Baron Bob's Raptor Squad Request

I love that concept of pic design...and the characters are rendered with such individualism. Cant think of anything I could do that help out here.

Wow, I wasn't even sure I remembered my Username and password. I surprised even myself.

Just wanted to jump on here and first off applaud Hish's spearheading of this project. SWAG has always been near and dear to my heart and much like one's own child. I come by here often and am proud at the work Kris has done and at the wonderful artwork and artists that SWAG counts among it's ranks.

You all have a lot to be proud of and are a spectacular addition to the SWRPG and SW community in general. You selflessly take your own time, money and tools and produce artwork that many people would gladly pay for and do it for free. That says volumes of your character and about you as a person.

You inspire not only other artists but entire communities of people and for that there is no way to properly thank you all, but know that you're looked up to and revered highly.

In regards to my request, I understand that many of you are currently working on other requests and may be busy and I understand that. Please don't put off requests you are currently working on to help me. If I were Baron Administrator still, I would tell you to finish what you've started before helping "this guy with his webpage".

However, I did want to clarify what I was hoping to achieve, after reading Casca1967's post (BTW thank you Casca1967 for replying and I truly hope you will consider helping me, your work is wonderful and I enjoyed looking through your gallery!).

I hope many of you are familiar with the book "Star Wars Visions". It's a large coffee table book of artwork from artists who created artwork that captures the "flavor" of Star Wars.

Here is a link if you've not seen it:

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Art-J-W-Rinzler/dp/0810995891/ref=sr_1_…

If you can, I urge you to get yourself a copy, it's really quite wonderful.

Anyway, the clarification I wanted to make is this:

I'm not looking specifically for new PC's pics or portrait (although if you wanted to do that I would certainly welcome it!).

Rather I'm looking for you each to express yourself creatively and individually, by using Raptor Squad as the theme.

This is why this is a request unlike any (to my knowledge) you have found on here and why I think it would be not only an awesome treat for the community but a creative challenge and exercise for you, as an artist, as well.

The pics will be featured prominently in their own gallery, so folks will be able to go right to it and enjoy the pieces you create. In addition, I encourage all who participate to give an "artists statement" on the piece. Explain why you choose what you did, what medium you used and how you feel overall about the work. I want viewers to know as much about what you put into it as you'd like to tell.

Simply look at the site, maybe read a few pages of fiction, or a character bio or a vehicle or something that catches your eye. Perhaps a write up on a weapon that you think would be cool to actually see in use. And then...get creative. I'm not going to turn away what you produce, nor am I going to give any of you artistic direction. You won't get "notes" from me on how to change something or what I did/didn't like.

All you will get from me is my undying gratitude and continued admiration for your help.

This is a chance for you to stretch your "artistic muscles" and have completely free reign. Ever wanted to try out a new art program or medium? Here's your chance! Ever wanted to try doing something in the style of another artist? Give it a shot! I want you to sit down at your drawing table, sketchpad or Wacom tablet and be free and creative, with the theme of Raptor Squad flowing through your head. If you have any questions about something or an idea you want to run past me to see if it fits the "flavor" of RS please do! The only requirement I have is that it is relevant to the Raptor Squad site, and after eleven years, countless updates and hundreds of pages of content I'm confident you will find something you can have fun using.

Again, many thank you's right up front for those of you who can help this old war horse out, and I'll be sure to be in touch with you all through Hish or directly (my email is vic@raptorsquad.net). There is no limit to the number of artists who can participate, as with many things in life "The More the Merrier!". Our Anniversary is next month so for those who can help me there is no rush, you've got a month to be creative and have fun and that is exactly what I want you to do...forget about making sure a cloak looks right or you've put the right color on a lightsaber blade. Just look at our site, find something that interests you and...have fun. In the end, that's really what this is about-me giving you guys a theme and you showing the community what you can do and hopefully having a good time doing it.

We've hit eleven years over at Raptor Squad and I've seen a lot of changes in the community-many sites fading away, many friends fading away and the face of Star Wars actually shifting and changing to incorporate new material, writers and creators. However, I can honestly say that it is both humbling and gratifying to see that SWAG, and the wonderful artist's that make up its ranks, haven't changed. True,, times may have changed, but in the end the principals and foundation we established seem to have held up- and that, coupled with your continued support and participation shows that SWAG, and all of you, are truly something special.

Thank you once more and May the Force Be With You...Always.

I'd love to help out with this, and I particularly love the concept behind it - all of us flexing our own creative styles, bound only by our interpretation of your awesome content. I've been playing around with some Mobius-inspired stylings lately, I'd love to try out a big piece for you!

And Bob, it's been too long. Stop by more often. ;)

Boshuda

Awesome Asok! I love Moebius and you have just gotten better and better as time has gone on. You've turned into quite the artist and your talent really shows!

Thanks so much!

That is exactly what I was going for, everyone working together towards a common goal, getting creative, sharing ideas and looking forward to seeing what each other come up with!

Don't get me wrong, I know what a huge favor I'm asking of all of you and I know how busy you all are, but this would not only help me out, it would tie in nicely with our anniversary celebration and I would promote the heck out of it over at the Holonet, D6 Online and anywhere else I can let my voice be heard.

And this will showcase the wonderful art you all can produce! I know SWAG is the main showcase, and people come here all the time to peruse the massive galleries and tons of great art, but consider this the same as producing artwork for a different gallery. You might reach some new viewers, get some different exposure and be a part of something special.

Again, all help will be appreciated and any artwork will be prominently displayed and appropriately fawned all over.

Again, you all have my deepest thanks.

;-)

Awesome to see the baron make a return! I'm in glee!!! I don't have very much free time or the Internet but I'll see what I can do since I love the concept! Great idea!

Thanks Drig!

Awesome to see you guys again as well! Sorry I haven't been around as much. Several years back my job situation altered taking away a lot of my free time and then my Mother's health took a turn for the worse and it kinda sidetracked me from a lot of my hobbies so I could care for her.

But lately I've made a point to make time for myself and go back to what I love doing.

Ideally I would have done all of this for our 10th anniversary but I was spending a lot of time in hospitals and rehab facilities and just couldn't scrounge the time together.

Again, thanks so much for helping me out! I really appreciate your enthusiasm and participation!!!!!

On an unrelated note, I am compelled to borrow some ideas from the fantastic Raptor Squad campaign for my own games, but I'm horrible at d6 to Saga conversions. Has there already been a conversion done somewhere, or would I have to find a kind soul who could make some conversions for me?

Thanks for the compliment UnnaturalGas!

Unfortunately, all of our stuff is in D6. I tried (Unsuccessfully) several years ago to see if someone could help me with D20 Conversions but at the time there were very few people who could do them (or do them well) and they were tied up on other projects.

I've recently acquired the RCR Rulebook and have thought about trying to get in there and do some conversions, but again it's something im not familiar with and may take a while to get them done.

If there is anyone out there who can help with conversions I would of course welcome the help. Whatever it takes to make Raptor Squad more accessible and helpful to the community!!!

If I wasn't in over my head with work as it is, I'd love to help; I'm a bit of a savant with Saga Edition if I do say so myself, but I'm completely unfamiliar with d6 and would have to invest too much time analyzing how the numbers come together with the mechanics to be of any use. I might just grab an episode or two as they are, build Saga NPCs to fit the bill, and throw them at my unwitting players.

Things are really moving on the "Raptor Squad Visions" project! I want to thank those who have already offered to help and reiterate how appreciative I am! We still have plenty of time and of course space for those SWAGGERS out there who are interested! Please reply to this thread to pitch your hat into the ring and get on board with this cool community project!

Let's get excited people! We all love Star Wars and remember how excited we were the first time we saw it! I want you to recapture that feeling and be free and creative as you can!

Heck, after this is all done I might even pick up a few requests myself, see how good (or bad) I've gotten in the last ten years!

Thanks again to you all and keep on Swaggin'!!!!!

I think I'm going to need to take some time to really absorb some of the Raptor Squad content before I can have any idea of where I'd even start; but this definitely seems like a heck of a worthy cause and I'd love to be able to contribute something to the project!!

Is there a specific date/month or anything that you're hoping to have artwork collected by, or is it a sort of year-long-anniversary-artistic celebration? :D

Either way, you can count me in.

Awesome Tusserk! Thank yo so much for tossing your hat in! I really appreciate it!

Again, I'm struck by the generosity of you all and humbled by your talents and willingness to help me out. You are truly gifted and special artists and I'm in your debt.

As far as a timetable, next month is our anniversary and I'd like to make a month-liong even out of it. Posting new features and items as the days roll on.

That being said, I was hoping to "save the best for last" as it were and put up the RS:V Project (Easier to type that I think!) at the end of the month.

So let's say a deadline of Sunday, April 29th to have all finalized pieces in. Does that work for you guys? It gives you a full month to complete a piece (or pieces if you are feeling industrious like my good friend Hish!). Then I can top off the 11th Anniversary Celebration on Monday the 30th.

That being said, I intend on giving the RS:V Project its own gallery, so if you happen to look at some material down the line and think it would make a good piece and get it done say, in August, there will still be a home for it! Obviously I would love to have an initial piece from all who are participating for the roll-out on April 30th, but if, down the line you were to create a secondary piece it would already have a place to call home.

Again, my thanks go out to all of you wonderful artists who are being so kind in helping me out!

Hey all!

I've decided to step things up and make this more interesting!

I was so moved by the generosity and offers I decided to dig into the Baron's old Spacer's Chest and offer up something cool as a prize! And for you guys it's extra special...because it isn't just an awesome one of a kind piece, it's a piece of SWAG HISTORY!

See the new thread "Win an actual Sabacc Deck" here in the community forums!!!!

I figured you guys might a shot at least of getting something cool for your work! Thanks again to Hisham, Asok, Drig and Tusserk for their offers and enthusiasm! I look forward to seeing your submissions and wish you all the very best of luck in the contest (not that you need it, you all are fantastic artists!)

I guess we can close this thread if you guys want and start using the contest thread for any questions, comments or whathaveyou.

Let the celebration...BEGIN!

Oh, Heck yeah!

Less than a week to go!

The contest is still wide open to anyone with a wee bit of talent and a few minutes of free time!

So, head over to our site, check us out and give it a shot! At the least you've contributed to something cool the entire community will enjoy, at the most you will walk away with a very cool and rare prize!