A Billowing Swirl of Red Sand! [Monday Meeting Notes]

by

Yes, the red sands of Mars explode around your booted feet as you parry and lunge through the ruined courtyard of the ancient complex!

You must be in the world of Cavaliers of Mars!

Its Kickstarter starts tomorrow, 9/19 at 12 noon Eastern US time, and we hope to see you there! Not only will you get a chance to learn more about Rose Bailey’s new swashbuckling game, but you’ll also get a chance to meet Onyx Path‘s new Kickstarter runner: Jammin’ James Bell!

Jammin’ James is joining us to run and manage our Kickstarter efforts after many years in customer service, retail sales and management, and we know you’ll enjoy talking with him during each phase of our Kickstarters. Some of you might remember James as one of the founders of Fiery Dragon Games going as far back as the d20 craze of years ago, so not only does he know the business and customer service side of things, but he has a long love for tabletop RPGs and all forms of gaming!

 

 

 

Arms of the Chosen illustration by Gunship Revolution

 

 

 

Which brings up another addition to our little crew, but first, I want to digress and just go into the way Onyx Path is set up in regards to our projects and the developers who head up the projects.

From our beginning over five years ago, Onyx Path has been almost a central hub, if you will, with very few actual employees. But around that hub spin all of our game lines, and each of those has traditionally had a freelance developer and a team of freelance writers responsible for creating the text for each of the projects for that line.

Following the metaphor, because we must, Onyx Path as the hub at the center exerts a gravitational pull, but we have tried very much to give our developers and their teams the autonomy to create as they need to within the bounds and agreed upon parameters of that gravitational pull.

I’ve gotten the impression over the years that some of our community are imagining we’re some sort of Disney or Hasbro sort of corporation with departments issuing orders and exerting a micro-managing control over each and every stage of the creation process. That’s just not the case, and quite deliberately not that way.

How we do things has been based on the procedures for making our projects that we developed over decades at White Wolf. You could say that our book creation process is developer-driven, which I prefer to marketing or bottom-line driven creative processes.

 

 

 

W20 Changing Ways illustration by Brian LeBlanc

 

 

 

It’s not perfect, though, as some recent project and line-based adjustments have shown. While still holding to our creative emphasis, we’ve also been evolving and tweaking our development process and the role developers have in the making of our projects for the past several years. More recently, Onyx Path has been able to afford to bring on additional folks to help our developers do that voodoo that they do so well.

As part of this initiative to continue to evolve how we do our books, I’m thrilled to be able to announce that Fast Eddy Webb, our long-time co-worker, the guy who kept White Wolf actively publishing any tabletop RPG material at all during the CCP days, the creator of Pugmire, is coming on full-time at Onyx Path in order to add his considerable organizational and creative developer abilities to individual projects, but also to assist other developers with their projects, as well.

Don’t worry, he’s still running Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau, too!

Many Worlds, One Path.

 

 

 

BLURBS!

ON SALE!

KICKSTARTER:

 

Cavaliers of Mars Kickstarter starts at 12 noon Eastern US time, on 9/19/17!

 

ON AMAZON:

 

We’re delighted to announce the opening of our ebook store on Amazon! You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle. Our initial selection includes these fiction anthologies: Vampire: the Masquerade‘s Endless Ages, Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition‘s Rites of Renown: When Will You Rage 2, Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition‘s Truth Beyond Paradox, Chronicles of Darkness‘ God Machine Chronicle, Mummy: The Curse‘s Curse of the Blue Nile, and Beast: The Primordial‘s The Primordial Feast!

And now you can get these books in the Barnes and Noble Nook store too!

 

And here are six more fiction books:

 

Andand six more more:

  • Vampire: The Masquerade: The Beast Within Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
  • Werewolf: The Apocalypse: W20 Cookbook (Kindle, Nook)
  • Exalted: Tales from the Age of Sorrows (Kindle, Nook)
  • Chronicles of Darkness: Tales of the Dark Eras (Kindle, Nook)
  • Promethean: The Created: The Firestorm Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)
  • Demon: The Descent: Demon: Interface (Kindle, Nook)

 

 

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the Screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there!

https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

 

 

iprlogo

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! And Screens…so many Screens!

And you can now order Pugmire: the book, the screen, and the dice! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=296

 

ON DRIVETHRURPG.COM:

From out of the Dreaming, the C20 Jumpstart: Yours To Keep PDF and PoD goes live on Wednesday on DTRPG.com!

 

 

 

The PDF and PoD versions of C20 are now on DriveThruRPG.com: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/210616/Changeling-The-Dreaming-20th-Anniversary-Edition

Twenty years ago, White Wolf published Changeling: the Dreaming, the fifth of their promised five game-lines that together comprised the World of Darkness. Seen by some as a lighter, more fantasy-based setting in the modern-day, and by others as the darkest game White Wolf had yet created, players had to face the question of what happens once creativity and magic fades from their world.

This 20th Anniversary Edition of Changeling: the Dreaming returns to that deceptively bright yet terrifying world and both compiles and completes the concepts of the previous two editions. Led by veteran White Wolf and Onyx Path developer “Blackhat” Matt McFarland, our writing team consists of longtime Changeling creators like Ian Lemke, Jackie Cassada, Nicky Rea, and Peter Woodworth, as well as familiar names such as John Snead, Maggie Carrol, Matthew Dawkins, and Krister Michl. One and all are dedicated to making Changeling: the Dreaming Twentieth Anniversary Edition the most playable edition yet – while not losing the wonder, awe, and majesty that Changeling is known for.

  • A revised and up to date look at the World of Darkness through the eyes of the Kithain – what has happened to the Dreaming in the last 20 years, and what is the state of Glamour and dreams?
  • Rules for all of the kiths including in 2nd ed, plus fan favorites from other books: selkies, piskies, clurichaun, and both Arcadian and Concordian sidhe.
  • Rules for the Gallain: The inanimae, the hsien, the Nunnehi, and others!
  • An overhauled and reimagined system for fae magic, including new Arts and the powerful but dangerous practice of Unleashing!
  • New full-color beautiful artwork as well as classic Changeling illustrations including remastered full page pieces of the kiths by Tony Diterlizzi.

 

 

 

Now available, this all-new Trinity Continuum: Aeon poster, featuring the art we used for the cover of the StoryPath Booklet at this year’s GenCon! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/220904/Trinity-Continuum-Aeon-Poster

And this version for art lovers is without the logo: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/220905/Trinity-Continuum-Aeon-Poster-sans-logo

 

 

 

From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: After the Fall (Demon: The Descent Constantinople 1453-1458). The Ottoman conquest shatters Constantinople…and also the God-Machine’s grip on it. Unchained flock from all over the world to seek their fortunes in rebuilding the city. But is the Machine really gone, and if it is, can the Unchained face the horrors it drove into the shadows?

On sale in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/217978/Dark-Eras-After-the-Fall-Demon-the-Descent

 

 

 

Calling all Good Dogs! The Pugmire Core Rulebook PDF is now available on DTRPG.com!

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/204313/Pugmire-Core-Rulebook

And the actual physical book, screen, and dice, are available to order on the IPR and Studio2 websites!

Studio2: https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

 

 

 

From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: A Grimm Dark Era (Changeling: The Lost Grimm’s Tales). With the publication of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, the Lost find themselves subject to the strength of stories, to a degree never before seen. As numerous stories reach greater audiences, the power of tales redefine what it means to be a changeling. Here, we explore a shift in the veil between fiction and reality, and find changelings who escaped by embracing the odd rules of the fantastic.

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/217370/Dark-Eras-A-Grimm-Dark-Era

On sale in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG!

 

 

From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: Lily, Sabre, and Thorn (Changeling: The Lost Swashbuckling France 1600s – early 1700s). In the Age of Reason under the reign of Louis XIV, enlightenment went hand-in-hand with court intrigues. The Sun King’s court influenced a time when changeling freeholds gained increasing unity and communication. It is a time of adventure, deception, betrayal, and passion — the roar of cannon, the rustle of silk, the ring of steel. The joys and sorrows and outrageous fortunes of the swashbuckler — these are all too well-known to the Lost.

On sale in PDF and PoD versions at DTRPG.com this Weds!

 

 

 

Satyr Phil Brucato beckons you once more into the Annex of Mage: The Ascension with this 300 page follow-up to M20. The M20 Book of Secrets is NOW on sale in PDF and PoD versions at DTRPG.com! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/214133/M20-Book-of-Secrets

More Than Magick

For mages who think they have everything, this trove of treasures expands upon the wealth of material presented throughout Mage: The Ascension’s 20th Anniversary Edition. New Traits, new rules, essays, answers, information… the Secrets are revealed within.

Enter the Annex

Building upon the M20 core rulebook, this Book of Secrets features updated rules and setting material, such as…

  • An M20 FAQ Genres & Resources
  • Matters of Focus Justice & Influence
  • New Abilities, Archetypes, Merits & Flaws
  • Expanded Rules for Combat, Resonance, Wonders, Computer Systems, and More

This Ascension Continues…

 

 

 

 

What dark secrets do the eldest vampires hold? Find out in Thousand Years of Night for Vampire: The Requiem! Advance PDF version available now on DriveThruRPG.com. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/214130/Thousand-Years-of-Night

You may think that with a multitude of people coming, going, dying and running away, we’d be tired, done, or ready to give up.
Instead, I find myself restless, looking for the next thing. 
There’s always a next thing, and I for one am not yet ready to die.

– Elder Kincaid, Daeva Crone

This book includes:

• Detailed instructions on creating elder vampires, including how to base chronicles around them

• A look into the lives of elders, how they spend their nights, who they work with, and why including their roles in both their clans and covenants

• New Devotions, Merits, and Rituals for elder vampires

• The kinds of creatures that pose a threat to elder vampires, including Inamorata, Lamia, Sons of Phobos, a new elder conspiracy, and more!

 

 

 

 

 

CONVENTIONS!

Fast Eddy Webb will be running Pugmire during the online convention Gauntlet Con: http://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/ which runs from Oct. 20 – 22. Here is the sign-up link for the event which will be live-streamed. Currently three of six seats are still open: https://gauntlet-con.firebaseapp.com/event-detail/-KsmNjZtiH5ARXA6T6vb

 

In November, we’ll be at Game Hole Con in Madison, WI. November 2-5: https://www.gameholecon.com/  Monica Valentinelli (Hunter: the Vigil 2e, Dark Eras), Manda Collis (Exalted 3e), Scott Holden (Scarred Lands), Matt M McElroy (Operations Manager) and other folks from the OPP crew will be there!

 

Also in November, the Onyx Path crew including Rich, Matt, Lisa, Neall, Dixie, and Meghan will be at the first ever PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, November 17-19. http://unplugged.paxsite.com/

 

Planning ahead for 2018, we’re heading back to Midwinter Game Convention in Milwaukee, January 11-14, where we’re going to be bringing a big crew of many of your favorite Onyx Path designers and we’ll be running demos and making some special announcements at the show!  http://midwintergamingconvention.com

 

And now, the new project status updates!

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM ROLLICKING ROSE (projects in bold have changed status since last week):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)

  • M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • M20 Book of the Fallen (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • C20 Novel (Jackie Cassada) (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • Monarchies of Mau (Monarchies of Mau)
  • Night Horrors: The Tormented (Promethean: The Created 2nd Edition)
  • Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)
  • They Came From Beneath the Sea! Rulebook (TCFBtS!)

 

Redlines

  • Kithbook Boggans (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • Hunter: the Vigil 2e core (Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition)

 

Second Draft

  • WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)
  • Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)
  • Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)

 

Development

  • 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)
  • Pugmire Pan’s Guide for New Pioneers (Pugmire)
  • Scion: Origin (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)
  • Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
  • Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)
  • GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)
  • Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)

 

WW Manuscript Approval:

 

Editing:

  • Ex Novel 2 (Aaron Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)
  • DtD Night Horrors: Enemy Action (Demon: the Descent)

 

Post-Editing Development:

  • W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
  • M20 Cookbook (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
  • C20 Ready Made Characters (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

 

Indexing:

 

 

ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:

In Art Direction

  • W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook – Art at WW for approval.
  • Cavaliers of Mars – Prepping KS.
  • W20 Changing Ways – Some of the halfs are in and at WW for approval.
  • Ex3 Monthly Stuff
  • Scion Origins – Art almost all in.
  • Ring of Spiragos
  • Beast PG – Art approved.
  • VtR Half Damned – Art is in and headed to WW for approvals.
  • Book of Freeholds – AD’d.
  • DtD Enemy Action – AD’d… contracts and notes sent out.
  • C20 RMCs – Progressing with sketches.

 

Marketing Stuff

 

In Layout

  • Prince’s Gambit – Remaining art is arting.
  • Beckett’s Jyhad Diary – Layouting.
  • Wraith 20
  • Ex 3 Arms of the Chosen – At Josh for layout.

 

Proofing

  • VDA Jumpstart – 2nd proofing.

 

At Press

  • Beckett Screen – Shipped to shipper.
  • Scarred Land PGs & Wise and the Wicked PF & 5e – On a boat to the US. PoD files processing.
  • Dark Eras: God’s Own Country – PoD proof on the way.
  • VTR: Thousand Years of Night – Errors discovered at GenCon, getting fixed.
  • Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition) – Deluxe Edition cover and Screen in the works.
  • C20 Jumpstart PDF – PDF and PoD versions on sale this Wednesday!
  • CtL Huntsmen Chronicle Anthology PDF
  • Art of Mage – Prepping for PoD.
  • Pugmire Trick, Condition, and Initiative Cards – PoD proofs ordered.

 

TODAY’S REASON TO CELEBRATE: My good friends Adam and Sue had a lovely and fun wedding celebration this weekend. You don’t know them, but they’re cool. And now happily married!

17 thoughts on “A Billowing Swirl of Red Sand! [Monday Meeting Notes]”

  1. What does it mean exactly when something is in Art Direction in comparison to how far is is along in its progress? (Specifically asking for the Beast PG if that makes sense.)

    Reply

    • It’s pretty much sequential – we really can’t do the layout without the art and the edited text, so when those are both in we start the layout phase. Thanks!

      Reply

  2. I just wanted to say how incredibly excited I am that the Cavalier’s of Mars Kickstarter is just on the horizon!

    I’ve been excited for it since Rose Bailey first started posting details of it, way back when, & I can’t wait to put down a hearty pledge to it!

    Reply

  4. A few questions.
    First, what is the last name of the person working on the layout for Arms of the Chosen and do they have a twitter or public persona I can ask questions?
    Second, is there a cut-off point in which the Ex3 map and screen will be released regardless of backers confirming they have received their rewards?
    Third, is it something a malicious person could keep from hitting IPR in perpetuity by refusing to acknowledge/reporting their reward hasn’t come?
    The last thing, I am excited about the CM KS coming up, congrats to Rose for getting here!
    Thank you for your time!

    Reply

    • I’m on Eastern Time, which my dashboard clock claims is five hours behind London, so I’d have thought it would be up by now. Maybe Jammin’ James (and/or Rollickin’ Rose) is on Central Time and got confused.

      Reply

    • We launched an hour late. Via Rich’s twitter: “A ‘worst nightmare’ moment: after 27 @TheOnyxPath Kickstarters, Cavaliers of Mars’ KS page glitched on Launch. Had to rebuild the info page!”

      Reply

  7. Regardless of the late start, it’s unbelievably (well…it definitely IS believable with the caliber of game this is) doing great! I’m glad to see so many in support of this project and I do believe Mars will never be the same!

    Reply

Leave a Comment