News from Mark Smylie
May 1st, 2009 by BrendanJoe Crow pointed out this new article which discusses Artesia Beseiged #3.
July?
Rebirth? ASP May Be Back
May 1st, 2009 by BrendanThe news that Archaia Studios Press has returned to active-duty has been swinging its way through the Indy comic book ‘net channels.
Discussion of Mark Smylie’s return to Artesia has been limited, with exactly one (1) mention of the comic series in a photo caption of Beseiged #3. Artesia was not directly mentioned by Smylie, Kunoichi Head of Development Stephen Christy or owner PJ Bickett in the CBR News article.
ASP’s forums have been down for several months. If you’re looking for a place to go, Mayhem will have you. (sorry, no forum titles here).
Big, big news in the works
October 11th, 2008 by BrendanThe guys that write that maintain this site have some big fancy news regarding Artesia, but it will have to wait until the end of October. Check back then, if not sooner.
Archaia Studios Press to be acquired; Future of Artesia uncertain
October 8th, 2008 by BrendanKunoichi, Inc., of Chicago will purchase the independent publisher, with Mark Smylie remaining the managing editor of ASP and will retain ownership rights to the Artesia brand. No direct word from Smylie about his series and role-playing game.
Wowio Goes International
August 4th, 2008 by Brendan
Wowio.com, the United States’ world’s foremost source for free, downloadable books is now available to all persons globally, who can provide a credit card number. Artesia series 1-3 remain available and popular as daily download choices. Those who haven’t downloaded Artesia should do so, and make sure to thank the sponsors. Each download puts money into the pockets of both wowio.com and ASP.
We’re not dead… just quiet.
June 25th, 2008 by BrendanNo, Mayhem in the Middle Kingdoms has not become a dead website.
As many in the community know, news about Artesia is not exactly an every-day thing. Despite our efforts to provide timely news updates as frequently as possible, there are periods of inactivity.
Although we’ve had a month absent of any updates, please be assured that we are hard at work developing content and other goodies. Our long-term goals are to produce free, downloadable A:AKW content for distribution at this site. We would also like to provide resources for Guides who want net-space to hold and develop their campaigns, as well as interacting with other Guides and players. If you have suggestions about what players and Guides need, please feel free to be one of the first to post on our forums.
Check back soon!
What does our community need?
May 30th, 2008 by BrendanCan anyone articulate what the community of people who fancies Artesia and Artesia: Adventures in the Known World want from the products?
As fans, what are our needs?
How can those needs be addressed by other members of the community?
What do “we” need that only Mark S. and ASP can provide?
This is a challenge to those people that visit this site: Post. Post if you have a want or need from this system. Post if you have a complaint or a special challenge to those who are in power. Don’t feel comfortable? Tell us. We’ll try and communicate to those who have some power. We have, on occasion, e-mailed the creative geniuses at ASP and let them know what we think.
We know you’re out there. We know of all the trials and tribulations that the hardcore fans of Artesia have had to go through in the last months and years – we are also those fans. If there was a time to speak up about what you problems you have, what issues you see with the sourcebook, and what you want from the game in the future, now is that time to speak up.
Here are some other links, from the ASP forums, that discuss and influence this post.
Suggestions for FAQ and Errata – This thread was started by Thor Olavsrud, games editor for ASP. He wants to know where ASP boofed in the original sourcebook. DON’T BE LAME. Post here, or forever shush.
Wishlist for New Books – This thread is for discussion about what future publications fans would like to see of AAKW. We need to bulk this list up. If you haven’t registered and posted here, for gosh sakes, do it.
ASP Games Editor discusses plans for future AAKW offerings
May 26th, 2008 by BrendanArchaia Studios Press responded to a thread about discussing what forum regulars were looking for from the company in terms of future releases. Thor Olavsrud, Games Editor for ASP wrote:
Hey everyone!
I can’t discuss exactly what we have in the works, but I can tell you this:
* We’ve got a number of game scenarios in the works at various stages.
* We are actively commissioning more scenarios.
* We are not currently working on any source books. That’s not to say there won’t be any in the future. I would very much like to see source books written.
So what does this seem to mean for the franchise in the near term?
The work entitled “Universities of the Middle Kingdoms” (UOTMK) by A. Dave Lewis may (or may not) be in active production. Mr. Lewis posted an impromptu rough draft of a map on April 8th in the ASP forums, fueling speculation that the project was alive and moving forward. No direct, specific news has emerged since, but Mr. Olavsrud’s statement would seem to imply that UOTMK will be scenario-length, rather than sourcebook-length. (It should be noted that Mr. Olavsrud’s comments on length may be more appropriately compared to Burning Wheel scenarios, which are much longer and complex than typical d20 linear-adventure scenarios. Mr. Olavsrud is a regular editor to the Burning Wheel system).
Cults of the Known World, The Middle Kingdoms Sourcebook, De Re Militaria, and The Book of Secrets are not going to be making any published appearances in the short term, or at least in the form that most forum posters have postulated.
Mr. Olavsrud continued:
I should make it clear that I don’t just see scenarios as one-shot stories that you play and they’re done. Each one should provide setting information, NPCs and even cult write-ups that you should be able to use again and again.
In any case, I’m keeping my eye on this thread. When we are ready to start working on source books, I’ll keep it in mind. So keep the ideas coming.
Interested in discussing this topic? Feel free to visit Archaia’s forums, or start a discussion about the future of Artesia and Artesia: Adventures in the Known World right here at Mayhem’s very own discussion place. It’s quick, easy, and non-invasive.
ASP is on MySpace
May 21st, 2008 by BrendanFor those that dabble with this particular vice, Archaia Studios Press has gone mainstream with a foray into MySpace.
Predict the contents of Artesia: Besieged #3, win a (small) prize
May 2nd, 2008 by BrendanOn the “official” Archaia Studios Press forums, an Artesia comics thread about the contents of Besieged #3 had lay dormant for a long while, but has recently sprung back to life with a slew of new theories about what may happen in and around Abenton while Artesia is incapacitated.
Spring, forum administrator and regular poster, has promised a “prize”, in the form of a custom forum title, for the individual who has the most accurate prediction(s) about what happens next in the third issue.
Got Prediction? Come give them, and win!