Update: This work has been finished.

So, a few years ago, someone replaced all the legally problematic graphical assets in Project: Starfighter with libre ones. In general, I think they did a good job choosing these graphics. Heck, most of them look better than the originally chosen graphics! The faces, however... well, I'll just show the lineup of character portraits:

They come from CharlesGabriel's "48x48 Faces" sprite sheets:

• http://opengameart.org/content/48x48-faces-1st-sheet
• http://opengameart.org/content/48x48-faces-2nd-sheet
• http://opengameart.org/content/48x48-faces-3rd-sheet
• http://opengameart.org/content/48x48-faces-4th-sheet

As you can see, while they look good, they all have exactly the same facial features and the same stoic expression. So, I'd like to offer a commission to improve on these faces, give them some personality and variation in facial features.

To be clear, I don't have a particular attachment to the portraits that are currently being used. I suspect it would be easiest to just modify the already chosen portraits, but feel free to choose a different portrait as a base or even draw a new one from scratch if that floats your boat. My only particular requirements are:

1. Each character should look like a different person.
2. The look of the characters should generally match their personalities.
3. The style must remain consistent. (So if you choose to start from scratch in a different style, I won't accept it unless you also redraw all other characters in that style.)

I'm willing to offer $10 per character, for a total of $70 if you were to do all 7. I can send the money through PayPal for sure. Bitcoin is also a possibility, though it would be my first use of bitcoin (and I'd have to get some bitcoin from someone else first). I'm willing to discuss other methods as well.

To do this work, you will need to understand what sorts of characters these are. To get the best idea, you might want to play Project: Starfighter; you can get a copy here:

http://starfighter.nongnu.org

However, here are some brief descriptions of and quotes from each of the characters, from left to right (SPOILERS ahead):

Chris Bainfield

The player's character.

Chris is quite stoic and really has no discernible character traits. Since it's the main character, I don't think this is especially problematic (players can just use him as a blank slate to represent themselves), but if you want to give his portrait a look that suggests a more well-defined personality, I will gladly accept that and make adjustments to the game's dialog to match.

• "I'm getting too close my the my rendezvous point. If I don't shake these guys soon then everything could be over before it begins!"
• "I don't think we can help, it would attract far too much attention."
• "Still, we should investigate. Too many people have died as a result of that blasted corporation!"
• "I didn't come this far to lose now, Kethlan!"

Sid Wilson

Chris's friend. He tells the player about all kinds of information, basically does the planning, and also tends to be the voice of reason. Also seems to be some kind of expert in a relevant technology.

Like Chris, Sid is quite stoic and really has no discernible character traits. If you want to give his portrait a look that suggests a more well-defined personality, I will gladly accept that and make adjustments to the game's dialog to match. This is not required, though.

• "We need to get hold of those pods to save some lives!"
• "We're all counting on you, Chris! But just remember - They didn't call that thing "Star Killer" just because it sounded nice!"
• "Chris, our mission is to save lives."
• "No, even if we manage to find them in all that space, they'll probably be too heavily damaged to be of any use."
• "It'll work, but I don't like the look of it either."

Phoebe Lexx and Ursula Lexx

Two allies gained during the game. They are sisters and say mostly the same things. Both of them frequently brag about their kill counts and poke fun at each other for the other's kill count. Phoebe demonstrates a tendency toward recklessness as well. It's worth noting that Ursula is under a sort of mind-control when you first see her, and the same portrait is used for that as when she is later released from it.

• "You ain't so tough!"
• "Kicked your ass!"
• "Hey Phoebe, you asleep over there?!"
• "I'm catching up with you, Ursula!"
• "What are you doing?! Shoot THEM!"
• "Get out of the way!"

Crew

Just an NPC you need to rescue. He is only seen once, and everything he says is announcing the problems he's having with his ship and asking for help.

Krass Tyler

A mercenary; he basically serves as an antihero. He is the one who supplied you with your ship (he stole it for you), and he also does other jobs for Chris, for the right fee. Later on, he is offered a large sum of money (apparently $90,000,000) by WEAPCO (the game's antagonists) to kill Chris, and he accepts it.

I definitely think this character should have a grin on his face.

• "I know, but you will still owe me money for the Firefly. Do this job, and also collect $500, and we will call it quits. And if you die... Well, I guess the ship was not worth stealing! HA HA HA!!"
• "Sure, I can help you out, boy. But I'll be needing my fee..."
• "Keep those things off my back or it'll cost you extra!!!"
• "I'm a mercenary, what do you expect?! WEAPCO hired me to do a job, just like you have been doing."
• "That was the easiest $90,000,000 I've ever earned! Bwwah!! Ha!! Ha!! Ha!!"

Kline Kethlan

The big boss, basically (he actually isn't, but "the Emperor" is never seen in the game). He seems to enjoy combat, and your first meeting with him is him briefly testing Chris's abilities before running away (you can tell this is what he was doing because he still has most of his shield left when he leaves).

• "Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no one to help you! This will certainly be interesting..."
• "Seems I underestimated you, Bainfield. We'll meet again!"
• "Very good, Bainfield. Now let's get a little more serious..."
• "How very disappointing..."
• "Heroic. And stupid."
• "And now you're nothing but a DEAD hero."
• "It was an honor... to have fought you..."