iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

There is also a printable version available for those who are interested but don't want to spend money! Empyrean (printable version, minimal ink usage): docs.google.com/document/d/1... Empyrean Rulebook (with lore): drive.google.com/file/d/1fVhf...

docs.google.com

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

After a year of work, my board game (Empyrean) is finally done and available on The Game Crafter! This was a super fun project to work on. Please check it out if you like grand strategy or sci-fi world building: www.thegamecrafter.com/games/empyre... #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #boardgame #pixelart

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

I’m finally getting ready to release my first board game! Here are some unedited product shots of Empyrean. #gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #boardgame #solodev

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Georgie has a new look. Playing around with different styles. I'm finally done with university so I'll have more time to make art and work on game dev. #art #oc #indiedev

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

I can't decide on the color scheme for the tower.

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Early WIP poster for Empyrean. The final version of the game arrived yesterday and I will publishing it/bringing it to expos very soon! I can't believe I am so close to finishing this project. #gamedev #indiedev #boardgame #pixelart #art

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

The final version of Empyrean shipped today. I should be able to publish the game as soon as it arrives! After nearly a year of on-and-off development, I am almost done. #gamedev #indiedev #boardgame #pixelart #art

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

I found this old mockup I did for a remake of my first ever game project, a platformer called Catch the Carrot (I made it in high school and the original is on my itch.io page). I might do something with this... #gamedev #indiedev #art #pixelart #gameart

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

WIP animations for Caesar. They're a bit janky but I want to restrict myself to four frames and 16x16 sprites to make them convincingly retro. I think I'm going to work on some environment tile sets to make a world/train for Georgie and Caesar next. #art #pixelart #gamedesign #gamedev #indiedev

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

WIP companion for Georgie: Caesar, the white mastiff! I'm not sure what purpose a dog serves to a train engineer, but I like the idea of a skeleton and his pet dog travelling around in a steam train. I'll animate this guy when I get some more time. #art #pixelart #gamedesign #gamedev #indiedev

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

I improved Georgie's colors and gave him animations! I think this is a big improvement over yesterday's sketch, but it could still use some work. #art #pixelart #gamedesign #gamedev #indiedev

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

WIP character design for a little train-conducting game I've been thinking about making based on the folk song "Engine 143." I can finally start to think about new projects now that work on Empyrean is winding down. #art #pixelart #gamedesign #gamedev #indiedev

A pixelated skeleton in overalls with a train conductor's hat and shovel.

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

My sci-fi board game, Empyrean, is available to print and play for free! The FINAL professional print sample is in the mail! I'll be sharing updates about the full release soon™️! #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #pixelart #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

You can try the FINAL version (for real this time) of my board game, Empyrean! Empyrean (printable version, minimal ink usage): docs.google.com/document/d/1... Empyrean Rulebook (with lore): drive.google.com/file/d/1fVhf...

In the far future, Earth has been destroyed. Four legions-united by belief in the sun god Cael but divided by allegiance to His possible successors-battle for dominance across the solar system. The Enduring Dawn will come. The strongest son of Cael will take His place.

2-4 players take control of the Legions of the Hallowed Sons and battle to become Lord of the Empyrean. Players use Units and Stratagems to capture Locations across the board. The board changes with every game, adding different Locations to contest and new tactics to discover. Lord's Seat Locations are augmented after each victory, ensuring the same game is never played twice.

#gamedev #indiedev #solodev #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Here's a better (?) angle of the 3D render of Empyrean. Hopefully I'll be able to make some progress on the animation soon. #gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #art #boardgame #blender

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

I'm currently working on some 3D renders of the cards from Empyrean so I can make a video showcasing the game and how to play it. I haven't posted here in a while, but Empyrean is nearly done! #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #boardgame #pixelart #art

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Wholly unserious motorcycle (?) design for Empyrean. I don't think this will actually appear in the game. It's far too goofy looking 😂. #art #gamedev #indiedev #boardgame #gameart #worldbuilding

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

I made a little animation reel for the basic soldier from some of the Empyrean cards. I don't plan on turning Empyrean into a video game, but this was fun to do anyway. #pixelart #art #animation #gamedev #indiedev #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I'm trying to design super utilitarian vehicles for Empyrean. It also just so happens that simple designs are easy for me to create with my very limited digital art skillset. #art #gamedesign #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #boardgame #worldbuilding

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Here is some alternate Body Harvester art (this was the original design before it became the bear-like creature I've showed in previous posts). I'm not sure how I feel about this layout, but it does help showcase my art and the lore for Empyrean. #art #gamedev #indiedev #boardgame #worldbuilding

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Here are some of the cards from the Stratagem deck, including everyone’s favorite: Body Harvesters.

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Everything that came in the last sample of Empyrean. I’m really happy with this version, though a few more tweaks need to be made before it will be ready for release. #gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #art #boardgame #tabletop

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

I'm still super busy, so no game dev updates again today. I had a little time to do some art so I made a quick portrait using the Commodore VIC-20 palette. I feel like she would make a decent exasperated barista character in an RPG... #art #pixelart #gamedev #indiedev

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

I got the second sample of Empyrean! I am extremely happy with how it came out. Once I have access to better lighting I’ll post some more images of what the game looks like in action. #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #pixelart #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

I'm working on improving my Body Harvester art. I'm having a lot of fun with the challenge of drawing pseudo-organic creatures in this limited palette. #gamedev #indiedev #art #pixelart #gamedesign #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

I didn't have a lot of time to work on Empyrean today. Still, I drew a mech variant for the lore compendium. For those who might be interested in the game's lore, there are a bunch of excerpts at the end of the rulebook linked in my pinned post. #gamedev #indiedev #solodev #gameart #art #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

I immediately thought of a priest exploring an occult site. Not sure the assault rifle fits that mental image, though 😂

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

That looks great! Half Life: Alyx used a similar shader for wine bottles, which I always found super impressive.

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Trying to create a detailed version of the symbol of Empyrean. This is still an early WIP. Ultimately, I'd like to make a version that looks like it is made out of gold. Does anyone have any tips for drawing weirdly shaped metallic objects? #gamedev #indiedev #indie #art #pixelart #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

On the Forge World: “...birthplace of the weaponry of the Hallowed Sons’ armies…its people are slaves to the maintenance of Old Kingdom technology…” (I've was sick, so I wasn't able to work on non-pixel-art. I'm going to get back to it now.) #gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #art #lore #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

No game dev updates today, just a quick sketch inspired by my love of Kentucky Route Zero. #gamedev #pixelart #art #indie #krz

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

This is my second foray into high-res digital art. I'm a lot happier with the results of this drawing. This is one of the war machines used by the armies of Empyrean. #gamedev #solodev #indie #art #pixelart #gamedesign #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

This was the piece of art that got me thinking about world-building and eventually became the basis of Empyrean. My designs have gotten a lot grittier since (I don't think the trees or bird fit the current atmosphere of desolation 😂). #gamedev #indie #pixelart #art #boardgames #solodev

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Thank you! I totally agree about the need to commit to hard shadows.

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

That's really good advice! Thank you!

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

I'm not very good at high-res digital art (I almost exclusively work with physical mediums or do pixel art), but I want to improve so that I can put together a "Monster Manual" for Empyrean. If anyone has any tips for improving, let me know. #art #gamedev #indie #solodev #pixelart #boardgames

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

One of the most fun aspects of designing Empyrean was coming up with the Ascension mechanic: the General of the player who wins the game becomes "Lord of the Empyrean" and augments the rules/Locations in the next game. #gamedev #design #indiedev #indie #pixelart #boardgame #solodev

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

It’s amazing to see Empyrean as a real physical game after months and months of drawing, writing, editing, and play-testing with paper prototypes. #gamedev #indie #solodev #pixelart #art #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Thank you so much! Those are very kind words.

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Empyrean is now available to print and play! The (hopefully) final professional print sample is on its way. #gamedev #indiedev #indie #pixelart #boardgame

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

You can try my game (before it was cool). Empyrean (Printable Version): docs.google.com/document/d/1... Empyrean Rulebook: drive.google.com/file/d/1n9vf...

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

The second Empyrean sample is completed and will be ordered soon. I'm so excited that this project finally coming together. I will hopefully get around to publishing the printable version and posting pictures of the first sample soon. #solodev #indiedev #gamedev #art #pixelart #boardgames #indie

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no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

I need to start posting more consistently. In my absence, I've nearly finished Empyrean. I've received the first production sample for the game, and I am about to order the second. I still plan on releasing a free printable version sometime soon. #gamedev #indie #solodev #pixelart #art

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