Posted on IPR’s front page on February 27th,
“…And now, as of this week, IPR is carrying Archaia’s wide catalog, including dozens of comics and graphic novels, continuing a mission of bringing the best in indie comics to IPR.”
This is great for Artesia fans who don’t have a local comic shop that stocks ASP offerings and/or is willing to order them a la carte.
Link:
Is anyone in the Artesia/A:AKW fan-base concerned about the A:AKW discourse on the ASP forums? Intermittent, illegible, and/or just plain rude, one can’t help but wonder why newcomers to that virtual space would want to bother establishing a presence in that community.
I (Brendan) have few comments, which may be taken as statements of opinion, and in no particular order:
1) There must be restraint when posting about comments you disagree with. If you think that someone doesn’t “get” your point after you have just explained it twice, that is moment when you must gracefully bow out. Why? Because the other poster understands what you are trying to communicate, they just don’t agree or don’t want to respond meaningfully.
2) Being rude, even especially in backhanded ways, is immature and makes people not want to participate. Worse, it often makes other people be rude in return. Considering that Artesia and A:AKW is more-or-less for Mature Readers (adults), shouldn’t we all be acting like them?
3) Delivering opinion statements as irrefutable fact is disruptive to discourse and, if done with sufficient repetition and vigor, will destroy conversation. Posturing as if you know everything about a subject of which you are neither the creator, caretaker, or even contributor, is an asinine way to lead one’s life.
I regularly read the newly posted thread on the ASP forums, with special interest in the Artesia-related threads. Why are the these threads the only places where I see behaviors 1, 2, 3? Its puzzling and disturbing as a fan who wants to see the Artesia/A:AKW community prosper.
GenCon is 5 months, 12 days away.
Mark Smylie and Thor Olavsrud must be ready, because Archaia Studios Press have released their updated submission guidelines for independent writers who want to submit their Artesia: Adventures in the Known World ideas to the company.
Spring, ASP forum administrator, Artesia blogger, grandmaster knitter, and all-around nice person was the first to post the alert.
The requirements all seem fair and professional, although it may prove a challenge for aspiring contributors to keep their initial pitches to 1,500 words/2-3 pages. Check them out at knownworld.com by clicking here or just follow the link at the ASP forums.
Does anyone else wonder what happened with Joe Martin, ASP’s previous games editor?
The long-toothed rumors regarding the first sourcebook for A:AKW may come to fruition. Mark Smylie, Archaia Studio Press founder and co-publisher, recently wrote in an e-mail regarding the delay in releasing ASP’s submission guidelines for it’s Artesia gaming system:
“We’re still working on the submission guidelines; they will be posted to the Known World site (and probably also to the forums) as soon as they’re ready (emphasis added -ed.)… A scenario set in the University of Therapoli is planned for August release (and GenCon) as the first of several scenarios connecting some of the Universities of the Middle Kingdoms.”
August 2008 is 7 months, 1 day away. GenCon Indy is 7 months, 15 days away.
Links:
The long-delayed third issue of Artesia: Besieged has been announced on the Artesia comic website, along with a preview of the first three pages of the issue, which is titled “As I Lay Dying.”
ASP is claiming an April 2008 release.
Not exactly “new” news, but DriveThruRPG.com has reduced the price of the .pdf version of the Artesia: Adventures in the Known World sourcebook by a full 50% from $39.95 to $19.95 + applicable taxes. The book has been a consistent seller for DTR, so the price reduction isn’t a bad sign per se, but regardless of the reason for the price cut, if you are looking for a copy for your computer, now is the time to buy.
Archaia Studio Press seems to be slowly trickling their products onto the DriveThru—.com sites, with the additions of the trade paperbacks of Robotika and The Lone & Level Sands, as well as the trade paperbacks of the Artesia (2nd Edition), Artesia Afield, and Artesia Afire.
A couple of notes: DriveThruRPG.com requires that you register an account with an actual e-mail, and you must preference that you do not wish to receive advertising spam. Otherwise, your “security” information will be sold to other companies. Still, if you want a legal .pdf of the sourcebook, DTR is the source.
Potential purchasers of this cool-ass tome should be completely aware: the .pdf files from DriveThruRPG.com are digitally watermarked, which means that if you purposefully or accidentally make the file available to others via file-sharing torrent, or other means, YOU will be held responsible for the copyright (and other) violations. This is no joking matter.
The sales director of Cosmic Therapy stated in an e-mail exchange that the Artesia map sets that have been impossible f
or collectors to find are indeed in stock. Those who have been searching for this item will no doubt be aware that the Cosmic Therapy website has listed the map collection as ‘Temporarily Unavailable’ for months, perhaps years. Nevertheless, Artesia fans, fantasy map collectors & enthusiasts, topography-fetishists, and all others are encouraged to visit Cosmic Therapy and e-mail its main man o’ sales, Robb.
Today at the “official” forums for Archaia Studios Press (ASP) there was a posting by a forum member who stated that he is engaged in writing a series of AAKW adventure modules that are slated to be published by ASP sometime towards the beginning of 2008. Exciting stuff for those of us who have been waiting weeks months years for some hints of life from ASP about further product support for their amazing RPG system.
Read it yourself, you probably can’t believe it either.
As an aside, if you are an Artesia fan and you haven’t registered at the “official” forum, please take a moment to do so. The forum suffers greatly from a lack of regular traffic. Despite it’s months of unannounced absence those forums have somehow remained the best resource for discussing the system with other dedicated fans.
We’ll be shining it up and posting content soon… hang on tight. Then again, if you are an Artesia fan, you’re patient anyway!