciding fonts, images and layout to final cover can take 2-3 hours. There's always some tweaking going on from font colour and shading to colour correction to image manipulation, but once the initial layout is done on LibreOffice the rest of the process is straightforward.

And that's it. That's how I create my Deep Space covers. It's a bit of work but there are no costs at all and it's a simple case of being creative with what you have.

Links below to my sources:

www.libreoffice.org

jspaint.app

ipiccy.com

www.freepik.com

www.pexels.com

pixabay.com

I've done what due diligence I can and these sites are as legit as I can find but I always check the images I use to be on the safe side and credit where credit is due.

I never use AI or any kind of AI text, mainly because I'm a human being with a soul and morals, and I buy stock art where I can afford it.

I'm working on an expanded print version of Deep Space next year and it will have paid artists involved (I've already snagged an awesome cover artist), but this way costs nothing and with a bit of work and imagination yields great results.

Hope this helps, fellow indie creators!

OUT NOW - DEEP SPACE SOURCEBOOK #5 - THE COALITION

As the Cold War went on and dozens of star systems found themselves being handed around like playing pieces, a few members of different nations realised that the old ways were going to tear the human race apart – even out here amongst the stars – and that a new way of governing the people was required. Long gone were the days of controlling dozens of worlds from a central seat, they thought; what we need is a way for worlds to take care of their own affairs and yet still defer to a central body that ruled for the benefit of all the member systems, and not just those who had the most power or resources.

These few politicians began a movement that took almost a decade to come to fruition, and before the nations realised it eight stars systems situated quite close to each other had split from their parent governments and declared themselves The Coalition...

DEEP SPACE SOURCEBOOK #5 - THE COALITION is a 2-page book providing information and stats for the nation including military forces, starships, the government system, the star systems, and the trouble they cause for other nations and themselves...

Requires 'DEEP SPACE - A SIMPLE SPACE ADVENTURE ROLEPLAYING GAME' 

OUT NOW - 'WORLD OF WINTER' for the DEEP MAGIC TTRPG

 OUT NOW

'WORLD OF WINTER'

WORLD OF WINTER is a campaign setting for the DEEP MAGIC #TTRPG, a fantasy British Isles that never was – or is long forgotten - where magic exists and fabulous creatures abound.

Can the characters rekindle the flame of hope?

OUT NOW - DEEP SPACE ADVENTURE #14 - TIN CAN IDAHO

 OUT NOW

DEEP SPACE ADVENTURE #14 - TIN CAN IDAHO​

The Explorers are a few hours into a journey across the Capital States but the captain has decided to take a shortcut through uncharted international space to avoid a travel tax.

The starship – a 120-meter passenger vessel called the Chase - is a privately owned passenger transport that travels the Capital States spaceways but the captain, Larson, has fallen on hard times and to save money he’s plotted a jump outside the lanes and across uncharted space. This has saved him thousands on taxes.

He's done this plenty of times. No problem at all.

Requires 'DEEP SPACE - A SIMPLE SPACE ADVENTURE ROLEPLAYING GAME'

ALIEN RPG – Second Edition and Rapture Protocol

Okay, so this has been announced and I'm thrilled to say that I co-wrote the new cinematic adventure 'Rapture Protocol'.

It's been my pleasure and privilege to work wthin my favourite franchise in my favourite hobby, and I'm excited to see it let loose!

In Space, Everyone Will Hear You Scream For Joy For The Second Edition Of The ALIEN RPG

Free League’s Kickstarter this Fall will debut a new wave of 2e releases, including new core rules, starter set, cinematic scenario set, and miniatures line

For five glorious years, Free League Publishing and 20th Century Studios have explored the ultimate reaches of the ALIEN universe. In celebration of the critically acclaimed ALIEN RPG’s 5th anniversary in 2024, Free League proudly announced their plans to unleash a Second Edition of the multiple award-winning game rules across an expansive new line of rulebooks, starter sets, cinematics, and accessories. The stress fest begins with bug hunts aplenty through an epic Kickstarter launching this Fall.  Free League has revealed their core line-up for the upcoming Kickstarter, with more details coming soon: Based upon feedback from thousands of players over five years of adventures, the Second Edition of the core rules delivers an updated and streamlined version of the ALIEN RPG fans know and love, along with additional new artwork, new content, and a variety of new tools for players and Game Mothers alike, all fully compatible with previous releases and game material.  The new 2e starter set will be redesigned as the perfect starting point for newcomers to roleplaying in the ALIEN universe, containing everything they need for game night including abridged 2e rules, character sheets, custom dice, reference cards, various handouts, and an expanded 2e edition of the fan-favorite Hope’s Last Day scenario set on Hadley’s Hope just prior to the unforgettable events of Aliens.  The new cinematic scenario boxed set, Rapture Protocol, written by Jonathan Hicks and Free League's Tomas Härenstam, returns to the roots of the ALIEN franchise, featuring the crew of a small star freighter on a resupply run to the remote industrial colony, soon embroiled in a deadly conflict.  The miniatures set is designed to bring the events of Rapture Protocol to life, but fully complement other adventures and skirmish battles throughout the ALIEN RPG series.  Sign up today to follow the upcoming Kickstarter, look out for more news across Free League’s social channels, and then get ready for a whole new chapter of sprawling, stress-inducing, blood-curdling ALIEN RPG adventures for years to come. We can’t lie to you about your chances, but you have our sympathies. Kickstarter Campaign URL: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/alien-rpg-second-edition-and-rapture-protocol

DEEP SPACE - A SIMPLE SPACE ADVENTURE TTRPG

OUT NOW! DEEP SPACE ADVENTURE #13 - THE ICARUS CONTRACT

DEEP SPACE ADVENTURE #13 - THE ICARUS CONTRACT

The Explorers have been tasked with taking an old transport vessel to the world Tango-Hotel-X-ray from the decommissioned space station Icarus for scrapping.

Easy.

Right?

Farsight Games update!

Hi there! I hope you had a great week and you're looking forward to a weekend of TTRPG adventure and action!

This is just a quick update to let you know about what's available at Farsight Games, what's in the catalogue and what's on offer; if you're stuck for a last-minute game, you just want to play something quick and easy or you want to run a big campaign without the fuss of complicated rules and systems, then there's something for you here!

First off, there's the best selling 'Deep Space' - a short and cheap science fiction adventure game with plenty of supplements and adventures to last you a very long time, all tied up into a neat discounted bundle if you want it all in one hit!

There's a few other games that use the 'Deep Space' D12 system, too, so if you want some horror, fantasy or even some submarine action then this is your place to be!

The High5 System games are all on sale - from future military sci-fi action to a dark, procedural cop drama in a cyberpunk world, this quick and simple system will get you into the action straight away.

Farsight Games also produces official adventures for the popular Osprey Games TTRPG 'Those Park Places', all compatible with the sequel game 'Pressure'. These are all on sale, too!

There's a little something for everyone, and it's all easily adaptable and modded to suit the kind of game that you want to play!

Farsight Games products are cheap, easy to learn, easy to teach and simple to run.

FARSIGHT GAMES - You are the adventure! 

#33 - GM advice (and why I avoid it these days)

OUT NOW! CYBERWAVE - A RULES-LIGHT 1980s CYBERPUNK SYNTHWAVE MUSIC BAND TTRPG

Welcome to the 1980s… but not as you know it.​

CYBERWAVE

The governments funded the sciences. Corporations became the norm and innovations became assets. The space race never ended. Computer technology expanded and grew at a geometric rate. The future arrived long before anyone realised it was here. The neon. The cyberware. The style.

And the music. 80s music is a mix of romanticism, rock and synthesizers, producing sounds that make the world pay attention. ‘The MoonKings’, ‘Mind Erasure’, ‘Drop The Baby’, ‘The Euro-rythmics’, ‘Depeche Godmode’, ‘Last Train’, ‘New Orders’… these bands and others rock radio waves, personal stereo systems and stages across all the great rain-soaked neon-lit corporate nightmare cities of the planet, bringing a little brightness into the life of the average citi-consumer.

To make it as a music band is to make it out of the gutter, so many promising artists do what they can to get their gear, make their music, speak their truth and create their own chances.

But what are they willing to do to reach their dreams? What are they willing to risk?

Get your band together, choose your style, and get rich.

However you can.

https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/pro...YNTHWAVE-MUSIC-BAND-TTRPG?affiliate_id=235084

#32 - Movies and shows that inspired me and my TTRPG hobby

#31 - Fighting Fantasy and me

 

#30 - Giving your TTRPG locations historical depth

#29 - Players knowing more about the TTRPG setting than the GM

#28 - Me and the post-apocalyptic TTRPG

#27 - Are session zero evenings important for TTRPG campaigns?

#26 - My experience with GMPCs in TTRPGs

#25 - My first D&D 5e TTRPG session

#24 - What I'm looking forward to in my new D&D TTRPG campaign

OUT NOW: DEEP MAGIC - A SIMPLE FANTASY TTRPG

DEEP MAGIC - A SIMPLE FANTASY TTRPG

A 4-page rules light fantasy RPG inspired by classics of heroic fantasy but there's a catch; can the players keep Heart and avoid succumbing to Doom? Using the D12 rules with freeform magic rules.

You can use it as you see fit, with an established fantasy setting or one of your own design.

Have fun, and keep your sword sharp!​

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/477403/DEEP-MAGIC--A-SIMPLE-FANTASY-TTRPG?affiliate_id=235084

#23 - Going back to the D&D TTRPG

#22 - Character death in TTRPGs

#21 - Why I found STAR WARS an easy TTRPG to play

OUT APRIL 21st! 'DEEP MAGIC'

A 4-page rules light fantasy RPG inspired by the classics of the heroic fantasy genre but there's a catch; can the players keep Heart and avoid succumbing to the Doom?

Using the D12 rules as used in the best-selling Deep Space TTRPG with freeform magic rules!

Jonathan Hicks | Evolution Of RPG

#20 - Why I struggled to run TTRPG games in Tolkien's Middle-earth

FARSIGHTGAMES LIVE 30.03.2024

#19 - Evil PC TTRPG campaigns

#18 - How to handle problem TTRPG players

FARSIGHT GAMES LIVE 28.03.2024

#17 - How I feel about Player Character backstories in TTRPGs

#16 - What will probably happen the first time you GM a TTRPG

#15 - How I handle long TTRPG campaigns

Live TTRPG stream test - 24.03.2024

#14 - A quick vid about TTRPG discourse and outrage

#13 - How ALIEN influenced my TTRPG hobby

#12 - What kind of games can you run with the Pressure TTRPG?

#11 - What I thought about the Alien Romulus teaser trailer

#10 - GM inspiration for TTRPG games

#9 - What I want in a fantasy TTRPG

#8 - The lore of my 'The Doom of Ages' TTRPG

#7 - My thoughts on the cyberpunk genre in TTRPGs

#6 - MMORPGs as TTRPGS

#5 - Introducing the 'PRESSURE' TTRPG from Osprey Games

#4 - Introducing the Deep Space Sci-fi TTRPG

#3 - A little about my TTRPG design process

Why I play tabletop roleplaying games

New YouTube video - In which I introduce myself

I've dabbled in videos before, but I'd like to try again and make something of it. Now that I have some basic video software it's time to make it big! Or at least make a couple of vids and fail miserably.

DEEP SPACE - A SIMPLE SPACE ADVENTURE TTRPG

Blast across the stars and explore the universe in this simple 4-page rules light roleplaying game. All you need is paper, pencils and a D12 or two. 100 years into our future, humanity has discovered how to harness the power of a singularity, put it into an engine and use it to hurl themselves across space to far-off worlds and star systems. The Singularity Engine helped us slip the surly bonds of Earth. But we took our problems with us. Includes character creation, vehicles, starships, NPCs, creatures and star system generator. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/... Music credit: 'Universal' by Revo Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/revo/universal

Howdy Strangers | Sunset Ride | A Pressure RPG Western

This game is a 'Western Hack' for Pressure RPG. First seen live in the Infinite Monkey Tales discord staged channel:   / discord   Marshal: Brian    / infinitemonkeytales   Billy Brown: RxOliver https://allmylinks.com/RxOliver Lucius Webster: WesternEgg Kieth Blake: MobileMike Keep up with everything RxOliver & Friends in Discord:   / discord   Support the creator: https://ko-fi.com/rxoliver Facebook:   / rxoliverttv   Twitch:   / rxoliver  

OUT NOW! DEEP SPACE SOURCEBOOK #4 - THE CAPITAL STATES

OUT NOW!

DEEP SPACE SOURCEBOOK #4 - THE CAPITAL STATES

The Capital States contains 19 star systems in its territory, nearly all of which have habitable worlds and are within 75 light years of each other. It is one of the largest nations in explored space and, without doubt, one of the wealthiest, with very few planets in its borders below a Planetary Resource score of 8. Because of this, space traders and businesses flock to its banner in the hope of easy money.

One of the first nations to rise during the first exodus from Earth, the Capital States will do anything to hold onto the power and wealth they have built – and stolen – over the years.

DEEP SPACE SOURCEBOOK #4 - THE CAPITAL STATES is a 2-page book providing information and stats for the nation including key persons, military forces, starships, and the government system that keeps it's people happy... and controlled.

OUT NOW! DEEP SPACE SUPPLEMENT #5 - A SPACE TRADER'S LIFE

OUT NOW!

DEEP SPACE SUPPLEMENT #5 - A SPACE TRADER'S LIFE

A 3-page supplement for the Deep Space roleplaying game.

“Life in the spaceways ain’t all zap-boom adventures or blast-crak excitement like the Buster Harris show, peoples. There’s serious business out there and if you can get the right ship, the right cargo and a half-decent crew, you can make a serious amount of Sterling amongst the stars.

Of course, you can always have a go at zap-boom and blast-crak stuff; there’s money to be made any which way.”

Cmdr. James Sonne of ‘The Daring Dan’

There’s a lot of planets out there and the Star System Generator in the core rulebook lets you create a multitude of random worlds. Each of these worlds has a score for Planetary Resources and the higher this is the more desirable a world is because of it’s natural resources. These scores also indicate how wealthy a planet is, so the higher the score the more money it generates as it ships it’s resources off-world. This is where Space Traders come in.

Using the Planetary Resources Score (PRS), they can work out how much money they can make from a successful trip to another world and what kind of cargo they can expect to find. But it all starts with a starship.