Yep, just a week and a day as I write this and we’ll all be enjoying the At The Gates crowdfunding campaign on BackerKit! Powered by the Storypath Ultra system, game line two of the Earthbane Cycle of fantasy games, and inspired by creator Danielle Lauzon’s love of JRPGs!
Yes, it’s a JRPG-inspired game. Obviously, it’s not actually a JRPG, but so many of us are fans of the genre, or specific games, or even, in my case, specific artists, that working with a game that allowed us to bring forth all those beautiful inspirations has really been a treat. (Just check out the cover design above!)
But, of course, Danielle has been the prime motivator of the content as well as the rules, so let’s hear a little bit about one of her favorite games, Chrono Trigger, and why she’s been playing it on our Twitch channel for several weeks:
I’ve been streaming a Let’s Play of Chrono Trigger for the past few weeks, and I’m going to continue through the crowdfunding campaign. Well, as long as I can do so, as the last week of the campaign, I’ll be in the UK running games at UKGE. (UK Games Expo – helpful editor) Anyway, some people have checked in on it, and if you’ve missed the playthrough, you can find it on our YouTube channel. I’m playing the game, and relating things in the game to At the Gates as I do so.
I picked Chrono Trigger for a couple of reasons. The first is that it is one of the first games I ever played through on my own. I used to watch my mother play RPGs all the time, and help her with them, but never controlled the game on my own until Chrono Trigger. The second reason is that it’s a pretty tight game with straightforward gameplay, and a nice play length. This is important, since I’m only playing about 3 hours each day.
The third and most important reason is that a lot of the cool powers and abilities that you can do in Chrono Trigger gave inspiration to what you can do in At the Gates. I talk about it during the playthrough, but the fact that every character has an elemental affinity and special techniques they can learn on their own, and then combination techniques that they can perform with others. In At the Gates all characters have a set of Arts (special techniques) and Pillars of magic they can cast, and they can choose to utilize bond Enhancement to purchase special Tricks that act as combo Tricks.
I have also been answering some FAQ style questions that some people asked while I’m playing. A lot of it is mechanical considerations, reasons for making some of the choices I did, and other behind the scenes things that you won’t get just from reading the manuscript.
I’d love it if you join me on Tuesday at 5pm EST to play through Chrono Trigger and talk about At the Gates. This week I’ll be answering more questions, and next week I’ll be celebrating the Backerkit launch! I’ll also answer any questions you put into chat as I play, so this is a great opportunity to hit me with burning questions.
As Danielle points out, this week is the big approach to At The Gates‘s crowd funding campaign – and if you haven’t yet, but are at all interested in anything or everything we’ve been talking about here, please do use this link to go to the pre-campaign page and get notified when we’re goin’ live next Tuesday the 7th at 2pm EDT!
https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/4bee2599-c6a8-4b43-957f-556265b83e37/landing
At The Monday Meeting
Still a bit exhausted from the wedding this weekend, but am gradually coming back into focus! So, here’s the more important stuff (the ones that stood out from the general fog of war) that I want to share with you from our meeting today.
Oh boy, things are really coming together for our upcoming Virtual Onyx Path Convention in mid-June! Or our Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention, even!
Whatever it is called, we’re going to continue have a mix of announcements, Actual Play, Q&A panels, conversation between the creators you love to follow, and just general foolishness!
In fact, here’s the first of the programming schedules:
These are for our Twitch channel programming, there is much more coming from our partner channels!
Also, and I’m sure this is completely unrelated to the con…
Danielle will be doing character creation sessions this week with our friends at these streaming channels:
Friday at 4pm EST: Dork Tales will be broadcast at https://www.twitch.tv/dorktales
Saturday at 3pm EST: Fiendish Foundation (Formerly DLG) will be broadcast at https://www.twitch.tv/fiendishfoundation
Maybe those sessions, or the next batch of them, will provide some answers to some questions I’ve heard mentioned online. Maybe not, but you’ll be seeing the prep for several pretty interesting games coming in the future!
Don’t know if you wonderful people are noticing an uptick across our various social media sites, but more and more people a jumping onboard and we’re posting more and varied kinds of info about our games. Some are informative, some are just good fun, and others are plain weird, so please do keep an eye out on your preferred social media venues!
Besides discussing these varying social media efforts, there were scheduling discussions, printer discussions, advertising discussions, and all the usual vital and important info we use this meeting to stay informed about. Plus I made the MM crew watch a video of me performing The Time Warp from over the weekend. Which might be performing beyond the call of duty for our team!
But, just mentioning that dance has worn me out again, so as I collapse to the floor with the other Unconventional Conventioneers, I leave you with:
Many Worlds, One Path!
Blurbs!
Crowdfunding!:
Coming May 7th on BackerKit: At The Gates!
Follow this link to sign up to be notified when it goes live! https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/4bee2599-c6a8-4b43-957f-556265b83e37/landing
And let’s not forget this awesome Ashcan:
Check it out on DTRPG! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/475586
Onyx Path Media!
This week: Matthew, Eddy, and Dixie mix and match character creation options from a variety of They Came From… games!
As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue!
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:
We’ve started releasing our They Came From trailers but now including reviews from our lovely community! Here’s the video for Cyclops’s Cave! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA3gcqEaOsI
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://youtube.com/live/pNQmJ5tX_40
Virtual Tabletop!
The Monsters of the Deep Compendium with all of the monsters added to the They Came From Beneath the Sea! Compendium core, including Tokens for VTT play, will be on Roll20 and DTRPG this Weds!
They Came From Beneath the Sea! on Roll20 VTT!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea
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! https://foundryvtt.co
Looking for more virtual tabletop resources? We have a selection of
Tokens, Encounters, and more available now at DriveThruRPG! https://bit.ly/3SnrNJ7
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/
CofD Sale at IPR!
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!
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!
On Sale This Week!
This Weds we’re releasing the PDF and physical book PoD versions of The Hedge for Changeling: The Lost 2e! On sale this Weds on DTRPG!
Conventions!
As we are slowly returning to attending conventions in person after avoiding them during the COVID-19 outbreak, keep an eye out here for more physical and virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!
Matthew and Eddy and a few of our other Onyx Path creators will be attending and even running games at UK Games Expo in May.
We will be repped by Studio 2 (and maybe IPR) at Origins Game Fair in June.
Onyx Path Virtual Con will be June 14-16. See the scheduled events in the blog above!
Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at StartPlaying will be the last Friday of each month! Come play some of our games that night! (But any of our game lines are welcome all day long!)
Here’s a link to give anyone $10 credit to play games on Start.Playing:
https://startplaying.games/referral/clog9y0v10006ju0968iev95m
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
Project Status Updates!
Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out March’s full list report here:
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY
Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:
DEVELOPMENT
The World Below – Underworld Adventures
- Matthew: Chris Jones has blasted through the redlines on this one to turn in his final draft in record time! Now for me to give this book a nice polish ahead of editing.
EDITING
The World Below – Enter the Dungeon Jumpstart
- Matthew: Speaking of editing, Kim Godwin’s Enter the Dungeon Jumpstart made it’s way there just last week! This adventure is set up to be the perfect primer for The World Below.
POST-EDITING DEVELOPMENT
Exalted – Abyssals
- Danielle: I heard that a Deathlord came and bestowed her blessing on the developers in the form of a really clean manuscript. Let’s hope that doesn’t come to haunt them later in life.
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Ex Essence Pillars of Creation – Sending this over to DAC this week. They’ve wrapped up ATG and their With Great Power stuff should be almost done.
- The World Below – Yes… sending out notes… trying to read through them to possibly do some cool and different sizes for art.
- TCF RPG Anthology – Getting Matthew the rest of the art buy.
- SCION Titans Rising – I’m gonna pass the notes over to Maria to get her to send them out. I’ve got artists lined up… I’ve just been to swamped to send stuff out.
- SCION Path to Apotheosis – Sketches in and proceeding to finals.
- TC Player’s Guide – First sets of sketches in and approved.
- TC With Great Power – Reviewing sketches. Getting Lee comic stuff.
- Pugmire 2e – Sent yet more sketch feedback to Navela.
- At The Gates (BK) – Knocking out remaining KS assets.
- Branch Riders – First three color pieces in and approved.
In Layout
- Ex3 Sidereals – I think i got 3 chapters to go… so first interior proof by end of the week if all goes well with ATG assets.
- Ex Essence Charm Cards – Progressing.
- Ex 3 Exigents Screen – Yeah… it’ll get worked on this week or next… depending on how some other stuff goes.
- CofD Contagion Chronicles RMCs
- Squeaks in the Deep Companion
- Ex Essence Jumpstart
- Scion No Gods, No Masters – All the artwork is in.
Proofing
- M20 Victorian Jumpstart – second proof.
- DTR Clade Companion – second proof.
Indexing
- TC Aether
- Scion God
At Press
- Reprints:
- Scion Origin – Looking at proofs.
- TC Core – Looking at proofs.
- TC Aeon – Printer files uploaded.
- Exalted Essence – Finished advances came in.
- Ex Essence Screen – At Studio 2.
- TC Anima Terra Surge Screen – Sending info to screen printer for quotes.
- TC Anima – Pinging printer about cover specs again.
- M20 Lore of the Traditions – Finished advances came in.
- They Came From the Cyclops Cave!
- They Came From CLASSIFIED!
- They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave Screen – Sending info to screen printer for quotes.
- They Came From CLASSIFIED Screen – Sending info to screen printer for quotes.
- Ex 3 Exigents – PoD proofs ordered.
- At The Gates Ashcan – PoD proofs on the way.
- CtL 2e The Hedge – PDF and PoD versions on sale at DTRPG this Weds!
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
WOW!- publication anniversaries out the wazoo this week!
Apr 30 2013 God Machine Chronicle
Apr 30 2014 Mortal Remains turns 10
May 1 2019 C20 Players Guide turns 5
May 3 2017 Dark Eras Companion
May 3 2023 Trinity Continuum: Adventure!
May 4 2016 Mage: The Awakening 2nd Edition
May 4 2022 Squeaks in the Deep