For the past three years, I’ve been thrilled to be a Gen Con Industry Insider and sit on panels and spread the awareness of just what Onyx Path Publishing is, have a give and take with the audience, and meet other industry folks I wouldn’t have had a chance to.
I’m particularly thrilled that the Gender Representation in RPG Art panel was my best attended and most lively panel each year. But three to five more panels wedged in to Onyx‘s already jam-packed schedule at the con just looked like too much for this year, so I didn’t submit myself for the 2016 honor.
But a bunch of Onyx Path folks did, and so Eddy Webb and Monica Valentinelli will be Insiding this year: yay!
What’s weird, though, is that this year there is overall, I think, one more female Insider than male going to be on panels and some people are freaked out about it.
More women on panels than men? Who could live in such a world?
As long-time readers of this blog probably realize, I’m not much for politics, and I prefer to implement changes that push the world in the direction I think is right, rather than to talk (post) about those things. Lots of people do post and talk and all, and if that works for them, that’s cool.
But this issue with the Industry Insider panelists does hit home.
One of the reasons I stepped back this year was because of that very panel I’m so proud to have been on these last three years, Gender Representation in RPG Art. It never had more than four panelists and each year half of the panelists were either me or me and Johnny Hodgson, at the time Art Director for Cubicle 7. Both of us white, straight, and male. (I’m the older and better looking, and Johnny is from the UK).
Both of us could, and did, talk about how we have art directed our recent projects with an eye towards inclusion in order to represent a wider range of gaming folks in the art, but the impact for us is professional, and I thought the panel was always so much better when people who have been discriminated against talk about how that affects the art they commission.
Their personal history, their human experiences, informed and enlightened the discussion because they were not two “older” white guy art directors with similar career paths. They brought things to the table we could not and that made it better.
The same thing happened in my gaming life as well. Our all-boys high school had a gaming club that was, as you might have guessed, all boys, but of varying racial and socio-economic backgrounds. We had fun with the sorts of adventures and stories you might imagine such a bunch in the late 1970s would enjoy. There was racism and sexism and crude sex and cruder violence.
A few years later, our college-aged and older group started with some of those same guys, several women joined, and we had great stories. The guys came and went, but two of those ladies played with us pretty much weekly for all twelve years. I can’t imagine any better stories and gaming fun if those women, Mickey and Jodie, or my African-American buddy Chaka, had been excluded.
It is offensive to me when I think of those imaginative gamers who for ten years added so much to our gaming being excluded, and it is offensive to think that good speakers and panelists are a threat simply because of who they are and wanting to talk about the games they create.
To sum up, having more diverse panelists better represents the gamers of today and even more importantly, tomorrow. We did it at White Wolf back in the day with books that presented a parity in pronouns and depictions of the spectrum of people in a setting based on the world as we saw it at that time. We brought new gamers into gaming then, and the same excellent thing can happen today.
More gamers is good, because more stuff will be made for folks to enjoy.
Speaking of Gen Con 2016, here’s a link to the Events we have lined up for the con. We have panels, we have games with our friends The Wrecking Crew (Naughty Neall Raemonn Price and Dashing Dave Brookshaw will be running a few games in their area as well), and there are some other demos listed as well. http://bit.do/OPPGenConSchedule
If you are going, sign up SOON! There’s almost always room to squeeze in to our panels, but getting a ticket helps make that a sure thing, and The Wrecking Crew games tend to sell out pretty quickly!
And we’ll be emphasizing demos at our booth this year, with a very specific selection of books for sale. More on that in a later blog.
Hope to see some of ya’ll there!
BLURBS!
PUGMIRE live gaming TONIGHT! 7pm PST/10pm Eastern US http://twitch.tv/geekandsundry
ON SALE!
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/
Those howls you hear? The pack is on your trail! The Pack for Werewolf: the Forsaken 2nd, that is! The Advance PDF is selling at DTRPG.com! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/181760/The-Pack
Alone you die. Together you will feast on the blood of your prey.
This book contains:
- The pack from within and without, including a number of sample packs.
- Other organizations of werewolves, including protectorates and Lodges.
- New systems for pack creation, hunting nature, and pack tactics..
- Three new hunting grounds that show different sides to the pack.
NOTE: This is the Advance PDF version. A final PDF version and PoD versions will be available at a later date. If you have purchased this Advance PDF, you will be automatically updated to the final PDF and receive a link to enable you to purchase the PoD at a discount designed so that your total price matches our usual PDF and Print combo offer.
You must have your DTRPG account set to accept messages from Onyx Path Publishing before the link messages are sent out, though, so please adjust your settings if you want that discount.
Mage: the Awakening 2nd Edition Advance PDF NOW available at DTRPG.com! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/181754/Mage-the-Awakening-2nd-Edition
You are a mage, one of the Wise. You see, know, and explore what others can’t imagine, from the depths of the human soul to the hidden corners of reality. Armed with your spells, driven by an addiction to Mysteries, you delve into the secrets of the world. Knowledge has a price, and the dangers are many.
This book contains:
- The complete guide to playing a mage in the Chronicles of Darkness.
- Reimagined Paths, Orders, and powers to create your Awakened characters and their allies, including an updated version of the most comprehensive free-form magic system in gaming.
- Five example settings across the world, from Los Angeles to Salamanca, each with a central Mystery.
- A brand-new look at all the strange places of the Fallen World, from the Lower Depths to the Emanation Realms, and what mages might find within.
NOTE: This is the Advance PDF version. A final PDF version and PoD versions will be available at a later date. If you have purchased this Advance PDF, you will be automatically updated to the final PDF and receive a link to enable you to purchase the PoD at a discount designed so that your total price matches our usual PDF and Print combo offer.
You must have your DTRPG account set to accept messages from Onyx Path Publishing before the link messages are sent out, though, so please adjust your settings if you want that discount.
Children of the Unconquered Sun arise!
Exalted 3rd Edition in both PDF and PoD versions is now on sale at DriveThruRPG.com: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/162759/Exalted-3rd-Edition
This is your tale. This is Exalted. What legends will they tell of your deeds?
Exalted 3rd Edition depicts both a revitalized and expanded Creation, and the triumphant return of the Solar Exalted—but whether their rebirth will herald the salvation or destruction of the world, none can say. The system redesign takes the best parts of the previous editions and streamlines the mechanics for maximum playability.
Exalted 3rd Edition includes:
- New Fiction – Read a new tale by original Exalted developer and author Geoff Grabowski.
- New Artwork – See the Realm in a new light with stunning artwork by both new and classic Exalted artists working under the direction of Maria Cabardo.
- Expanded Locales – Expand your campaigns with a detailed overview of the sprawling and decadent Second Age of Man. In addition to classic locales such as Chiaroscuro and Nexus, find many new locations not detailed in previous editions, from the treacherous intrigues of Port Calin to the proud warriors of the frigid plains and forests of Medo, held in check only by the iron hand of the Realm.
- Intrigue and Mystery – Discover a revitalized Realm, still standing at the brink of civil war, but more dangerous than ever before; and the Lunar dominions which harry its borders, seeking redress for ancient crimes while pursuing modern ambitions.
- Expanded Character Creation – Create and play Solar Exalted characters and compelling mortal heroes with more information and fleshed out details.
- Combat System – Fight with a new cinematic combat engine, primed to deliver dynamic, exciting, and easily resolved battles between heroes, gods, and armies.
- Charms – Explore a vibrant new Charm set encompassing both classic Solar powers from previous editions and all-new powers to shift the course of Creation.
- …and much, much more!
The Black Hand returns! V20 The Black Hand: Guide to the Tal’Mahe’Ra Advance PDF is available on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/179023/V20-The-Black-Hand-A-Guide-to-the-TalMaheRa
Beware the Beast: the Primordial PDFs and PoDs NOW on sale at DTRPG.com! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/162443/Beast-The-Primordial
- The complete guide to playing a Beast in Chronicles of Darkness
- A game system designed for crossover with the other Chronicles of Darkness lines
- A look at the Beasts and their broods all around the world, from Vancouver to Tokyo
- Rules for Heroes, the deluded individuals who think that this is their story
CONVENTIONS!
Gen Con 2016 planning has started. We’re starting to plan our booth demo schedule and our 2016-2017 Brochure and a Scion/Trinity/StoryPath brochure, too.
Here’s a con Fast Eddy Webb will be attending! Talk to him about V20 and Pugmire and Sherlock Holmes and Oxford Commas:
- MomoCon (May 26-29, 2016, Atlanta, GA)
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)
- M20 Book of Secrets (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- CtL fiction anthology (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- Ring of Spiragos (Scarred Lands)
- VtM Endless Ages fiction anthology (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- BtP Building a Legend (Beast: the Primordial)
- Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- VtR A Thousand Years of Night (Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition)
- Scion: Origins (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)
- BtP Mortal Remains (Beast: the Primordial)
- BtP Player’s Guide
- Pugmire Core Book
- Ring of Spiragos (5e)
- Dagger of Spiragos (5e)
Redlines
- Dagger of Spiragos – Pathfinder Version (Scarred Lands)
- EX3 Quickstart (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Scarred Lands Player’s Guide 5E: Ghelspad (Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- V20 Dark Ages Anthology (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
Second Draft
- Arms of the Chosen (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Cavaliers of Mars
- Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition
- Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
- V20 Dark Ages Companion (Vampire 20th Dark Ages)
Development
- W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)
- Night Horrors: Conquering Heroes (Beast: the Primordial)
- SL Ring of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- SL The Wise and the Wicked (5e – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- SL The Wise and the Wicked (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- SL Dagger of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
Editing
- V20 DA Tome of Secrets (Vampire 20th Dark Ages)
- CofD Hurt Locker (Chronicles of Darkness)
- Beast Ready Made Characters (Beast: the Primordial)
Post-Editing Development:
- The Prince’s Gambit (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- MtC Mummy Novel (Mummy: the Curse)
- V20 Lore of the Bloodlines (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
Indexing:
ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:
In Art Direction
- W20 Shattered Dreams
- Dark Eras Companion
- Necropolis Rio
- W20 Kinfolk
- Beckett’s Jyhad Diary
- CofD Hurt Locker
- Mummy Novel
- V20 DA Tome of Secrets
- V20 Lore of the Bloodlines
- Beast RMCs
In Layout
- Promethean: the Created Second
- V20 Ready Made Characters
- Secrets of the Covenants
- Ex 3 core book – From RichT: Prepping the actual deluxe traditionally printed files.
- Scarred Lands PG
- Dark Eras Screen
Proofing
- V20 Ghouls – At WWP for approvals.
- Curse of the Blue Nile – At WWP for approvals.
- Ex 3 Screen
- EX3 Backer Charms
At Press
- Beast Screen – At shipper.
- Beast Prestige Edition – waiting for printer proofs this week.
- Dark Eras – PoD files.
- V20 Black Hand – PoD files.
Special- projects on hold in the art and production area until an external factor is resolved
- Wraith 20 – Art direction and layout can’t go further until art notes come in, still being developed by Rich Dansky.
TODAY’S REASON TO DRINK: Clause 4, section a), Clause 6.
Comments
45 responses to “GenCon Inside(r) Poop [Monday Meeting Notes]”
Isn’t it too early to sign up for GenCon?
Oh. Wait. It’s May now.
[SCREAMS INTERNALLY]
I know. I’m a little upset that I was sleeping on those “it’s gonna be May” memes.
So, just out of curiosity (I didn’t pledge to WW20, so I’m not waiting as urgently for it as those who did), does this mean the Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook is out of the holding pattern?
We’ll see, but…maybe?
Hey, even a maybe there is exciting. That is a stretch goal I’ve been looking forward to for a while. So I have my fingers crossed.
I have a real beef with this post! It is NOT to do with RichT, of course… On heavens no! I take issue with the notion that we STILL discuss things like ‘diversity in games’ like it’s even a thing. Like it’s important? Okay, sure it’s totes important to someone, but I dunno WHO that might be.
From Gamergate to the obnoxious ‘puppies’ hijacking the Hugo Awards to anyone foolish enough to speak the words ‘fake geek girl’ to ranting that there’s too many women in whatever super hero movie you saw, it’s a load of bunk that doesn’t address the issue at hand.
What’s the issue? you ask. It’s simple: We ALL have fun with this stuff! Bob’s your uncle, Q.E.D., *mic drop* or how-so-ever you choose to end a pointless convo.
Needless to say, I’m proper chuffed that Onyx Path (and EVERYONE there) is on my side of this. Um, I mean I’m glad WE are on the right side! 🙂
And there you go!
To be honest, I can see where the Sad Puppies are coming from. After last year’s Hugo awards, there seemed to be an awful lot of “official” people voicing an opinion along the lines of “how are we supposed to give awards to minorities, if we can’t discriminate against conservative writers?”
Which, to me, kind of misses the point of pushing for diversity. Isn’t the whole idea to grow the audience and talent pool, making the tent even bigger? Personally, I want the best writers/artists/game designers possible, and to heck with their politics/ethnicity/religion/sexuality/etc.
So where along the way is the Deluxe cloth map of Creation for EX3? Will it ship with the deluxe book or separately?
We intend for the cloth map to ship with the Deluxes. Thanks!
Would it be possible to get a jpg / pdf of the finished map included in the Exalted 3e files on DriveThru?
Eventually, I’m sure we will. Thanks!
Promethean in art direction…
Soon, my pretty… Soon!
I love me some Werewolf, but Promethean has to be my #1 anticipated 2nd edition game.
Can I get it early if you take my non-existant children? (I can always make more! Muahahahaha!)
Seems like a great trade- sure!
As always I can’t help but look forward to seeing you all at GenCon.
Yep, and the same to you!
This is one of those annoying questions, so, I apologize in advance. That out of the way, how much longer until the POD version of MtAW 2nd is available? Thanks.
This is one of those annoying answers, so apologies in advance. I don’t give out time estimates, thanks!
Actually, you kind of sort of answered my question. Worded perhaps more appropriately, what I essentially meant to ask was: “Do Advance PDF’s remain in that stage for a set amount of time, or does it vary by project?” So in stating that you don’t give estimates, that sort of insinuates the latter. So not annoying at all, and thank you!
Fair question and, yes, the time frame is variable. Some of that is how extensive the errata is, and then there are the added things like the Index which take different time depending on the size of the book, and those last bits of layout for the PDF.
Exalted 3 Backer Charms are in proofing now, what does this proofing entail?
And how long does it take for a smaller supplement like the pdf for the backer charms?
Thanks in advance and Cheers
Proofing in this case is the devs working with the designer to make sure the book is laid out right and everything is there. No estimates on time, thanks!
Oh man – I need WWP to approve Ghouls faster. I have so many good books to read but Ghouls books have always been my very very favorite.
Can we get the post about the second editions that you mentioned last week for next week? I’m very interested to see what you’ve got to say on them.
Love that new Promethean piece and I can’t wait to read through the new edition. And thanks for getting the Mummy anthology out last Wednesday; that was a nice surprise.
Man, I wish I had more girls in our group. We did once upon a time… but the “actually just here to draw” and the “my werewolf wants to chase bunnies and be a wolf all the time” really didn’t fit in. That said would love to have someone that did.
nitpick: I know that BtP Mortal Remains is dealing with Beasts and Heroes; but isn’t it doing so from the perspective and rules-base of HtV? And wouldn’t that make it a HtV supplement? That is, you’re expected to own HtV, not BtP, in order to use it.
That’s legit. I think it’s tagged that way because it was a stretch goal off the Beast KS.
Is there going to be a Kickstarter before Gen Con?
That’s the plan, but we have to finalize a few things first.
Any word o Deviant?
A few weeks back a bunch of pitch ideas were solicited. any hints on what stuck to the wall? Would still really love to see a damnation city book but with a more inclusive feel so that crossover games can feel the tide of various alien politics pushing against each other
I expect Dave B will be focused on the Mage2nd errata for a bit and then start talking Deviant more. We’re still pulling the ideas and schedules together but everybody’s suggestions were much appreciated. Thanks!
Will he get to reveal its subtitle so we can stop calling it things like Deviant: The Banang (or my personal coinage Deviant: The Kamen-Ridering)?
The Promethean art is great. Really hammers home the “loneliness and devastation” mood that Promethean has.
I’m so very curious to see which covenant gets that trick shown in the art.
Cool, glad you get that feeling from the art.
I just stopped by to see what the Storypath/Trinity brochure was about and to see if anyone asked about Storypath in general. They didnt, so I am 😉
The brochure will give a brief run-through of how the system works and then some peeks at Scion and the Trinity Continuum.
Man, Promethean 2E is gonna have the prettiest art in all of 2E. I’m digging every piece that you preview here.
Glad to hear it!
Shameless Plug: We are running a midnight game Sat Eve. Still pending approval. Gen Con By Night “A sinister underground game is rumored to be taking place at this year’s Gen Con , and it is your task to investigate and preserve the Masquerade. “
There’s still going to be a storyteller’s screen with Werewolf Shattered Dreams, right? I am almost more excited about the storyteller’s screen than I am the book. (Almost)
It’s part of the Kickstarter, why would we not be making it?
Hello.
I understand that you don’t give time estimates on release dates on your projects. Since I’m a fan from Sweden dying to play dragonblooded in EX3, I wonder how you prioritze the dragonblooded book against the other Exalted projects?
There’s a question that I _can_ answer, thanks! we still have a number of projects from the Kickstarter to finish up, as well as Arms of the Chosen, but those are all projects where the Devs can allow other creators to do the heavy lifting because most of the questions they might have are in the core book. Dragon Blooded can then, by its very nature, be the book the Devs are most directly hands-on with. So, we have one track of effort that contains the KS projects, one for Arms, and then the joint DB and Realm projects, that can all be worked on simultaneously.
the BBC has a short video about the Gencon panel balance. only a a few minutes, but still, more than tabletop gaming usually gets on mainstream media
sorry, meant to actually post a lonk to the video in question http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/36345666