Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Recently I've been browsing the web to get some ideas of how to paint my latest Tau army. Coming across a strong theme I really liked.

My question is about etiquette. Is it fine to steal someone else color scheme that they spent trial and error coming up with.

Is it frowned upon? Should I just tweak it instead?

What's your take.

There's nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from someone else.

If you take that and mold it/tweak it to be your own that will be even better though.

when in doubt it never hurts to ask.

Some people follow the box art paint schemes. It's not that much different. If anyone asks about it just let them know where you got the idea from, otherwise it's perfectly normal to gather inspiration and mold it into your own thing.

It's totally okay to go with a scheme someone else came up with. If it happened to a scheme I came up with I would take it as a huge compliment and would be excited to see your progress.

Take it and don't feel even the slightest bit bad about it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 Sylhfer wrote:
Recently I've been browsing the web to get some ideas of how to paint my latest Tau army. Coming across a strong theme I really liked.

My question is about etiquette. Is it fine to steal someone else color scheme that they spent trial and error coming up with.

Is it frowned upon? Should I just tweak it instead?

What's your take.

My view is that as long as it's not ... Heavy Inspired By someone who games at your local store, then it's fair game. Same for conversions. At the end of the day, they're your models, paint 'em however you think looks nice, 'cause you're the one that's going to be putting in the hours and goign to be looking at them on the table.

There is essentially no etiquette to worry about with regard to this.

Paint schemes are paint schemes so you are free to paint your models however you wish even if its an exact copy of someone else's scheme. You don't have to tell them, nor ask for permission and chances are you could come up with many similar schemes without even copy-catting another persons design.

Same for conversions - if you like the idea copy it.

Even if its someone else's force at your own club, although then you've got the bonus of going "oh cool how'd you do that" Most gamers if asked will tell you; its only a tiny fraction of the community who would take offence and are honestly not worth worrying about (in fact I've never yet heard of anyone taking offence at this).

don't worry, stuff like that is not copyrighted. And nobody will take something as under-trivial than painting plastic soldiers serious

If it's your own models, paint them however you like. No one is going to come to your house and tell you that you're a thief for stealing someone else's scheme. However I do point out that the feeling of finding a good theme for your own forces is in of itself something great to be experienced, but that's basically the only thing you'll lose out on.

Just don't post someone else's pictures and claim them as your own. That's a big no-no.

Id honestly be honored if some one took the time to use my scheme. if i had one.

really should get on that Tau project.