In The Red! [Monday Meeting Notes]

Not in a financial sense, though. We’re all still fine in that regard!

But in referring to a little bit of internet foolishness that, frankly, I was just going to ignore for today until Impish Ian created the above lovely pastiche graphic. I mean, our motto combined with the logo for the legendary Red List from Vampire: The Masquerade all in regards to the so-called red list of gaming companies that are “too woke”?

Had to include it today!

Briefly, some gamers decided to create lists of the companies that create TTRPGs, and assign them to a green, or yellow, or red list depending on how “woke” they felt the companies were. Their definition of “woke”, mind you. It’s all subjective and dumb, at best. We were assigned to the red list, with no comments attached – when I saw the thing, so I guess we’re so well known for being against hatred, discrimination, and Nazis, that nothing more needed saying.

Works for me.

Hundred Devils Night Parade art by Romane Fauer

Since today was Labor Day, it was nice that our Monday Meeting was relatively short. We did cover these topics, though:

We submitted the Deluxe W20 Apocalyptic Record Kickstarter page to Paradox and then it’ll go to Kickstarter itself. Once that happens, we’ll start sending around links for its Pre-Kickstarter page. And then we’ll announce the date it starts!

The book has six chapters, and I asked Matthew for some info on them. Here you go:

  • Chapter One: Ahroun Tales — We open our story with the Full Moon and its many tales of combat, bloodshed, and wisdom gained from the battlefield. War is our footing, and destruction is at hand.

The fire came first. One minute we smelled oil, the next it was everywhere. Bubbling up out of sinkholes that hadn’t been there before, oozing out of the walls and dripping from the ceiling. And it clung. It was damn near sentient, going straight for eyes and mouths, making us stumble around and cough.

Then fire. Incendiary grenades from the DFG mercs, balefire banes dancing and screeching in it, climbing up on the backs of Garou mid-transformation and bathing in the oil that came before. Fire’s loud. We could hear Golgol yelling orders, but the rest of the council were yelling too, all screaming different things. Garret calling for us to retreat, but nobody knew to where; Lanya yelling at him to shut his fool mouth; Golgol ordering us to form up into Wargs and Moons, but nobody knew who they were with anymore, thanks to all the losses.

  • Chapter Two: Galliard Tales — We move on to the Gibbous Moon and the songs sung by the Galliard, with stories of tradition, inspiration, and grievous loss. Our Galliards impart tales of stirring victory and howling defeat.

Here is a secret for you, Child of Gaia. Before Unicorn adopted your forebears, and before Griffin adopted mine, the two spirits did battle. And Griffin did not strike first.

[Dry snow; pine needles and resin; fading human scent.]

A pack of Garou, running as wolves, pursued a human clan in the culling season. As they drew near, though, Unicorn manifested in full glory before them. He was dark as the night sky, and he gave no warning. He struck out with his horn and his hooves, and he would have killed each one of Gaia’s Warriors that he found, were it not for Griffin.

[Overpowering blood and lather; horse-smell, lion-smell, eagle-smell; churned earth.]

Both spirits fought until the sun had risen and the humans had long since fled. They withdrew to lick their wounds. The hunters took their wounded and dead, and they followed Griffin. But one of them lingered and looked back, and she saw a strange wolf following Unicorn as well. The first Garou to choose humans over the People. The first to choose defiance. The first of your kind.

  • Chapter Three: Theurge Tales — We move on to the Crescent Moon, and its journeys into the Umbra, the power of spirits, and fetishes and Gifts possessed by the Theurge. Insight is imparted here, from the many Theurges and their varied views of the spirit world.

I’m going to pull out your tongue with hot tongs so you can’t bewitch me —

…I’m a soldier, not a magician!

And I’ll cut off three of your four limbs so you can’t leap on me, though rest assured, if you tried, I’d cut you from arsehole to appetite. I’ll leave one hand intact so when I remove this stake through your heart, you can write down the answers I want. I want to know what you were doing with Albrecht, what he said, what you said to him, your part in the prophecy, and everything your kind knows about us, and you’re going to give me the answers I want, because I have a lot of blood to feed you and can make this last a long, long time.

…Please. Please.

Do you know who I am, I wonder? Keep this in your thoughts, leech. I am Margrave Yuri Konietzko, Theurge of the Shadow Lords. While I butcher your body into ash, my spirit friends will keep you from completely disintegrating, and will record your every thought and feeling. The signed confession is just a formality.

…Stop.

But it’s one I’ve come to enjoy.  

W20 Apocalyptic Record art by Drew Tucker
  •  Chapter Four: Ragabash Tales — We hear from representatives of the New Moon and all their promise of tales, trickery, Kinfolk, and Wyrm-tainted foes. Through canny and calculation, the Ragabash may hold the key to triumph in the face of Apocalypse.

“I mean” said Simon, “this is all prophecy, yes? It will come to pass?”

Raccoon smirked. “If you like.”

“So is she alive? Could I find her, and perhaps warn her of what events are in the future?”

“You could,” explained Raccoon, “if you really wanted to. But I wouldn’t. Sometimes it’s better to simply learn from stories. Speaking of which, you should probably seek out your next one, shouldn’t you?”

“Yes,” said Simon, gathering his belongings. “Who should I seek next?”

“If you wish to truly understand the nature of glory in battle and what it means to the Garou?” replied Raccoon. “Perhaps Turtle. See if you can wake him up.”

Rising to his feet, Simon slung his backpack over his shoulder and gave Raccoon an awkward bow. “Thank you once again.”

Raccoon waited, resting on the rock, until Simon had left. Then he stretched, rolled over onto his belly, and carefully picked himself up onto two feet. Glancing around to make sure the pup had truly gone, he slipped out of his soft pelt of grey fur. Folding it up carefully, he gave a light chuckle; one that caused the aged wrinkles around his mouth to crease. “Not bad, little wolf,” said the being in Raccoon’s skin, “not bad. Maybe you will wake him up after all.” The individual pulled their battered, wide-brimmed hat down over ivory locks of hair, and stretched their legs; they were certain that after all this time, they was getting too old for these japes.

  •  Chapter Five: Philodox Tales — Our judges and mediators, the Philodox, conclude our tale. Just like the Half Moon that represents them, they advocate for balance, even if that sometimes takes the form of an eye for an eye. Their stories are ones of peace, no matter how temporary, and ruling, no matter how just, or unjust.

Long ago, our relations — our siblings and cousins who came before us, but after First Brother — were lost to us. They gave of themselves, our loved ones, that we might continue the war against the Wyrm and Wyrmbringers alike, and when they were lost, Great Turtle pulled her limbs and head into her shell and fell into slumber — or so the stories are sung. But these are the visions that have been shared with me: She never slept. Great Turtle lives and breathes beneath our feet. Each of us, we know, are one with this land. The places we walk and live and die carry our stories, our memories, and our spirit. Great Turtle, in these final nights when we need her most, is awake, breathing, living, and she remembers the love we hold — born last of the First People — for our lost Sibling, and she stands beside us even now!

These fires that burn, these machines that drill down deep into the shell, the Wyrm remembers when Great Turtle defeated Eater-of-Souls. The Wyrm remembers when it lost its war, and when it was laid low. The Wyrm carries the scars left by Middle Sibling and Great Turtle, and like our memories live in this land, its memories live in its own defeat, and cousins, my relations, guests, let me tell you: the Wyrm is afraid. The Wyrm assaults the land here, in our home, in this way because it fears Great Turtle who even now is roused to the battlefield. She is awake, and she is prepared for war! So do not stand idle in these twilight times, remember the sacrifice that our sibling made, and be willing to die just as they did! Come to war!

  •  Chapter Six: On Metaplot — Werewolf: The Apocalypse has a history stretching back many, many years. This chapter opens the door on that history, and provides invaluable advice on how to utilize it in your chronicles.

Hope that whets your appetite and stokes your fires of curiosity!

Ghost Hunters art by Niko Pope

Our crew talked a lot about biz stuff like Pay Schedules and Proofing Times, which I have needlessly capitalized to stress that they are things that are Important to getting books made, but not the fun acts of creation that everybody enjoys so I won’t go into the details.

And that conversation led into actual proof talks about the ones coming our way. Both from DTRPG for our PoDs, and from the traditional printers. The former because we have a slew of excellent books coming from DTRPG, and the latter because we’re still in the process even if the actual printing and manufacturing won’t happen until January.

All of a sudden, time has flown by, and Virtual Gen Con is virtually next week! We have two panels and two games on the 17th and 18th and while the games are sold out – and were almost from the time they were announced – we’d love to see you at the panels! Times and topics below in the Convention info part of the MMN.

The Starter Sets/Jumpstarts sale is still going on DTRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/sale.php?manufacturers_id=4261

More and more, we’re seeing increased value and usage of Jumpstarts for our games as more and more people get into our hobby and want to try out new games. For experienced players, we’ve been trying to include extra value beyond just being a “intro module”, so they are not just for beginners to a game line.

In fact, speaking of Jumpstarts with more to offer, we very recently offered for sale the Teen Tomorrow Jumpstart for the Trinity Continuum: Aberrant game line, and in addition our team burned through a conversion of Teen Tomorrow for Astral TableTop, the virtual tabletop venue! That’ll go live on Wednesday with our other new projects for sale!

V5 Forbidden Religions art by Michael Gaydos

Finally, we talked about the great response that Deviant: The Renegades has garnered since we released it last week! Wow! So glad folks are enjoying it and it very clearly has captured people’s imaginations! So this week, we’re going to keep the Deviant train going and follow-up with a couple more fun releases you might enjoy!

Nothing too big, this week, but both the Screen and the Wallpapers are cool to have as you’re working your way through the gamebook itself! After all, not everything is a gamebook when we’re providing folks with lots of ways to enjoy our:

Many Worlds, One Path!


Blurbs!


Kickstarter!

Our next Kickstarter is slated to be The Apocalyptic Record for Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition!


Onyx Path Media!

This week: Inspiration and Tasty Bits (in other words: how we get our ideas, and how constraints lead to interesting products like the monthly Tasty Bits)!

As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/

For anyone new to our media section, you can find us running and playing games over on twitch.tv/theonyxpath every day of the week! Plus, if you’d like your games hosted there, just get in touch with Matthew Dawkins using the contact link on matthewdawkins.com

Please check out our attached media schedule for the impressive number of videos on our Twitch channel this week! In particular, keep those eyes open for our Storypath Showcase, where we give an excellent profile of our various Storypath games and how to play them!

Come take a look at our YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/theonyxpath, where you can find a whole load of videos of actual plays, dissections of our games, and more. We’ve held off from uploads over the last week, as we build up a new bank of content. Stay tuned for videos, but in the meantime, please subscribe and click the bell icon if you want to be notified whenever new news videos and uploads come online!

The Exaltcast is back with a brand new episode! One of the best Exalted podcasts going talks about demons and Malfeas! Get Infernal with these fine folks: https://www.exaltcast.com/2021/09/06/impossible-emerald-brilliance-demons-and-malfeas/

Simulacra TV‘s amazing Aberrant actual play – Atomic Youth – continues! Please check them out and give them some support. This is the newest episode of this chapter, so please get involved. https://youtu.be/Bjgr5JhH9VA

Aberrant: Atomic Youth episodes premiere Wednesdays at 5pm EDT on https://www.twitch.tv/SimulacraTV

ExalTwitch: Academy Season Two follows three young Dragon-Bloods in the aftermath of their school’s destruction. The House of Bells’ fall was blamed on Anathema corrupting the student body, but Oresta, Pyres, and Gale Whispered must clear their names and seek out those actually responsible before the Realm collapses.
Watch ExalTwitch: Academy live every Sunday at 18:00 ET on https://www.twitch.tv/rpgclinic.

And here are the first episodes of the new season for you! 

S02E01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx-YTKL3lPQ&pp=sAQA

S02E02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggLrSDdddZE&pp=sAQA

S02E03: https://youtu.be/Uwb2ZGjv8XI

S02E04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R30uK0manCk

S02E05: https://youtu.be/VIOQkx8XMI8

S02E06: https://youtu.be/pJThYEGvSeo

S02E07: https://youtu.be/k2yIv4oTcpg

Did you miss OneBookShelf’s Learn2Play series? Earlier this year, they hosted an excellent learning session for They Came from Beneath the Sea!, which you can find right here: https://youtu.be/tqz02wdyZI0

One of our favorite actual plays is the Scion: Origin actual play from Onyx Path Con earlier this year! Please give it a watch right here: https://youtu.be/vnrkZV3FZss


Electronic Gaming!

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is live! The dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is awesome! (Seriously, you need to roll 100 dice for Exalted? This app has you covered.)


Virtual Tabletop!

NEW on Astral TableTop is the Secret of Vinsen’s Tomb for Realms of Pugmire!

Play Now on Astral TableTop!

The Secret of Vinsen’s Tomb module comes with all the maps and encounters, ready to play, along with pre-generated characters and character sheets wired up for automated rolling. It also offers the GameMaster some guidance on playing the scenario on Astral for those GMs new to the platform or entirely new to virtual tabletops (VTT).

Create a free account first, then the Quickstarts will be available on the Home page. If you are getting this via DTRPG, after checkout, look for the link to unlock your adventure on Astral.

Also on Astral TableTop, we have two free projects: Scion 2E: A Light Extinguished and Scarred Lands: Gauntlet of Spiragos and this Dagger of Spiragos module for sale: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/336406/Dagger-of-Spiragos-5e–Astral-VTT

Astral TableTop is the easiest way to play any tabletop RPG online, free. Astral already supports popular systems like D&D and Pathfinder, and Astral can support virtually any tabletop roleplaying game. Get started quickly with built-in support for most popular game systems. Whether you’re brand new to TTRPGs or a veteran tabletop gamer, Astral‘s ease-of-use and built in automation is designed to streamline gameplay.

https://www.astraltabletop.com/

How to guides and FAQ: https://help.astraltabletop.com/

Here is the main filter for all of our current VTT content on DTRPG:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/4261/Onyx-Path-Publishing?filters=0_0_0_45317_0

A few highlights of our platform agnostic content:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/309127/Scarred-Lands-Creature-Collection-VTT-Token-Pack
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/317690/Trinity-Continuum-Hunt-for-the-Red-Widow-VTT
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/340327/Trinity-Continuum-Aeon-VTT-Tokens
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/311578/Scarred-Lands-VTT-Separation-Anxiety
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/311580/Scion-2e-VTT-Origin-Signature-Tokens
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/311579/Scion-2e-VTT-Hero-Signature-Tokens


On Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue from which you bought it. Reviews really, really help us get folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these latest fiction books:


Our Sales Partners!

We’re working with Studio2 to provide our traditionally printed books out into your local game stores. Game stores can order via their usual distributors, and can also contact Studio2 directly. And individuals can check out our projects via the links below!

You can pick up the traditionally printed Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau main books, screens, and the official dice through our friends there! https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

Now, we’ve added Chronicles of Darkness books such as Changeling: The Lost Second Edition products to Studio2‘s store! See them here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/all-products/changeling-the-lost

Scion 2e books and other products are available now at Studio2: https://studio2publishing.com/blogs/new-releases/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin-now-available-at-your-local-retailer-or-online

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

And you can order Pugmire, Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2e at the same link! And now Scion Origin and Scion Hero and Trinity Continuum Core and Trinity Continuum: Aeon are available to order!

In celebration of Changeling the Dreaming’s 24th anniversary, select Onyx Path Publishing books, screens and dice are 40% off through August 29 8pm PDT! https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Deals-and-Specials

As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles at DriveThruRPG.com!

DriveThru is offering a sale on a wide assortment of starter sets and jumpstarts – including a whole lot of ours! Almost over, so check it out now!

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/sale.php?manufacturers_id=4261


On Sale This Week!

Continuing our releases for Deviant: The Renegades, the Deviants Wallpaper and the Screen will lurch onto DTRPG this Wednesday!

And over on the Astral TableTop VTT storefront, we’ll be offering the TC: Aberrant Jumpstart: Teen Tomorrow!


Conventions!

Because dates for physical conventions are subject to change due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we don’t yet have a list of upcoming physical conventions. Instead, keep an eye out here for more virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!

Gen Con Online!

Friday, September 17th, 11am EDT: Storypath Q&A! Join the Onyx Path crew for a Q&A about their in-house system and the games powered by it, including Trinity Continuum, Scion Second Edition, They Came From!, and Dystopia Rising: Evolution. https://www.gencon.com/events/198118

Friday, September 17th, 1pm EDT: Trinity Continuum: Anima Playtest! Eddy will run a three-hour playtest of the Anima rules! https://www.gencon.com/events/197482

Saturday, September 18th, 11am EDT: What’s Up with Onyx Path? Join some of the Onyx Path developers and employees while they talk about what they’ve been working on recently! https://www.gencon.com/events/198116

Saturday, September 18th, 4pm EDT: They Came From Beyond the Grave! Matthew will run a three-hour introductory scenario to a game of 1970s Hammer Horror-esque chills and thrills, and not a little ham and comedy with it. https://www.gencon.com/events/199400


And now, the new project status updates!

Development Status from Eddy Webb! (Projects in bold have changed status since last week.):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep.)

  • Exalted Essay Collection (Exalted)
  • Terat Novella (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
  • Tasty Bit: New Team (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
  • Squeaks in the Deep Companion (Realms of Pugmire)
  • Squeaks in the Deep Jumpstart (Realms of Pugmire)

Redlines

  • Dragon-Blooded Novella #2 (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • Tome of the Pentacle (Mage: the Awakening 2e)
  • The Hedge (Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition)
  • Scion: God (Scion 2e)
  • With Great Power (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
  • Weird Wonders and Revolutionary Magick (M20 Victorian)
  • Bizarre Tales and Unusual Characters (M20 Victorian)
  • Scion: Dragon Jumpstart (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Scion: Dragon Companion (Scion 2nd Edition)

Second Draft

  • No Gods, No Masters (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Trinity Continuum: Aether core book (Trinity Continuum: Aether)

Development

  • Contagion Chronicle: Global Outbreaks (Chronicles of Darkness)
  • Adversaries of the Righteous (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • Wild Hunt (Scion 2nd Edition)

Manuscript Approval

  • TC: Adventure! Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum: Adventure!)

Post-Approval Development

  • Exigents (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave! core book (They Came From…!)

Editing

  • Lunars Novella (Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • The Book of Lasting Death (Mummy: The Curse 2e)
  • Dead Man’s Rust (Scarred Lands)
  • M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • Mission Statements (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)
  • The Clades Companion (Deviant: The Renegades)
  • CtL2e Novella Collection: Hollow Courts (Changeling: The Lost 2e)
  • Heroes in a World of Horror! (They Came From…!)
  • Dystopia Rising: Evolution Fiction Anthology (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)
  • Legacies of Earth (Legendlore)
  • Scion Fiction Anthology (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • They Came From Beyond the Grave! Jumpstart (They Came From…!)
  • TC: Aeon Novella: Meridian (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)
  • Exalted Essence Edition (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • Crucible of Legends (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • Proteus Nova Compendium (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
  • TC: Aeon Novella: Dawn (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)
  • Trinity Continuum: Anima
  • Tales of Depravity! (They Came From…!)
  • They Came From [Classified]! (They Came From…!)
  • They Came From [Classified]! Jumpstart (They Came From…!)
  • Realms of Magic and Mystery (was Terra Incognita) (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Vigil Watch: The Kelder Mountains (Scarred Lands)
  • The Paranormal Investigator’s Handbook (WoD 20th)
  • Once and Future (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Apocalyptic Record (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • M20 Lore of the Traditions (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • Many-Faced Strangers – Lunars Companion (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • Panopticon Novella (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
  • Kith and Kin (Changeling: The Lost 2e)

Post-Editing Development

  • Masks of the Mythos (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Scion: Demigod (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Scion: Dragon (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • N!ternational Wrestling Entertainment (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
  • Squeaks In The Deep (Realms of Pugmire)
  • Novas Worldwide (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
  • They Came From Beneath the Sea! Jumpstart (They Came From…!)
  • Saints and Monsters (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Trinity Continuum: Assassins (Trinity Continuum Core)
  • They Came From Camp Murder Lake! (They Came From…!)
  • Prometheus Unbound (was Psi Orders) (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)
  • Ghost Hunters Jumpstart w/RMCs (WoD 20th)
  • The Devoted Companion (Deviant: The Renegades)
  • Contagion Chronicle Ready-Made Characters (Chronicles of Darkness)
  • Across the Eight Directions (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • Tasty Bit: The Autocracy (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Trinity Continuum: Adventure! core (Trinity Continuum: Adventure!)

Indexing


Art Direction from Mike Chaney!

In Art Direction

  • Scion: Dragon – Getting Gong on board for the Flights.
  • Masks of the Mythos – Maria has some artists that might fit this. Working ideas for border designs.
  • TC: Adventure! (KS)
  • M20 Victorian (KS)
  • Dead Man’s Rust
  • Exalted Essence (KS)
  • TC Mission Statements
  • TC Aberrant N!WE – Maria ADing Digital Chefs.
  • M20 Technocracy Dossier/Companion – Artists working.
  • Squeaks In The Deep (KS)
  • TC Prometheus Unbound – Finals keep coming in gorgeous.
  • They Came From Camp Murder Lake! – Art is in.
  • Realms of Magic and Mystery
  • Saints and Monsters – Getting this rolling.
  • TC: Anima (KS) – Getting shields rolling.
  • TC: Assassin – Getting interior art rolling.
  • Legendlore: Legacies of the Earth
  • Novas Worldwide – Getting art notes out to artists.
  • W20 Apocalyptic Record (KS) – KS to Paradox approval.
  • They Came From Beyond the Grave! Jumpstart

In Layout

  • V5 Forbidden Religions – With Josh, proof going to devs.
  • They Came From Beneath the Sea! Jumpstart – Travis handling layout.
  • They Came From Beyond the Grave! – Second proof going this week to devs.
  • M20 Technocracy Jumpstart
  • Hundred Devils Night Parade – Mine again – and progressing!
  • Aberrant VTT
  • Scion: Demigod
  • Squeaks in the Deep Screen
  • WoD Ghost Hunters Screen – Text is in for this.
  • Legendlore Screen – Text is in for this.
  • Squeaks in the Deep

Proofing

  • Hunter: The Vigil 2e – Backer PDFs out to backers for errata.
  • Spiragos Collected Adventures
  • M20 Rich Bastards Guide – Corrections going in.
  • Legendlore – Inputting 2nd proof notes.
  • WoD Ghost Hunters – Backers errata done Friday.

At Press

  • M20 Technocracy Reloaded – Deluxe getting ready for press.
  • Mummy 2 – Getting ready for press. PDF/PoD on sale 9/15.
  • Mummy 2e Screen – Files sent to printer.
  • Deviant – Maybe press proofs this week.
  • Deviant Screen – Files sent to printer.
  • Technocracy Reloaded Screen – Files sent to printer.
  • Heirs to the Shogunate – PoD files at printer.
  • Players Guide to the Contagion Chronicle – PoD proof coming.
  • Dearly Bleak – Deviant: The Renegades Novella – Getting PoD files ready.

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Today in the US we are celebrating Labor Day as a Monday Federal Holiday ostensibly in support of all workers everywhere. Which is kind of appropriate as yesterday was the birthday of the hardest working man in gaming, our own Mirthful Mike Chaney! Mike is our Scotty from STtOS: the miracle worker who works to keep all our projects working. Thanks, Mike, and happy birthday!


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Comments

29 responses to “In The Red! [Monday Meeting Notes]”

  1. Alan Avatar
    Alan

    That Hundred Devils Night Parade art is gorgeous! Can’t wait for it (and Across the Eight Directions) to release!

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Glad you think so! (We do too). They are closing in, hang on!

  2. Adam Johnson Avatar
    Adam Johnson

    Deviant last week, and Mummy next week? It’s like you’re TRYING to take my money from me.

    …which, I guess, you are running a business, so maybe you are… fair enough.

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Yep, we actually can’t apologize for that. 🙂 Obviously, we intended to maybe space them out a bit wider, but now that they are ready and we know people are waiting for them, we can’t justify holding them back!

  3. Aria Arundottir Avatar
    Aria Arundottir

    I think finding yourself on that “red list” is a honor. The “Old World of Darkness” team went a long way from ’90 Edgelords (everyone was one in these times) to “too woke” because I guess you have shown a girl on the wheelchair in Dystopia Rising (among other similar things)

    1. Eddy Webb Avatar
      Eddy Webb

      As one of the people who advocated for the wheelchair in DR:E, I’m thrilled that ableist assholes are mad!

      1. Phaolan Avatar
        Phaolan

        One of the MANY reasons we love you, Eddy.

        1. richt Avatar
          richt

          And Eddy’s marvelous singing voice!

    2. richt Avatar
      richt

      Just like old WW, our creative teams are made up of creators who are really not uniform in their beliefs nor the intensity with which they hold them. We’ve all led different lives. So if anybody thinks a single descriptive like Edgelord or Woke can cover the teams who created the old WW projects, or our creators now, they’re missing the wider, and more human, story.

      1. Aria Arundottir Avatar
        Aria Arundottir

        I completely understand this, mr Richt. People are people and even my small social circle (I’m autistic and I can’t maintain a large one) is composed of people of very different worldviews. So, this is a bit of irony.
        The fact is, the company as a whole has something like a “public face”, no matter what people work inside, and it’s not always the one PR departament is working on. The WW of old was considered “dark” and “goth” and I won’t use the word “edgy” because it would be an anachronism, but you know what I mean. And it was good, these times were as that, there were TV shows like that and even I loved that image and style despite not being a part of “true WW fandom”, maybe because I weren’t dark and goth enough.
        And I loved parts where WW showed different faces too – I was probably one of first GMs in my part of the world who ran Aeon Trinity (or whatever the final title of this game was) and a very first edition of Exalted. Also ran Hunter: the Reckoning, the game our local WW fandom hated to the guts.
        Long story short, I didn’t want to be offensive to you. I know WW was build by diverse bunch of people, (and some of these people unfortunately went not so good ways recent times) but it had an image and reputation – at least it’s how it was seen in my part of the world (Central-Eastern Europe to be precise). Onyx Path has a reputation also and I absolutely love it. So, it was more my poor comunication skills than any attempt at, IDK, offend the old WW or polarize it as WW bad, OP good. Sorry.

        1. richt Avatar
          richt

          Oh no, please no worries about what you wrote! Nothing wrong with that, I was just expanding out from there to better underline some of the real issues that lists like these (and the surrounding hoopla) don’t really deal with. But are the actual reality of the situations. Thanks! To your thoughts about image: I will always remember the crestfallen looks on the faces of fans who visited the WW offices and found them not to be candle-lit crypts peopled by undead looking creators. Nope, we had plenty of folks who dressed in black, and were pale, but that was band and comic book t-shirts with jeans, and the complexion of people who work inside all day long! ;D

  4. genki_garbage Avatar
    genki_garbage

    I remember when I was reading through the backer preview of the Contagion Chronicle, and I came across something that didn’t sit right with me. I sent you guys an email expressing my concerns, and very quickly received a very thoughtful reply thanking me for reaching out and letting me know that the team had also realized that the thing I had noticed was troubling, and was already working to remedy it. That interaction cemented you guys as one of my favorite game companies, one that really cares about the experience of their audience and is open and willing to listen to and incorporate feedback. Red listed and proud, Onyx Path! <3

    1. Phaolan Avatar
      Phaolan

      <3, indeed!

    2. richt Avatar
      richt

      We definitely try to listen, and if the devs/team agree that we missed something or an element is presented unclearly, then adjustments are made, if possible. Sometimes, we don’t agree and don’t change things, or said change just can’t happen logistically, but the listening was still there.

  5. Phil H Avatar
    Phil H

    If by being “woke” you’re trying to be respectful to people regardless of who they are, then you are right to celebrate it. You won’t always get it all right, and I dare say you don’t always get it right. Sometimes there’s disagreement on what right is (I’ve literally been gaybashed to the sound of the word queer and can’t ever accept the way it’s casually tossed around these days), but the simple act of displaying respect is the most important thing.

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Thanks. I think the displaying part is important, but also has to be followed by actually doing something that shows that respect in a concrete way. And that doesn’t always work out either, but it is important to try and then try again.

  6. Amethyst Avatar
    Amethyst

    I think it’s awesome how “woke” you are.

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Thanks…I guess. 🙂 By the standards of a very small group of gamers with some, let’s say, interesting, criteria for that name judging by the comments after each company.

  7. Arnguth Avatar
    Arnguth

    We will ever see new books for forsaken, requiem, awakening ?
    Cofd seems dying, it’s very disappointing.

    1. Doom Avatar
      Doom

      I definitely feel like CoD doesn’t get near as much attention as WoD (which is a shame because I prefer it on basically every way) but they just released Deviant, Mummy is coming soon, and then Hunter will follow so the gameline seems alive to me. They also have a Mage book in the works under the redline step.

      I don’t love that my favorite of the gamelines (MtAw) gets less love then it’s WoD counterpart but I’m not sure I can agree that it’s dying or, if it is it’s a very slow death.

      1. richt Avatar
        richt

        Neither line gets more or less love – we love ’em both! Same goes for WoD and CofD. We simply don’t get to decide on what is released and can only submit ideas for books and see if they are approved. We had to wait quite a while before any new M20 books were OK’d, but now we get to do a bunch – so that’s cool!

    2. richt Avatar
      richt

      We have mentioned before that with the number of projects that came out of the 2e Kickstarters we had to devote most of our attention to those. And there are additional, non-KS, projects in the progress report for CofD games, too. We don’t control the schedule in terms of new projects, so you’ll have to let Paradox know you’d like more CofD.

  8. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    You teases! That headline and graphic got me all excited for more VtM books from you folks. Congrats on making the ‘not assholes’ list though. Keep up the good work!

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      More V5? Certainly could happen. No more V20 though, you’ll need to check out the Vault for community content V20 projects.

      Thanks, and while I’m not sure that’s how the list is being considered, I certainly appreciate that you see it that way! 🙂

  9. Weston Anderson Avatar
    Weston Anderson

    Gotta love people who think being respectful and against fascist beliefs and disgusting bigotry is somehow… Bad? For something more positive, the Apocalyptic Record interests me more and more!

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      I know, right?

      We’re going to try and use the time between the W20 Apoc Record being submitted for both KS and Paradox approvals and when the KS goes live to reveal more about the book, so hopefully you can get even more interested!

    2. Aria Arundottir Avatar
      Aria Arundottir

      So, I went and looked at that list, out of pure autistic curiosity. And I wasn’t surprised the red ones are mostly companies I support, or even worked with in the past once or twice. And Games Workshop which, while I have sentiment to them (Warhammer FRP was a first RPG for me), I never suspect landing in such a place. So, as I said, OP is in a good company.
      On the other hand, I didn’t notice too many “assholes” on the “green” list, except maybe two or three, they simply don’t bother to include any statements. And it’s their right not to. Personally I like my games to support my world view, but I don’t mind. I can run as “woke” and “politically correct” OSR game as I want.

  10. […] in the pipeline for it that I can find on Onyx Path’s product schedule or in their latest weekly blog post. (I’m a little sad to see nothing planned for Vampire: the Requiem, come to think of it, but […]

  11. Doc Watson Avatar
    Doc Watson

    Wear that Red List badge with pride! If being against fascists and for human rights is wrong, I don’t want to be right.