If you have already backed the Deluxe Sidereals Kickstarter campaign, like 1830 other people (as I write this), then you’re already on the winning side! That’s the side that will be getting a gorgeous Deluxe book and superb PDF that details the star-wise Exalted!
We’re just about half-way through this KS, so there are many text reveals and Stretch Goals still to come. Plus, our KS Concierge James Bell keeps the whole place fun and ringing!
While we’re all hyped-up for the Deluxe Sidereals KS campaign, this is also the last month of our year-long celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the founding of Onyx Path in 2012! It has been a wild ride all year as we focused on a game line each and every month – and December is no exception with our celebration being all about the Trinity Continuum!
Perhaps our most far-flung game line, the Trinity Continuum stretches across time and space in order to tell the epic story of the limitless potential of humanity. With each Era we work to couch it in the media and tropes of the time, but with a fresh and unlimited viewpoint on who can be a hero (or villain!).
And because it is a Continuum, any reality or variant can be a game setting without disrupting those Eras before or after it. Or sideways from it, as well!
So far, we’ve gone as far back in time as the Victorian Era complete with a Martian invasion with TC: Aether, the 1930s Nazi-punching Pulp Era with TC: Adventure!, our modern Era with the Core Rulebook, and a darker mirror of the modern time with TC: Assassin. Coming up soon, and I’m just reading through the developed text, will be our look at Bronze Age heroes and legends with TC: Aegis.
Moving into the future, in the near future there will be superhumans soaring and battling across the world as depicted in TC: Aberrant, and an AI-driven virtual game distracting the dwellers in a future city that may be far more dystopian than its founders would like anyone to realize in TC: Anima (which has setting and rules for both the cyberpunk city and the fantasy virtual reality).
And finally, for now, the story of the psychic defenders of humanity that is TC: Aeon is furthest out in time, but actually the first game line to be created along with the Core! (They were actually released together three years ago this last Sunday). Check out this slightly outdated graphic of the TC covers:
Back From the Future…
Which I know sounds strange; the idea of starting with the most futuristic Era so far…but in that regard we were only following the pattern set decades earlier at old White Wolf. We thought then that starting in the future and working our way backwards was a great way to fly in the face of conventional storytelling – and gave us the chance to reveal “the truth” about past moments that were mentioned in the later-in-the-timeline books.
Because Aeon, as we called it then, was our first new gameline after WoD, we really wanted it to have a very different feel, and our approaches to the timeline, to the size of the books, the artists we used, the way we presented the text in both the writing and the layout, reflected that.
It was the first setting we created from wholecloth, and the first one where we set up a world “bible” ahead of time to present to freelancers so that our writers and artists would have a consistent source to work from. We were very new to that, and learned a lot about the game world creating process in ways that we never had to deal with with WoD or Street Fighter, and even if not all of it paid off for Aeon, those lessons would come in very handy when it came time to create the world of Exalted.
Ha ha! Look at that! I’ve linked both of our topics above together – what a panorama of continuity of creativity we have!
Trinity Continuum Celebration!
So, with that sweet bit of writing legerdemain, let’s get back to December 2022 and our Trinity Continuum Celebration. Like all of the previous month-long game line celebrations, we are offering PDFs from the celebrated game line on sale for only 10% of their usual prices on DTRPG!
That’s 90% off!
Our physical book sales partner, IPR, also has a sale going to the end of the year on physical products – you can check out details and links below in our Sales Partners area of this blog.
You can find out about Trinity Continuum streams and Actual Plays below in our Onyx Path Media section, as well as info on this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast, where Eddy and Danielle take a deep dive into TC: Adventure!. Both of them spent many, many, hours working on the project, so they will be chock-full of anecdotes and insights!
Tick Tock TikTok…
Speaking of social media, although I don’t have links to share as yet in that section of the blog today, we have been approached this year by more than a few folks wanting to know if it would be OK if they put up some vids about our stuff on TikTok. Well, we talked with them, they talked with friends, some of them talked to us, we tried to encourage them without stomping all over their ideas, and next thing you know, all sorts of folks seem to be putting up Onyx Path focused TikTok vids!
Which is great!
We’ll try and post links for your enjoyment as we find them – and please feel free to create your own if you’re so inclined!
Website Forums Reminder:
I broached this subject last week, so here’s a reminder that we’ll be posting a notice on our forums letting forumites know that we’re going to shut the Onyx Path forums down for a while sometime in December in order to try and update the site to the latest software. It’s a whole thing, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we try and make the upgrade work.
A Note of Appreciation-
Finally, I was reading an article talking about a certain onus that lies on those folks in the TTRPG community who don’t actively play the games. Well, the idea that some folks enjoy reading our books but don’t play, for a wide range of reasons, is certainly no secret to us at Onyx Path. Part of the reason we’ve been holding this 10 Year Anniversary Celebration is that we’re celebrating ALL of our community: those who play our games regularly, either online or in-person, those who get to game infrequently, and those who don’t get to play but still love engaging with our worlds!
I dunno if anybody has felt that their way of enjoying and supporting our projects has been seen as less than others by Onyx Path, but if so, I’m here to tell you that you are just as important as anybody in our community!
Without all of our fans, we never would have made it to:
TEN YEARS, MANY WORLDS, ONE PATH!
BLURBS!
KICKSTARTER/CROWDFUNDING!
EXALTED: SIDEREALS!
FUNDED IN 9 MINUTES!
We’re already close to 600% funded, and over 1825 backers have joined us, and the Sidereals KS is not even half-way in! It’s fated in the stars: join us, too!
Onyx Path Media!
This week:
Eddy and Danielle do a deep dive into Trinity Continuum: Adventure!
As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/
Onyx Path Media now has its own blog on Tuesdays! We’ll continue posting our highlight of the week here, but Tuesday will be the day to visit if you want to catch up on actual plays, interviews, deep dives, and other assorted Onyx Path media!
Please check out our attached media schedule for the 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!
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK:
Changeling the Lost On Ice is a weekly stream run by the folks at FinalShow Films. Set in the linked towns of Houghton/Hancock, Michigan, a weird little college town in the often icy Upper Peninsula. In the winter, people dig tunnels from dorm to class and try to ignore the howling winds. In the spring, ice thaws and frozen things emerge. In the summer, bloodsuckers come to feast.
http://twitch.tv/finalshowfilms and the current episode playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhzgGaPSmkS4w9j5EbNIGlfWA-pKeOeke
The Onyx Path News discusses recent and upcoming releases! You can find it on our YouTube channel (click the bell to be informed when we go live!) but if you missed the last episode, here it is: https://youtu.be/FY0uiq_DGG0
Virtual Tabletop!
The Scion: Origin and Scion Hero Compendiums are now available on Roll20!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/publisher/1716/onyx-path-publishing
Scion is just the start! They Came From Beneath the Sea! and other
Onyx Path RPGs are in development for Roll20 virtual tabletop!
The first of our official Scion sheets designed for Foundry VTT are
now available!
Direct Link: https://foundryvtt.co
Looking for more virtual tabletop resources? We have a selection of
Tokens, Encounters, and more available now at DriveThruRPG!
Get ’em here: https://bit.ly/3SnrNJ7
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!
Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books, dice, and screens? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/
End of the year/holiday sale at IPR:https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Deals-and-Specials/
As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles in PDF and PoD versions at DriveThruRPG.com!
The Teach Your Kids to Game Week Sale starts next week on DTRPG with Pugmire and some other titles on sale.
Trinity Continuum PDFs are 90% off at DriveThruRPG.
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).
Check out the Trinity Continuum: Aeon novellas Dawn and Meridian in the Kindle store!
On Sale This Week!
This Wednesday, burrow deep within the earth to discover Connection Lost: the Jumpstart for Pugmire’s Squeaks in the Deep available in PDF and PoD versions on DTRPG!
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!
Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at Start.Playing is the last FRIDAY of the month! Our special focus this coming month will be the Trinity Continuum game lines! (But any of our game lines are welcome!)
Please spread the word about GMing games as much as
possible. Details on how list a game are at the bottom of the page in
the FAQ:
https://startplaying.games/event/game-night-onyx-path
And now, the new project status updates!
Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out November’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-november-2022/
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY
Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:
Development
Exalted – Surface Truths (was Dragon-Blooded Novella 2)
- Danielle: This lovely novella by Lauren Roy turned around quickly since there weren’t a lot of requested changes.
Post-Editing Development
They Came From Beneath the Sea! – Community Content Guide
- Matthew: Somehow I submitted this in the wrong format for editing but NO MATTER! This guide will soon be in a lovely state for people who want to create Beneath the Sea! community content.
Exalted – Exigents
- Danielle: The developers, Chosen of Words, are pouring through edits and correcting mistakes.
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Ex3 Sidereals KS – Still going strong.
- Legendlore: Legacies of Earth – Getting McEvoy to do the fulls… and trying to wrap this KS up.
- W20 Howls of the Apocalypse – Maria is getting the New Zealand crew on this one.
- Icons of Rage – Getting contracted out.
In Layout
- Exalted Essence – Getting ready to start on this… probably right after Adventure is out to KS backers.
- SCION Realms of Magic and Mystery – Final artwork rolling in.
- TC Stampede of Justice (Adventure JS) – Artwork all in… working on this alongside working on Adventure! wrap up.
Proofing
- TC Adventure! – Working on symbology. Not too much longer.
- Ex3 Lunars Novella
- Storypath Ultra Brochure – Still working and tweaking.
- Contagion Chornicles Global Outbreaks
Indexing
- M20 Victorian Age – Starting press prep for next week.
At Press
- Scion Dragon Screen – Printing started.
- Scion Dragon – At KS fulfiller.
- Scion Dragon Wallpaper – Going out to KS backers.
- Scion Masks of the Mythos – At KS fulfiller.
- Scion Masks of the Mythos Screen – Printing started.
- Scion Masks of the Mythos Wallpaper
- DMR VTT – Pack has been sent out to backers.
- Legendlore VTT
- Vinsen’s Tomb VTT
- Pugmire Core VTT
- Squeaks in the Deep VTT – Getting them ready to go out to KS backers.
- M20 Melody Through the Mirrorshade Lens Novella – Out to KS backers this week.
- TCFBTG Monsters from the Crypt! – Awaiting errata input.
- TC: Aberrant – Proteus Nova Compendium – Errata being input.
- CtL Hollow Courts Novella – PoD proof ordered.
- Ex3 Adversaries
- Squeaks in the Deep Jumpstart – PDF and PoD versions on sale this Weds on DTRPG!
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
It’s history day, kids! Yay!
1033 – The Jordan Rift Valley earthquake destroys multiple cities across the Levant, triggers a tsunami and kills many.
1484 – Pope Innocent VIII issues the Summis desiderantes affectibus, a papal bull that deputizes Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger as inquisitors to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany.
1757 – Seven Years’ War: Battle of Leuthen: Frederick II of Prussia leads Prussian forces to a decisive victory over Austrian forces under Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine.
1848 – California Gold Rush: In a message to the United States Congress, U.S. President James K. Polk confirms that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.
1914 – The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition began in an attempt to make the first land crossing of Antarctica.
1945 – Flight 19, a group of TBF Avengers, disappears in the Bermuda Triangle.
1971 – Battle of Gazipur: Pakistani forces stand defeated as India cedes Gazipur to Bangladesh.
2005 – The 6.8 MwLake Tanganyika earthquake shakes the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), killing six people.
These aren’t all the things that happened on this day throughout history; just a selection that I pulled if the write-up gave me an idea for a TTRPG session. YMMV.
Comments
8 responses to “Which Side(reals) Are You On? [Monday Meeting Notes]”
“At Press: Ex3 Adversaries”
*heavy breathing*
“We cannot be sure of any direction… even the sea doesn’t look as it should… touched by the Dead Hand… everything is wrong…“
So, it sounds like maybe Aegis will be an early KS for next year? I know you can’t say that it is or is not but it sounds like it might be which makes me so happy. If nothing else, it sounds like it is closer rather than later.
I wouldn’t guess “early.”
Aether was announced at OPPCon in June 2021. The Kickstarter was July 2022.
Aegis was announced at OPPCon in June 2022.
As someone who mostly just reads the books these days, I REALLY appreciate this message at the end, it’s very touching. Thank you.
Thank you! Nothing wrong with enjoying our stuff however you can. I still pick up White Dwarf Magazine to enjoy the new minis and articles, but it’s been well over fifteen years since I played a GW minis game, unfortunately. Life does that!
Regarding reading your books but not playing. I’m here to say that I have lost count of the hours I’ve spent with the various Chronicles books. They’ve got me back into writing and (ironically) Geist in particular got me through a very rough period.
Would I like to play or run them? 100%. Does that mean I don’t want to continue exploring on my own? Never.
Glad to hear they could inspire your own work and help out getting through life. That’s a wonderful thing to let us know about! Thanks!