Well, it’s the week of Thanksgiving and the last week of the month, so our month of thanks, much like the battle depicted in this sneak peak of Exalted 3rd Edition art above, is almost at an end. I’m going to give some thanks for things yet to come, and for the people who will get us there.
– It might not be the popular thing to do, but thanks to CCP. Not only for continuing our license and being open to us pitching a schedule through 2017, which is always good news, but for the whole fact that they were willing to trust us with shepherding the WW game lines three years ago. That was a big jump to make, but they wanted to do right by the WW fans and trusted us to follow through.
– Thanks to our amigos in blood at By Night Studios, for introducing our Onyx crew to a great group of folks and players who are engaged in the live action side of our hobby. I’ve been able to talk with fans and creators I might not have had a chance to due to their connections between the X by Night conventions and now Mid Winter in January, where I’ll be Guest of Honor and have a whole day of panels- more on that in December’s blogs, and the good will created by BNS‘s focused and professional handling of the new live action V20, and soon W20, rule books.
– Speaking of the 2016-2017 schedule, that is certainly something important we’re looking forward to, and I must give thanks to all the line developers who have already pitched their ideas for their game lines, and the writers whose turn it now is to pitch their product ideas. These are the folks who enable us to innovate and grow the White Wolf lines in particular, and I am always in awe each Pitch Season at the sheer wealth of ideas I get to read through.
– Not to be forgotten are Dave Brookshaw, Stew Wilson, and Neall Raemonn Price, who took upon themselves the massive work needed to create a dice-pool system for Scion and the Trinity Continuum. The work they are doing will pave the way for the greatness of both those game lines in this coming next year.
– I’m grateful to be able to work with Eddy Webb on Pugmire, and with Rose Bailey on Cavaliers of Mars (and the select handful of you other amazing creators I’m talking to about similar projects), because these are the people who enable Onyx Path Publishing to be the sort of “house of ideas” I’ve always wanted to be a part of. It’s really hard to balance growth and creativity and giving current fans more of their favorites, but I think Onyx is headed in the right direction because of these creators trusting us with their game-babies.
– I’m also thankful to be able to reconnect with writers and artists stretching all the way back to our early years at WW and bring them with us into this new era of RPG publishing, and right now in the immediate future that includes the artists from the classic Wraith: the Oblivion run. If any of you out there in the ether know of, or are friends with, a classic Wraith artist, please let them know we’d love to have them contribute to the Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition. I’ve talked to a lot of our classic artists, but there’s a larger number of them unaccounted for than with our previous 20th books. Point them to richt@theonyxpath.com. And Wr20 also was great for giving me a reason to talk much more with my old friend Rich “The Deadguy” Dansky culminating in what is always the most intense of experiences as we work on the Deluxe Wr20 Kickstarter that we expect to go live next week at 12 Noon EST on Tuesday, December 2nd.
– And, of course, but never to be taken for granted: all of you. My heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who have supported us so far and who are excited for what we’ve got coming up. Kickstarter backers, Twitter followers, Open-Dev commentators, Facebook friends and likers, Forum posters, Mailing List subscribers, all of you who talk to me every week on this blog, and those of you in our community who don’t yet interact with us other than by buying (and hopefully enjoying) our projects. You are all great and the reason we can look into the future and expect even more fun and fascinating developments yet to come.
So in return for your incredible support, we’ve been working with our friends at DTRPG to put together some Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday sales to express our appreciation:
– Black Friday, November 28th only, we’ll have the Changeling the Dreaming 2nd Edition PDF on sale for $4.99, as well as additional blackened special offers.
– From Black Friday, November 28th, through Cyber-Monday, the 1st of December, all Scion PDFs will be 25% off.
– Cyber-Monday, December 1st only, the God-Machine Chronicle PDF will be on sale for $4.99, and there will be other techno-special offers as well.
– Finally, we will be sending out to our Onyx Path Mailing List subscribers a coupon code for a free copy of the original Trinity rulebook good from Thanksgiving, November 27th until mid-December, as our way of saying how much we appreciate you folks who knowingly signed up for more of our insane communications! You might be gluttons for punishment, but we love you for it!
Speaking of the combination of punishment and love, our ongoing project updates:
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM ROLLICKING ROSE (Projects in bold have changed listings)
First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)
- Beast: the Primordial core book (Beast: The Primordial)
- W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- M20 Book of Secrets (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Cursed Necropolis: Rio (Mummy: the Curse)
- Secrets of the Covenants (Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition) – In Open Development
- Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
- V20 Black Hand: Guide to the Tal’Mahe’Ra (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition) – In Open Development
- W20 Novel by Mike Lee (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Demon Storytellers’ Guide (Demon: the Descent)
Redlines
- Mummy Fiction Anthology (Mummy: the Curse)
- Exalted 3rd Fiction Anthology (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Arms of the Chosen (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- W20 Shattered Dreams (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Mage: the Awakening 2nd Edition, featuring the Fallen World Chronicle (Mage: the Awakening) – In Open Development
Second Draft
- Promethean: the Created 2nd Edition, featuring the Firestorm Chronicle (Promethean: the Created) – Playtesting
Development
- V20 Red List (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- V20 Ghouls (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- World of Darkness Dark Eras- Vampire chapter (WoD Dark Eras)
- Sothis Ascends (Mummy: the Curse)
- Fallen World Chronicle Fiction Anthology (Mage: the Awakening)
- M20 How do you DO that? (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
Editing
- Werewolf: the Forsaken 2nd Edition, featuring the Idigam Chronicle (Werewolf: the Forsaken)
- Exalted 3rd Edition core book- From Holden: editing is still working methodically through the Charms chapter. (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Firestorm Chronicle Fiction Anthology (Promethean: the Created 2nd Edition)
- V20 Lore of the Clans (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
Development (post-editing)
- World of Darkness Dark Eras core book (WoD Dark Eras)
- Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition core book (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE
- Book of the Deceived – Awaiting errata. The advance PDF is at http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/139497/Book-of-the-Deceived Thanks for all the comments so far!
- Book of the Wyrm 20 – On sale now at DriveThruRPG.com: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/138407/W20-Book-of-the-Wyrm Working on Deluxe Cover treatment.
- DAV20 – Proofing. Gonna ping Sto and see how things are progressing on heraldry and the rose thing for the cover are progressing.
- T-Shirts – Actually would like to focus on Shirts and DeLux cover as I haven’t given shirts any love recently. Very much would like to knock out the VDA20 one and maybe finish up the VtM Revised shirts.
- Art O’ The Changin’ Breeds – Didn’t get around to it this week as other things took a bit longer than I’d planned.
- Umbra – Advance PDF for sale. Errata compiling. http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/139920/W20-Umbra-the-Velvet-Shadow
- Ready Made Characters: Geist – Done and available for purchase. http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/139640/Geist-Ready-Made-Characters
- VTR II – PoDs are uploaded and should be ready for order (us getting PoD proofs) shortly.
- WtF 2 – Contracted. Template finally put together… spent a lot of time on that one as I had to fix various layout and font issues. Still looking for a new font for the Chapter Header. I have the layout simplified down and more in line with the current NWoD titles. Probably after the thanksgiving holidays, need to sit down and figure out where we have a working version of the logo or at least the B&W version so I can update it a little.
- Scarred Lands – Saw cover sketches on Tuesday… looking good thus far. Got the bulk of the [REDACTED] version of Spiragos done.Took a bit to get the texture to look the way I want it to, but I’m happy with it now. Getting a couple of halfs from Leblanc to get our format more inline with [REDACTED] format. Spiragos PoD for Pathfinder is underway.
- Idigam Chronicle Anthology – Good to go on sale Weds.
- Wraith 20 – Got the KS graphics done. One of those things that took a lot longer to do that I’d planned as I couldn’t get the effect I wanted initially. Got a new idea for the Ltd Cover… if I get some time before Wednesday I’ll mock something up.
- M20 – Looking like this won’t be getting into layout until after the holidays. BUT the lenticular card looks really cool.
- Dark Eras – Okay…this is the KS after Wraith. That means I need to get rolling on the art for that ASAP as this isn’t something we can use art from previous editions for.
- EX3- RichT here, once again tagging onto Mirthful Mike’s report, Maria Cabardo and I continue to get sketches and finishes on a daily basis and review them with the Devs. Looks like we have a good half of them as finals which will go to CCP for approval this week.
REASON TO DRINK: To give thanks to our liver for getting us through another year and into the holiday season.
I am thankful for all of you and your hard work and for bringing out NEW books for the Classic WoD from the much needed books to the 20th anniversary editions. From satryos to rich, I simply want to say thank you.
Very much appreciated, and seriously, even though we say it a lot: we couldn’t do it without you.
I’d suggest a new take on Elysium The Elders Wars. Neonates were granted all the gadgets and tactics presented in Anarchs Unbound. Now, what elders are doing about that?
Ooooh! On that note, some sort of ancient/antiquity game might be fun for other eras, maybe the often alluded to Punic wars between Rome and Carthage for VTM?
Not sure. Dark Ages is the default VtM setting. I wish we could explore (in the Final Nights) the consequences of past movements of the War of Ages, of course.
I mean, DA is the the default historical setting.
We did _a_ historical setting book with V20 Dark Ages. Doesn’t mean we have to stop there. Depends on the interest out there.
Good to know that. Thanks.
Good question, we’ll see if anybody pitched something like that…
We’re thankful to YOU, Rich, and the whole team for giving us such quality work.
Thank YOU, my friend! We wouldn’t be able to do it without community support from folks like you. Not just financially, but the vocal appreciation counts for so much, and really helps our teams feel good about what they do. Very few RPG writers are raging cyclones of confidence, and getting positive feedback is often all it takes for them to get energized.
I would love a card like that however on it’s own, as that baby on the kickstarter looks sweet..
This might be possible, but only after all the Q-Editions of Mage20 are sent out.
All this happening the last couple of years is just too good to be true! I’ve been a major WW fan since werewolf 2nd edition and I’ve been upgrading mu collection with these beauties. Just wanted to say, keep up the good work! You’re a game company on the right path 😉
Certainly, it’s the path we’re on. And really, the Onyx Path isn’t just an “ooh, dark!” kind of company name, it really does represent a sort of spirit of exploration and moving forward into the unknown. We’ve really just started. Thanks!
I would like to thank Rich for continuing the Monday Morning Meeting Notes. As I would be going crazy attempting to follow a lot of these upcoming books without them.
Likewise, I would like the thank him for always taking the time to reply to your questions in the comments here.
Also, Requiem 2E this week hopefully! Awesome!
Kinda curious what the plan is with the Wraith KS. The Mummy the Curse KS ran at a similar time a couple years ago. I don’t think running over Christmas and new year did it any favours. Still Wraith has an established fanbase and the Onyx Path KS system has moved on a little since then (with Rose helping out and all) so it will be interesting to follow for sure (even if I am not sure if I am going to pledge towards this one.)
VtR2 PDF this week for those who already have Blood and Smoke. I just today ordered the proofs of the physical PoD books, so sometime in December we should get the actual for sale PDF and PoD versions up on DTRPG.
I don’t agree with concerns about the holiday, particularly in regards to the previous Mummy KS. Look at all of the numbers for our KSs, and Mummy is right in where I’d have expected it to land. The holidays for that KS, as well as the upcoming Wraith one, are planned to land right in the “doldrums” mid-KS that always slow down the pledges anyway.
Keep in mind, the Mummy KS was like a week shorter than most. Had it kept going for the full 30 days, it would have probably been a bit closer to Demon’s final tally.
That is a huge “maybe”. If there was some expectation of an average amount per day, sure. But there is significant evidence that the mid-section of a KS is a low pledge time no matter how long it goes. IE: a 45 day KS will have three to four weeks of doldrums instead of the 2-3 weeks of low pledging a 30 day KS has.
We also did not have so many folks asking in the week following funding about whether they could pledge as we have had with, say, Mage20th, so the idea that there were a whole bunch of Mummy fans who missing the KS and would have caught it with just one more week may not hold water.
In terms of the technical goal of a given Kickstarter, like raising the base funding, sure Mummy was successful. What I think a lot of us hope to see in any given OP KS are all the cool stretch goals unlocked, and that’s where I think us Mummy fans were remiss at its shorter duration
Or, which I really think would have been the case, we would have had longer to wait throughout a longer middle, and still would have wound up at the same general total and so the same stretch goal extras.
I’m also grateful that CCP allowed OP to publish WoD material, but I would expect much more from them.
CCP has killed Project Vaulderie, a fan project to recreate the cult (but buggy) videogame V:tM Bloodlines, giving it a multiplayer experience.
Activision, which owns Bloodlines, granted Project Vaulderie permission to continue development, but CCP used his rights over the WoD to shut the project off.
Apparently, CCP is not willing to create a WoD videogame, but won’t allow either that anyone creates it. That is, CCP won’t allow WoD fans to have a videogame that makes justice to WoD.
I think this kind of decisions hurts WoD. Fan projects and work generate more fans to the games, and help to keep the interest high. It would also attract new fans that can know the WoD by the videogame. In other words, the IP that owns CCP would increase its value.
http://www.projectvaulderie.com/goodnight-sweet-prince/
First, let me make clear that I have no more insider knowledge about the situation than anybody else, and what I do know I got from the recent articles. Second, I really do understand your disappointment and frustration so I’m not trying to browbeat you with questions here. But I do want to understand.
When you say you expect much more from CCP, can I ask you why? Like, what caused you to set your expectations to where they are? To me, when CCP basically said, “We’re focusing completely on EVE” and cancelled the WoDMMO, that seems to have been the direction they went in. They don’t have the bandwidth to focus on the WW IPs right now, so they aren’t. Not that they don’t value the WW legacy, but they simply can’t deal with it right now. And because they do value it, they can’t let folks make their own projects. Regardless of what might be said on the Internet, IP law in the US, right now, demands that the owner control the use.
Where did you hear that Activision OK’d the project? I have not seen that stated anywhere but in your post here.
The IGN Article on the subject of the Cease and Desist notice mentions that the team appealed to Activision in regards of their project:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/11/24/fan-remake-of-vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines-shut-down-by-ccp-games
Sorry to correct you, but I think it says they “tried to appeal” to Activision, and nowhere does it say Activision responded, nevermind gave them an OK as I asked about above.
I did state that the article only mentioned that they did appeal to Activision. ^^;
According to their fB post ( https://www.facebook.com/#!/projectvaulderie/posts/719827831428218 ) they were in progress of preparing a pitch in regards of their plans to Activision. It seems unfortunate to me that the former employee of CCP refered them to Activision opposed to pointing out that they have to contact CCP (as well?).
Sorry, at that point my knowledge of the situation hits a wall. “Somebody told us we should talk to the other guys”. Well I guess that could happen, but I don’t know if the outcome would have been any different, ultimately.
Hi Rich,
just wanted to say I am sorry.
I checked the background of Project Vaulderie and suddenly it struck me that it got quite a resemblance to two Kickstarter Projects.
Requiem of the Night (http://kck.st/1rrjVsO) and Sanguine Nights (http://kck.st/1HIxQiJ)
First got taken down because it’s been a clear IP infringement and the second one failed with the scrubbed off IP.
All three of those projects are connected by Stephen Webb, use of the Unity Engine and Multiplayer idea. So I guess they can be seen as basically three attempts by the same guy(s).
I am actually honestly embaressed that I fell for the “but we are just innocent modders”-attempt they pulled this time,.. CCP might have done some bad stuff, but I guess this can’t be counted towards those stuff.
Hi, Rich, excuse me for being late.
I read they got permission from Activision here, but I found it no more. I don’t know if it’s their mistake.
I respect CCP deciding not to make a WoD MMO. You can’t force a software developer do a given game. I don’t respect so much killing a fan project. That’s being the dog in the manger. You don’t make a game, but won’t let anyone else do it. Result: fanbase never get a game, neither professional nor fanmade.
I think a friendly arrangement would be more positive for both sides. I know some people that now play Vampire (and bought V20) because of Bloodlines. They were (video)gamers, they liked the PC game, they wanted to know more and thus. In the same fashion, a new videogame could attract more fans, that would buy more books, and the IP gets more value, not less. If one decade or another CCP tried again with a WoD game, more people would know the universe, more people would pay to play on it. They would benefit from projects that help the fandom kept alive.
I have also heard that they have been quite strict with the things that can be published in other countries (things like formats, aides, etc,…). Same logic applies. The harder is to publish, less fans you get.
I hope I can be understood. Frankly, it’s quite difficult to me to explain those things on English. Thanks for reading and writing.
I guess, in the end, that however you or I or anybody not at CCP thinks things could work, none of us really has the inside knowledge to know what factors led to that decision. So yes, broad theory-wise, I also prefer to have more WoD stuff out there, but that’s a general preference trumped by specific realities.
Thanks for all the hard work on World of Darkness 2e
You are very much welcome!
Excellent sentiments and I wanted to express my deep and heartfelt thanks that the weird and spooky worlds that started under the WW auspices sally forth into what seems to be legendary infinity with each new release and may my shelf grow ever heavier with new tomes. I wish everyone at both Onyx Path, By Night Studios and CCP, both current and former employees, have fondly remembered holiday this winter. Stay safe and stay warm, the world can be a monster.
Right back atcha!
I’m thankful for the opportunities this company has given me to write and create. I’m exercising my imagination like never before and practicing my creativity in exciting ways. It’s been a damn good year.
Certainly one of our biggest hopes is that more creative folks get more inspired and create more wonderful material- preferably for us, but really, just anywhere that enriches the hobby.
and we appreciate you! and I’m sure CCP does, too, not sure how this fallow property could’ve been leveraged more successfully.
it’s been a kind of astounding couple years to be a WoD fan. I never thought we’d see the classic lines revived, wouldn’t’ve guessed there’d be so much ambient cash sloshing around out there ready to fund them, and the concept of an nWoD second edition had never even occurred to me. it’s pretty exciting. and I’m sure I’m not the only one to whom it was a clear-eyed marketing choice–even knowing Idigam and Forsaken 2 are basically the same, I’d probably have passed Idigam by, but bundled and conceptualized as an edition watermark, I’ll pry feel the need to pick up even those gamelines that didn’t grip me the first time around.
Thanks! I think it is because no matter how we did things at WW (and now with Onyx Path), the strength of these worlds is in the love and devotion that the fan community feels towards them. We make the tangible items, but the intangible love of the community is what keeps the game lines alive.
And, yep, a 2nd Edition label helps you, and also prospective fans who don’t follow, nor should follow, the ins and outs folks here are used to with naming conventions, and Chronicles, and all that. More folks picking up the 2nd Editions because it’s easy to guess what is in there, means more folks joining us and more players to play with. Win/win/win.
I’d love for there to be “second chance” offerings of the Deluxe Editions of the Core World of Darkness books from the Kickstarters.
Right now, I’m only buying PDFs of the World of Darkness books but I’d love to have a quality physical copy. I’d be willing to pay $150 per core book with sewn binding and I know many, many WoD20 fans who feel exactly the same way I do.
The PoD versions are very high quality productions and I have heard very few complaints about the binding, even of the very large books. I can’t see a practical way we would ever go back to press on the 20th Editions. You would be looking at $200+ to you in order to cover the printing. More likely we could do a look at new 25th Anniversary books…hmmm, 2016 will have been 5 years since V20 after all…
Hehe v25. How about instead a 3rd edition run?
Nwod got 2nd edition. It’s only fair!
On a more serious note, thank you guys for all the amazing work you guys have done for all the game lines this year!
It’d be a 4th Edition in most cases, with Revised really being 3rd. But I suppose we could do a 3rd Edition across the board with that branding…
And seriously, you are most welcome!
The PDFs are beautiful and indestructible. I’ll hold you to these 25th Anniversary Editions! 😀
I dunno, we might have rioting if we did them.
Thanks for Blood and Smoke/ VtR 2E! Absolutely wonderful second edition.
I must wait with thanks on Exalted 3E, but it will come in time. Until then, I must maintain the vigil. Must…remain…strong…
Thanks, glad you think so. Rose did a great job with it!
Stay strong, my friend. Your day is coming.
I’m thankful for Mummy: the Curse because it’s the first game, WoD or any other RPG, I’ve wanted to REALLY run/play since 2008
So glad to hear it- we still have a couple of awesome books to release for it!
I’m thankful for M20 and the new books for it, and Mage: the Awakening 2nd ed.
Me too! Thanks!
According to the kickstarter for mage, the only books not in the works sofar are the M20 cookbook (which that ummm cocktail thing yall did could also help as they did look mighty tasty), the art book which will be purdy, the new techie and book of the fallen book..
which one has you rich, the most bedazzled out of the mage lot given your past association with the other kickstarters..
What do you mean by bedazzled? Most excited to be publishing? Most overcome by how difficult it might be? 🙂
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m incredibly excited for the Wraith20 kickstarter, especially since we now have a definite start date instead of the constant “soon” we’ve been seeing the last few weeks.
So that’s what I’m thankful for, and thanks to Rich and Deadguy and all the rest for making it a reality.
That is how it works, we get more definite the closer we get to running it. And now we can all look forward to next Tuesday!
I really like the artwork. It is darker and more grim than the previous art used for Exalted. I must confess I was never really into Anime art which I thought too much like a cartoon and was hard to take seriously. I love the grey tone of the picture as well as the blood that splatters through the air. I like the fact that Panther has regular proportions rather than having huge cartoon features.
I picture this scene as one of the first encounters between a new Solar and the realm. Panther would have just exalted recently and is using his new found powers. Even as a fledgling exalted, he is a being of impressive power, making short work of the realm troops that were sent to apprehend him. I imagine this is similar to the scene in the last samurai where Ken Watanabe sees Tom Cruise fight and is in stunned silence realizing that this is no ordinary fighter. A realm commander would see this and fear that this is only the beginning of the return of the powerful solars.
Excellent way to imagine the scene! Basically, expect a range of artistic styles. A lot closer to what I was aiming for with the first edition. And be ready for a few tweaks to previous depictions- hopefully for the better or more tightly to how they were originally described.
I’m thankful as hell for the chance to pick up the mantle of Wraith again, and to get to work with crazy-talented writer folks old and new.
And I’m thrilled to be on a project with you again, old friend! But boy, gird your loins for next Tuesday: nothing we ever did back in the day is like a Kickstarter!
rich, excited to be made. A book that makes you stop and say it’s about time or as you put it one that was alittle tougher than most but when you see the finished product, you go “sooo worth it in the end..”
Wow, I guess at a start I’m just excited to finally be pulling M20 together and getting to the point we can take the text and art and design and put out a great book. The ideas I’ve heard talked about for Victorian Mage sound pretty sweet, so very much looking forward to that.