Mark Smylie
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marksmylie.bsky.social
Mark Smylie
@marksmylie.bsky.social
630 followers 440 following 420 posts
Occasional illustrator, writer, and TTRPG game designer, former comics publisher (founder of Archaia once upon a time) and editor. Feeder of cats, birds, deer, possums, raccoons, and foxes. Not necessarily in that order.
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marksmylie.bsky.social
Final Aegis item in @drivethrurpg.com's Cyber Monday sale: THE LAST BARROW, an adventure/thought exercise, presenting write-ups and stats of a lost barrow and its treasures for three different systems (the ARTESIA RPG, 5E, and @chaosium.bsky.social's RuneQuest):

www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/3...
Cover for the adventure supplement THE LAST BARROW, from Aegis for the Known World setting of the ARTESIA graphic novels and novel prequels. Double page spread from the adventured supplement THE LAST BARROW, outlining possible rumors about the barrow in question, and a historical text that might supply a party with details... A double page spread from THE LAST BARROW, describing one of the tombs found within the barrow and some of its artifacts. A double page spread from the "rules and stats" section, describing the elements of the barrow for the 5th Edition of the World's Most Popular Roleplaying Game. But descriptions and stats are also included for the ARTESIA RPG and for RUNEQUEST/BRP from Chaosium.
December 1, 2025 at 11:41 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
A closer look at another item in @drivethrurpg.com's Cyber Monday sale, HISTORIAE MUNDI: A HISTORY OF THE KNOWN WORLD. A sourcebook expanding on the history material in the ARTESIA RPG, along with the timeline info in ARTESIA ANNUAL #3, filled with info!

legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/3120...
Cover for HISTORIAE MUNDI: A HISTORY OF THE KNOWN WORLD, featuring the goddess Yhera as the Creatrix, defeating and binding the World Dragon at the start of Creation. The frontispiece intro to HISTORIAE MUNDI: A HISTORY OF THE KNOWN WORLD, originally used as the cover of ARTESIA ANNUAL #3, showing Artesia reading a book against a backdrop of figures from Known World history. A sample map from HISTORIAE MUNDI: A HISTORY OF THE KNOWN WORLD, showing the Known World during the hundred years prior to the events of the ARTESIA graphic novel series and its novel prequels (one of 11 such maps in the book). A sample page from HISTORIAE MUNDI: A HISTORY OF THE KNOWN WORLD, featuring an illustration of the Sorcerer-King Azharad, whose burial place is a focus of the prequel novel THE BARROW.
December 1, 2025 at 4:06 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Next up in @drivethrurpg.com's Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale: the ARTESIA: ADVENTURES IN THE KNOWN WORLD RPG. Written with the Fusion rules (the base system for Cyberpunk 2020); winner of the 2005 Origins Award for Best RPG and nominated for 6 ENnies.

www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/3...
Front cover for the ARTESIA: ADVENTURES IN THE KNOWN WORLD RPG, published by Archaia in 2005 and still available via Aegis & Gorgon (a new revised edition is in the works!). An extensive history of the Known World, setting for the ARTESIA comics, is included in the ARTESIA RPG. Here is a sample page, with an illustration of the Dúréan heroine Hannath Hammergreia. In the ARTESIA RPG the Major Arcana of the Known World's Tarot provides links to powers and abilities but also is the basis of the experience system. The ARTESIA RPG also includes background details like info on the constellations of the Known World's Cosmos, and how they impact character creation and divination in the game.
November 30, 2025 at 3:28 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Next in @drivethrurpg.com's Black Friday sale: the 3rd graphic novel, ARTESIA AFIRE, wholly published by Archaia in 2003. The collected edition includes a story from ANNUAL #2 and a story that appeared in John Kovalic's DORK TOWER. 30% off through end of Monday!

www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/2...
The cover of ARTESIA AFIRE, third collected edition in the series, originally published by Archaia and still available via Aegis & Gorgon. A prologue page from ARTESIA AFIRE, from a short story that originally appeared in DORK TOWER. A prologue page from the collected edition of ARTESIA FIRE (third volume in the series). A double-page spread from the collected edition of ARTESIA AFIRE, third volume in the series.
November 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Next item in the @drivethrurpg.com Black Friday sale: the 2nd graphic novel, ARTESIA FIELD, originally published in series format by Sirius in late 2000 and then as a graphic novel by Archaia in 2003 with a prologue taken from the first ARTESIA ANNUAL. 30% off!

www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/1...
Cover of the collected edition of ARTESIA AFIELD (second in the series) from Archaia/Aegis & Gorgon. The cover for ARTESIA AFIELD #1, included in the graphic novel collection as the intro image for Chapter One. It was also included as a selection in SPECTRUM #8. A page from Chapter Two, in which Artesia and her officers find themselves at cross swords with nominal allies. A page from Chapter Four (ARTESIA AFIELD #4), in which Artesia tells the story of how she found an enchanted sword.
November 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Here's a closer look at one of the items in @drivethrurpg.com's Black Friday sale, the first ARTESIA graphic novel. First published in 1999 by Sirius, then later by me via my first company, Archaia. Still available through DriveThru in pdf (on sale!) and POD formats under the Aegis & Gorgon banner.
The 2003 cover of the first hardcover edition of ARTESIA (previously published by Sirius in a 1999 softcover, with a limited edition hardback). A two-page battle spread from Chapter 2 (originally issue #2 in the comic book series). Artesia (eponymous heroine) is surprised by a Hathaz-Ghúl, a kind of ghoul, in Chapter 3 (issue #3 in the original series). A dream sequence in Chapter 5 (issue #5 in the original series), in which Artesia sees an allegory of the future.
November 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
If you're in the UK at #Dragonmeet this coming weekend, you can find these WIP previews of @martinhelsdon.bsky.social's book on the Esrolian city of Rhigos in #Glorantha at the Jonstown Compendium table in the @chaosium.bsky.social booth. Supplies limited! And profits to a good cause. Enjoy!
November 25, 2025 at 6:29 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
DriveThru's Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale runs from now to the end of Monday. The ARTESIA graphic novels, a comics bundle, the Artesia roleplaying game, the History of the Known World, and The Last Barrow adventure book are all 30% off. Happy Thanksgiving!

www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...
November 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
I got to act as the technical editor on Kensuke Okabayashi's upcoming WRITING GRAPHIC NOVELS for DUMMIES, giving Ken and his primary editor, Rick Kughen, notes on the draft text. I think it's a fun informal guide to writing & drawing graphic novels and it's now up for preorder: a.co/d/iPDyF4o
Enjoy!
November 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Friendly Doe™️ stopping by and wishing you a great weekend!
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Here's a look at the wrap cover for @russelfrans.bsky.social 's second book, HISTORY AND FATES. This was a fun one to do!
October 9, 2025 at 1:40 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
DriveThru and Roll20 are doing their annual Roll20Con Charity Bundle, and included in it is the first ARTESIA graphic novel (along with lots of other great products!). And all for a good cause, Outright International, a global LGBTIQ advocacy group.

www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/5...
September 26, 2025 at 3:09 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Here are some process pics: sketch (8.5x11), finished pencils (14x17), initial colors (watercolor plus digital finishing), and then the cover with titles.
September 6, 2025 at 1:29 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Here's a pic of Roman soldiers making a last stand for Charlie Dearmore's tacitae imperialis YouTube channel. Charlie recently got a Master's in Classics and is branching out from Warhammer 40K into classics minis via the Hail Caesar game from #WarlordGames. Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/@tacticaeimp...
July 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
First evidence that at least three fawns made it. The two smaller ones are twins, I think.
July 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
No cheating: post your lock screen.
July 26, 2025 at 2:45 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Well there's a lot going on but it's also DriveThruRPG's Christmas in July sale! Select Aegis & Gorgon products included are the three ARTESIA graphic novels, HISTORIAE MUNDI (a history of the Known World), the adventure THE LAST BARROW, and the 1E TTRPG. Enjoy!

www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...
July 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
As chance would have it I was asked to do the #Glorantha version of the Cerne Abbas Giant (in the Valley of the Chalk Man, in the Far Point) for the DRAGON PASS book.
July 13, 2025 at 1:49 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Well, in my defense DRAGON PASS was /just/ nominated for an Ennie, AGE OF VIKINGS /just/ came out (so did the PENDRAGON GM book so that was another candidate), and SERENISSIMA OBSCURA /just/ Kickstarted. But here's some stuff from Martin's SHIPS & SHORES, with more on the way for his next book :)!
Interior illustration for Martin Helsdon's SHIPS & SHORES OF SOUTHERN GENERTELA, for the Glorantha setting of the game RUNEQUEST, showing a completed galley being hauled from the shipyards into the sea. Interior illustration for Martin Helsdon's SHIPS & SHORES OF SOUTHERN GENERTELA, for the Glorantha setting of the game RUNEQUEST, showing a duck leading two human friends on reed boats through the marshes. Interior illustration for Martin Helsdon's SHIPS & SHORES OF SOUTHERN GENERTELA, for the Glorantha setting of the game RUNEQUEST, showing an otter comparing fish tales with a friend. Interior illustration for Martin Helsdon's upcoming book on Rhigos, for the Glorantha setting of the game RUNEQUEST, showing a temple procession through the city streets. [Used here as the cover for a charity book Martin published for a convention in the UK.]
July 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
A bit late but hi #PortfolioDay. I'm Mark, I worked mostly in comics & have done TTRPG illos for years. Here's some recent examples: art & schematics for AGE OF VIKINGS and the Ennie-nominated LANDS OF RUNEQUEST: DRAGON PASS for Chaosium and a pic for the just-Kickstarted SERENISSIMA OBSCURA.
Illustration of the fort of Wintertop, for the Ennie-nominated LANDS OF RUNEQUEST: DRAGON PASS for Chaosium. A cutaway schematic of the Shaker Temple for the Ennie-nominated LANDS OF RUNEQUEST: DRAGON PASS, from Chaosium. Ship-to-ship and hand-to-hand combat between Viking raiders, for the AGE OF VIKINGS Core Rulebook, from Chaosium. A meeting of informants and spies at a convent in Venice, for the just-Kickstarted 5E adventure SERENISSIMA OBSCURA, from Vortex Verlag. It's set in a fantasy Renaissance Venice and is the sequel to their 5E adventure adaptation of Dante's DIVINE COMEDY, titled THE STRAIGHT WAY LOST. (You can still back them on BackerKit!)
July 8, 2025 at 11:03 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Some of today’s visitors.
July 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Stepped outside to snap a couple of pics of the sunset and got to say hello to Friendly Doe™️ #2 and then watch a half-dozen bucks, all 6-8 pointers at least, come moseying up out of the woods to check out the corn pile. Happy Saturday!
June 29, 2025 at 12:54 AM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Here you go:
June 27, 2025 at 6:56 PM
marksmylie.bsky.social
They’re multiplying 😱
June 25, 2025 at 12:12 AM
marksmylie.bsky.social
Neighbors say hi!
June 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM