Yes. We’re headed out this week to the MidWinter Convention in Milwaukee!
It’s going to be cold.
It’s also going to be a great chance for fun, edumacation, and making deals and brainstorming projects. See the notes in the BLURBS! section, below.
I’m planning on bringing a folio of character art from both Pugmire and the new signature characters from Monarchies of Mau, so hit me up while we’re there and I’ll give ya a sneak peek.
This week, Rose and Matt continue to grow into their full time positions with serious work on our infrastructure, and conversations with our Devs. Many Google docs and Excel spreadsheets were started and consulted.
They will both be at MidWinter, and my plan is to have a mini-summit where we look at both current projects and our possible releases for the next three years. I doubt we’ll get into new gamelines, but we’ll be devoting serious thought to the White Wolf lines, and Scion 2e and the Trinity Continuum and how all these lines need to fit together.
So, most of our conversations today were some discussion followed by “we’ll go over this when we’re sitting down at MidWinter“.
Meanwhile, while I’m running amok in Milwaukee, it is the beginning of the year tax time for Lovely LisaT, our Office Manager, as she prepares all the documents our accountant needs to tell us if we are still OK as a business.
I really feel bad about heading to a con during this time of the year.
No, really.
BLURBS!
KICKSTARTER!
We’re exploring card game Kickstarters, packaging, and components, for Prince’s Gambit. Justin, Eddy, a crack team of players, and our talented videographers have finished shooting the KS videos in Atlanta and are assembling edits even as you read this. Things look good, and we are all for starting the KS in late January so long as the process of pulling the KS together cooperates. If so, then Monarchies of Mau KS would be next, after Gambit.
ON SALE!
Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? 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 cards are alive! Conditionally. This Weds. the Advance PDF version of the Promethean 2nd Edition Condition Cards goes on sale at DTRPG!
It is now the preordained time for Dawn of Heresies, the Mummy: the Curse novel written by internationally renowned author Brian Hodge to arise! Both PDF/electronic and physical book PoD versions will be available Wednesday the 9th on DTRPG!
Open the V20 Dark Ages: Tome of Secrets now on DTRPG! Both PDF and physical book PoD versions are now available! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/197358/V20-Dark-Ages-Tome-of-Secrets
The Tome of Secrets is a treatment of numerous topics about Cainites and stranger things in the Dark Medieval World. It’s about peeling back the curtain, and digging a little deeper. Inside, you’ll find:
• Expanded treatment of Assamite Sorcery, Koldunic Sorcery, Necromancy, and Setite Sorcery
• A look at Cainite knightly orders, faith movements, and even human witchcraft
• Letters and diaries from all over the Dark Medieval World
Travel with us all the way to the Red Planet for the Cavaliers of Mars Jumpstart: A Festival of Blades, available in PDF and PoD on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/191678/A-Festival-of-Blades-A-Cavaliers-of-Mars-Jumpstart
Live, fight, and love on Mars, a world of red death and strange mystery, a world of savagery and romance.
Includes:
- A complete adventure set in one of dying Mars’ greatest remaining cities.
- The innovative DEIMOS rules, for high-flying, swashbuckling adventure.
- Four pre-generated player characters, ready to get into the heart of the action.
The Advance PDF for Reap the Whirlwind, the Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition Jumpstart swirls into being on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/201127/Reap-the-Whirlwind-Revised-VtR-2e
You are a vampire, a junkie. Every night, you beg and you borrow and you steal just a little more life, just a few more sweet moments. But there’s a guy at the top. The Prince. He’s got everything. The money, the secrets, the blood.
Tonight, you’re going to take it from him. Tomorrow, there’ll be hell to pay.
This updated edition of Reap the Whirlwind features revisions to match the core rulebook for Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition. Text edits and rules clarifications have also been updated.
Reap the Whirlwind Revised includes:
- Rules for creating and playing vampires in the Chronicles of Darkness
- The first two levels of every clan Discipline, the dark powers of the dead
- A complete adventure by noted horror author Chuck Wendig
This new revised Reap the Whirlwind Revised includes an updated booklet, 7 condition cards, and the interactive Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition character sheet.
The Locker is open; the Chronicles of Darkness: Hurt Locker, that is! The Advance PDF is now available on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/199275/Chronicles-of-Darkness-Hurt-Locker
Hurt Locker features:
- Treatment of violence in the Chronicles of Darkness. Lasting trauma, scene framing, and other tools for making your stories hurt.
- Many new player options, including Merits, supernatural knacks, and even new character types like psychic vampires and sleeper cell soldiers.
- Expanded equipment and equipment rules.
Hurt Locker requires the Chronicles of Darkness Rulebook or any other standalone Chronicles of Darkness rulebook such as Vampire: The Requiem, Werewolf: The Forsaken, or Beast: The Primordial to use.
Discover the long-awaited Secrets of the Covenants for Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition as we unearth the Advance PDF now on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/199280/Secrets-of-the-Covenants
- A variety of stories from each of the covenants, all told in their own words.
- Never-before revealed secrets, like the fate of the Prince of New Orleans.
- New blood sorcery, oaths, and other hidden powers of the covenants.
We have now added a B&W PoD version of the Endless Ages Vampire Anthology to the existing full color PDF and PoD choices! Celebrating 25 years of personal horror, the eighteen stories in Endless Ages range in style and aesthetics from the very first edition of Vampire released in 1991, all the way to the latest books put out for the 20th Anniversary Edition. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/193199/V20-The-Endless-Ages-Anthology
Seek the Cainite Conspiracies, the fiction anthology for V20 Dark Ages, in PDF and PoD physical book formats! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/195704/V20-The-Cainite-Conspiracies-Anthology
This collection of short stories features tales by Vampire developers such as Justin Achilli, Eddy Webb, David A. Hill, Jr., and Neall Raemonn Price along with award-winning horror authors including Maurice Broaddus, Catherine Lundoff, and Richard Dansky.
Promethean: the Created 2nd Edition comes to life in both PDF and PoD physical book versions NOW on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/189395/Promethean-the-Created-2nd-Edition
You are a pilgrim now, one of the Created. You rose to life from dead flesh or inert matter, under the ministrations of one of your own, or a mad scientist, or perhaps just the power of the Divine Fire. You wander the world, sometimes alone, sometimes in the blessed company of your own kind, driven by memories of events and facts you never knew, all in the service of one Great Work…
…to be human.
Humans don’t make it easy, though. The Divine Fire that animates you burns too bright, blinds people, and scorches the land if you linger too long. It masks your disfigurements and makes you appear human, but that mask slips and people see your hideous, true form. The Pilgrimage is a long, difficult road, but it is yours, and you know, somehow, that the salvation of the New Dawn waits at the end.
This book contains:
- The complete guide to playing a Promethean in the Chronicles of Darkness
- Reimagined Lineages and Refinements, and a redesigned system for Transmutations
- A more detailed approached to the Pilgrimage that presents players with more control over their characters’ path
- New challenges on the road to humanity, including deranged, greedy alchemists
CONVENTIONS!
Onyx Path will be at Mid Winter Con 2017 this week in the lovely city of Milwaukee. Come brave the cold wastes to game and cavort with us! Please keep an eye out on the MidWinter site for announcements as to our very special beta test and Play With The Creator special events! http://www.midwintergamingconvention.com/
Here are three reasons to attend, if you had any doubts!:
- RPG Playing! We have once again convinced Dave Martin and his Wrecking Crew team of game masters to run a vast plethora of Onyx Path games. Everything from World of Darkness to Scion to Cavaliers of Mars and Pugmire, as well as a bunch of Prince’s Gambit casual vampire card game sessions. We have a whole ballroom dedicated to our games this year, so sign up and play.
- RPG Playtests! Onyx Path loves to use MidWinter as a sort of test-lab for our games, and this year is no exception! Eddy Webb will be playtesting Monarchies of Mau, the cat follow-up to the smash-hit Pugmire, as well as a couple of card game projects he has been tinkering with. Rose Bailey will be running a playtest sneak-peak of Cavaliers of Mars, and Neall Raemonn Price may have some Scion 2e goodness to share.
- The Onyx Path Gang! Yep, a bunch of us will be at MidWinter, and not only will we be at the intimate Onyx Q&A listed during the events, but we’ll be at our booth in the sales area, at other events, hanging out in our gaming room with the Wrecking Crew, or just sitting back and chatting around the hotel. MidWinter is a great venue to speak with us as it is nowhere near as hectic as GenCon, and we have fewer business commitments. So look for me, Rose, Eddy, Neall, Monica, Matt McElroy, and a bunch of our awesome creative contributors too!
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)
- Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- V20 Dark Ages Jumpstart (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- M20 Cookbook (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)
- VtR Half-Damned (Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition)
- WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)
- CtD C20 Jumpstart (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Ex Novel 2 (Aaron Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- C20 Novel (Jackie Cassada) (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)
- Pugmire Pan’s Guide for New Pioneers (Pugmire)
- Monarchies of Mau Early Access (Pugmire)
Redlines
- Scion: Origins (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Kithbook Boggans (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
Second Draft
- The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
- BtP Beast Player’s Guide (Beast: the Primordial)
Development
- W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)
- SL The Wise and the Wicked (5e – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- SL Ring of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- Ring of Spiragos (5e – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- SL Dagger of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- Dagger of Spiragos (5e– Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- Arms of the Chosen (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- VtR A Thousand Years of Night (Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition)
- Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- V20 Beckett’s Jyhad Diary (Stretch Goal Content)
- W20 Song of Unmaking novel (Bridges) (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- BtP Building a Legend (Beast: the Primordial)
- CtD C20 Anthology (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
Editing:
- CtL fiction anthology (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- Cavaliers of Mars
Post-Editing Development:
Indexing:
ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:
In Art Direction
- Dark Eras Companion
- Beckett’s Jyhad Diary
- C20
- M20 Book of Secrets – AD’d
- W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook
- V20 Dark Ages Companion
- Mortal Remains – Beast – AD’d
- EX3 Tomb of Dreams Jumpstart – Continuing to get sketches and seeing first color comps.
- Dagger of Spiragos – Putting together the art buy.
- Banner and Slider Updates – Working on new stuff for Hurt Locker, Secrets of the Covenants, and Scarred Lands.
In Layout
- Necropolis Rio
- Promethean 2 Condition Cards
- V20 Lore of the Bloodlines
- Prince’s Gambit
- Pugmire
- Wise and the Wicked PF – Cover design stuff and it’ll be done.
- Wise and the Wicked 5e – Starting on it sometime this week.
Proofing
- Beast Conquering Heroes – To WWP.
- SL Wise and Wicked Update
At Press
- Ex 3 Screen – Finished at the Printer.
- Ex 3 core book – From RichT: manufacturing continues. Printer confirming gilding numbers this week and then on to binding.
- Dawn of Heresies Mummy Novel – On sale PDF/ePub/PoD versions on Wednesday.
- Beast Condition Cards – Getting physical cards uploaded.
- CofD Hurt Locker – Waiting for errata to make PoD.
- Secrets of the Covenants – Waiting for errata to make PoD.
- Revised Reap The Whirlwind Jumpstart – Processing at Lightning Source.
- Beckett Screen – Going to Printer.
- W20 Shattered Dreams – Deluxe Edition at press.
- Shattered Dreams Screen – Going to Printer.
- Dark Eras: Ends of Empire – Processing at Lightning Source.
- Dark Eras: The Sundered World – Processing at Lightning Source.
- Promethean 2nd Condition Cards – Advance PDF going on sale this Wednesday.
TODAY’S REASON TO DRINK: Have to imbibe something to wash down the salty bread at Maders! Might be a boot of beer, might be Malort, might be Riot Juice.
Really looking forward to Wise and the Wicked and Conquering Heroes. Huge fan of Night Horrors.
I was really hoping to see NH:CH this week! Ah well, I am sure that sooner will come before later.
And so you shall! The Advance PDF for Night Horrors: Conquering Heroes goes live Weds, the 11th. We had to get the OK from WWP, and they were on vacation.
Awesome!!! Thanks Rich!
The safe house recently redid their whole drink menu.
I had heard they were under new management now. Is that true?
Yes, they really classed the place up. Password is still the same
Might need to check it out. Not sure I want to ruin the nostalgia I had the last time, but I am curious as to the changes. Thanks!
Just better lighting, top shelf drink menu, revamped food menu, new drink glasses and updated the t.vs and the exit booth. The spytini shaker is the same, so is the sound booth.
I’m a little sad that the spy’s demise is now some weird long island ice tea thing but I got the original recipe from a bartender.
You’re doing a great job in tempting me to check it out. A little worried that all the changes mean it won’t be “my” Safe House, but as gamers we all know that feeling. 😉
Any chance you guys would pop across borders for cons? It would be awesome to have you at the Calgary Comics Expo!
There are two ways we wind up going to conventions: 1) if the convention brings any or all of us there as special guests. We love those kinds of conventions. 2) if we decide the convention makes sense for us to go to in terms of logistics and costs. These are harder to select, because no matter what our funds are limited, so either the cost is outweighed by other factors, or we expect to sell enough books there to break even.
The big thing is, we never do conventions based on how much we love the con or the folks attending. If we could, we’d be going to conventions constantly as it is so great to actually talk to folks and demo our games. As I try to be a responsible CEO, I’m very selective about how far we can extend our con budget, just because those sorts of events can rapidly cost us a lot more than planned.
Tldr: We’d love to! But it has to make biz sense to go.
Does that mean the EX3 books will be done gilding this week?
I haven’t seen anything about the Exalted 3rd Edition Canvas map in a while. Is that still a thing?
Also when the backers get their screens and maps when/where will they be available for purchase for those that weren’t able to be a backer?
The EX3 maps are pretty much finished and being packed to ship to our shipping agents. If there are any left over after shipping, we’ll wait at least a few months go by and backer problems and replacements are taken care of before sending some extras to IPR for distribution.
I’m guessing this applies to the Storytellers Screen as well?
I’d pay good money to have them sooner rather than later. Side Note: Miffed that I missed the opportunity to be a backer.
Yes it does. No way we’ll let anybody to get these items before the backers who have waited so long for them, sorry.
How are Wraith20 and Geist 2ed going? I`d really like to hear something. 🙂
Wraith20 backers got an Update at the end of December, and things are still rolling like we mentioned there. Geist 2e is being worked on like we’ve got listed, and things sound like they are rolling along just fine.
I’ll preface this reply by saying I never attend conventions (large groups of people I don’t know leave me drained of Willpower and making Composure rolls ever 10 minutes).
Would you be able to use something like Patreon or another crowdfunding platform to raise the money?
Supporter rewards could be things like discounted tickets, discounted books, con-exclusive previews and playtests (similar to the product brochures and/or StoryPath preview), and, of course, the chance to meet you guys that the con itself.
Benefits for OPP seem like they would include getting to interact with fans, get immediate feedback on playtests, possibly attract new players that didn’t hear of you before the con, and a chance to network with others in the industry (distributors or other types of media creators such as Earplay).
Just throwing it out there.
Oops! The reply above should be under Second Chances’ question about conventions.
Certainly a way to fund the activity, but the activity needed to fund the convention activity would be more time spent not on making our books and other projects right now. But it is a good idea – thanks!
In the December update it was stated that he was shooting for the manuscript to be done by the end of the year. If things are progressing as mentioned, does that mean the manuscript is completed?
By which I mean I have no new info on the text, so that aspect of the Update stands. Believe me, I will let everybody know when we have a finished manuscript going into Editing!
Can’t wait for more V20 Dark Ages material!
I’m currently running a full Transylvania Chronicles campaign with the V20 line (both masquerade and dark ages).
Dark ages is my favorite though.
It will be tough when we make the jump to the modern nights for the Tzimisce though… Some of my players prefer the new kraina system (I prefer it too) and others prefer the masquerade system (boring! :P). Although one of them presented a good argument:
The new system reflects the change the Tzimisce clan has suffered in the modern nights. less and less spiritual their sorcery has become in a way simpler and not so attached to the land.
Hate not being able to edit:
Instead of “The new system reflects…” it should be: “The masquerade system reflects…”
Makes sense on a backstory justification level, particularly if your players are all good with that logic. Thanks!
Hey, I don’t really know what the purpose of this blog is, or if it’s the right place for this… But I was considering purchasing a copy of your eternal ages book after hearing a promo on The Gentleman Gamer’s YouTube channel. I couldn’t find an audio version of it however. I was lamenting this fact in the comments of The Gentleman’s video when he suggested I mention it here. So… You guys should start releasing audio versions of your fiction. Additionally, you should have Matt Dawkins do the reading; he speaks with poise and gravitas, can do voices well, and knows the source material intimately.
That’s a great idea, and Matthew does have a delightful voice. As we continue with our initiative of getting projects onto Amazon, this is a fascinating direction we can look into. Thank you.
Oh, the purpose of this blog is to provide a weekly peek into what Onyx Path is up to, details on what we are discussing at our weekly meeting, let folks see the progress of our projects and what is coming out for sale, and to give me a platform to chat every week with our community. So yes, you’re in a great place to bring up this idea!
“…before sending some extras to IPR for distribution.”
Pardon my ignorance, but what is IPA?
As you quoted, it’s IPR, not IPA. See the section on Indie Press Revolution in the blog post above.