The above is a totally fake cover for Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras 2.
The cover is fake because we haven’t bought any art for the book yet. Nor have we written anything but pitches for the Dark Eras. For other Kickstarters, these two things would be bugs and possibly huge red flags.
But for Dark Eras 2, they are part of a feature: our backers are truly enabling the creation of this book.
The various added in sections from the Reward Tiers, the extra Eras or reclaimed Eras added in that lost out in voting, the voting for game lines and eras; these are all going to come together after the KS is done and the writers and developers will be able to weave all of these KS-based sections together from the beginning, not after the fact and shoe-horned in to already written sections like in the first Dark Eras book.
If you want to know what the Eras will be like, they will be like the Eras in the original Dark Eras and Dark Eras Companion. Except each of the Dark Eras in Dark Eras 2 will have at least two game lines featured in it.
You see, we looked at the creation process of the original Dark Eras and decided we wanted to adjust some aspects to make it run smoother, and faster. To have the Dark Eras hold together more organically from the start. Which is no criticism of the work done on the first Dark Eras itself, it just took a lot more effort and time to achieve it.
To help with that, we have three developers: Monica Valentinelli, who is shepherding the project, Matthew Dawkins, and Meghan Fitzgerald. They will be looking at the overall list of Eras after the KS is over and hiring their writers with an overall eye towards how each contributions will work in the book with all the others.
Although I’m sure they have some ideas on who can deliver awesome Dark Eras writing already!
We’re also going to be changing some of the voting procedures from the original Dark Eras. We have started with a pretty typical Dark Eras poll to determine the two game lines to appear in the Golden Age of Piracy Dark Era. We used a lightly-secured polling platform to see if our voters would vote and go, and for the most part that happened. But, there clearly have been some voters who have moved past enjoying the chance to cast their single vote and into the “win at all costs” mind-set.
Although this is going to be less of a problem in future polls, which you’ll see if you follow the KS, it is a problem for this one. So, we’ve got a new poll set-up with more advanced security features just like we had to do during the original Dark Eras KS.
Finally, you’ll note that above I made mention of “when we hit the funding amount”. We had some backers concerned that we wouldn’t fund at all after we passed the first half-day and the KS was still headed towards funding. I think we’re all a bit spoiled by some of our earlier KSs that got funded just incredibly fast. We’re almost at funding now, and we’ve only revealed one new Dark Era (and that was the single most requested DE from the first KS that there was no other close contenders).
So let me pull out this old chestnut: All Kickstarter projects are different.
I say that because it seems like a natural human impulse to constantly compare and contrast things, but when it comes to Kickstarters, there are so many moving parts and variables that such comparisons start to break down. And then you also have to look at both the stated and underlying goals of a KS. In Dark Eras 2‘s case, our stated goal is $40,000 to create Prestige Edition of the book.
But because of the way we set up the KS, one of our underlying goals is clearly to get our community engaged with voting on the Dark Eras 2 polls, thus creating new Dark Eras for the book that everyone can say they had some part of. We want backers, and even our community at large, to enjoy that connection that up until Kickstarter arrived was just not really possible between a company and their fans.
Along similar lines, I’ve heard a few potential backers who mention they are working off expectations that this KS will be just like the original Dark Eras KS. Even going so far as to be holding off until after the KS in anticipation of each Era coming out individually on DTRPG like we’ve been doing for the original Dark Eras. We might do that, but then again, there’s no guarantee we will, because every project is different.
Just sayin’, don’t be mad if we don’t go that way with this project.
Ultimately, for us, we don’t want this funded on the first day and then crickets for three and a half weeks until the final days where everybody who held off dives in. A slower beginning that then picks up as more and more Eras are revealed and voted on is what we hope will happen. We knew as a sequel to two previous books chock full of great Dark Eras, that DE2 would have to make some different moves and take some initial lumps.
It might not happen that way, but if it does it’ll be sweet! (And if it doesn’t, we’ll still have an awesome book with added chapters from the folks who took those Reward Tiers that add Eras).
Thanks!
BLURBS!
KICKSTARTER!
Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras 2 is 92% funded!
Once again, help us decide on which Dark Eras and which game-lines should fill up this Prestige Edition book! We’re starting with The French Revolution for Vampire: The Requiem and Demon: The Descent, The Great War – Western Front for Geist: The Sin-Eaters and Werewolf: The Forsaken, Light of the Sun – Europe 1600s for Deviant: The Renegades and Mage: The Awakening, Seven Wonders of the Ancient World for Changeling: The Lost and Promethean: The Created, Rise of the Last Imperials – China for Mummy: The Curse and Hunter: The Vigil, and One Thousand and One Nights – Islamic Golden Age for Beast: The Primordial and Vampire: The Requiem.
ON SALE!
ON AMAZON:
We’re delighted to announce the opening of our ebook store on Amazon! You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle. Our initial selection includes these fiction anthologies: Vampire: the Masquerade‘s Endless Ages, Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition‘s Rites of Renown: When Will You Rage 2, Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition‘s Truth Beyond Paradox, Chronicles of Darkness‘ God Machine Chronicle, Mummy: The Curse‘s Curse of the Blue Nile, and Beast: The Primordial‘s The Primordial Feast!
And now you can get these books in the Barnes and Noble Nook store too!
- Vampire: The Masquerade: The Endless Ages Anthology
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Rites of Renown: When Will You Rage II
- Mage: The Ascension: Truth Beyond Paradox
- Chronicles of Darkness: The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology
- Mummy: The Curse: Curse of the Blue Nile
- Beast: The Primordial: The Primordial Feast Anthology
And here are six more fiction books:
- Vampire: The Masquerade: Of Predators and Prey: The Hunters Hunted II Anthology
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse: The Poison Tree
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Songs of the Sun and Moon: Tales of the Changing Breeds
- Vampire: The Requiem: The Strix Chronicle Anthology
- Werewolf: The Forsaken: The Idigam Chronicle Anthology
- Mage: The Awakening: The Fallen World Chronicle Anthology
Andand six more more:
- Vampire: The Masquerade: The Beast Within Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse: W20 Cookbook (Kindle, Nook)
- Exalted: Tales from the Age of Sorrows (Kindle, Nook)
- Chronicles of Darkness: Tales of the Dark Eras (Kindle, Nook)
- Promethean: The Created: The Firestorm Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- Demon: The Descent: Demon: Interface (Kindle, Nook)
Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Here’s the link to the press release we put out about how Onyx Path is now selling through Indie Press Revolution: https://theonyxpath.com/press-release-onyx-path-limited-editions-now-available-through-indie-press-revolution/
You can now order wave 2 of our Deluxe and Prestige print overrun books, including Deluxe Mage 20th Anniversary, and Deluxe V20 Dark Ages! And Screens…so many Screens!
ON DRIVETHRURPG.COM:
Sailing out of the dark, the V20 Dark Ages Companion PDF and physical book PoD versions are going on sale Wednesday on DriveThruRPG.com! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/211504/V20-Dark-Ages-Companion
Travel the long roads and deep seas in search of power and experience danger, or tackle the wilderness to hunt monsters and face death. Settlements large and small dot the black expanse with the promise of sanctuary, life, and community. These bastions of civilization present cold comfort, when playing host to vampire warlords and sadistic Cainite faiths. Whether led by a Prince, a coordinated belief, or hounded by monsters from without and within — no domain is truly the same as another.
Dark Ages Companion includes:
• Domains scattered across the world, from small fiefdoms to massive cities. Bath, Bjarkarey, Constantinople, Rome, Mogadishu, and Mangaluru each receive coverage.
• Apocrypha including plot hooks, new Paths, and mysteries to explore in your games.
• A how-to guide on building a domain within your chronicle, including events and servants necessary to make a domain as functional or dysfunctional as you wish.
• A study on warfare in the Dark Ages period, so combat in your chronicles can gain authenticity and lethality.
From the Primordial to your Chronicles, Beast‘s Building a Legend has risen in PDF and PoD formats on DTRPG.com!
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/212252/Beast-Building-a-Legend
CREATING A CHRONICLE IS REWARDING…
…so why should the Storyteller have all the fun?
The whole troupe should get in on the action, making for a chronicle that reflects the preferences and predilections of all the players.
Building a Legend is a guide for doing exactly that — making a cohesive chronicle, starting with character creation, for Beast: The Primordial. It includes advice on creating Storyteller characters, folding in real world history, and populating the Primordial Dream.
From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: Requiem for Regina (Vampire: The Requiem Elizabethan London 1593). We have shared the world with monsters for millennia. In Elizabeth’s London, vampires built their own empire brick by bloody brick while Elizabeth I cemented her grip on newly Protestant England. Carefully balancing demands from those with Catholic and Lutheran sympathies, she forged a police state. Yet London emerged as a thriving cultural center, and from the crucible emerged a Kindred society forever changed.
On sale in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG!
What dark secrets do the eldest vampires hold? Find out in Thousand Years of Night for Vampire: The Requiem! Advance PDF version available now on DriveThruRPG.com. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/214130/Thousand-Years-of-Night
You may think that with a multitude of people coming, going, dying and running away, we’d be tired, done, or ready to give up.
Instead, I find myself restless, looking for the next thing.
There’s always a next thing, and I for one am not yet ready to die.
– Elder Kincaid, Daeva Crone
This book includes:
• Detailed instructions on creating elder vampires, including how to base chronicles around them
• A look into the lives of elders, how they spend their nights, who they work with, and why including their roles in both their clans and covenants
• New Devotions, Merits, and Rituals for elder vampires
• The kinds of creatures that pose a threat to elder vampires, including Inamorata, Lamia, Sons of Phobos, a new elder conspiracy, and more
From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: To The Strongest (Mage Death of Alexander 330-320 BCE). In the rise and fall of Alexander the Great’s Empire, armies marched and cultures clashed. In the birth pangs of Hellenistic civilization, Awakened sorcerers all over the ancient world met, fought, and joined together. In the chaos of Alexander’s assassination and the wars that followed, Cults became Orders amid conflicts still burning in the present day.
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/208162/Dark-Eras-To-the-Strongest-Mage-the-Awakening
On sale in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG!
From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: Three Kingdoms of Darkness (Changeling and Geist China 220-280). Famine weakens the empire, and war splits it apart. It is an age of ambition and strife, where the hungry dead walk the earth in great numbers, and the Lost must rely on their own kingdoms. Warlords and commoners, ghost-speakers and orphans — who truly serves the Mandate of Heaven?
On sale in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/211949/Dark-Eras-Three-Kingdoms-of-Darkness-Changeling-the-Lost-Geist-the-SinEaters
From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: The Wolf and the Raven (Werewolf and Geist Vikings 700-1100). The Viking expansion across Europe comes at a pivotal time in history, as new faiths rose to challenge the old and new ways threatened to sweep ancient tradition aside. The Forsaken sail with raiders and explorers, seeking new lands to claim and new spirits to conquer, while Sin-Eaters walk the battlefields bringing the honored dead to their final rewards. The world grows larger and more dangerous by the day, but there are great rewards for those brave enough to fight for them.
On sale in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/210621/Dark-Eras-The-Wolf-and-the-Raven-Werewolf-the-Forsaken-Geist-the-SinEaters
Curated by Matthew McFarland, developer of Changeling: the Dreaming Twentieth Anniversary Edition and featuring authors such as Myranda Kalis, Wren Handman, and Peter Woodworth, this C20 Anthology of Dreams is on sale in electronic/PDF and physical copy PoD formats on DTRPG.com! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/209390/C20-Anthology-of-Dreams
We dream, and we tell stories. We dream of love and the sort of person who might complete us. We dream of horror and wake breathless. We dream of magic, of flying through the air, or breathing underwater. We dream of fantastic vistas and amazing monsters.
We dream, and then we wake, and we tell stories. Our dreams create the Kithain, the changelings. Our stories are sustenance.
Now on DTRPG, the EX3 Tomb of Dreams Jumpstart PDF/PoD jumps up for sale!
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/208891/Tomb-of-Dreams-an-Exalted-3rd-Edition-Jumpstart
Once, in the time before the gods forgot their names, when the world was flat and floated on a sea of chaos, there was an age of gleaming cities, untamed wilderness, enlightened devils, greedy spirits, and mighty heroes. This was the age of the Exalted, champions empowered by the highest of gods.
Tomb of Dreams will jumpstart your group’s Exalted game—all you need to start playing Exalted Third Edition is this book, pencils, and 10-sided dice. Included here are the game’s core rules, five pregenerated characters, and a self-contained scenario that can start a new campaign or that Storytellers can use in an ongoing chronicle. And for groups that already have the Exalted Third Edition main rulebook, Tomb of Dreams will serve as an introduction for new players and a quick reference during play—anyone intimidated by that prodigious volume need only read Part 1 of this book to get started.
What legends will they tell of your deeds?
Bill Bridge’s new W20 novel, The Song of Unmaking, is on sale in PDF/ePub/PoD versions on DriveThruRPG.com: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/208366/W20-The-Song-of-Unmaking and in ebook form on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VM2S3D/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1494441226&sr=1-1 !
The fabric of reality is cracking. Fissures appear in thin air, glowing with balefire. Something is scratching on the other side, pressing, beginning to break through….
The Wyrm’s corruption finds its way into the hearts of humans and Garou alike. Even an ultra-rational techno-cratic scientist can fall sway to its lies. Channeling his hate and resentment through the most sophisticated machine ever created, Basil Czajka has turned a tool designed to peer deep into the heart of the quantum universe into a nursery for the hatching of a horror — a creature whose birth cry is destined to unmake Gaia’s Song of Creation.
The only ones standing in his way are One-Song, a broken-down old Theurge, and Lord Albrecht, whose heed-less anger might be the very weapon the enemy needs to crack the egg and free the Unmaker.
CONVENTIONS! Discussing GenCon plans. August 17th – 20th, Indianapolis. Every chance the booth will actually be 20′ x 30′ this year that we’ll be sharing with friends. We’re looking at new displays this year, like a back drop and magazine racks for the brochure(s). FYI, 4-Day passes have sold out! First time ever!
In November, we’ll be at Game Hole Con in Madison, WI. More news as we have it, and here’s their website: https://www.gameholecon.com/
And now, the new project status updates!
First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)
- Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- C20 Novel (Jackie Cassada) (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)
Redlines
- Kithbook Boggans (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Hunter: the Vigil 2e core (Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition)
- Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- C20 Ready Made Characters (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
Second Draft
- WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)
- Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)
- Ex Novel 2 (Aaron Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- DtD Night Horrors: Enemy Action (Demon: the Descent)
Development
- Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)
- SL Ring of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- Ring of Spiragos (5e – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- Pugmire Pan’s Guide for New Pioneers (Pugmire)
- Scion: Origins (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)
WW Manuscript Approval:
- Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- M20 Cookbook (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
Editing:
- W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- VtR Half-Damned (Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition)
- V20 Dark Ages Jumpstart (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
Post-Editing Development:
- Arms of the Chosen (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
- Book of Freeholds (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- BtP Beast Player’s Guide (Beast: the Primordial)
Indexing:
- Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:
In Art Direction
- Beckett’s Jyhad Diary
- W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook
- Cavaliers of Mars
- Wraith 20
- W20 Changing Ways
- Ex3 Monthly Stuff
- VDA Jumpstart
- Scion Origins
- Ring of Spiragos
- Ex 3 Arms of the Chosen – More sketches and color roughs.
- Beast PG – Sketches coming in.
- VtR Half Damned – might have found an artist for the Ghouls section.
- Book of Freeholds
In Layout
- M20 Art Book – In progress…
- Prince’s Gambit – New Cards out for playtesting
- Gen Con Stuff – shirts and whatever is left
Proofing
- CtL Huntsmen Chronicle Anthology
- C20 Jumpstart
At Press
- Beckett Screen – Shipped to shipper.
- Pugmire – At fulfillment shipper.
- Pugmire Screen – At fulfillment shipper.
- Pugmire Cards & Dice – Shipping to fulfillment shipper.
- Wise and the Wicked PF & 5e – Printing.
- Dagger of Spiragos (5e)
- Dagger of Spiragos (PF)
- V20 Dark Ages Companion – PDF and PoD versions on sale this Wednesday
- Monarchies of Mau Early Access – PoD proofs coming.
- Dark Eras: Lily Sabre and Thorn – PoD files uploading.
- M20 Book of Secrets – PoD proofs ordered. Might have this in time to release the PoD at Gen Con…
- VTR: Thousand Years of Night – Errata gathered.
- Storypath (Trinity Continuum) Brochure – At press.
- Gen Con 2017 Brochure – At press.
TODAY’S REASON TO CELEBRATE: I know it sounds crazy, but this was just a normal day with normal meetings and normal discussions of projects. Normal fires to put out. Ahhhhh.
Comments
42 responses to “Always Darkest Before the Era! [Monday Meeting Notes]”
Hey, I’m having trouble finding the Brochures. Are they in drive thru rpg?
They won’t be available until Gen Con. They are actually at press, like real printing, right now.
Ooh! I see,thank you for answering so fast
So what does “post-editing” actually mean, with respect to Wraith?
RichD is reviewing/implementing the editor’s suggested changes.
Thanks for the prompt reply. Is there an updated schedule, too?
Well said Rich. I’m glad that you guys have a plan to up the security on the polls. I am definitely stoked that all of the eras will be Crossovers! And while it may be a bit hard to round up interest without the manuscript written for DE2 already, I am very glad you went that route. I’m certain this will ultimately take a product that was already very strong and make it stronger.
On a fandom note, I have one of the expansion pledges. I’m ultimately going to go with what I like, but I’m not adverse to suggestions and input from others. I lied. Now I have one of the expansions.
That said, I may not keep it, but if I need to reduce my pledge amount, I’ll let people here know first. If someone is super pumped to expand an era, I could probably be talked into trading off with you. Here are some possibilities I’ve tossed around (all subject to change):
French Revolution: Add Mummy (you knew I was going to say this)
Western Front: Add Vampire to update Bloodlines (low probability)
Western Front: Add Changeling, with gentry as a metaphor of the war machine and manipulative recruitment
Western Front: Add Promethean for brutal journeys far from home, Wastelands, and the gas victim lineage
Western Front: Add Hunter for the horrors of battle
Light of the Sun: Add Vampire for Ordo Dracul goodness
Light of the Sun: Add Mummy for scientific study of Sekhem and Arise Alchemy
Seven Wonders: Add Demon for Infrastructure
Seven Wonders: Add Mummy for Architecture
Last Imperials: Add Werewolf because I want to see Chinese Werewolves and maybe get some Hong Kong action going
Last Imperials: Add Changeling for Opium Wars
1001 Nights: Add Deviant for Islamic Science
1001 Nights: Add Demon for Pre-Quaranic Angels
1001 Nights: Add Mage for the Nizari State and historically accurate/not racist Subtle Ones Legacy
Pirates add Beast.
1. Beast is the crossover splat, meaning it brings all of the other splats with it to an extent (imagine the pirate crew with the Beast captain). Your crew is your family!
2. Beasts themes fit piracy well, the Tyrant, the Collector, I mean which other splat has more reason to simply want to collect treasure, or terrify their enemies by hanging bodies off the bow. Not a pirate crew? that’s ok, you need to teach those pirates a lesson.
3. Don’t forget you literally get to play sea monsters, or weird creatures on islands. You are the kraken! shipwrecked, this island has a cyclops!
(sorry, I want this so hard, and not going to get it, people are cheating, intentionally or unintentionally (see post I made about just trying to view current results, I doubt that’s causing real skew though)
A *lot* of good ideas you’ve tossed out there; the one that grabs me the most is Demon in the 1001 Nights.
Maybe harder, maybe not. KSs do get traction without the big text files we often provide.
Wraith 20th Anniversary is listed twice under post-editing development, just thought I’d point out. I’m really excited about the book, I was sort of a hearsay fan of original World of Darkness, but could never really get interested in playing in it. I got some of the other books but my playgroup (raised on Chronicles) is similarly gunshy. Wraith is likely going to be the first WoD book I’ll get to play with them 🙂
Enjoying the Dark Eras, I was sort of on/off about some of the original ones in the first book, but I like the settings in these and I think they fit the gamelines pretty well. Having two gamelines a pop is a good choice.
Fixed. Thanks, and thanks!
Hope M20 Gods and Monsters moves along at a rapid pace, all the other M20 stuff has knocked it way out of the park!
So Neall’s a couple of weeks behind on a Scion update, but going by the recent changes in production status and his forum comments he’s working at a rate of knots right now. Can you allay fears of his burning himself out, or at least verify whether he is taking some breaks? We backers are eager, but we’ll still be here in a few months’ time…
Rollickin’ Rose has been working with Neall, giving him an assist on the processes involved in the wrapping up development phase. So he’s in good hands in terms of working on Scion 2nd. Thanks for your concern!
Hey, I just realized, but there hasn’t been an update for Scion in a while. At least, not a kickstarter update since late may. How’s that moving along?
Backer Update should be out soon; this week.
First off – Yay! that Dark Ages Companion is almost out in physical copy. Damn, I simply cannot wait to get my hands on that book. Other than A Thousand Years of Night it is the most anticipated book in years for me.
Regarding Dark Eras I have a few comments. Dark Eras should be the most amazing thing. I love WoD (CoD) and have been playing since 1992. And I am a history buff so it should be a no brainer. But I wasn’t too thrilled about the first Dark Eras and thus didn’t buy the Companion. I might at some point, but the usefulness is really limited in my opinion.
I have written this before, but each era is simply too superficial and since I only play two of the gameliners there is just too much useless information. On the plus side it is as always really well written.
I am writing this only in the hope that you give each era some more attention. The historical write-ups are great, but each chapter as a whole gives me too little inspiration to actually set a chronicle in that era.
I realize that each era can’t be its own Requiem for Rome book, but I think you should focus on fewer eras and give them more loving.
And more historical books overall would be awesome. I would have wished for an entire Requiem for Rome gameline or Forsaken by Rome gameline. Would be awesome. The Dark Ages line for Vampire is a fan favourite, I think.
Well, just an opinion. Keep up the good writing 🙂
Cool. Thanks for letting us know. The Eras in DE2 will be a bit heftier this time around with a minimum of two game-lines in them, but still not the kind of book-length versions you are looking for. The sales for the Requiem for Rome books don’t indicate that your interest is shared by enough people to risk doing another Era in that much detail. But, I’m wondering, if we did – what Era would you like to see, and would you want it to be a full overview with every game-line represented, or just one? Which one, if that’s the case?
I am saddened to hear that Requiem for Rome didn’t attract enough buyers. Along with Fall of the Camarilla those two books are simple just amazing.
My group and I play mostly Vampire, but also Werewolf. We do buy books from other gamelines, though. I absolutely love the Mummy books.
The historical period with the best chance for succes would probably be Dark Ages. It is fairly easy to understand and relate to. You brushed on the Middle Ages with the Vikings chapter and the Requiem for Regina chapter. I would love to see them both expanded. You also had that with the Black Death in the Companion. I would love to see that expanded as well.
I would also have loved to see the Hoplite era and Alexander the Great from the DE1 expanded. I enjoyed Sothis Ascends tremendously and those periods could also be great. But probably not that succesful in sales.
As I don’t play all your gamelines I would prefer them to be focused on a few in a book. Like the Chicago book. I use that for both Vampire and Werewolf. But I also understand if you have to touch on many of your gamelines.
Personally would like a single era that covered all the splats as a book. That era is currently Neolithic.
As far as Requiem for Rome, could be a problem with Requiem for 1st edition… some content is harder to justify when it requires translation. Wouldn’t mind a retread version of the clan books that just updates powers either. don’t have to rewrite them, just make them 2e.
To be clear, I’m not talking about how R for Rome sells now in the days of 2nd Edition, I’m talking about overall.
I think a mega-crossover sourcebook focused on a single era sounds like a great idea, and I think the most popular periods would be the Middle Ages and the Victorian Era.
I’m curious, why did we get previews for Secrets of the Covenants, Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, Signs of Sorcery, Dragon-blooded, & Arms of the Chosen, but not for Half-damned, Geist: the Sin-eaters 2nd Edition, Beast Player’s Guide, or Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition?
My bad, I’d missed the Hunter 2nd Ed preview.
If you are referring to the blog posts put up by developers, then said previews are put up when a developer feels like they should and has the time to do so. Every developer, or dev team, has different priorities and different amounts of time they can allot to their projects. We encourage all of our devs to post excerpts, or to share with our community in other ways, but not all of them can.
Fair enough. I just have a mighty need for more Beast, & would love to get a taste of the juicy goodness that must lie within the Beast Player’s Guide (to say nothing of my keen interest in seeing how Geist will be adapting to the 2nd Ed ruleset, or my idle curiosity of how Dhampir will be handled).
I’m looking forward to Arms. Can we expect to see it on DriveThruRPG before the end of August?
That depends on a bunch of factors right now; we really want to get it out to folks And will push it firward as fast as we can.
Hey Rich, on the topic of Arms, I’ve been wondering. It’s been in art direction for a while now, which leads me to believe that the text is completely done. Is that the case? And if so, could the text be released now with the full package to come later? I can’t speak for everyone, but I’d personally be willing to buy the text even without the art in. I’ll admit I’m almost completely ignorant of publishing, so there’s probably some behind the scenes factors that prevent that, but I’m hoping you can sate my curiosity. Thanks!
Sorry, no. We get requests for this sort of stuff every once in a while, and short of specific instances where there is an outside overriding reason to deliver the text to people, it’s just not what we do. Bare text’s not a game book; a game book is a skillful blend of text and illustrations and graphic design, and those are the projects we publish. You’ll just have to hang on a bit longer for the full experience.
According to the updates, the text is in post-editing development, which (as I understand it) means that, to paraphrase Miracle Max, means it’s only mostly done.
oh I’ve voted multiple times, but that’s because if I visit a day later it won’t show me where the poll currently is, but instead prompts for voting again… maybe make sure that’s fixed too… note: I’m voting Beast, so obviously it doesn’t have a chance in hell… I don’t really understand how Mage fits pirates at all… Geist, Changeling and Hunter, yes.
The Mage 2E core mentions a Seer-Ladder alliance centered on the Pirate Republic of Nassau, which is likely driving much of this.
Yeah, there are specific notes for historical Mages that were teased in the Mage 2e core book make this era attractive. If It weren’t for them, I’d be 100% Geist (not that my vote matters in this poll)
I’ve been wondering. Will backers with “Expander of Darkness” and “Creator of Darkness” pledges have the chance to contact each other? Some of the Expanders might prefer adding their pick to an era other than the core six, or the stretch goals. Analogously, some of the Creators might be happy to have their choices expanded.
Officially, we’ll only be working with those Rewards’ backers as indicated in the reward descriptions. If the developers are open to other arrangements, or the backers talk amongst themselves, then that’s outside the Reward structure.
Any idea when M20 Book of Secrets will be put onto DriveThuRPG?
Still waiting on the PoD proofs, so close to or during GenCon is likely.
Weren’t we supposed to get a Scion 2 update this week?
And so you have! Ding!