Long time readers of this blog might have noticed that we, or the tabletop RPG business as a whole, often have incidents occur during the course of a year that flare up on social media for one reason or the other that Onyx Path doesn’t really officially comment on. This isn’t an accident, as I don’t think a lot is gained by verbally sparring in social media while we have games and books that need to be created and made available to all of you folks.
This can be frustrating. I mean really, really, head is going to explode, frustrating. Particularly when ourselves or our friends are being attacked online.
But here is a statement I _do_ need to make officially, although I never thought it would have been necessary. It, in fact, squicks me out to think that the world needs to hear this, but since a whole bunch of folks have indicated that they’d feel a lot better if I said it, there you go:
Onyx Path is against Nazis. We do not support Nazis, and if you are reading this and self-identify as a Nazi, we don’t make these games for you. Don’t buy them, or steal them, or read them, or play them.
Simplistic and low-hanging fruit, maybe, but this is something I thought was painfully obvious about us. Yet, clearly it was not. Hence this statement, made in all seriousness to hopefully end any confusion, and starting us out today so that you, our loyal readers, know where we stand first.
And now we’ll get back to our usual mix of hi-jinks and project info.
Which brings us to: the dead!
The Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition Kickstarter funded in less than a day last week, and now is smashing through Stretch Goals. Like a lot of our latest Kickstarters, we have the full text of the Geist 2e core book that we’re revealing to backers during the course of the month, and the Stretch Goals are for additional projects like a Companion or Ready Made Characters.
Both approaches are designed so that the production and release of the Geist 2e book is not delayed by finishing writing or adding writing to the book. Which has extended our production time on previous projects by far more than we wanted or planned for. We’ve been thrilled by everyone’s response to this Kickstarter so far, so if you haven’t had a chance but like engaging with a very positive and energized community of backers, please pop over.
And just to add another bit about the dead from a different gameline: Wraith: The Oblivion 20th PoD files are away at DTRPG, and we’ll be putting the intro booklet for Wr20, the Handbook for the Recently Deceased, on sale this Wednesday also at DTRPG.
Getting these projects to these stages is incredibly satisfying, as the Wraith 20th Kickstarter is one of the ones that taught us a lesson about having the finished text in hand since getting the book written was another unexpected ordeal.
Last Friday’s Onyx Pathcast was an interview with the multi-talented developer and writer Danielle Lauzon, and besides the very enjoyable interview itself, I think the various tales of life as a TTRPG freelancer (especially when listened to after the Pathcast the week before about freelancing in general) and Danielle’s experiences with other companies and developing Vampire: The Requiem 2e and 7th Sea projects concurrently, is an accurate and fascinating peek into the way our projects are created.
To stress the point, perhaps unnecessarily, most of our projects are created by freelance contract writers, developers, editors, artists, etc. That creates a very different working environment and challenges than the old school RPG company in a building with everyone on-staff and down the hall from each other. We’re continually trying to find better ways to do it and to keep our creators sane (ish) while we all work from offices in different parts of the world.
This Friday on the Onyx Pathcast, Eddy, Matthew, and Dixie will be talking about two Realms of Pugmire projects and the different challenges and levels of experimentation that went into them: it’s “Dissecting Pan’s Guide and Monarchies of Mau“.
Hope you all can take some time and listen, and remember: they’re talking about…
Many Worlds, One Path!
BLURBS!
KICKSTARTER:
The Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition Kickstarter began a week ago and has funded and passed several Stretch Goals to build a companion book, the Memento Mori, as I write this. We want to be able to make a great looking hardcover edition, and get that into stores while giving backers first look at the complete text and other fun benefits: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/geist-the-sin-eaters-2nd-edition
Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition includes all the rules you need to play as one of the Bound: Five Burdens reflecting the cause that pulled you back from the grave, five krewe Archetypes for building your own mystery religion, and the Haunts, Keys, and Ceremonies that provide the Bound with their macabre powers.
It also includes the Chronicle of the Dead, featuring the Sin-Eaters’ struggle against the all-consuming Underworld and a variety of terrifying threats. In addition, for the first time in the Chronicles of Darkness line, ghosts are presented as playable characters.
Chapters include:
- The Quick and the Dead: the five Burdens (the reason a Sin-Eater comes back from the dead and what draws a particular geist to them) and krewe Archetypes (the common cause that draws a krewe of Sin-Eaters together).
- The Road Back: On death and coming back, and why Bound make the Bargain, including possible consequences.
- One Foot in the Grave: Character creation, with sections on both geist and krewe creation, Anchors, Merits, Synergy, Plasm, Abilities, Haunts, Keys, Ceremonies, and Mementos.
- Old Laws: the core Chronicles of Darkness rules, with special rules for playing Sin-Eaters, as well as information on subsystems for krewes, ghosts, and the Underworld, including Avernian Gates.
- Antagonists: villains for your Geist chronicle, including Reapers, Eaters of the Dead, necromancers, enemy Bound, and Kerberoi.
- The Quiet Places: Setting information and story hooks for playing your Geist chronicle in specific times and places in history., from 16th-century Brazil to modern-day Edinburgh, Scotland to Mobile, Alabama in 1910, as well as information on Dominions.
- Ghost Stories: Storyteller advice and information for running a Geist chronicle, including designing Remembrances, how to set theme and mood, story seeds, and various ways to play out the end of a game.
- Appendix: The Absent: This Appendix details the Absent, playable ghosts, including Memories, new Merits, and a collection of possible ghost characters to expand on and use in your chronicle.
- Appendix: Conditions and Tilts: Geist-specific Conditions and Tilts, including ephemeral Influence Conditions and Manifestation Conditions for ghosts, as well as Haunt Conditions and Tilts.
ELECTRONIC GAMING:
As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is now live! Our dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is both rolling and rocking!
Here are the links for the Apple and Android versions:
http://theappstore.site/app/1296692067/onyx-dice
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onyxpathpublishing.onyxdice&hl=en
Three different screenshots, above.
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 you bought it from. Reviews really, really help us with getting folks interested in our amazing fiction!
Our selection includes these fiction books:
- Vampire: The Masquerade: The Endless Ages Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Rites of Renown: When Will You Rage II (Kindle, Nook)
- Mage: The Ascension: Truth Beyond Paradox (Kindle, Nook)
- Chronicles of Darkness: The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- Mummy: The Curse: Curse of the Blue Nile (Kindle, Nook)
- Beast: The Primordial: The Primordial Feast Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- Vampire: The Masquerade: Of Predators and Prey: The Hunters Hunted II Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse: The Poison Tree (Kindle, Nook)
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Songs of the Sun and Moon: Tales of the Changing Breeds (Kindle, Nook)
- Vampire: The Requiem: The Strix Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- Werewolf: The Forsaken: The Idigam Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- Mage: The Awakening: The Fallen World Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
- 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)
- Scarred Lands: Death in the Walled Warren (Kindle, Nook)
- V20 Dark Ages: Cainite Conspiracies (Kindle, Nook)
- Chronicles of Darkness: Strangeness in the Proportion (Kindle, Nook)
- Vampire: The Requiem: Silent Knife (Kindle, Nook)
- Mummy: The Curse: Dawn of Heresies (Kindle, Nook)
OUR SALES PARTNERS:
We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the Screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there!
https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire
Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/
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/
And you can now order Pugmire: the book, the screen, and the dice! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=296
DRIVETHRURPG.COM:
The Handbook for the Recently Deceased for Wraith 20th materializes at DTRPG this Wednesday in its PDF and physical book PoD forms…
Handbook for the Recently Deceased is a guide for those who are new to the Underworld – players, Shadowguides, and Storytellers alike. It offers advice on how to handle new players, new wraiths, and new chronicles, all with an eye towards the inexperienced at being restless dead.
From the first words of the Shadow, to the first Harrowing, to the first time a player asks, “What do we do now?” the Handbook has the answers. Let it be your guide to the Underworld as you set foot in the Shadowlands for what could be the first time.
Handbook for the Recently Deceased includes:
• Chronicle ideas for campaigns featuring new wraiths — and new players.
• Advice on handling first Catharsis and first Harrowings.
• Helpful hints and suggestions for players just starting out in the world of Wraith: The Oblivion.
CONVENTIONS!
Prep is seriously underway for Gen Con 2018 in less than a month during the first week of August, in Indianapolis. In addition to our booth presence, be sure to check out the games and panels in the Gen Con Event Schedule.
From Fast Eddy Webb, we have these:
If you are going and want to meet up, let us know!
And now, the new project status updates!
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM FAST 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)
- M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- C20 Novel (Jackie Cassada) (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- M20 The Technocracy Reloaded (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Trinity Continuum: Aberrant core (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
- Tales of Excellent Cats (Monarchies of Mau)
- Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World (Scion 2nd Edition)
- City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)
- Changeling: The Lost 2nd Companion (Changeling: The Lost 2nd)
- Night Horrors: Nameless and Accursed (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)
- Heirs to the Shogunate (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Witch-Queen of the Shadowed Citadel (Cavaliers of Mars)
Redlines
- Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)
- Spilled Blood (Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition)
- Wr20 Book of Oblivion (Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Changeling: The Lost 2nd Jumpstart (Changeling: The Lost 2nd)
- Lunars: Fangs at the Gate (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Adventures for Curious Cats (Monarchies of Mau)
- CofD Dark Eras 2 (Chronicles of Darkness)
Second Draft
- WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)
- Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)
- Night Horrors: Shunned by the Moon (Werewolf: The Forsaken 2nd Edition)
- Aeon Aexpansion (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)
- C20 Players’ Guide (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- In Media Res (Trinity Continuum: Core)
Development
- Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)
- Hunter: the Vigil 2e core (Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition)
- Fetch Quest (Pugmire)
- CofD Contagion Chronicle (Chronicles of Darkness)
- Dystopia Rising: Evolution (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)
- Dog and Cat Ready Made Characters (Monarchies of Mau)
Manuscript Approval:
Editing:
- They Came From Beneath the Sea! Rulebook (TCFBtS!)
Post-Editing Development:
- Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- Ex Novel 2 (Aaron Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)
- M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Night Horrors: The Tormented (Promethean: The Created 2nd Edition)
- Guide to the Night (Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition)
Indexing:
- Monarchies of Mau (Monarchies of Mau)
ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:
In Art Direction
- Ex3 Monthly Stuff
- Trinity Continuum
- Geist 2e
- The Realm
- M20 Gods and Monsters
- Ex3 Dragon Blooded
- VtR – Guide to the Night
- Dystopia Rising: Evolution
Marketing Stuff
- Posters and Displays
In Layout
- Fetch Quest
- Scion Hero
- Cavaliers of Mars Cards
- Promethean Night Horrors: The Tormented – Sending files to KT.
Proofing
- Changeling: the Lost 2 – Page xx’s getting filled in. Cover is done.
At Press
- Scion Dice – At fulfillment shipper.
- Monarchies of Mau – In Indexing.
- Monarchies of Mau Screen – Printing.
- Cavaliers of Mars Screen – Printing.
- Wr20 Guide for Newly Departed – PoD and PDF versions on sale Wednesday.
- Gen Con Buttons – At press.
- WoD and CofD reroll cards – At press.
- FQ and PG Gen Con cards – At press.
- Wraith 20 Screen – Printing.
- GenCon Brochure – Printing.
- Storypath Brochure – Printing.
- Wraith 20th – PoD files uploaded.
- Scion Origin – Backer PDF going to backers this week.
- Cavaliers of Mars – Sent to press.
TODAY’S REASON TO CELEBRATE: Been informed I’m going to be a grandparent by the end of the year. So that is pretty joyous!
Congratulations on your reason to celebrate Rich.
Thank you very much! We’re pretty excited at our house.
“Proofing
Changeling: the Lost 2 – Page xx’s getting filled in. Cover is done.”
(Rests on his pile of pom-poms) Thank you, Josh. Thanks, everyone.
I hope you love it. 🙂
YES!!! Origin coming this week? My body is beyond ready!
I can’t wait for you all to see it!
Wow congratulations Rich!
Also kudos to the artist for making the greatest magical cat I’ve seen this year.
Thanks!
We’re about to get the Scion Origin PDF, Yayyyy.
You guys should really, REALLY choose more carefully who you hire for work in the future. A couple of your freelancers have been nothing but bad for business, and lots of innocent people are now being caught in the crossfire of their zealotry.
Other than that, it’s full steam ahead.
…wait what’s going on now?
(and if the issue is too much to talk about here, PM me on the forums. Same username as here)
Unsilent Majority, if you’re talking about the issues raised in the current blog post going around – that’s about White Wolf/Paradox, not Onyx Path (a distinction the article itself stresses)
There are a couple of freelancers who no longer work for Onyx Path who have been accused of some seriously bad personal conduct, but that doesn’t sound like what you’re talking about with your reference to “zealotry”.
“if you’re talking about the issues raised in the current blog post going around – that’s about White Wolf/Paradox, not Onyx Path”
It’s also about current employees for Onyx Path/WW, whom have been harassed by these FORMER EMPLOYEES. They’re terrible people who–as soon as you disagree with them, they label you with every negative term in the book and send their cult after you. I’m not going to write anymore, as I don’t really care to talk more about jackasses than necessary. Onyx Path AND White Wolf deserve better. And thankfully, these people are no longer employed by them.
We’re just as disappointed and frustrated, believe me.
I’ve only recently been brought in as a freelancer for an Onyx Path project and so far everything has felt very professional and I have felt welcomed. I can’t speak for other people’s experiences, but my own experience is good, and I’m motivated to create good content.
Very glad to hear that this has been your experience – welcome!
I have had the same experience as Ekorren. Completely new to freelancing, but I have been given an extraordinary amount of guidence, kindness, and trust by everyone I have worked with.
I’m really sorry this is happening to you folks. I saw Eddy and Matthew get thrown under the bus on Twitter the other day by someone who seemingly wants to drag everyone down who isn’t in lockstep agreement with their position. And really, this seems to be less about politics and social issues than it is about petty vendettas between people who hate one another over real or imagined slights. I would to like think that the vast majority of OPP fans know you’re more than decent people who are being undeservedly drug into an ugly situation.
As far as I know, Onyx Path has zero say or control over how NuWW operates or who they choose to hire.
Very true, although I’m not sure that’s what he was referring to.
Easy to say with hind-sight. We make the best decisions we can with the info we have at the time, and resolve issues as they occur. If ex-freelancers are acting badly, now, after we are no longer working with them, that’s out of our control.
Some good stuff here this week.
Firstly: We all know you guys don’t support nazis so don’t worry, we got you.
Its great to see Origin pretty much ready, and it looks like CtL2 shouldn’t be too far behind. Looking forward to both joining my digital shelf.
And congratulations on the extension to your family Rich. That is indeed a reason to drink, in a good way, so I’ll raise a glass to you and yours.
Appreciated, and thanks!
Looking forward to Changeling the Lost.
Congratulations on the upcoming grandkid Rich.
Looking forward to the Scion PDF. I Know you’re in contact with mrgone, will an editable PDF character sheet come along with the book?
Thank you! The backer pdf will contain a regular sheet but when we upgrade to the final pdf, an editable one will be included.
Is there any chance of seeing the Exalted Devs on the podcast at any point? I’d love to hear about their experiences and plans for the line.
Why yes, I believe they just wrapped up an interview episode with Eric Minton.
Indeed we did!
Scion Origin – Backer PDF going to backers this week.
Does this include people who backed through backerkit?
I thiiiink so. It’s a link that is sent to everybody who “gets the Origin PDF” in BackerKit, so it should go to all. But if not, let me know.
Checked through my emails and I got the Kickstarter update from you last week, so I think I should get the backer pdf when it goes at – will let you know if it doesn’t turn up.
“Onyx Path is against Nazis. We do not support Nazis, and if you are reading this and self-identify as a Nazi, we don’t make these games for you. Don’t buy them, or steal them, or read them, or play them.”
Did someone accuse of being or supporting Nazis on social media?
Basically, yes, and while Onyx Path is not directly involved, there’s an indirect effect that has concerned our crew. Now please note that I am deliberately not going into any of the actual causes for these concerns here in these comments. If you are interested, go ahead and google or go through other sites. I just don’t want this blog to turn into the conflagrations that can occur when posters bring their very strongly held positions into a social media space.
Similarly, I’m pruning or not allowing comments here that go too far into details. We’ll let folks fight those sorts of things out elsewhere and save this space for talking about the projects and settings we all care about. So if a comment you post here doesn’t show up, it’s not that you did anything wrong or were posting in a bad way, I just made the call based on the info you’re posting to not have it show up here.
My comment was probably not allowed on here for that specific reason. Smart. I’ll just TS;DR (Too Specific; Did Redact) it to this, then:
It sucks that you guys are being pulled into a fight that should not exist in the first place and I feel very sorry for you. All the best for all you people at OPP dealing with the fallout from this latest conflagration.
What on earth happened to make the anti-Nazi disclaimer necessary? Are you guys okay?
We are, yes. Thanks for asking. Basically, making that statement seems necessary right now as folks are inundated with all sorts of information skewed by the points of view of the folks posting – particularly on social media. It’s very hard to know what to believe, so a bunch of our crew let me know that they’d feel better if we laid out a solid baseline. If we need to, we can build from there. The specific Nazi thing, is a distillation of larger concerns that have been ongoing in our community.
Having to set a baseline stinks, hewver… If your baseline is “we are not Nazis” then you’re doing it righting my book. I dunno much about the new White Wolf – I’m PRETTY sure they’re okay – but I KNOW all y’all at Onyx Path are quite the opposite of of the monsters that really do exist in our world. Please do keep it up.
Yes, it really should be a pretty low bar to jump over, and I just assumed that are work spoke for itself in how we have cleared it.
Mike / Rich,
Do I understand the following terms correctly? I imagine they are in one of the previous blog posts on the topic of production but laziness is amazingly powerful.:)
Sent To Press – The files have been sent to a traditional printer but confirmation of receipt has not been sent.
At Press – Confirmation of receipt has been sent by the traditional printer but printing has not yet begun.
Printing – The traditional printer has confirmed that the print run has begun
POD files uploaded – The print-on-demand file has been uploaded to DriveThruRPG and the printer will send you a proof copy to approve.
Also, congratulations on the upcoming family member! You may be a grandfather but you always be Unca Rich to us.
Thanks and yes, you have the terms pretty well described. “At Press” also contains the proofing process with the printer sending us proofs before they actually start printing, and “At Press” also covers binding the interiors into the covers and the like.
Thank you very much! Those of us with degrees in English love our terminology, even if we can’t spell to save our lives…
The update for dragon blooded is bold but doesn’t say what is currently being worked on.
Besides being done with the remaining art coming in.
Is it safe to say that it’s currently in the process of having said art put in the book?
I see DB in Art Direction, which is the arranging for and reviewing the art. Sometimes we may be dropping in the art to save time, other times we wait for all the art to be approved and then move the book to Layout.
I’m pretty freaking sure you guys don’t actively support Nazis, but the reason people want to hear it is not because of “Zealots” or any such nonsense. So Let’s take that off the table as a part of the narrative, cause it’s garbage, and we all *know* it’s garbage, and we know who is being referenced. everyone calling him a Zealot is not cute, or clever.
The real reason for this? The Marginalized and the allies thereof in the community see what one of your license partners is doing, and getting really upset. Many of those folks do not have the understanding of the rpg industry to know that OPP and Paradox/White Wolf Are different companies, and thus folks are lashing out.
Should they understand that 2 rpg companies that have been objectively working on projects with very similar names are legally distinct? Maybe, but there are also folks who didn’t understand that white wolf/CCP wasn’t a thing anymore and still ask about the WoD MMO, so..I dunno.
Point Being? yeah. the Marginalized folks wanted you guys to take a stance, because many people don’t understand that OPP and White Wolf are different now. I’m glad you took one. I’d argue that you forgot “Alt-Right” in your statement, but meh, a minor quibble.
At the heart of it? I believe in the mission of OPP, I always have. It’s not about fan Ownership. I don’t think I own or control OPP, Nor is it about wanting to hurt OPP or any of that. but the Marginalized saw the silence, and frankly? It bothered many people, so when you say “I can’t believe we have to say this?” It’s because someone you directly do business with is creating a toxic environment for the marginalized within the RPG Community. So Yes, we need you to be explicit in your saying “Nope, we don’t deal with that bullshit” and it will go a *long* way toward hopefully letting people know that OPP and Paradox/White Wolf are 2 very different companies.
Cheers.
Here’s another one, then. “We don’t support the alt-right either.”
I know you guys dont. I’d never assume or infer otherwise. Thank you for the add on eddy. You continue to be awesome.
Glad to help. 🙂
Yes, a big part of the reason I was asked to “say it out loud” was so that our community could point to the statement for those who don’t actually know what we’re all about.
Exactly. and that’s what I want. like I said. I believe in the mission, I want people to know that OPP doesn’t stand for Alt-Right/Nazi etc kinda b.s. Nor are you marketing to them and all that. This will hopefully help quell the doxxing and all that nonsense and Lead people to understand the good OPP can potentially do in the gaming space. that’s where my head is at, at least.
Thank you for speaking up so eloquently and assertively Shan. I share your *exact* sentiments. ^_^
I’ve avoided commenting on the last several dumpster fires that directly or indirectly involved Onyx Path because I honestly don’t know what the correct reaction should be, but that pretty much sums up my position. I don’t follow the RPG industry as closely as I used to, so I don’t know what the latest issue is and the most convenient source of information is a YouTube video titled “Onyx Path responds to SJWs slandering Vampire: The Masquerade” which sounds exactly like Nazi propaganda, so I don’t want to give it any views.
In fact, I came back to the Monday Meeting Notes and read them in more detail instead of just skimming the project status updates because I saw that video and I felt compelled to find out more about what happened; someone (even a third party) using “SJW” as a slur to defend a company usually means the company or the people they attract are too toxic to be associated with.
So I guess you really did need to clarify that Onyx Path doesn’t support Nazis, and thank you for doing so. That’s just the world we live in now and it’s why we really need good RPGs to escape into.
I’ve always assumed the people working for Onyx Path were acting in good faith — even when I apparently shouldn’t have, but that’s not an issue I want to get into at the moment — and I will continue to assume the people working for Onyx Path are acting in good faith until I have a reason not to, regardless of whether or not I choose to support Paradox/White Wolf. I expect Exalted and Chronicles of Darkness (and Scion and Trinity Continuum, obviously) to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for players and I will continue to support them so long as they deliver that.
My review of Becketts Jyhad Diary just posted to drive thru (under a different name as this book was a gift from a friend):
I have not written a review in years (my last was for Chaining the Beast for the now long defunct site Ex Libris Nocturnis) but I have to end that today. Since its inception in 1991 Vampire the Masquerade (VtM) has become a phenomena with a richly detailed and insanely complex metaplot, a connected series of story arcs that moved the world and setting forwards, ultimately towards 2004s Gehenna. When Onyx Path was formed and picked up the line for development again in 2012 they faced the delicate challenge of navigating this tangled web in an updated form but with an almost 10 year gap in which there was a void to be filled. This product, Becketts Jyhad Diary, began life as an update to the metaplot but with the arrival of V5 its directive morphed into also being a stepping stone between the old and new editions as well as a V5 ‘metaplot bible’ for the line going forwards. These are all significant development challenges made more significant in combination.
Personally a book collecting the metaplot in an accessible form is something I have felt the WoD and especially Vampire has been badly missing since 2nd edition time so I was very excited to be part of the KS that helped design it’s content. I’m reviewing this from a copy of the deluxe, but I’m going to focus on content everyone gets. I will say though that OP have delivered what is easily the most beautiful Vampire book ever made in the deluxe, and I have it all on my shelves (V20 Dark Ages is it’s rival). The deluxe book feels very satisfying to handle.
Zoning out on me and want the point? Ok. Regardless of whatever edition you play, regardless of how much you use the metaplot, and regardless of what your chronicle looks like or whether you are brand new, intermediate or a scarred vet to VtM, this book is hands down the most important book to get beyond the core. You will mine it forever for good ideas, interesting characters, plot hooks, locations, clues and even for comedy. It is not just the best Vampire supplement ever created, it is also the best looking, with the entire art department excelling themselves. Based on previous books I had fears that over 500 pages of text with fonts for different handwriting and reports would look jumbled and pain my eyes, especially when the dimensions of BJDs more compact form were considered, but the visual impact of flicking through it is a devastating example of a mastery of layout on the part of Mike Chaney. Everything is beautifully and thoughtfully presented and requires no effort to enjoy.
And there SO much to enjoy. Perhaps you are sitting on the fence wondering if this book has anything in it for you. It absolutely does. It’s crammed with stuff. A brief and woefully inadequate list includes updates on every city or region featured in a By Night book, Baba Yaga, Rasputin, the Giovanni Chronicles, countless canon characters, the Clan Novel series, the independent Clans, Carthage, the thin blooded and the Sabbat Civil War. Refracted throughout all of these sections are strands of the metaplot gathered from all over Vampires publication history, including the Dark Ages lines. Major metaplot threads (many chosen by fans) are put under the spotlight but in the granular details of their exploration other threads from elsewhere in the metaplot are hidden for the discerning eye to uncover like easter eggs. Its an ingenious design and presentation of something that could have been presented very dryly and boringly.
This brings me to another point about the design decisions in this book. We not only get a feast of metaplot to gorge on, we get a STORY to frame it in (it always bothered me that fiction in WW rpg books was often underappreciated, as telling a good story is the point). The diary is built to look and feel like a real diary, and so we get the creepy feeling as we read that we are spying on Beckett and globe trotting with him. So the story is engaging on a number of levels, and it’s also presented in bite sized portions like a real diary so you can dive into it anywhere and not feel lost in the narrative. It’s only loosely a linear story. The real story is in the fractal like emergence of the World of Darkness as seen through undead eyes over the last 25 years. Which, by the way, ignites the imagination into a creative frenzy. It’s full of inspirational content but the main point I want to stress here is that i think this makes BJD also the best fiction ever published for the WoD.
But this is primarily a book about telling our own stories using this book as a springboard or in game prop, and so the narrative sections are all rounded out by a presentation of that part of the metaplot for gaming or storytelling purposes. These include interesting questions raised by the diary and seeds for chronicles and stories, as well as information on the background of the elements involved. They have no “crunch” for tabletop games as they are written to be useful to LARPers, film makers, or anyone else wanting to tell a story set in the world of Vampire.
In summary if you like VtM this is the best gift you could hope to receive. It’s truly an outstanding work of art and Onyx Path have surpassed themselves. Standing applause for Matthew Dawkins, Neall Raemonn Price, Eddie Webb, and everyone who contributed, fans included. This is THE book Vampire needed. It cannot be criticised for not covering everything as there was always going to be way too much metaplot to do that, but it definitely leaves me wanting more.
Ive added something to my review because it feels really important to say
“With all this said, it saddens me that Matthew Dawkins, one of the writers and developers, has had to shut his social media down following his being doxxed by an ex-Onyx Path developer. His contribution here gives me faith that V5 will be what I want it to be, and I feel it’ll be a terrible shame if due to some bitter person’s actions, he leaves this field.”
Thank you! Could you correct my name to “Eddy Webb” in the original review, though? I’d appreciate it. 🙂
So sorry! You know I have no excuse for this as it’s my brothers name so I’m so embarrassed! It’s already done!
Thanks so much!
Congratulations Rich! That’s wonderful news about the grandkid!
A bit of follow up to your Geist write up form last week. For our World of Darkness game club in Los Angeles, Geist is near and dear to us. A bit before it was released, Kelly Barnes Harmen gave us permission to demo the game at our local game convention and she sent us the draft of the Geist Quick Start. We were so proud to be entrusted to demo the game before it was released. And she sent us various WOD books to hand out as prizes. It’s such a fun to time to remember. And now we’re gearing up to help out the Wreaking Crew to demo lots of Onyx Path games next month at Gen Con. It’ll be good.
Getting friends and meeting new people around a table to play a game and tell a ghost story is where the real magic and fun happens with this hobby. If anyone is at Gen Con next month, find where the Onyx Path games are being demoed, we can likely squeeze you into a game. If you’re in the L.A. area, look us up, we organize open invite games though out the region.
-Louis Garcia
Dead Gamers Society: The So Cal World of Darkness Meetup
Looking forward to seeing you guys and grabbing a bit of talk time in the midst of all the crazy.
Congratulations on future grandparenthood (if that’s a word)!
Thanks, Craig! If it isn’t a word, it should be.
Congratulations Rich for the happy news!
Thanks you very much- glad to share some good things to celebrate!
Congratulations Rich! That is awesome. My sister told our parents not too long ago, so I can imagine your excitement (and possible shock)!
Very happy indeed, thanks!
I’m so excited for this to finally come out! I’m just as excited to run this game as my players are to be in it! Congrats Rich!
Thank you!
I went back and forth, but decided to go for the good karma. I appreciate the use of “self-identify as a Nazi”. We live in an age where “Nazi” means person that has a disagreeable opinion. Everybody is a Nazi to someone. Quite sad.
Your message was not necessary for me. Your message will do nothing to deter those that have set their sights on you. They will not be satisfied until they live in a world which they rule as gods, but they are only mortal. They need a kind of help you can’t provide.
I truly wish I had a solution for you. Be careful and good luck. Nobody could foresee this. Some could see the bad actors before they left though. I’ll let you figure out how to handle that. It isn’t my business and I’m not sure you’re ready to hear it.
Didn’t put out the message to deter anybody, actually. Put it out to bolster and support our creators. Part of the reason I didn’t feel like it needed saying was what you were saying about you, and a lot of our regular readers, not needing to be told. It’s other folks who need the information.
ORIGIN!!!!!!!!!!!
So Richt, what does the ultrasound indicate? WOD or COD, vampie, wolfie,demon, hunter, geist,promethean? Pugmire or Mau?…You gonna tell us you haven’t been staring at the ultrasound pics.. looking for clues..
You gonna be on those grandpa’s that say.. they are all good, pick any..or you gonna be one of those gradpa’s that say.. oh the rest of them are fine games.. but these 1 or 2.. well they are gonna be our “special” games between you and grandpa in our quality time …
In any case Congratulations
Scion, obviously. 🙂 congrats!
Thanks!
We do not know the baby’s game line yet, but soon. Much as I’ve been as a Dad, there is just no way to pick a fave because every one of them has their amazing qualities and their WTF moments.
Hey! Love the message and the big update, and have been a big fan of how Onyx Path has been handling the dumpsterfire of NuWW, and the IPs in general.
Had a bit of a weird question! Is there a preferred place for bug reports regarding the Onyx Path Dice roller? It’s a bit buggy, and is literally the only dice roller that has all the features needed to roll Mage: The Awakening pools accurately.
The current standing issue on the android version is that the Roll History has completely stopped working, and updates, restarts, uninstall/reinstall don’t seem to help at all in restoring it. It’s not hugely necessary, but it’s incredibly useful for fast-tracking extended actions.
Any advice from anyone here?
Thanks. ^-^
Best method is to message the devs through the app if that allows it, or through the store. You can hope one of them sees this, and I’ll mention it to them, but direct contact is best.
If you’re unable to make comments via the app store, you can comment on their Facebook page: http://facebook.com/OnyxDiceApp
I am pleased to see the disclaimer about Onyx Path and Nazis here, I am amazed to see that some have now started using this statement as yet another stick to beat White Wolf with! While you can’t speak for White Wolf, and neither can I, it should still be plainly stated that the very notion that anybody associated with White Wolf has view like this is totally absurd.
For me, I think all the talk of Nazis is a smokescreen for what is merely an extremely nasty attempt at an edition war.
I really try not to speak for other companies or creators unless doing so is actually going to help their situation and not exacerbate the negativity. Believe me, I’ve been talking with a lot of people in this biz in these past couple of days to lend a word of support or help straighten out their thoughts on what they are going through or what they’ve heard.
First: Congratulations to your, very good, reason to celebrate Richt!
Second: I (and my friends) know completely that you’re not supporting Nazis or it’s despicable ideology! We understand the difference between supporting and the problematization of these and other dark, horrible problems in our world through the lens of fiction. We stand on your side and give our support to you. From the little i get, The Gentleman here gets some extra love from us here, for getting personal info doxxed.
Third: And sadly after reading some of the things that constituted the need of the second paragraph, not as excited as I should be, but Geist, Changeling, V:tR Guide to the Night etc!
Thank you very much!
Ahahahahahahaha! I just noticed the pun in the title! Good one.
…yes I know its Wednesday; it’s been a busy week.
Also, Congratulations!
Thanks, and yes, that’s why “squick” was chosen as the word to denote bad feelings. 🙂
First off: Congrats Rich!
Second off: I’m reminded of the song “fuck off nazi punks” 😉
Third off: Amazing things coming from OPP! I need a second job!