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nosmokingguns.bsky.social
no smoking guns
@nosmokingguns.bsky.social
57 followers 19 following 59 posts
Amateur artist, game developer, and music enthusiast.

Creator of Empyrean, a sci-fi strategy board game and worldbuilding project.

https://no-smoking-guns.itch.io/
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nosmokingguns.bsky.social
no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · Jun 4
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
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
#art #pixelart
A man stands on a hill, overlooking a vast, rocky landscape.
July 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
Early WIP card art for a monster battler card game that I am working on with @anjosustrakr.bsky.social.

#art #gameart #gamedesign #gamedev #indiedev #cardgame #tcg
June 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
June 4, 2025 at 8:33 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
I’m finally getting ready to release my first board game! Here are some unedited product shots of Empyrean.

#gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #boardgame #solodev
May 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
May 29, 2025 at 5:16 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
Updated poster. Still a WIP, but better than before.

#pixelart #art #gamedev #indiedev #boardgame
April 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
April 17, 2025 at 12:53 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
April 8, 2025 at 1:04 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
April 6, 2025 at 3:10 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
April 1, 2025 at 2:20 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 31, 2025 at 2:01 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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.
March 27, 2025 at 3:29 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
nosmokingguns.bsky.social no smoking guns @nosmokingguns.bsky.social · Mar 26
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
March 26, 2025 at 2:23 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 26, 2025 at 2:17 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 19, 2025 at 11:08 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
WIP 3D render of what my game looks like when it is set up.

#gamedev #indiedev #boardgame #art #pixelart #blender #3Dart
A strategy board game with colorful pixel art cards, meeples, and block pieces.
March 18, 2025 at 11:58 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 17, 2025 at 10:23 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 5, 2025 at 10:27 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 4, 2025 at 4:00 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
Updated version of my previous post with the current game-accurate art.

#art #gamedev #indiedev #lore #worldbuilding #boardgame #gamedesign #solodev
March 2, 2025 at 3:32 AM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 1, 2025 at 9:49 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM
nosmokingguns.bsky.social
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
March 1, 2025 at 3:54 AM