Yes, we are actually closing in on the Kickstarter for Justin Achilli’s casual vampire card game, Prince’s Gambit. This is the first time Onyx Path will be offering a card game on Kickstarter, so it is a very new thing for us. And as we have heard it said: Anything done for the first time unleashes a demon!
Hopefully, in this case, we’re unleashing a demonic whirlwind of fun. But, I guess we’ll see. Certainly the playtesters who have had several iterations of the game to play through have seemed to really like it – especially this latest version!
As I always am before a Kickstarter, I’m nervous as to whether we’ve presented the game right and enough backers will get engaged with the project. So, I’m still fine-tuning the writing and presentation. It’s not a particularly complicated Kickstarter set-up, in fact, it’s our simplest. And the project is not at all expensive to back. In fact, a single deck of cards provides endless gameplay for you and 5-7 friends.
But still, I fret.
It’s funny, Prince’s Gambit is actually an example of serendipity. I had been at Nashville By Night along with our friends at By Night Studios, and noticed how the live action roleplayers sat in the lobby of the hotel, or out on the patio, and played non-World of Darkness card games between LARP sessions.
Which made me wonder if we could create a Vampire; the Masquerade card game that would be simpler than the Vampire: the Eternal Struggle collectable card game (or even Magic: the Gathering) so that players could jump in and play relatively quickly. I threw some thoughts around with the gang at the con, and then filed the idea away under “things we should try”.
Fast forward to almost a year later, and during one of our usual conversations, Justin Achilli mentions that he has been working on a rough idea, really a prototype at that point, of a casual vampire card game. And would Onyx Path be interested in publishing it for Vampire: the Masquerade?
Ding, ding, ding, ding!
A “casual” card game. The very word to describe the sort of game I was thinking about in Nashville. And designed by my old friend and long, long-time Vampire developer Justin Achilli.
Yes, please!
So, hopefully, you’ll be able to see it yourself on Kickstarter next week. Not only do we have a great opening Kickstarter video featuring Justin describing the project, but we have an example of play video that is a compelling Prince’s Gambit session featuring representatives of the Clans (some of whom you might know from the Atlanta gaming crowd).
We’ll have the link to that, and the rules, in the Kickstarter, and also on our YouTube channel for ya’ll to check out.
Finally, I used to post a lot more about the conversations Eddy and I have in the first meeting of the day, the actual 12 noon Monday Lunch Meeting that is truly descended from the Monday lunch meetings we had at White Wolf from the time I started.
Subba-Wubba? Yummmmm!
Mostly, that’s because most of what Eddy and I have been talking about for months are Pugmire, Mau, or other projects that we really can’t reveal, or the intricacies of the care and management of licensing partners.
But today, we actually sat back and talked a little more of the working theories based on media that we’ve enjoyed putting forth over the years. Today, I just happened to mention conspiracy theorists, like you do, and Eddy was off on a theory of how our human brain is so built for pattern recognition that we have no choice but to look for patterns in everything.
Which means that we have no choice but to detect conspiracy theories, because we have to try and make disparate items fit together. Which, led us to wondering if Science, or at least scientific proofs, came about as a deep need to prove or debunk the general human impulse to jam things together crazily.
Naturally, this led to a discussion of Edition Wars, and whether they happen because our brains link the pattern (the gameplay, rules, art, well everything) of our preferred edition to our view of what is “correct” in the patterns of reality, and that gives us pleasure. Change, then, breaks that pattern and ruins our pleasure.
If any of that makes sense, or is interesting, to you, then you clearly suffer from the same issues as Eddy and myself. Welcome to the party, pal!
As a reward for sitting through our meandering, here’s a cute knitted doll of Princess Yosha from Pugmire, and a link to the site where you can get yourself a copy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/513539317/officaly-licenced-chibi-pugmire-yosha
BLURBS!
KICKSTARTER!
I’m finishing up the KS pages for the Prince’s Gambit casual card game this week. Things look good, and we are all for starting the KS in March 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!
DTRPG’s GM’s Day Sale starts March 2nd and runs for about a week! Check out all sorts of sales and bargains on Onyx Path and White Wolf PDFs at DriveThruRPG.com!
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/
You can now order wave 2 of our Deluxe and Prestige print overrun books, including Deluxe Mage 20th Anniversary, and Deluxe V20 Dark Ages!
The Secrets of the Covenants for Vampire: the Requiem 2nd REVEALED this Wednesday on DTRPG! Physical copy PoD version coming to DTRPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/199280/Secrets-of-the-Covenants
Continuing our individual Dark Eras chapters, we offer you Dark Eras: Fallen Blossoms on in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/205483/Dark-Eras-Fallen-Blossoms-Hunter-the-Vigil
From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: Doubting Souls (Hunter 1690-1695 Salem). Immigrants and tribes struggled to co-exist on the Eastern Seaboard in the ever-expanding Colonies. Violent clashes, supernatural beliefs, and demonic influences spelled disaster for Salem Village and its surrounding towns, while others fought werewolves and vampires on the frontier. With so much at risk, only god-fearing men and women were deemed innocent — and those were few indeed.
Available in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/204372/Dark-Eras-Doubting-Souls-Hunter-the-Vigil
From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: The Bowery Dogs (Werewolf 1969-1979 NYC). New York City in the 1970s. Crime. Drugs. Gang violence. Vast economic disparity. And werewolves. It’s a lean, ugly time to be alive, and the lone wolf doesn’t stand a chance out there. In the end, all you really have is family.
Available in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/203762/Dark-Eras-The-Bowery-Dogs-Werewolf-the-Forsaken
The Locker is open; the Chronicles of Darkness: Hurt Locker, that is! PDF and physical copy PoDs are 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.
Both the Beast: the Primordial http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/198773/Beast-The-Primordial-Condition-Cards & Promethean: the Created 2nd Edition Condition Cards http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/202619/Promethean-the-Created-2nd-Edition-Condition-Cards are now on sale on DTRPG in PDF and physical card PoD versions! Great for keeping track of the Conditions that are on your characters!
From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: Ruins of Empire (Mummy 1893-1924). Perhaps the quintessential era of the mummy in the minds of Westerners, this period saw the decline of the two greatest empires of the age: British and Ottoman. Walk with the Arisen as they bear witness to the death of the Victorian age, to pivotal mortal discoveries in Egypt, and to the horrors of the Great War.
Available in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/178801/Dark-Eras-Ruins-of-Empire-Mummy-the-Curse
From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: The Sundered World (Werewolf and Mage 5500-5000 BCE). At the birth of civilization, in the shadow of the Fall, the Awakened stand as champions and protectors of the agricultural villages spread across the Balkans. In a world without a Gauntlet, where Shadow and flesh mingle, the steady taming of the world by humanity conflicts with the half-spirit children of Father Wolf.
Available in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/202272/Dark-Eras-The-Sundered-World-Werewolf-the-Forsaken-Mage-the-Awakening
Night Horrors: Conquering Heroes for Beast: the Primordial is available now as an Advance PDF: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/202615/Night-Horrors-Conquering-Heroes
This book includes:
- An in-depth look at how Heroes hunt and what makes a Hero, with eleven new Heroes to drop into any chronicle.
- A brief look at why Beasts may antagonize one another, with seven new Beasts to drop into any chronicle.
- Rules for Insatiables, ancient creatures born of the Primordial Dream intent on hunting down Beasts to fill a hunger without end, featuring six examples ready to use in any chronicle.
The PDF and physical book PoD versions of 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.
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
CONVENTIONS!
Impish Ian Watson will be on a Q&A panel at CAiNE http://www.caine2017.ca/ being hosted in Hamilton Ontario March 16 to 19th 2017!
Discussing GenCon plans. August 17th – 20th, Indianapolis. Every chance the booth will actually be 20? x 30? this year that we’ll be sharing with friends. We’re looking at new displays this year, like a back drop and magazine racks for the brochure(s).
In November, we’ll be at Game Hole Con in Madison, WI. More news as we have it, and here’s their website: https://www.gameholecon.com/
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: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- M20 Cookbook (Mage: the Ascension 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)
- Monarchies of Mau Early Access (Pugmire)
- Hunter: the Vigil 2e core (Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition)
Redlines
- Scion: Origins (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)
- Kithbook Boggans (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- VtR Half-Damned (Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition)
- WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)
- Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
- Pugmire Pan’s Guide for New Pioneers (Pugmire)
Second Draft
- The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- BtP Beast Player’s Guide (Beast: the Primordial)
- V20 Dark Ages Jumpstart (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)
- CtD C20 Jumpstart (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
Development
- W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second 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)
- Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- BtP Building a Legend (Beast: the Primordial)
- Book of Freeholds (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
Editing:
- W20 Song of Unmaking novel (Bridges) (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- CtD C20 Anthology (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
- M20 Art Book (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
Post-Editing Development:
- CtL fiction anthology (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- VtR A Thousand Years of Night (Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition)
Indexing:
- Pugmire
ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:
In Art Direction
- Beckett’s Jyhad Diary – new stuff AD’d
- W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook
- V20 Dark Ages Companion – Finals in from McEvoy, Gaydos, and Leblanc… still have three artists who owe me.
- Dagger of Spiragos – Finals in progress… and maps.
- VTR: Thousand Years of Night
- Cavaliers of Mars – AD’d
- Monarchies of Mau Early Access – Prepping notes for artists
- BtP Building a Legend – Contracting…
- April Fool’s thing – I will get Leblanc on it
In Layout
- Prince’s Gambit – Final tweaks to preview cards and some design stuff on the tuckboxes.
- C20 – With Aileen
- M20 Book of Secrets – Layout should start rolling this week.
- Dark Eras Companion – Adding in corrections… and trying to wrap up artist shenanigans.
Proofing
- EX3 Tomb of Dreams Jumpstart – first proof.
- V20 Lore of the Bloodlines
At Press
- Ex 3 Screen – Ready to ship, shipping starting this week.
- Ex 3 core book – Ready to ship, shipping starting this week, along with map and bookmarks.
- Secrets of the Covenants – Going on sale this Wednesday in PDF and PoD versions.
- Beckett Screen – Shipped to shipper.
- W20 Shattered Dreams – Ready to Ship.
- Shattered Dreams Screen – Ready to ship.
- Beast Conquering Heroes – Uploaded and processing.
- Mortal Remains: Beast- Red In Tooth and Claw – Uploaded and processing.
- Dark Eras: Beneath the Skin – Uploaded and Processing.
- Dark Eras: Out of the Cold – Uploaded and Processing.
- Necropolis Rio – Uploaded and processing.
TODAY’S REASON TO CELEBRATE: Today marks the 17th anniversary of the death of John Colicos, a Canadian actor many of us know for his excellently villainous roles including Klingon Commander Kor in the original Star Trek (and returned to magnificently decades later on STDS9), Mikkos Cassadine, a demented scientist bent on freezing the world on General Hospital (the only reason I watched that one), and of course, he was the original Baltar on the original Battlestar Galactica. We celebrate his fine body of work and excellent portrayal of villainy! By your command!
I gotta be honest? I’m a little frustrated by lack of movement on Arms of the Chosen and Changeling the Lost 2nd Ed. I understand their is background stuff to handle, and you guys are working as hard as you can. but those are the books I’m super looking forward too…
I agree about Arms. I trust in OPP but there would be nice with some words about the status of the book.
Arms is one book in the EX3 schedule, and we are looking at that as a whole right now, with an eye towards getting all the books released more quickly. More news when we have it to share.
Both projects had larger issues connected to them that we have been resolving, and which simply take time. We’re very much looking forward to getting them out to you, too!
Does “uploaded and processing” mean we can expect to see Necropolis: Rio on Drivethru this week?
And is there any way we could see an update on Wraith20 soon? They’ve been monthly so far but seem to have skipped February; is it still waiting on the rubber stamp from White Wolf?
But hey, Thousand Years of Night making some progress! I can’t wait to have that and Dark Eras Companion in my grubby little hands.
You know that part of the blog above the BLURBs! and updates section where I’ve talked for multiple weeks about being sick? Being sick for about a month tends to screw up getting out a dozen monthly updates. Wraith 20 is right there in Editing, where it will be for over a month. No worries!
Where is the spoiler’s for Geist 2nd edition?
They will come when the developer decides to release them. Thanks!
I noticed WtO is in editing and there no listing of it in Art Direction. So all the art needed for WtO is in then?
No- it’s being Art Directed. Mirthful Mike needs some additional notes from RichD, but artists have been contacted. Must have slipped the Mirthful One’s mind as he assembled his list. Fear not, it’s happening!
Not trying to rush you guys of course, because your work is always brilliant, but any chance Lore of the Bloodlines will drop this Wednesday as well, or are we looking at more like another week or two (I hope not more!)? Just asking to make sure I have some room in the budget when it drops.
All depends on how long proofing takes, but bear in mind that Bloodlines is a backer Stretch Goal reward and its Backer PDF will go out to those who backed the Lore of the Clans KS first. Then we’ll do corrections and then create the final PDF and PoD files for sale on DTRPG.
So for the topics near and dear to my heart, bisecting participles and banana smoothies… no, different topic. OK, Deviant and Trinity. Should we expect a KS for either before summer? Will TC’s main book make playing Leverage a thing out of the core? If I am doing Captain America during the dark years can I take the Nomad costume as a scar. Good god that thing was hideous
Before summer, probably not. We’ve got a few others we’d like to run, and the ramp up to Gen Con is very time consuming. Yes, modern caper shows and movies are a big part of the core TC experience. Re: Nomad’s costume, only if you burn it.
Glad to see some movement on M20 book of Secrets, been waiting a while for this one.
Hey Rich, I just wanted to say thank you for keeping us up to date as possible and keeping us salivating for more. I just wanted to say that I appreciate all that you and the rest of Onyx Path Publishing do. I’m not sure how many thank you messages you get, but I figure everyone likes to be told thanks every now and then.
Absolutely, it is always great to hear someone appreciates our hard, if wacky, work. So you are very welcome, and thanks!
As always, great news regarding incremental progress on your many exciting projects.
Keep up the great work!
Is there any way for a non backer to buy the Exalted3 screen? It would really make my day!!!
I need the EX3 screen, too. I was stupid and did not add it to my KS pledge. I’ve been kicking myself ever since. I’m guessing it will go on IPR at some point, do we have any idea When?
Probably six months-ish after shipping. We need to keep them at hand for any replacements, and you’d be surprised at how long it sometimes takes for backers to get back to us with missing deliveries.
At some point after shipping, probably at least six months after, we’ll send any extra Screens to our friends at Indy Press Revolution to put up in their own store, and out to the retailers they are affiliated with. Thanks!
Great stuff RichT, but something demands comment here: Highwaydogs. Do these guys see themselves as good dogs or what?
…I love that piece of art, love what I’ve seen from Pugmire, but ALSO know that I am a little concerned that a die-hard fan of vampires, ghosts, and all the other scary stuff y’all make is so delighted by the cute that is Pugmire. Okay, it helps that the game is straight brilliant!
As ever, keep up the outstanding work.
They absolutely do. They believe their cause is just. So basically, you have a flexible mind that can enjoy multiple forms of entertainment. That’s just crazy talk! Thanks!
I got both confirmation of shipment details and a ship notification, so either I’m getting my gratuitously decadent Ex3 package tomorrow or someone send me a box of dildos as a prank.
I’ll keep you updated!
It’s that kind of either/or situation, huh? 🙂 Well, it would be cool if you got your EX3 stuff that fast!
I can confirm, it is the metal-plated Ex3 with all the extras I ordered, and it is a very pretty book.
I saw your pic on the forums- so glad you like it!
Glad to see you back in good health. Sorry I wasn’t around to try and help cheering when the **** hit the fan. Was kept busy over the past few weeks. But the future looks bold and bright! That upcoming kickstarter sounds brilliant! Count me in!
No problem. The Path abides.
Really curious about Prince’s Gambit, though personally I’m not sure I could rustle up 5 World of Darkness friends. If it goes well is there any hope of more card games to follow, perhaps closer in style to Vampire: Eternal Struggle?
Since it’s a casual game, Prince’s Gambit also serves as an introduction (or as I sometimes like to say, an infection vector) to Vampire. So you don’t need to find 5 friends who are fans of the WoD so much as you do five friends who are interested in playing a card game. 🙂
Oh, then THAT I can definitely do….
This is an oldie and use to be posted here, BUT I thought I would re upload it here, as a reminder to those who are curious about this sort of thing, but here is what are the steps in making a RPG Book:
“PART I: Writing
– Concept and brainstorming
– Contracting
– Outlining
– Writing
– Redlines and Revisions
– Final draft/ art notes
PART II: Editing & Illustration
– Approvals
– Editing and art direction/ Illustration
– Corrections (in which editing notes are incorporated)
PART III: Production
– Layout
– Proofing and corrections (generally three passes of this)
– Indexing
PART IV: Press
– Setup
– Approval copy (to make sure everything looks right)
– Corrections (if necessary)
– Roll press
– Shipping”
Hey Rich, how are you feeling this week? Thanks for getting these to us weekly, even when in the throes of illness.
On a topic near and dear to me, Shattered Dreams is awesome! I have been dying for a source like this for Werewolf for years; The closest it came was Croatan Song, but that was just Pure Lands stuff. I have always just kinda “winged it” when it came to stuff related to the War; Some obscure things in Battleground, some story twists that could work for me. I am hoping to find a retailer nearby for the Hard copy of it, as I only have the Digital from DTRPG.
Again, glad you are healthier, thanks for the updates, and Continue being wacky and weird for us former gothic Punks.
Prince’s Gambit seems quite interesting. Coming from someone who was a Vampire CCG player (as well as stilla MtG and previous Spellfire, etc. games) this sounds really cool. Definitely excited about the new products. I am highly anticipating Wraith and Geist 2nd Edition (STILL playing a 1.1v Chronicle after a year and a half with our Troupe). Glad to hear you’re a bit better and hope the road to recovery is good to you!
I’m much glad to see movement on Book of Secrets, C20, Dark Ages Companion, and a Thousands Years of Night, but I am most displeased that Signs of Sorcery remains trapped and languishing in development after a year. I understand work on it stopped while 2e corebook was finalized, but it has been an helluva lot of time nonetheless. Other books of similar size and complexity, such as c20 and Thousand Years of Night, progressed much faster. I wonder what is causing such a big delay.
Every project is different and so is every developer and their team. I know for a fact that there are C20 backers complaining at the time it is taking, and we had VtR2 fans on here not two months ago concerned about their favorite line. I’m beginning to think our weekly progress reports are doing more harm than good. Folks like you seem to just be getting more and more frustrated, and maybe we should just go back to announcing when we have the books ready for sale and put all these stops and starts (that have been very much a part of how this stuff works for all the years I’ve been involved in tabletop RPGs) back behind the curtain.
I’m not convinced these weekly reports do more harm than good, quite the contrary. Judging from my own experience, in their absence I would get rather more anxious and frustrated by the apparent lack of news and progress. Moreover, barring the (rare) case you are only interested in one (delayed) item or two in the release schedule, you can often get solace by seeing other books you are interested in, showing noticeable progress. As a veteran gamer, I can tell you apparent lack of news for many months at end and “it is done when it is done” would be much worse from this side. If you wish, I think people like me might have gotten a little spoiled by the fact a lot of OPP products now get released through kickstarters (most of which I took part in), and KS kind of drives a fairly detailed and punctual report schedule about the state of production (well, at least for OPP commendable quality standards). One grows accustomed to expect that standard of information for every product.
What Irioth said!
Thanks very much for your thinking on this. I very much appreciate reading your point of view on the topic; it’s very helpful!