Yep, it’s that time during every crowdfunder when we all just have to push through, fight and shout to be heard, and let everybody know we’ve got an exciting new project/setting/game/crowdfunder! And that’s where the Monster Kingdoms crowdfunding campaign on BackerKit is now!

So here are some exciting items you can feel free to share with anyone, anywhere, on social media or at your local friendly game store:

Because the single biggest question we get asked is how easy is it to create a character – followed up by what characters are the coolest – Matthew (the Gentleman Gamer) has made a video of Monster Kingdoms character creation here: hhttps://youtube.com/live/UM5XTVaWAGA

We have some fun vids coming, too: writer Ferne Milton’s Monster Kingdoms interview goes live today at 4:30 PM EDT at https://youtu.be/RmrWP0BDtnA

Then an interview with Matthew where he is also answering Monster Kingdom questions posed during last week goes live on Tuesday at 4 PM EDT at https://youtu.be/4nljRS6Wzic

And here’s fellow creator Tom Murr:

The question arose: What kind of adventures do you play in Monster Kingdoms and that’s something I can tell you a bit about. During the first two weeks of the campaign I ran a few demos of MK. All of them started out with the same base scenario, pregens and prep. All three of them were vastly different, depending on the players ideas and how I set the scenes.
The premise: The vampire House Katheris decided to expel the imperial troops on their grounds and declare tolls of their own. Of course, the Nithera Empire can‘t be idle in such a situation and House Katheris is to big to attack directly at the current time. The empire hired the mercenary squad of the player characters are sent to either convince the minor House Redwell to sever their bonds to their liege House Katheris or have their heads severed.
Squad one went on an exploration mission throughout castle Redwell, the chased servants around, followed their individual goals throughout plenty of rooms, discovered portals into haemexxii caverns and finally chose violence as „negotiations failed“. They hunted down magical secrets, lost family members and finally set the entire castle on fire.
Squad two used their army (Expansion roll) to learn about their enemies, gained insight into their weaknesses, found a secret tunnel into the castle and set up their own troops in the tunnel to assist, when needed. They than met the counts of Redwell at their literal doorstep and chose … disrespect first and then violence. They also triggered a viral curse within the guard of the castle, which wasn’t well received by the counts. We had an early and intense fight, which concluded with my poor vampire lord being immobilised with tentacles of darkness and then battered with comets. A vampire was hired as a new officer, the castle burned and the squad decided to use it as their new base of power. Time will tell, if House Katheris is happy to let this slide.
The third squad went a very diplomatic route. Forging secret alliances, learning about the history of the castle and its lords and joining a „friendly banquet“ with human, haemexxii and vampire bootlickers., they build up quite a lot of resources, they could use in a diplomatic encounter with the lords of Redwell. Alas, the players also wanted to try their sceptres and crowns, so they had a musician duel between the group’s harlequin and a vampire band, which was suddenly very personal as a family member of the characters almost danced to death. Castle Redwell made acquaintances with a meteor shower as in both other games before.
The same characters became very different monsters in the hands of different players and the katharsis of just letting go and deliver unbridled vengeance to those who wronged them was a joy to see.
Another thing that worked very well was the building of relationships within a few moments and then over the course of the evening. While the world was a horrible place and these characters weren’t nice people, they quickly cared for each other and banded together to overcome the odds. Monsters and real people at the same time. What can I say? Pure gold.
This might not be an obvious choice but I am really excited to see the random tables in the Storyguides’ hands. There are so many tables and I just love how they create tiny stories and encounters along the way. You need an idea of what might happen next? Pull out the table, roll, glee with joy, tell terrible things to your players.
All the best to you and remember, the Staff of Comet‘s Call has an answer to every problem.

Thanks, Tom!

And thanks to everyone who has backed Monster Kingdoms so far- over 600 of you as I write this – please do keep telling the folks you know all about it!

I was able to get a traceroute from a user in Arizona

I think that says it all, really.

But also from the Monday Meeting, we talked about how folks are starting to get super-excited by the first teasers for the Curseborne Players Guide – and we’re just getting started!

There have been some rats, and some snorting at the full moon vids. That last one was labeled “Eclairs” or something like it. Here are some more teasers of the next teaser:

But before we get to the Curseborne Player’s Guide Kickstarter campaign in October, Mirthful Mike is finishing up the first proof of the layout for Curseborne itself, and the earlier sections are already in proofing with the devs!

We’re looking good for getting the Backer PDF out to all of y’all anxiously awaiting the whole refitted, laid-out version. It is very cool looking, I’ll say that much!

Speaking of things occurring in October, just a pre-reminder that DTRPG always has a really big and spooky sale that month…

We’ve also rearranged a few places where you can get our books, which means that there are more books over at Studio2 now, particularly Deluxes. Check it out here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/onx-onyx-path-publishing

Finally, my thanks out to everybody at Lobstercon – the Magic: the Gathering convention I attended in Boston this last weekend. The crew and the attendees were very nice to us, other than giving my poor hand cramps with all the Magic card signing I did! No, it was really great, and I even got to clue a few players into just what we are doing over at Onyx Path and get them hyped to check out a different part of our tabletop hobby!

I really am hoping they use my blatherings as a reason to try out our games, or any TTRPGs, for that matter! Always room for more on our shared journeys to:

Many Worlds, One Path!

---

Blurbs!

---

Crowdfunding!
Monster Kingdoms!

OVER 200% FUNDED! Use this link here to join all the monsters!

---

Onyx Path Media!

Check out our attached media schedule for the videos on our Twitch channel this week!

This week on the Onyx Path News, Matthew discusses the Curseborne Player’s Guide, the Trinity Continuum: Aether Jumpstart, and the Monster Kingdoms crowdfunder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB49WhEN6rg

Matthew (the Gentleman Gamer) has also made a video of Monster Kingdoms character creation here: hhttps://youtube.com/live/UM5XTVaWAGA

And there’s more, as Corbin dives into the Storypath Ultra influence system here: https://youtu.be/7Sh-k7nCyAo?si=2-_IXyCMhuoNYJvm

---

Virtual Tabletop!

Scion Demigod Available on Roll20 NOW!

The Scion: Origin and Scion Hero Compendiums are now available on Roll20!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/publisher/1716/onyx-path-publishing

The first of our official Scion sheets designed for Foundry VTT are now available! https://foundryvtt.co

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

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!

Select Chronicles of Darkness Screens and Monarchies of Mau books,
screens, and dice 50% off at Studio 2:
https://studio2publishing.com/collections/onx-onyx-path-publishing

Some more deluxe books have popped up on Studio 2, with more on the way.

https://studio2publishing.com/collections/onx-onyx-path-publishing

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

Some last chance/clearance titles at IPR:

https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Last-Chance/

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

The first part of the print shopping experiment is live on DTRPG:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?format=1000240-book-printed-publisher-fulfilled

This is limited to the USA only at first, but will expand later after data crunching and review.

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).

---

On Sale This Week!

Roarin’ down the road comes the rockin’ Advance PDF of Scion: Rock Gods & Road Trips on DTRPG this Weds!

---

Conventions!

Here’s where you can find out more info on physical and virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!

We’ll have demo games running at these upcoming conventions:

Paganomicon  10/25 – 10/26

Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at StartPlaying is the last Friday of every month and through that weekend! Come play some Curseborne that night! (But any of our game lines are welcome all weekend 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 August’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-august-2025/

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!

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

FIRST DRAFT

Exalted – Exalted Essence Storyteller’s Guide

• We announced it at OPP Con, and now the team is all set up and ready to start writing!

EDITING

Curseborne Antagonist – Unwoven (Oct 2025 Tasty Bit)

• Another creepy Curseborne antagonist will burst onto DriveThruRPG in October!

POST-EDITING DEVELOPMENT

Realms of Pugmire – Pugmire Unleashed

• Back from editing, and I can’t wait to get my paws on this manuscript again!

---

ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

• Ex3 Infernals – Getting crowdfunder art going.
• Ex Essence PG – Getting underway.
• TC Aethernaut Collection – Talking to Gaydos about doing me some headshots.
• Pugmire 2e Unleashed – If I can get the artnotes for this.. I can get it in progress before end of the year.
• SPU Core Manual – With CB going into proof mode this week… I got some time to get some art comissioned.
• Curseborne PG KS – Sketches…. and maybe some finals this week.. or color comps…
• Monster Kingdoms (BK) – Crowdfunder running.

Layout

• TC Anima AR – Getting map info over to cartographer.
• Pugmire 2E Screen

Proofing Queue

• Branch Riders – Inputting first proof notes.
• Curseborne – Proofing.

At Press

• They Came From the RPG Anthology VTT
• TC Aether – At Studio2, shipping physical books to backers.
• Scion God – At Studio2, shipping physical books to backers.
• Scion God Screen – Shipping out with books.
• TC Aether Screen – Shipping out with books.
• Ex3 Miracles of the Divine Flame – Backer PDF out to backers.
• SCION Rock Gods – Advance PDF on sale this Weds on DTRPG!

---

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

In scary-themed news, dateline today in 1440, Gilles de Rais, one of the earliest known serial killers, is taken into custody upon an accusation brought against him by Jean de Malestroit, Bishop of Nantes. Thought to be the inspiration for the story of Bluebeard, we can be glad that he’s at least one awful person no longer with us.