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boundlessnations.bsky.social
Boundless Nations
@boundlessnations.bsky.social
31 followers 56 following 100 posts
Boundless Nations is a 4X tabletop RPG - lead a civilization through epochs in a sprawling magical multiverse. Stories as limitless as the imagination.

Discord: https://discord.gg/n9cgV2PE
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boundlessnations.bsky.social
I don't have a pic of the cat today, but he's fine.
Ground-level view of Zel'khari forces positioned around siege equipment. The organic metal creatures show detailed joint mechanisms and gear systems in their ant-like bodies. A spherical siege weapon hangs from chains above, with ornate city buildings visible in the atmospheric background.
December 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
This faction was actually born recently as the result of a misunderstanding between myself and Ramshackle Studios UK. By the time I understood that, I had already put a lot of time into this scene so we decided they could be like a 'cousin' species.

#FantasyWorldbuilding #IndieGameDev
Central composition showing a cluster of Zel'khari warriors arranged in hierarchical formation. The mechanical creatures display varied designs - some with prominent wings, others with different body configurations - all featuring intricate mechanical detailing. Medieval castle architecture rises behind them with characteristic towers and fortifications.
December 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Numerous and organised, with well-defined roles and hierarchy. While they are generally unified in their goals and are largely unprone to political disagreements or infights, they are not a true hivemind. Rather their particular mechanical nature facilitates more rigid thinking.

#GameDesign
Close-up detail showing Zel'khari soldiers operating siege machinery. The mechanical ant-like creatures feature ornate gear work, wing-like appendages, and segmented metal bodies. They work collaboratively around wooden siege equipment frames, with a ruined city wall visible in the background.
December 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Zel'khari forces seiging a city.
The Zel'khari are a species of organic metal, having evolved in paralel to the Brass Scarabs.
#CreatureConcept #IndieGameDev
Black and white illustration of an ant-like mechanical army besieging a medieval fantasy city. Zel'khari soldiers made of organic metal operate massive siege equipment including trebuchets and catapults. The foreground shows detailed mechanical creatures with intricate gears and joints, while the background depicts a walled city with towers and spires beneath dramatic cumulus clouds.
December 11, 2025 at 12:56 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Miyazaki cares not for such nonsense.

#Ragdoll #GameDesign #cats
A close-up of the same fluffy cat mid-yawn, mouth wide open and tongue curled, showing its soft chest fur. A fluffy, long-haired cat with blue eyes lies on a striped pillow, looking directly at the camera while sprawled comfortably on a bed. The cat stretches out on a bed with one front paw extended toward the camera, looking relaxed and slightly sleepy.
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Life in much of Leopor is chaotic, with poor infrastructure for many, particularly outside the capital. Within it is the nation's concentration of wealth, evident in ornate, gilded architecture, lavish dress code, and minimum required bank balance for residency.
#RPGGame #TabletopGames #BoardGames
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
The accumulation of profit is their singular purpose. Everything is for sale in Leopor, from Daucan sprouts to Whisperstone massages, swords for hire, alley love, and dapper old men, willing to be your dad so you can marry into a wealthy family.

#TTRPGDesign #WorldBuilding #FantasyCreature
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
As natural herbivores, they are not especially deadly fighters, but their instinctive understanding of economics and market behaviours allow them to leverage wealth (both their own and that of others), to truly formidable effect.

#TabletopRPG #TTRPGCommunity #IndieRPG
A close up of the Leporidian from before.
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
A Leporidian business magnate takes a leisurely Daucan ride through his grounds, as Honkrats flee to the water.
The Leporidians are a humanoid rabbit-like species. Their culture is highly capitalistic, with fiercely rigid class structure based on personal wealth.

#BoundlessNations #4XTTRPG
Black and white line drawing of an anthropomorphic rabbit wearing a tall top hat and formal Victorian-style clothing with a crest on the vest, riding on the back of a large dinosaur-like creature with striped legs and a long neck. The rabbit holds a riding crop. They're in a landscaped park setting with classical architecture including a domed temple structure in the background, ornamental trees, and a pond where several goose-like birds are fleeing into the water. The art style is detailed with cross-hatching and stippling techniques.
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
I think Miyazaki is wondering how an Ijo tastes. He loves eating spiders.

#Ragdoll #CatsofBlueSky
A photograph of a seal point Ragdoll cat sitting upright on beige carpet in a hallway. The cat has striking bright blue eyes, a dark brown face mask contrasting with a fluffy white chest and ruff, and darker colouring on the ears and around the eyes. The fur is long and plush, particularly around the neck and chest. The cat is looking directly at the camera with an alert, slightly wide-eyed expression. White doors and pale yellow walls are visible in the background.
December 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Its prey, the Thassik, is a bipedal reptile, towering up to 10 metres high, with exceptional strength & endurance, & scales that deflect most attacks. The Ijo Hunter requires machine like precision in their aim to strike the weak points around the Thassik's eyes.
#DigitalArtwork #MythicalCreatures
Close up of the Thassik, a bipedal reptile with a Kangaroo-like form.
December 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Adaptable predators, they excel in stealth, tracking, trapping, mimicry & behaviour prediction. They value independence, privacy, patience, & intelligence following a philosophy vaguely analogous to Zen, if it was hunt-centric.
#FantasyArt #CreatureDesign #ConceptArt
A wide close up of the upper half of the Ijo
December 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
These fierce and deadly hunters have evolved an exceptionally specialised internal organ, capable of recycling bodily fluids ad infinitum. As such, they do not need to drink and are able to survive on the minimal water derived from their sun parched prey.

#BoundlessNations #4XTTRPG #TabletopRPG
Full Body close up of the Ijo
December 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
This is an inexperienced Ijo Hunter having an altercation with an adult Thassik.
The Ijo are a species of megafauna sentient spiders shaped by an environment hostile to most life with culture to match.
#TTRPGDesign #WorldBuilding #FantasyCreature
A detailed black and white illustration depicting an Ijo, a megafauna sentient spider creature. The Ijo has a large, bulbous abdomen covered in fine hair texture, eight powerful legs with visible joints and segments, and a distinctive head featuring multiple eyes and sharp mandibles. The creature is shown in a dynamic pose against a desert landscape with rocky outcroppings and sparse vegetation in the background. The artistic style uses dense crosshatching and fine linework to create depth and texture, consistent with historical natural history illustrations.
December 6, 2025 at 10:38 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Not posted lately-in a new job! But this didn't stop. Here's our map repurposed for a Core Rulebook cover.
We'll need a bespoke cover, but for now, we want to finish the trailer & launch the Kickstarter.
Ideas for cover designs? Let us know 🙂
And Miyazaki!
#IndieTabletop #TTRPGDev #KickstarterPrep
Book cover design for Boundless Nations tabletop RPG featuring a fantasy world map in beige/tan on brown leather-textured background. The map shows continents labeled "Nor'Chiangata," "Topolaro," and regions like "Dantian Schapru" and "Ilia Coast." Title reads "BOUNDLESS NATIONS: A 4X Tabletop Role Playing Game" with "Core Rulebook" and "First Edition" labels. Spine text and author names "Jonathan Staines | Jesse Koan Smith" appear at bottom. Engraved aesthetic with decorative border. Ragdoll cat named Miyazaki sitting in a white bathtub, looking up at the camera with bright blue eyes. The cat has cream-colored fluffy fur with dark brown points on face, ears, and bushy tail. White tile wall background with chrome shower fixtures visible.
December 5, 2025 at 7:32 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Close-up photo of a white cat paw with pink paw pads. The image is slightly blurred, showing the furry paw against what appears to be textured fabric or bedding. The cat's body is partially visible but out of focus in the background. Intimate close-up photo of a Ragdoll cat's face resting on a textured surface. The image captures fine detail of the cat's dark facial markings, white stripe, whiskers, and one visible blue eye. The warm lighting emphasizes the cat's fluffy fur texture. Extreme close-up photo of a Ragdoll cat's face taken from below, showing the cat lying on a yellow textured surface. The cat's striking blue eyes are prominent, along with its dark facial markings and white stripe down the nose. Long white whiskers are visible against the warm lighting.
October 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Ultimately, this shot will be used in our trailer to represent to world building element of Boundless Nations.
#ConceptArt #IndieGameDev #GameArt
Fantasy map illustration in sepia tones showing multiple landmasses and regions with labels including "Nor'Chiangnata," "Great Mountains," "D'ev Sunderawls," "Myrallia Coast," "Tupolaroh," "Da'ntun Schapiu," "Nerkern Archipelago," and other fantasy location names. The map features detailed terrain markings including mountains, forests (shown in green), coastlines, and various geographical features in a hand-drawn cartographic style.
October 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Animated our map in a combination of 3D and 2D. I'm not at all a 3D animator so this was challenging, but I reckon it came out ok.

#BoundlessNations #GameDev #TabletopRPG
October 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
And a picture of Miyazaki. He's soft.

#cat #miyazaki #ragdoll
Photo of a Ragdoll cat lying sprawled on its side on a fluffy textured blanket or cushion. The cat has cream and brown coloring with white paws visible in the foreground. The cat appears very relaxed and comfortable in what looks like a home interior setting.
October 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Animated thing for our trailer. This drawing is simpler than the others, largely because I drew it to be animated.
The Spider creature is an Ijo hunter, dealing with being too close to its prey.
#ConceptArt
#GameDev
#TabletopRPG
October 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
And here's a poorly lit video of Miyazaki, because animating takes ages and I don't have all day to make the videos of him look high end. There's a darling picture as well.

#Miyazaki #Ragdoll
October 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Animating the trains has been the biggest pain, as you can see in the in screen recording.
#ProcessVideo #MakingOf #BehindTheScenes
October 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
Little sneak peak at our trailer. This is that drawing of the machine, with Turbulent Displace. Frustratingly, I'm gonna have to make some changes to this and reexport, because the camera movement is wrong.

#TabletopGameDev #GameDesign #ConceptArt
October 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
So many layers........

#BehindTheScenes #MakingOf #RPGArt
October 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
boundlessnations.bsky.social
So, I'm told that in this brave new AI world, you're supposed to show your work so people know you're making it yourself.
These screenshots and 1 screen recording (see second post) give a little insight into how I'm prepping our drawings for animation.

#BehindTheScenes #MakingOf #RPGArt
Screenshot of Adobe Photoshop showing a detailed line drawing of a fantastical scene with a tall tower structure, an airship, a train on tracks, and swirling clouds in the sky. The Photoshop layers panel on the right shows multiple separated layers including "Front Train," "Tower," "Train," "Airship," "Right cloud," "Clouds," "Left side cloud," "Tracks," and "BG." Text overlay reads: "Each element of the drawing has been separated so they can be individually animated for the trailer." Cropped view of the same Photoshop file showing the drawing with the cloud layers turned off to reveal the underlying landscape without the swirling sky patterns. The layers panel shows the "Clouds" layer is selected. Text overlay reads: "You can see here, the swirling clouds above have their own layer, which I've switched off in this screenshot to show which part of the image it refers to." Close-up of the Photoshop file focusing on the central tower structure with the "Tower" layer selected in the layers panel. The drawing shows intricate line work of the tower with empty space behind it. Text overlay reads: "In the case of objects in the fore/middle ground, the space behind them needs to be filled in. This will allow me to animate a slight sideways motion on the tower later, simulating 3D space." Wide view of the line drawing showing the full scene with minimal background detail behind the foreground elements. Text overlay reads: "Before being prepped for animation, the area behind any object was blank. Anyone who does stuff like this will notice I've been making things harder on myself. If I was trying to set a good example I would have drawn each background area in full and then put stuff on top, and I would have drawn everything on properly allocated separate layers from the beginning. But hey ho."
October 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM