If you missed our series of blog posts last Friday, by happenstance or because you prefer to duck under the April Fools Day fray, then the above was the bright and fun Onyx Path logo that Mirthful Mike dreamed up to go with our happier, sunnier new projects. I think it is hilarious, but I do want folks to know that under no circumstances has Onyx Path actually decided to “lighten up”.
Fear not, true believer!
We always like to do something different every April Fools Day, and this year we decided to create a series of blog posts to launch throughout the day. We started with Mighty Monica Valentinelli’s Blood Connoisseur post as something that could be useful, was definitely grounded in classic VtM, but which was very much an alternative idea for Vampire.
We didn’t want to get too silly with a game world that a lot of people have invested a lot of emotional energy into, and her article hit the jugular. We’ve already heard that some folks will be using it for their Chronicles, which is great!
Below is an illustration that has nothing to do with April Fools Day blogs, but looks cool.
Next, we ratcheted up the “Wha?” with Fast Eddy Webb’s Pugmire LARP blog, which if you missed it, consisted of dogs playing at a dog park with serious captions about their gaming and costumes. This was cute on its own, but it was funnier to us because Eddy has had more than a few folks ask about Pugmire LARP rules and is so far dodging the subject.
Thirdly, Impish Ian Watson zoomed in from space to post an article about how Scion 2nd Edition and the Trinity Continuum were going to be combined into one game called Psion: the Divinity Continuum since they are both being created with the StoryPath System rules set.
The Divinity Continuum just cracks me up as a name for this unholy combo, but please rest assured that actually both lines continue with their own themes and storylines.
I really love that the whole idea started because those of us working on both games find it so very hard to talk about the two since the PC’s overall names are the same when said out loud. Scion and Psion. Totally a coincidence as there are years between each game line, but now that Onyx Path owns both lines, it’s really hard to differentiate them during Skype calls!
And below, not a Trinity or Scion illustration:
And finally I wrapped it all up by talking about how darkness and angst are passé, and shiny and cute and bright are the new black. Puh-lease! As if we would ever give up our black t-shirts and generally bad attitudes!
But I did kind of write it in response to some folks who have accused Onyx Path of doing just that, in a large part because of the success of Pugmire. I dunno if they are just worried that we are going to stop making the games lines they have enjoyed for so long, or assume that we will start “polluting” those games with sparkles.
Well, it ain’t gonna happen.
For myself, as a creative person, and I don’t think I am alone here either with our amazing creative teams or with you folks, I’m actually capable of loving and creating very, very different projects, In fact, it is often a spur to one project if the other is very different. The contrast limns each project’s specific qualities.
Plus, we have always been diligent with each of the game worlds we are working with to work within the themes and motifs and visuals that have always best expressed those settings, and to build from there. We’re not changing that, we love each of our game lines for what they are.
Also, we work in creative teams. Those teams are focused by their developers on that project. Some developers work on different lines, some stick to just the one. And our writers and artists are the same. So one project and its team are pushing a project creatively in one direction, and another group is pushing another project in another direction and they really don’t impede each other.
Which pretty much means that we’re gonna keep on as we have been; developing new game settings and expanding and enriching the ones we have currently.
We’re sticking with the dark and keeping the Onyx in the Path even while exploring new and different worlds.
(Although we are going to offer t-shirts and mugs and stuff with the Mirthful One’s logo on them, I mean it is just too fun!)
BLURBS!
ON SALE!
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/
The Black Hand returns! Look for V20 The Black Hand: Guide to the Tal’Mahe’Ra Advance PDF to evilly smash it’s way onto DTRPG this Wednesday!
Beware the Beast: the Primordial PDFs and PoDs NOW on sale at DTRPG.com! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/162443/Beast-The-Primordial
- The complete guide to playing a Beast in Chronicles of Darkness
- A game system designed for crossover with the other Chronicles of Darkness lines
- A look at the Beasts and their broods all around the world, from Vancouver to Tokyo
- Rules for Heroes, the deluded individuals who think that this is their story
The Demon Storyteller Guide has dropped its cover and is on sale as a PDF and a physical copy PoD on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/170165/Demon-Storytellers-Guide
The Demon Storyteller’s Guide includes:
- Expanded information on angels, including a look at how Incarnations apply to them
- A extensive look at the spy genre and its permutations and how they apply to Demon
- Three “setting hacks,” including an examination of Demon in the Bronze Age
The Chronicles of Darkness Core Rulebook looms out of the shadows, and is now on sale with PDF and PoD versions on DTRPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/168428/Chronicles-of-Darkness
Chronicles of Darkness RPG rulebook contains:
- A guide to creating characters to explore a world of modern horror, from hopes and fears to psychic powers.
- Dramatic rules for investigation, social manipulation, and bone-crunching violence.
- Over a dozen monsters straight out of weird fiction and urban legend… plus complete rules for creating your own.
- The God-Machine Chronicle, a massive collection of sample characters and techgnostic adventures.
- Formerly titled nWoD Core Rulebook 2nd Edition.
The Pugmire Early Access book is for sale in both PDF and PoD formats! Check out the beta-rules for our family-friendly fantasy game of uplifted dogs exploring a world they never made! Lord of the Rings meets Planet of the Apes, but with dogs!
CONVENTIONS!
Gen Con 2016 planning has started. We’re starting to plan our booth demo schedule and our 2016-2017 Brochure.
Stew Wilson will be a guest at Conpulsion, April 8-10 http://www.geas.org.uk/
Here are some cons Fast Eddy Webb will be attending! Talk to him about V20 and Pugmire and Sherlock Holmes and Oxford Commas:
And now, the new project status updates!
First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)
- M20 Book of Secrets (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- CtL fiction anthology (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- Ring of Spiragos (Scarred Lands)
- VtM Endless Ages fiction anthology (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- BtP Building a Legend (Beast: the Primordial)
- Scarred Lands Player’s Guide 5E: Ghelspad (Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- DA V20 Dark Ages Companion (Vampire 20th Dark Ages)
- Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- V20 Dark Ages Anthology (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
Redlines
- Dagger of Spiragos – Pathfinder Version (Scarred Lands)
- EX3 Quickstart (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Scarred Lands The Wise and the Wicked (Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
Second Draft
- Arms of the Chosen (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Cavaliers of Mars
- Night Horrors: Conquering Heroes (Beast: the Primordial)
- Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition
- Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
Development
- W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- V20 Lore of the Bloodlines (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Beast Ready Made Characters (Beast: the Primordial)
- Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- CofD Hurt Locker (Chronicles of Darkness)
- Scion: Alpha (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)
Editing
- W20 Kinfolk (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Beckett’s Jyhad Diary (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Mummy Fiction Anthology (Mummy: the Curse)
- DA Tome of Secrets (Vampire 20th Dark Ages)
- The Prince’s Gambit (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
Post-Editing Development:
- Scarred Lands Player’s Guide: Ghelspad (Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- W20 Shattered Dreams (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Shattered Dreams in-book stretch goals (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
Indexing:
ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:
In Art Direction
- W20 Shattered Dreams – One artist running late, but hopefully moving to layout soon.
- Promethean: the Created Second
- Scarred Lands PG
- Dark Eras Companion
- Secrets of the Covenants – Okay… maybe this week the last of the art should be in.
- Necropolis Rio – Working out the art buy.
- W20 Kinfolk – Finals rolling in this week.
- V20 Ready Made Characters – Art heading off to WWP for approval.
- EX3 Backer Charms – Finals coming in and being reviewed.
- Beckett’s Jyhad Diary
- CofD Hurt Locker
- Mummy Novel – Contracting a cover.
In Layout
- Mage: the Awakening Second – Finishing up corrections and getting things wrapped up for going into 2nd proof.
- Curse of the Blue Nile – Rolling along on that.
- Beast Prestige Edition – Putting together the duotone version of the interior this week.
Proofing
- Ex 3 core book – From RichT: Got PoD proofs, they need some color correction adjustments. Expect the PoDs not to be available for two more weeks as we adjust and get new PoD proofs sent to us.
- V20 Ghouls – I need to review it before sending it on for dev review.
- WtF2 The Pack – With Stew.
At Press
- Beast Screen – shipping from printer to shipper.
- Lore of the Clans LtD Edition – shipping from printer to shipper.
- Lore of the Clans Screen – shipping from printer to shipper.
- Beast Anthology – PDF version out to backers for errata.
- Dark Eras – Backer errata collecting.
- V20 Black Hand – Advance PDF should be going live this week.
Special- projects on hold in the art and production area until an external factor is resolved
- Wraith 20 – Art direction and layout can’t go further until art notes come in, still being developed by Rich Dansky.
- Pentex Employee Indoctrination Manual – Some added and amended text needs to come in.
TODAY’S REASON TO DRINK: April is the cruelest month.
Comments
62 responses to “What the Heck IS That? [Monday Meeting Notes]”
How many proof for Mage Awakening 2nd ?
As many as it needs, but we’re not hearing much that suggests our standard two layout proofs won’t work.
Love that art. So great to see the Pack so close.
Woho! The Pack next week and Mage maybe a week or two after? Things are really rolling on! You weren’t kidding when you said the floodgate was opening.
Mage still has to go through the second proof and the proof with the Paradox guys… so it’s still a little way off…
Well, we’ll see what gets released when as things go through the process. But it’s really happening, yes.
#IBelieveInRichardDansky
Me too.
I know this is just sort of an affirmation of the Wraith update, but I’m still stoked to see Wraith move forward in the process here. It might be a long shot but I’d love to see the Wraith pdf by the end of the year. I also absolutely believe in Rich Dansky.
Yes! Wraith is out of redlines!
Booyah!
First off, I LOOOOOOOOVE Pugmire, and I say that as I’m up to my elbows in the horror (and Horrors) of Beast: the Primordial. You can absolutely keep both in your mind – and your publishing house – at the same time! After all, a little light IS necessary for shadows… But just a little light, okay? And make sure it’s Pugmire, okay? Okay.
Second, BLACK HAND! BLACK-FREAKING-HAND! I just weed myself a little when I saw that! I’m gonna have to call in sick to work on Wednesday so I can put all of my attention on that book… I’ll blame RichT for, um, sending me into the underworld or something. You okay taking that, right Rich?
Dag. Why’s Wednesday gotta be so far away? 🙁
Sure, totally blame me. It’s cool.
Ohmygod, the Black Hand!! Dear lord above, I am sooo happy to see that!
This might be a more forum-y question, but are is there a list of things like “Dreams of Averace” Where it’s a in-character book? Those are kind of cool, and I’d like to have one, but Mummy isn’t something I’m hugely knowledable about.
Off the top of my head:
– VTM: Book of Nod
– VTM: Revelations of the Dark Mother
– VTDA: The Erciyes Fragments
– WTA: Chronicle of the Black Labyrinth
– WTA: The Silver Record
– MTA: The Fragile Path: Testaments of the First Cabal
– HTR: Hunter Apocrypha
– DTF: Days of Fire
– VTR: Rites of the Dragon
– VTR: The Testament of Longinus
– MTC: Dreams of Avarice
HtV Horror Recognition Guide
Wait are the supplement books that are coming out, or just books to read?
Cause I would love another Ordo Dracul book to work with, but I’m just as fine with a story about them.
Already published books.
happy day happy day black hand is coming out hohoho…
btw, that cover for black hand is mucho interesting…Abomination?
Is the “Mummy Novel” mentioned “In Art Direction” the same as the “Mummy Fiction Anthology” listed in Editing?
While I’m at it, what’s “Curse of the Blue Nile?” If its a mixed dink I hope the recipe will be included.:)
Two different Mummy fiction things, but even more confusingly, Curse of the Blue Nile is actually the title of the Mummy fiction anthology.
Wait, we are getting a Mummy novel in addition to the Anthology? I didn’t know that, that’s awesome!
This really is the year that I get too much back from my Kickstarter investments. Poor me.:)
Thanks for agreeing to make mugs of the happy logo. I’ll start drinking out of a mug, now.
Any chance of a stopgap Mummy supplement that updates it to 2nd Edition rules, while we wait for a true 2nd Edition? Ala Hunter: Mortal Remains?
That would be wonderful, especially if it included some of the other things that have been hinted at but not really covered in the Mummy line yet like mortal sekhem wielding sorcerers. That and Book of Judges please!
Sekhem wielding sorcerers is not a thing that has ever been hinted at except by fans.
I’ve been running a V20 campaign for over two years now, and the True Black Hand are a MAJOR part of it! I’m excited, my players are excited, its Tal’mahe’ra time! Whoohoo!
Thank you Onyx Path, you’ve made my week!
Is beast. A game of endless hunger or appetite? I keep seeing the cover both ways and since my pod is delayed I’m trying to get a bead on it. It’s not really important but it’s just been bugging me.
The final version that I’ve got says “Appetite.” Guess it was Hunger in the pre-final PDF for Backers, and Appetite will show up on the POD/PDF/Deluxe versions.
Speaking of which: Deluxe version! Can’t wait for that to grace my already beleaguered bookshelf. 🙂
I just got the pod. It says “endless hunger”.
“Conquering Heroes” isn’t the stretchgoal Mortal Remains chapter pdf (i.e. covering Hunters of Beasts and their relation to “Heroes”), right? Is that somewhere on the schedule or waiting for some of the current things to move along first?
No, two different things. Conquering Heroes is about what the title implies; the MR chapter is a Hunter chapter relating to Beasts.
The MR chapter is moving along, it’s just not up on the board yet.
Hey Rich, drink an additional glass to my birthday (04/04) =)
Enjoyed Beast, now any chance of getting a hero sourcebook, noticed the heroes in beast is lightly touched upon, maybe an exapnded book on them to make them playable characters and disctinct from Hunters.
Why, what gaming experience do you want from them that HtV doesn’t do better?
Heroes were never intended to be playable characters, and I never intend to treat them as such. If you want to hunt monsters, Hunter: The Vigil is right across the hall. 🙂
Out of curiosity, how do the books from the Onyx Path Kickstarters ship? Regular mail? UPS? FedEx? Or something more exotic – I’ve always wanted to get a courier zombie . . .
Mage the Awakening 2ndE is back in Layout – I KNEW it had to be an April’s fool joke when it had moved to Proofing!
Onyx Path products takes multiple Proofings – most of the time two, but RichT mention that Mage will get as many as will be needed. Also, Paradox / new White Wolf need to approve book after those, before Advanced PDF being on sell. So MAYBE end of April, if things go smoothly.
I was just kidding. Look at my comment last week.
That Black Hand cover looks sexy as hell. Any idea when it will be available for POD?
Finally, it is finally here. Oh so I have longed for you sweet sweet Black Hand book.
But I am old school, I need physical copies. How many weeks away is the PoD theoretically?
That Black Hand cover art! And the PDF comes out on my birthday! Yay 😀
So is that a Garou on the cover of The Black Hand? Not being a WoD guy I have no idea what’s happening there.
That’s very likely an Abomination, a vampirized Werewolf, which first popped up in Dirty Secrets.
GREAT to hear, I have totally fallen head over heals with Mage: The Awakening and I’m just getting to the stage where I am contemplating being a VST for the Sydney city but I have to go since I’m still totally denying EVERYTHING.
<3 you all
I’m happy to see Mage 2nd in for the second round. Extremely excited about that book.
Bummer that Exalted needs corrections; looking forward to ordering a PoD version and to the final PDF so I can show my players what Exalted is all about.
And, of course, Dark Ages. I’m amazed at the size of that book.
Very excited for W20 Shattered Dreams and W20 Changing Breeds!!!
Any chance that we will get them anytime soon?
Changing Breeds is already available, unless you mean Changing Ways.
I did mean changing ways…my bad
Is there ever gonna be a 4th VTM edition?
Not from us, but yes. The new White Wolf Publishing is going to develop it in house.
That piece of art by Chris Huth looks really great!
what is the best guesstimate for W20 Kinfolk being out to press as it’s close to the finish line as seen from above.
We don’t do those kind of estimates. Just keep an eye on these blogs to see how it progresses- thanks!
That art for Mage 2e looks gorgeous. All the little art tidbits for Mage 2e just really grab me, and have really gotten me interested in actually picking Mage up and giving it a spin! They just have this grand feel that drives the feel of Mage home for me.
Awesome! That is great to hear. Like I wrote about a couple of months ago on the MMN blog, we have so much great art and yet haven’t pushed it out there for folks to get inspired by. As you can see, that’s changing now. Thanks!
Now that the log jam seems to be breaking up, when might we see more info for Deviant. Love me some Scanners style rogue psychics vs The MAN
What all can we expect from the W20 Kinfolk book, as the way they were presented in W20 was actually pretty cool. Any surprises or things we should look out for ?
How about an updated book on the spirit world or the Meljin for werewolf the forsaken? How about an updated Chicago book