I’ll explain in a minute, or you can hop down to the Production Updates section for a note from Eddy about this week. But to get on with what the title of this week’s MMN blog is referring to, first here’s what it’s a quote from:
In their movie “The Cocoanuts”, Groucho Marx shows Chico Marx a map of a Florida real estate deal. He points out a viaduct leading to the mainland. Chico repeatedly mishears and confuses the word. When Groucho insists it is a “viaduct” (pronounced like via-duck), Chico questions why it wouldn’t be a chicken or a dog, leading Groucho to retort that crossing deep water in a chicken would quickly show him “why a duck”. Groucho eventually gives up on the explanation by claiming he was only fooling, as they planned to build a tunnel there in the morning anyway.
(For those of you unfamiliar with the Mark Brothers, they were a three or four person comedy act that started on the stage during the vaudeville era that led into the b&w movie era. They were actually brothers, they had no connection to Karl Marx, they were extremely popular, and they favored an anarchic, anti-authoritarian style of comedy that still holds up today, mostly.)
Basically, I’m using that whole bit a) because I like it and think it’s funny, even after all these years, and b) because it suggests activity below the surface.
This is a motif throughout the MMN blog today.
First of all, Exalted: Liminals is rising up from below the surface; digging their way out to BackerKit next week on Tuesday the 17th at 2pm EST!
Created with dug up corpses, dirt, and thaumaturgy, they are the results of an attempt at resurrection. They seem like mortals but their anima reveals they are truly patchwork, stitched together and necrotic.
They are just dripping with, well, ooze, but also with “characterfulness”, as some chaps in the UK used to say! We’ll have more info and maybe even an excerpt in next week’s blog, but meanwhile, don’t forget to use this link to sign up on the BackerKit pre-launch page so you don’t miss a thing!
Last week, I announced that we’re closing down the Onyx Path Forums at the beginning of January, and I encouraged folks to grab any posts from them in the next couple of months before we close it up. I’m thrilled to say that not only has that been happening, but that one poster is attempting – and may already have succeeded – in copying the whole darn thing! They’re posting progress reports on both our Forums and RPG.net with updates to the process, so if this sounds like something you want to know more about, you can check those posts out!
Why am I saying “thrilled”? Because we really were hoping someone, or a group of folks, would jump and do exactly this. Like a bunch of you, I was familiar with the original White Wolf forums, and was glad when Onyx started our own. At the time, forum social media set-ups were the most popular and useful format for creators to hear from the fan community, but times and people’s preferences have changed.
As I noted last week, we did a survey a while back. Part of analyzing that survey was to note how many other social media venues our responders used, and how few were avid forumites. When we compared those responses to previous surveys, the decline was even more obvious. Again, here’s a list of the alternative social media venues we’re on that you can try out instead of our forums:
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/eysXevy
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/OnyxPathRPG/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theonyxpath.bsky.social
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theonyxpath
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theonyxpath
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOnyxPath
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theonyxpath
While nothing so finite as the forums closing, we will be tweaking some of our other venues too in the next few months, based on usage and usability, much as we have been making small tweaks to our website this whole year.
Over in Curseborne land, our traditional printer is sending samples of completed – ie: printed and bound – books. Mirthful Mike sent me these pics of the Making of Curseborne Deluxe edition:
With more to come, of course. I (and James doing the Backer Updates) will let you know as they send us more samples and wrap up this multi-part project!
From Awkward GM Corbin, “With Curseborne unlocked for Storypath Nexus, I would like to receive feedback from the community to gauge interest in a Curseborne specific GameJam. The survey covers scheduling and what types of products people are interested in making. Any feedback is appreciated and will help improve our plans.
My goal with these GameJams is always to help foster a community of creative writers and artists. It gives us an excuse to get projects completed as opposed to sitting around half finished. Please consider writing an adventure, supplement, short story, etc… in the next GameJam (BTW you can make 2D and 3D artwork on Storypath Nexus too).
Please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/
Our friend, Jack Berkenstock, at the Bodhana Group has shared this flyer they created for their sessions in libraries of Branch Riders:
We applaud Jack and his crew as they continue their efforts to bring Branch Riders and their therapeutic mission in a concrete and understandable manner to folks in central PA!
To go back to the whole comedy routine talked about above, somebody once asked Groucho why ducks were such a part of his comedy routines over the decades. He replied: “They’re funnier than chickens”.
Maybe that’s why Jennell Jaquays put them into her RuneQuest adventures back in the day. Or even why I included them in the Crossroads Continent setting. Or maybe the real reasons are below the surface, waiting to arise once more into our:
Many Worlds… One Path!
Blurbs!
Crowdfunding!
Coming 2pm EST on Tuesday November 17th!
Exalted: Liminals
Be sure and sign up on the pre-launch page so you don’t miss out!
Onyx Path Media!
On today’s Onyx Path News, Travis steps in to talk about Curseborne Compact Edition and Backerkit pre-launches for Liminals and Stomping Grounds:
The crew from Tales of Pantheons have begun a new chapter in their tale: No Gods, No Masters (CH1 EP1) | Scion: Bound By Fate
Virtual Tabletop!
Check it out now! The Scion Demiplane Nexus! Click here for Early Access:
Campaigns for Scion Nexus went live last week as well. This blog post explains how Campaigns work on Demiplane:
https://www.demiplane.com/blog/campaigns-have-arrived
Scion Demigod Available on Roll20 NOW!
The Scion: Origin and Scion Hero Compendiums are now available on Roll20!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/publisher/1716/onyx-path-publishing
The first of our official Scion sheets designed for Foundry VTT are now available! https://foundryvtt.co
They Came From Beneath the Sea! on Roll20 VTT!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea
Looking for more virtual tabletop resources? We have a selection of tokens, encounters, and more available now at DriveThruRPG! 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!
Chronicles of Darkness, Monarchies of Mau, and more are up to 50% off for a limited time over at our Studio 2 shop:
https://studio2publishing.com/collections/onx-onyx-path-publishing
And don’t forget to let your local game store they can order direct
from Studio 2. Details here:
https://studio2publishing.com/pages/retailers
As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles in PDF and PoD versions at DriveThruRPG.com!
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).
On Sale This Week!
What do you do underground? The World Below Underworld Adventures is here to give you lots of ideas! PDF and softcover PoD dig their way to availability this Weds on DTRPG!
On Sale Last Week!
The Curseborne Compact Edition PDF and softcover PoD are now available on DTRPG!
Conventions!
Here’s where you can find out more info on physical and virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!
Twin Cities Con – November 20th – 22nd (Game Room demos).
PAX Unplugged – December 4th – 6th (Studio 2 will have our books and more).
Project Status Updates!
Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out September’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-october-2026/
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!
A lot of the work this week was what I like to call “duck work” — nothing’s happening on the surface, but there’s a lot of furious paddling underneath. Pitches and outlines being written, layouts being proofed, and the less exciting work of making sure everything gets made and everyone gets paid.
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Ex3 Infernals – Still waiting on the next batch of finals.
- Ex3 Sidereals Companion – Checking on sketch status.
- Curseborne Seattle – Getting this AD’d out so we have art in January. I got KMJ on it.
- TC Aether Player’s Guide – Awaiting last of the pieces to come in.
- TC From the Shadows – Reviewing more finals and sketches.
- TC Steam Wars – Recontracting splat art…
- Pugmire 2e Jumpstart.- Awaiting finals.
- Ex3 Liminals – Goes live on the 17th!
Layout Queue
- Monster Kingdoms
- PUGMIRE 2E Screen
- ROP Curious Cats of Mau Screen
- Curseborne Digital Wallpaper
Proofing Queue
Curseborne PG – Working on 2nd proof.
At Press
- Curseborne – Printing.
- Curseborne Screen – Shrinkwrapping.
- Curseborne Jumpstart – Printing.
- Making of Curseborne – Finished printing (see pics above).
- Curseborne Slipcase – Awaiting hard proof for color….
- Curseborne Dice – Sending #s and moth images to printer.
- Ex Essence PG – Errata input.
- TC Aeon Tasty Bit Omnibus #2 – Getting PDF ready.
- Pugmire Adventures – PoD prep.
- The World Below Underworld Adventures – PDF and PoD versions available this Weds on DTRPG!
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
Today in 1979 during the Cold War: a technician in NORAD loaded a test tape, but failed to switch the system status to “test”, causing a stream of constant false warnings to spread to two “continuity of government” bunkers, as well as command posts worldwide, causing the NORAD computers and the Alternate National Military Command Center in Fort Ritchie, Maryland to think they had detected a purported massive Soviet nuclear strike. After reviewing the raw data from satellites and checking the early-warning radars, the alert is cancelled. Phew!
Curseborne PG is almost done, awesome 🙂 If all goes well, I’ll have my PoD version before holiday season *fingers crossed*