Yep- that’s actually what the They Came From the RPG Anthology! really is!

(Now on Kickstarter! See the link below!)

Because of the way the They Came From! line evolved, each new game was self contained – mostly because we made They Came From Beneath the Sea! as a standalone, “wouldn’t this be fun” project. And then it did well, and folks were having fun, and we got some feedback that some classic horror would be appreciated. So we created They Came From Beyond the Grave!.

Then, we started looking at what other kinds of media genres we felt could fill a whole book, and that led us to TCF[CLASSIFIED]!. Around the same time we got in the pitches that would lead to They Came From the Cyclopes’ Cave! and we were also doing smaller They Came From! projects; some of those came out of the crowd-funding campaigns, and some that we just wanted to do.

During all this, Matthew and his team were exploring different implementations of the rules, fine-tuning them and seeing what parts of Storypath worked with the plethora of “funny bits” like Quips that give They Came From! games their unique flavor. Many of the tweaks in those games were then pulled into the discussions on how to create the next iteration of the Storypath System: Storypath Ultra!

Which brings us up to date with the They Came From the RPG Anthology! and the decision to create a book that had a whole bunch of new media genres in it. Matthew saw two different directions to go with the rules, as we didn’t want them to only be usable if you had TCFBtS! or TCFBtG!. One way, was to pull together his notes gathered these last few years on a simplified system that is easy to get right into. The other was to include the rules for Storypath Ultra, our new simplified system that is easy to get right into.

Hmmm.

TBF, they are simplified differently, and easy to get into in different ways, so the choice wasn’t as obvious as you might think. Plus, after years of doing this, we recognize that one person’s “easy to get into” might be confusing and counter-intuitive for somebody else. After a bit of discussion, we agreed to include both systems.

Pick either, or mix ‘n’ match!

Both those systems can then power any of the four setting chapters that are already built-in with all you need to play. Which relates to the core rulebook concept as these are basically the example settings that you see so often in cores. But this book is, in fact, an anthology as well as the core rulebook, so…

…here’s where YOU control the content of a core rulebook!

Each week that the Kickstarter runs, we’ll be doing a voting poll where backers can choose one of three options to be the next setting chapter included in the book! That should be eight settings minimum – and who knows, maybe there are some additional chapters that may be added via Reward Tiers or Stretch Goals?

This week, the poll is between They Came From the High-Octane Apocalypse!, They Came From Dawkins Creek! (90s teen drama), and They Came From the Billiard Room with the Candlestick!. Right now, the murder mystery genre seems to be winning, but we aren’t closing the poll until Thursday, so…

There’s still time for YOU to tell US what goes into this core book! (We’re also not 100% locked down on what will be in the poll each week, so if there’s a genre you want in there, convince us on social media!)

Who does that?!

We do!

The They Came From the RPG Anthology! Kickstarter itself is at over 75% funded when last I looked, and we hope that the sheer value of having everything you need to play eight+ different types of settings will get out to even more folks as the KS gets through it’s first week!

Of course, we’d sure appreciate a mention, a link, a like, a friendly word in a friend’s ear, that boosts the KS from any of y’all!

We also have more info on the making of several of the setting chapters on this week’s Onyx Pathcast as Matthew interviews writers Kim Godwin and M.K. Anderson about their work on They Came from the RPG Anthology! Available wherever you get your favorite podcasts!

On Red Moon Roleplaying, Matthew has been running Murder Served Hot! an actual play of They Came from the Mean Streets!, another of the setting chapters. It’s a great chance to see the lead developer and creator of the line spin his webs of awesome playing! Link below in the Media section in the Blurbs!

It’s the two week mark before we all can get together for the 4th Onyx Path Virtual Convention, and I’m hoping to see a lot of you virtually there! We’ll have the ever-popular Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the eternal What’s Up With the Onyx Path? panel, recording sessions for the Pathcast, and lots of panels focused on specific game lines.

And game systems, for that matter! Both Storypath Ultra and Onyx20 get a panel each where their respective teams will talk about how these systems were designed and why! If you want to know why Eddy capped level advancement in Realms of Pugmire as he pulled together Onyx20 (and what D&D rules he basically devastated) then you’ve gotta virtually attend!

And then there’s the open gaming and the Actual Plays, with some of our crew running games for your favorite games, and sneak peaks of other games and systems you probably haven’t seen yet!

Yeah, we’ve got some fun reveals and teasers lined up, but you’ll have to watch and listen carefully!

In a few days, Matthew and Eddy will also be attending UK Games Expo, where they’ll be running a slew of games, recording Onyx Pathcast material including interviews with some of our international creators, and touching base with fans from all over the world!

Meanwhile, we continue to reestablish relationships with retailers post-Covid, and we had a great time last week at the ACD Open House held by that distributor for their retailers. Thanks to all of you store folks who stopped over to talk with our gang, and please do reach out to us so we can be sure you’re getting our games!

Long-time MMN blog readers might recall that around this time every year, I do one of these where I’m just an allergy-ridden wreck. Rose fever, spring grass cuttings, pollen(!), it all combines to torment me. I’m a sneezy, itchy-eyed, zombie stumbling around confused with all these irritants wafting around.

And this year has been no different, with last week being the worst so far this year. I’m told that this has been recorded as the worst allergy season in recent record for years – and I believe it! So, for folks awaiting my joining them in chatting in the Comments section last week: mea culpa, totally my bad! It was all I could do to reply to emails and other biz stuff that was on fire.

Hopefully, this coming week will be better and it tapers off, as it usually does, in time for the OP Virtual Con. But, because of that, I’m gonna sign off now and I will try and jump into the Comments this week! I missed our repartee, folks, and after all, this is a social medium where we explore our:

MANY WORLDS, ONE PATH!

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BLURBS!

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KICKSTARTER/CROWDFUNDING!

The KS for They Came From? went live on Thursday the 25th and we’re currently over 75% there!!!

You can help get us over the top and start bringing in even more chapters by going here and pledging! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/they-came-from-the-rpg-anthology-tabletop-roleplaying-

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Onyx Path Media!

This week:

Matthew interviews writers M.K. Anderson and Kim Godwin about their work on They Came from the RPG Anthology!

As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/

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Onyx Path Media now has its own blog on Tuesdays! We’ll continue posting our highlight of the week here, but Tuesday will be the day to visit if you want to catch up on actual plays, interviews, deep dives, and other assorted Onyx Path media!

Please check out our attached media schedule for the videos on our Twitch channel this week! In particular, keep those eyes open for our Storypath Showcase, where we give an excellent profile of our various Storypath games and how to play them!

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK:

Over on Red Moon Roleplaying, Matthew Dawkins has been running Murder Served Hot! a They Came From actual play using They Came from the Mean Streets!, from They Came From the RPG Anthology! as inspiration! Give is a listen and give RMR a subscription: https://youtu.be/jPb3uIHPGV0

The Onyx Path News discusses recent and upcoming releases! You can find it on our YouTube channel (click the bell to be informed when we go live!) but if you missed the last episode, here it is: https://youtu.be/QEftxefIQTk

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Virtual Tabletop!

NEW!
They Came From Beneath the Sea! on Roll20 VTT!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea

Here are some more shots from the They Came From Beneath the Sea! Compendium!

And there’s also the Scion Jumpstart, all ready for Roll20 VTT fun!

https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/21165/a-light-extinguished-a-jumpstart-for-scion-second-edition

More news and links when we have them!

The Scion: Origin and Scion Hero Compendiums are now available on Roll20!

https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/publisher/1716/onyx-path-publishing

Scion is just the start! They Came From Beneath the Sea! and other
Onyx Path RPGs are in development for Roll20 virtual tabletop!

The first of our official Scion sheets designed for Foundry VTT are
now available!

Direct Link: https://foundryvtt.co

Looking for more virtual tabletop resources? We have a selection of
Tokens, Encounters, and more available now at DriveThruRPG!

Get ’em here: https://bit.ly/3SnrNJ7

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Our Sales Partners!

We’re working with Studio2 to provide our traditionally printed books out into your local game stores. Game stores can order via their usual distributors, and can also contact Studio2 directly. And individuals can check out our projects via the links below!

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books, dice, and screens? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Deals-and-Specials/

As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles in PDF and PoD versions at DriveThruRPG.com!

PaizoCon Sale is live on DTRPG:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/sale.php?manufacturers_id=4261&src=OPPMMNBlog

Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

Check out Melody Through the Mirrorshade Lens and Facets of Truth , as well as Trinity Continuum: Terat and The Hollow Courts on Kindle in the Kindle store!

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On Sale This Week!

This month’s Tasty Bit PDF arrives via intergalactic cruiser! For TC: Aeon, we have the Spaceship Tasty Bit: Adventures In Transit, with a short adventure, map, etc. for play at your table or online!
This Weds on DTRPG!

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Conventions!

As we are slowly returning to attending conventions in person after the current COVID-19 outbreak, keep an eye out here for more physical and virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!

UK Games Expo (June 2nd – 4th) is THIS week! Matthew and Eddy will be running games along with a couple of our awesome developers. Leisure Games will have a small selection of our books for sale at the show. We’re also making business cards with a QR code linking to our catalog on DTRPG.

Onyx Path Virtual Convention (June 16th – 18th) We’ll be focusing
primarily on Storypath, Exalted, and Pugmire, but any OPP game works! As well as tons of panels, games, and other events, we’ll have slots opens for folks to run games, so start making your plans now!

Origins Game Fair (June 21st – 25th) is coming up quickly. We’re going
to do the same setup as we did at this last PAXU: we’ll be hanging in our section of the Studio 2 booth.

Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at Start.Playing is the last Friday of the month: June 30th! Come play some They Came From! in celebration of the current They Came From…? KS! (But any of our game lines are welcome all day long!)

Please spread the word about GMing games as much as
possible. Details on how list a game are at the bottom of the page in
the FAQ:

https://startplaying.games/event/game-night-onyx-path

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And now, the new project status updates!

Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out April’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-april-2023/

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY

Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:

First Draft

Tasty Bit – Scion: Dragon (Library)

• Eddy: Our next Tasty Bit is underway! This time it’s for Scion: Dragon, and it takes place in a massive library…

Redlines

Realms of Pugmire – Tome of Enemies (was Pugmire Monster Book)

• Eddy: Most every draft is in! The brainstorming for this book has been a load of fun, so I’m looking forward to digging into these as soon as I get back from UK Game Expo!

Development

Tasty Bit – TC: Aberrant (Rooftops)

• Eddy: Redlines and final draft were both really quick, so this is already back in my hands for development!

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ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

• They Came From ? – KS is going!
• M20 Victorian Jumpstart – Fulls and half for adventure are in… splats in progress.
• SCION Once and Future – I should have Gong’s art in this week… and Lauren’s cover.
• SCION Titans Rising – Reviewing sketches and finals.
• TC Aegis – Reviewing sketches and finals.
• DTR Clade Companion – Splats are in… need to check on the rest.
• COFD Contagion Chronicles RMCs – Contracted.
• HtV Jumpstart – Splats are in.
• W20 Icons of Rage – Need to find another artist to do portraits.

In Layout

• TC Anima – Moving along again.
• Scion Dragon Jumpstart – Had to recontract my splats.
• TC Assassins VTT Adventure – Still working on it.
• Wallpapers for Essence, Adventure, Apocalyptic Record
• Ex Essence Screen – Working on that.
• Ex Essence Charm Cards – Starting those.

Proofing

• W20 Howls of Apocalypse – Awaiting Paradox approval.
• Ex3 Crucible of Legends

Indexing

At Press

• Exalted Essence – I’m currently getting it ready for PoD and print.
• TC: Adventure! – Trad printing files prepping. Awaiting specs from Printer.
• TC Adventure Storyguide Screen and Booklet
• Ex3 Surface Truths – PoD proof on the way.
• TC Stampede of Justice (Adventure JS) – PoD proof on the way.
• W20 Apocalyptic Record – Apocalyptic Record – Awaiting PoD proofs.
• MtAw Tome of the Pentacle – Advance PDF errata gathering/implementation.
• Trinity Continuum: Æon Tasty Bit (spaceship) – PDF on sale this Wednesday on DTRPG!

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Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Here in the US, it’s Memorial Day, the three day weekend that is unofficially the Start of Summer! Here in the Philly area, that means folks driving to “The Shore”: all the towns in New Jersey/Delaware that are on the Atlantic. It’s also, and officially, one of three holidays that honor military service-people: Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, and this one, Memorial Day, for honoring those who died in the line of duty.