After the craziness of the last couple of weeks, we kind of looked around and realized that Onyx Path has a lot of things that are Almost There. I feel like there are always too many, but that’s me- and when I look at what we’ve accomplished in these last two years, I get less teeth-gritty. But there’s still so much good stuff we are so close to getting out to you all. Mirthful Mike is scrambling to get Mortal Remains for Hunter the Vigil out this month still, while he juggles inputting the last changes on Cursed Necropolis DC for Mummy, and the Demon Players Guide. We almost got the Deluxe Book of the Wyrm KS out this month, but that’s not going to happen until May now. We almost have the Trinity/Scion System worked out and ready for community feedback, and the EX3 Devs are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the writing of EX3. Almost. We almost have the 2015 WW Schedule reconfigured and the new nWoD supernatural game line approved by CCP.
And that’s just the stuff that has visibility and is far enough along the delivery is going to happen…soon. Almost there.
Talked to Eddy who is still acting Approval Guy (real title) between Onyx Path and CCP. Which is really awesome for us. He has already caught a few things in Mortal Remains that slipped past all 16 eyes that have been looking at that proof. Mostly punctuation, as he is, oddly, obsessed with commas, and, stuff. In regards to the creation of projects, we discussed the importance of giving the right writers and artists the sorts of assignments that they are best suited for, and avoiding giving folks work that they might have personal qualms about working on. Back in the day, I wouldn’t have assigned John Cobb to draw beautiful, seductive scenes or characters as he excelled at the odd and twisted. Since writers inhabit the worlds they write about, there are some awful things that we need to talk about in a dark and horrific WoD book that some writers just can’t have in their heads as they’re writing. It’s a good developer who knows what writers are right for which topics. Which is something Eddy just went through with Blood Diaries of the Clans as he made sure to assign the chapters for each Clan to the most appropriate writers.
Eddy also reviewed the new nWoD game for 2015 on behalf of CCP. We talked a bit about my feeling that each nWoD game line needs to add to the experience of what WoD is for current players, but to also expand the audience by touching on themes that might not exist in previous game lines. Demon: The Descent does this by pulling a bit of science fiction genre motifs and themes, while still remaining firmly supernatural. The new one has been called “subversive”, so we’ll see if it delivers that once the book is assembled next year.
Projects That Are Chock Full of Almost, and Some That Are Full Speed Ahead:
– Mummy the Curse – Cursed Necropolis DC- final proof to CCP for their approval.
– Book of the Deceived (MtC): Redlines.
– Exalted 3rd Edition: From Holden: Lore is (finally) wrapping up in the next couple of days, leaving only Craft and then the playtest-based combat and social cleanups. (Lore has been very challenging, as Charms are extensions of use-of-the-Ability, and Lore is both very broad and very ‘passive.’) Craft is the Charm set’s last hurdle– we’re very aware that people found playing Craft-focused characters frustrating in the last two editions, and we want it to be both fun and rewarding now, without unbalancing the setting and drowning it in artifacts. Evocations are still being written and tweaked– we’re testing as we write. The rest of the book is being pulled together and pushed into editing, and Chapter Three (character creation) is receiving some minor final alterations this week based on the Phase One and Phase Two playtest feedback.
Getting Survey prepared to send to backers.
Zub’s EX3 Comic was sent to KS backers last week, and in a couple of weeks we’ll get both the PDF and PoD versions up on DTRPG for sale. Both EX3 novels are being worked on, and I have a synopsis from Matt Forbeck to review. Starting to get one of the EX3 Music Suites to a finished state, the Dragon Blooded theme but our composer got caught in a time crunch with another project which is why we haven’t gotten much done lately.
– V20 Hunters Hunted 2: Lists of all missing packages have been sent off to the shippers and I’m fielding their questions.
– V20 Anarchs Unbound : The PDF+ files and Survey were sent to backers last week. Getting comments back before we create final PDF, and PoD and Deluxe print files. One thing to point out to non-backers: the PDF also included an ePub version specifically designed to work on tablets and mobile devices- which is the first time we have tried to do this with a tabletop RPG book. There are very specific changes to how we do design of the books in order to create an ePub version, and we’re very interested in the response.
– V20 Rites of the Blood: is ready for layout, but layout is not yet ready for it, waiting on one artist for finals.
– V20 Dark Ages: Scribes are scribing 2nd Drafts. David Hill has delivered some art notes.
– V20: Ghouls: In redlines.
– V20 Red List: In final draft stage.
– The Making of the Art of Children of the Revolution: Out to backers who pledged for it. Creating PoD files to go with PDF for sale on DTRPG.
– Deluxe Werewolf 20th Anniversary Edition: Lists of all missing packages have been sent off to the shippers and I’m fielding their questions. The Heavy Metal Deluxe W20 is done and has been sent to the shipper. Mike Lee has a new batch of chapters of the W20 “Houses of the Moon” novel for Bill to review. The White Howlers Tribe Book is in dev review. W20 Wyld West is almost done in layout (needs an assembled cover and the Chapter Openers created- that burned wood look can be tricky).
– W20 Changing Breeds PDF and PoD versions are on sale at DTRPG! The Deluxes are being finished at press. The Changing Breeds Fiction Anthology needs a logo but is almost finished in layout
– W20 Book of the Wyrm is in layout. This will be the next Kickstarter project in a week or two if everything times out as expected. We think this book should appeal to W20 and W20 Changing Breeds fans alike. Getting this KS together, bit of a delay with the stuff happening mentioned above which just cut into prep time- but the KS video is almost done.
– W20: The Umbra: In second drafts.
– Mage the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition- had a great talk with Satyr Phil and the Onyx Path gang and we were able to schedule the next books after M20– but finishing that developmentally is still the primary job for Phil and Bill. The Character Pack book and the “How Do You DO That?” book look like the first two next projects up.
– Mage 20 Quickstart: Being printed, we want to get it done and shipped in time for Free RPG Day.
– Trinity Continuum: New System ideas continue being hammered out. Hoping to see combat examples as the System Doc gets finished up.
– Scion: New Systems discussion continue. Both Scion and the TC above are now moving into active mode for 2014. Contracts and art notes out for the Scion: Origins cover.
– Demon: The Descent: Demon is now available in PDF/PoD/PDF&PoD combo versions. The Demon: Ready Made Characters PDF link has been sent to backers- getting ready to set the PDF and PoD versions for sale on DTRPG. Demon Seed Collection is in redlines. DtD Seattle is also in redlines. Heirs to Hell is in editing and art direction. Demon Translation Guide is being written. The Demon Fiction Anthology + Interfaces is in first drafts.
– DtD Players Guide: Flowers Of Hell: In layout.
– Hunter: Mortal Remains: Is in layout- see above, it’s almost ready for putting the PDF up on DTRPG.
– nWoD: Dark Eras: Second drafts coming in.
– WtF: The Idigam Chronicle: All but two first drafts are in- others are in redlines. Keep an eye on the blogs and forums here- lots of good discussion happening right now: https://theonyxpath.com/category/projects/werewolftheforsaken/
– GtSE: Geist Ready Made Characters: In redlines.
– Also: nWoD Skull and Scion Pantheon shirts now on the RedBubble T-shirt site and soon to be joined by a Mage 20th logo shirt, and some special extras Mage shirts next week.
Reason to Drink: Teenagers who sing in the shower.
“Mirthful Mike is scrambling to get Mortal Remains for Hunter the Vigil out this month still, while he juggles inputting the last changes on Cursed Necropolis DC for Mummy, and the Demon Players Guide.”
Very yay!
“We almost got the Deluxe Book of the Wyrm KS out this month, but that’s not going to happen until May now.”
I haven’t been backing the cWoD KSes (I have to admit), but I still sympathize with the people who were waiting for it, based on the joys of waiting for the ones I *have* backed to go live.
“We almost have the Trinity/Scion System worked out and ready for community feedback, and the EX3 Devs are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the writing of EX3. Almost. We almost have the 2015 WW Schedule reconfigured and the new nWoD supernatural game line approved by CCP.”
And we’re back to good news though long-term. Does the Trinity/Scion system have a name? (In before wracking of brains and gnashing of nine-irons as to the nature of the new game.)
Thanks- we’ll be talking about a name for the System once we let the community see it.
I love juggling “almost finished” projects, especially when they’ve got different deadlines. There’s nothing less satisfying than shifting focus to one project to get it done and then returning to the other project only to find that it isn’t nearly as “almost finished” as it needs to be.
Anyway, still looking forward to Exalted 3, Scion 2, Dark Eras, more Demon and whatever the new nWoD line is.
I wonder if Ex3’s schedule will get any pity announcements at GenCon, or if it’s just going to be an update of the current release schedule.
Part of the skill set we developed in WW’s Production & Design Dept. was being able to work on different projects at the same time- we had to with the release schedule back then. Good skill to have when you’re a small studio like Onyx and everybody wears many hats.
Are we going to see anything else for Geist: the Sin-Eaters? It’s still the only NWoD line that has not got a single supplement (I’m not counting Book of the Dead, as that is for all of NWoD). It is also one of my favorites, and I’d love to see another book or two out with more options, and more antagonists.
As listed above, Geist has Ready-Made Player Character coming up, as well as a chapter in Dark Eras.
There’s also existing SAS supplements Dem Bones, The House Always Wins, and Through the Ebon Gate.
In addition to the projects Ian mentions, you’ll want to pay attention around Gen Con when we talk about 2015.
So much wonderful goodness to look forward to! Can’t wait for Mortal Remains!
So…close…
…No sooner did I read this than I got the email that Mortal Remains was up on DriveThruRPG! Good work!
Looking forward to Trinity/Scion! Positive thoughts are being sent your way!
Thanks! Both projects are really important to us and for Onyx as well.
With some of the content of the W20 Book of the Wyrm and V20 Ghouls (and possibly even some content from the White Howler’s Tribebook), I can understand that there may be artists/authors/editors/etc. that may be uncomfortable with the more deviant and gruesome content of the twisted minds/forces in the CWoD (in particular, at least for me.) I know that there are even some of the game’s developers who’ve said that delving into the twisted world of some of the most terrible (BSDs, I’m looking at you) just wouldn’t be allowed, but if the Sabbat, the Tzimisce and others can not only be given books of their own, but written well enough to be played within games with others who aren’t as terribly-twisted, I think that even the poor BSDs deserve a chance. But finding those Creatives to do the work can certainly be a challenge. I’m sure you guys are up to the challenge. 😉
Obligatory questions:
• Will the W20 HMEs have tracking numbers with the (hopefully new) shippers?
• Regarding the Mage 20 Quickstart, is there a way that I can acquire one of the traditionally-printed ones if I don’t have a local shop that is going to have them?
@RichT: I really look forward to all those projects. Ghouls and the especially the Blood Diaries are both books I can’t wait to read. 🙂
As Torakhan asked, could you give us any Information on the shipping of the HMEs (more specifically if there will be shipping numbers)? Maybe in a KS update? 🙂
Glad to hear things are coming along. I’m already going to be broke in May with four movies and two CDs coming out that I want. Might as well go from broke to straight bankrupt and get the goodies! 😀
Also, I can sympathize with some folks not being able to handle everything in the World of Darkness (I even cringe at some of the content). We have seven players (three rotating Storytellers and four players) and those of us acting as Storytellers act as editors of sorts because a few of the players can’t handle the darkest parts of the books (we tell them what they need to be able to play and answer questions as they come up). We usually end up with a World of Insufficient Light rather than a World of Darkness.
Absolutely- it’s really important to play in a way the group is comfortable with. There’s a wide range of players out there getting very different experiences from our games. For some folks getting pushed into uncomfortable areas IS their fun, and for others that shuts down any possibility of enjoyment.
Wondering what the new nWoD game is going to be. So far we have Vampires, Werewolves, Mage, Changelings, Hunters, Geists, Prometheans, Mummies, and Demons. That’s nine gamelines, where oWoD had ten, and I doubt they’ll be redoing Kuei-Jin or Orpheus. Excited to see what it is, and I’m sure I’ll be smacking my forehead that I didn’t see it coming.
There is a lot support for alien conspiracy/abduction gameline on forum. Especially as there was said that “nWoD needs to go outside of his typical box”.
It’s not a redo of any supernatural that’s had a game before. Some themes will be similar, as this is nWoD, but some expectations will be turned on their ears.
Skunkape: The Stinking.
Owlman: the Annoying Sounds At Night
“- Hunter: Mortal Remains: Is in layout- see above, it’s almost ready for putting the PDF up on DTRPG.”
Has this book already gone through CCP approvals? I thought it would need a 100% finished proof before that can happen?
The couple of changes we need to make came out of CCP approvals by Eddy as explained in the essay portion of the blog. Don’t break my heart and tell me you don’t read that part?
Don’t worry Rich I always read your forward to the updates. I just fail reading comprehension and understanding a lot of the time. 🙂
Whew! Thanks! 🙂
Subversive. Hmm. What remains left to subvert? We’ve had over two decades of playing the monster, which has itself been subverted by the Hunter games. We’ve had games that subverted the idea of death, the progression of power, and the very fabric of reality. Every new game line seems to subvert a piece of the equation and this one is specifically labelled subversive; must take a hatchet to something pretty central, then.
They’ve all had the supernatural in common, I suppose, so removing that altogether would be damn subversive. They’ve all, more or less, conformed to the Player-ST paradigm, so a GM-less game would subvert the existing paradigm. They’ve all also, save perhaps one, had a fairly dark tone, so something lighter or just not horror could also be seen as subversive. Of course it could mean politically subversive, but there’s bits and pieces of that in the existing stuff. My tea leaves tell me nothing clear, but I’ll guess something far out of left field like superheroes.
Like any single word, “subversive” could mean different things to different people. Subversive is not all the game is designed around however- we wouldn’t set out to do that so obviously.
NEW LINE?? Whoa! 😀
Also: particularly “subversive”, eh? That doesn’t mean sparkling vampires, does it?
I read that as “spanking vampires” at first. Don’t know if that’s subversive or not.
Not sparkling vampires. Never.
But I wouldn’t rule out Matt’s spanking vampires.
Well even if it’s not a new gameline, we at least have another covenant. Watch out, the Paddlers are coming.
This is how rumours get started. And that’s a paddlin’.
Is there a political litmus test for assigning writers to The Book of the Wyrm? The implication from W20 seems to be that anyone who disagrees with a left-wing viewpoint is evil, even those who watch cable channels the writers don’t like. Would Bruce Baugh be allowed to present a viewpoint that the atomic bombing of Japan actually prevented the Apocalypse? (He did something similar in Wraith with the Fifth Great Maelstrom.) Now that would be subversive.
Demon doesn’t really have science fiction elements. There’s lots of obsolete gear imagery and the supernatural powers are given computer terminology names, but it’s still fantasy. There’s no techgnosis either. The Werewolf technology gifts actually had more.
I know of no political agendas in our choice of writers. Obviously, the overall take on any given book is going to rest with the developer and what they think is appropriate for that book.
Given the comments on Demon from other fans and readers, I think your definition of science fiction is not theirs.
W20 explicitly states that capitalism spreads the Wyrm (apparently there’s no pollution in the former Soviet Union or China) and a gratuitous cheap shot at Fox News. That’s a pretty clear signal.
What definition of science fiction would include Demons but not Changelings, for example? Even Rose Bailey admits that the use of “techgnosis” in D:tD isn’t the same as used in Erik Davis’s book.
Have you ‘almost’ tracked down the missing W20 books to get them to backers who’ve been waiting since December, or are we just shit out of luck?
As you know from receiving the Updates, I continue to work with the shippers to deliver the missing packages. No one has ever been consigned to a SOL situation with our KS projects.
Not that I expect it, but if someone came up with a great idea would a new CWOD game be possible?
Absolutely. Our biggest issue there is that just getting the cWoD revitalized and those existing game lines up and running has been a major task, nevermind coming up with a cool way of expanding it.
As much as I love some old WoD (esp Vampire + Hunters Hunted), please don’t create a new cWoD game. As you’ve already got a healthy realm of new game possibilities in New World of Darkness, I think Onyx path should concentrate its creative energies there rather than on revisiting the old world. Old World has had its time in the sun. I think a couple of New World game lines need completing at the very least (Geist and Hunter, Geist especially).
If that were the case, there’d be no point in revitalizing the franchise and adding supplements. If it’s nWoD’s time in the sun, then Old World still has plenty to do under the moon.
I’m not sure it has ‘plenty’ to do. I think we’ve heard enough about the technocracy, the Camarilla, the Garou, et al, aside perhaps from filling in a couple of missing gaps (i.e. supplements that were planned but never released, for instance). I think releasing some nice anniversary editions for the fans is more than sufficient. New world has all the vitality we need, as the new and excellent chronicle books evidence.
Not everyone finds the NWoD compelling or interesting. I have nothing against NWoD, but W:tA is what I fell in love with and I still have never had a chance to play the game. I got interested just before the gameline was ended, and everyobody decided the game sucked now and refused to play it any longer. For some reason if there aren’t new supplements every year, some gamers lose interest altogether. That makes me sad.
There are in fact huge chunks of the CWoD that were barely explored, or inadequately covered. The southern continents, the Middle East, and Oceania have barely any content, and none at all for some gamelines. Many historical periods have barely been sketched. The Umbra is literally infinite.
I don’t know if there would be a market for books about most non-Western places, but I do know that the CWoD is not at all retread territory.
Of course it is a balancing act to provide new material for all the WW IPs, but that is what Onyx signed on for with the license. So that means all the WW fans are important, and the fact is that while there are many folks in the community who enjoy both cWoD and nWoD, there are also fans who are only interested in one or the other, and not just for nostalgia’s sake. As the caretaker of the WW tabletop RPG legacy, we try to engage everybody as much as possible.
I know this is probably common knowledge to everyone except me on this site but… Exactly what does it mean when something is in redlines?
Developers traditionally used red pens to mark up the text the writers submitted. These “redlines” are the notes back to the writers from the developers with changes, or corrections, or sometimes just ruminations. I think Justin used to draw wangs on occasion.
Word’s lack of support for wang notation is a tragedy.
SO MANY TIMES I have wanted to draw wangs on first draft press releases in my day-job…
Really hoping to hear something Changeling: The Dreaming related get announced at GenCon! 😀
Might happen.
Really looking forward to Hunter:MR. Have been since The God Machine update. Rich, do you forsee doing a short update like this for Changeling, or will that line get a full on “Chronicle” update like Vampire and Werewolf?
I foresee many thiiiiings…
Like a Pimp: The Backhanding 20th Anniversary Edition?!
Good to see you guys being ambitious in trying to get Mortal Remains out this month when there’s so little of it left. Its a holiday weekend in the UK this week and it would certainly be nice if you managed to get it out by then to give me something to occupy the extra day off work.
Great to see so many ducks getting in a row regardless, and can’t wait to see what you folks are going to blow our minds with when next year’s schedule is revealed.
Everyone hopes for Geist supplements, but I’m still waiting on GMC updates for Dudes of Legend!
Timelords: The Doctoring! /ooooWA-AAAAAA…..AH-aaa-AAAAAA
Looks like Ya’ll are gonna miss the April plan for Moral Remains. 🙁
Untrue- it just went up on DTRPG!
If I wasn’t the first to purchase it, I was DEFINITELY top 3.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Mortal Remains on sale and then the link for the backer’s copy of Cursed Necropolis DC sent within a few hours? Its like Christmas!
new line guess:
Spawn: the Hidden
PCs are all human hybrids who have one (unknown) parent being some kind of “Alien”: from other planets, dimensions, timelines, alternate histories, etc. – maybe even “half-angel” pseudo-nephelim for the God-Machine aspect…
Rich, if possible, I know I’m not the only one that would love to see some Hunters Hunted II shirts on the Onyx Path Red Bubble store. Just throwing that out there.