Good To Go! The motto expressed during our Monday Meeting today – but what does that mean for us?

Good and going! The Branch Riders Kickstarter has done great at over 200% funded, and is entering its last few days! That’s the cover art up above, featuring a look at all of the Realms described in great detail in the book – as backers are aware since backers get the text throughout the campaign and we’re almost at the end!

I have some notes from the fearless leader of the Bodhana Group, Jack Berkenstock, as he waxes enthusiastic here near the finale of the campaign:

First, might I offer a very firm and sincere thanks to everyone who has backed, supported and spread the word about Branch Riders.  This journey of our first game has been a whirlwind of excitement. We have a few precious days left and we are hoping for a super end.  We are reaching once more through the mystic power of the Monday Meeting Notes to ask for help from the Onyx Path universe to help us end with a bang. The campaign formally ends on July 11th at 2pm EDT.  And we have achieved a lot so far.  With only a few days left, we are nearing our third stretch goal!  Branch Riders is a very unique game that is going to deliver a wealth of great gameplay to many tables as well as provide professionals with a fun tool to run their groups.  From a concept of eight realms, drafted from some cute little chibis on a con poster to a fully realized game with a sleek narrative driven set of mechanics with a rich world to play in, we could not be happier with what we have made.

We are already funded.  That happened within eight hours on day one.  And as we pull into the station, we know that people are excited!  A lot of reviews from different websites and YouTubers are in.  Here are what a few sites have said about Branch Riders.

Sushiball Games – Branch Riders review

TTRPGkids review Branch Ricers

The Fandomentals Branch Riders write-up 

The game is just about complete and our plan, already in action, is to get the art and layout done, so we can get this out to everyone in its final form.  A fully realized book! But first we must finish this campaign. We need everyone who has backed, everyone who is excited about this project to share it with their friends, gamer groups and the general community to get even more supporters involved.  We have done very well for a game from a (mostly) first time designer team, with no recognized IP attached in what we have done so far.  But even in the short days that we have left – a lot can be done!  And there are many ways to support it with many level options. Some of our favorites are backing not only to get your copy, but also to give a copy to another agency working with children or teens; levels where you can make your own Blight or Gifts, or just name an NPC that will appear in the final book.  If you wish, you can back at our highest level and participate in a play with the designer session or if you are a professional – a training on how to use the game in therapeutic and intentional settings.

Now, there’s more from Jack, and I’ll get to that in a second. First, I’d like to preface his thoughts about one of the prime creators of Branch Riders. When we make a game, there are just so many hands involved. So many creators sharing their talents and skills and worldviews. Sometimes, just sometimes, one person initiates and maintains the vision for the project. Not just for what is could be, but what it should be. The Branch Riders team was incredibly lucky to both have that creator, and to have a team of creators that were able to continue towards that vision. As Jack says:

Most of all, I wanted to take a moment to share one more special detail of why finishing this game to its best final version is extra special to us.  Dave Johnson was a founding team member and writer.  He helped create a lot of the lore in the realms of Branch Riders.  We sadly lost Dave to complications from a heart transplant in 2022. His two children were (and are) members of our team.  Dave is actually memorialized on our cover as the center Branch Rider, dressed in Borderland attire (his favorite realm) with his signature favorite hat. I know he would be proud of what we have accomplished and to again acknowledge all he contributed to this project, but was not able to see directly.

As he approached his second transplant, before the complications that took him from us, we wanted him to get his rest, and he would sneak in edits and meetings. When Dave was lucid, Branch Riders was one of the first things he dove back into or asked about, determined that this dream and all we created would not fall to the land of what could have been.

Dave was passionate about this game from its earliest inception, and we honor him and his memory by ensuring it is published and dedicating it to him. His spirit lives on in this game: in the names, places, characters, and themes. Some of those are in-jokes that only we recognize as private tributes (if you ask us, we’ll tell you), and his children are both members of the design and creative team.  

Dave, we miss you, we love you, and we honor you. We made it happen.

Good and Ready to Go! We got the word back from BackerKit that our crowdfunding campaign for Scion: Mythic Shards has been approved, so expect that to start this coming Tuesday the 16th!

Folks can check out the pre-campaign landing and sign-up page here:

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/12f2e1b2-c856-4a4a-8d04-d4ecfa530b5c/landing

And here are two of our Mythic Shards creators – first Scion lead Hiromi Cota on how Mythic Shards got started:

Salutations from swelteringly sunny Seattle, Scions!

Mythic Shards started off as a pair of pitches that Matthew Dawkins and I were working on. When we realized that we were both thinking of a set of new Worlds for Scions to inhabit, we quickly decided to combine our efforts. 

We wanted to provide fresh takes on the concept of Scions, while keeping strong connections to the cultural origins of the players’ heroes. In fact, one of the first versions of Mythic Shards specifically followed a legend or folktale, using it as a template for how Scions would interact with the shard. For example, originally, Cyber-Scion was going to be Mayan cyberpunk with mecha, revisioning the Hero Twins’ journey through Xibalba as a struggle against mega-corps. 

But we decided that we didn’t want to limit players to just one corner of the shards, nor did we want to limit the creativity of the writers. So, we pulled back the idea of a central legend or folktale in favor of creating shards that were true to specific genres. So, instead of recasting the World as Xibalba, we had the author come up with a full-fledged version of the World that echoes existing themes in cyberpunk and tokusatsu. (For folks unfamiliar with the word “tokusatsu,” it’s Japanese for “special photography” and refers to shows and films like Power Rangers and Godzilla. It’s about big action and mighty struggles.)

A big benefit of doing this is that Storyguides and players aren’t going to be confined to just the areas that we created. While each shard has enough content to last at least a season or two, the content also works as a jumping off point for SGs to create their own settlements, cities, freeholds, and planets. Groups could spend years playing in a shard if they really dig the flavor. Had we stuck with the original plan, groups would have quickly run out of material that’s not based on Popol Vuh, Momotaro, etc.

Additionally, this also means that these shards are wide open to the pantheons instead of having a default one. Play pilots for Divine Machines based on your favorite Gods! Be Scions of messenger Gods aboard a wooden spaceship! Play a Band filled with Scions with the Darkness Purview to stay one step ahead of the TITAN agency! Mythic Shards provides the Worlds and the freedom to play how you want to.

And here’s Kim Godwin with more about pulling such an expansive book together:

Hello from Vietnam this week. 

When I heard the pitch for Scion: Mythic Shards I really dug the idea. I just had this idea of “What If?” I grew up reading my dad’s comic issues and the “What If?” Comics from Marvel were some of my favorites because they explored other possibilities of choices the characters made. In Scion, all myths are true and there is no canon. So what if the Scions were recognized as Super heroes and donned costumes? How would the World change if things went some other way? 

In the myriad realm of possibilities, how would being a Scion change the course of history? Thinking about these sorts of questions made it easier to approach these. Then with Shards like Four Colors and Farewell to Heroes- the tones are opposite and it shows how the World can swerve. In Four Colors, Scions are openly celebrated but in Farewell to Heroes, they’re feared and hunted. 

With Space Odyssey, it was thinking about the heart of what the Odyssey was about. It’s a journey into the unknown as you try to reach home. For Odysseus, his journey was prolonged because he offended the Gods after the Trojan War. But as a launching point for Scions, how they ended up on the journey is something to unravel as they progress on the voyage. The adventure and what they do along the way is just as compelling as how they ended up on the path. When you are looking for the way home, any complication can feel like a tribulation. How you overcome those trials are stories worth exploring. 

Good to Go with more Curseborne! This week we’re starting with what you might call Phase 2 of our release of information after we put a whole lot of new and thrilling info out there at the latest Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Con.

In fact, the Curseborne panel from that very convention is slated to arrive out on YouTube this week, so folks who missed it, or who want to go back for a refresher view can do so before this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast.

What’s so special about Friday’s upcoming Pathcast? Well, the team have gathered up a heapin’ helpin’ of the Curseborne questions folks have posed since the Con, and will be tackling them with as many answers and explanations as they can fit into the show!

But that’s just the start! Expect that we’ll be putting up blogs with previews, ads, more videos, a redesigned Curseborne website with solid info, links, and more fun quizzes and such, Actual Plays, interviews…and (as they say) much, much more! All towards the goal of really showing the expanse and depth of the Curseborne setting and rules in ways a brochure and an intentionally limited Ashcan never could!

Good Sales to Go: the Dog Days of Summer Sale is live on IPR:

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

and next week is the gigantic Xmas in July Sale at DTRPG!

We’re also working on a ton of projects, those surveys I mentioned last week, and, well, everything we do to bring you so:

Many Worlds, One Path!

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Blurbs!

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Crowdfunding!

BRANCH RIDERS – LAST DAYS!

More than 200% Funded, and heading towards a brand new Stretch Goal! From our friends at The Bodhana Group:

COMING NEXT: Scion: Mythic Shards

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/12f2e1b2-c856-4a4a-8d04-d4ecfa530b5c/landing

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Onyx Path Media!

This week: Dixie, Matthew, and Danielle talk about some of the speculation going on around Curseborne.

As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue!

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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!

The Onyx Path News covers Branch Riders and Chronicles of Darkness and a big thank you this week! Check it out now: https://www.youtube.com/live/XbBrBUckkLI

Have you been keeping up with Awkward GM Corbin’s Curseborne videos? If not, check this one out!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwRzvqcPeWw

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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 FOUR MORE DAYS!

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

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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/

Dog Days of Summer Sale is live on 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).

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On Sale This Week!

The Squeaks in the Deep Companion for Pugmire works (hops!) its way out of the underground catacombs this Wednesday on DTRPG with PDF and physical copy PoD versions now available!

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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!

Keep an eye out for our books at:

GameHoleCon – Oct 17th – 19th

https://www.gameholecon.com/



PAX Unplugged – December 6th – 8th

https://unplugged.paxsite.com/

Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at StartPlaying is the last Friday of every 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

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Project Status Updates!

Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out June’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-june-2024/

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY

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

Final Draft

Tasty Bit – Æon: Diplomacy and Conflict (August)

• Eddy: First up, the first draft of the latest TC: Æon Tasty Bit has already been turned around! There’s lots of great advice on how to handle diplomacy and conflict, and even some great little story seeds for your chronicle!

Development

Realms of Pugmire – Curious Cats of Mau Jumpstart

• Eddy: Next, the final draft of the Curious Cats of Mau Jumpstart is on my desk to review. This is based off an actual play Travis Legge and his team ran during the crowdfunder for Mau, expanded and revised to work as a full-fledged jumpstart for curious cats!

Realms of Pugmire – The Haunted Village

• Eddy: Finally, the first of two stretch goal adventures for Realms of Pugmire has been turned around, with the second nipping playfully at its heels!

Post-Approval Development

Exalted – Exigents Jumpstart

• Danielle: Approvals happened quickly, and we’ll be moving this off to editing soon.

Editing

Exalted – Sidereals Novella

• Danielle: I’m sure Dixie is excited to read some beautiful fiction written by our very own Elliott. It’s a good one.

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ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

• Ex Essence Pillars of Creation – Sketches in and more feedback sent.
• The World Below – Sketches… and sending out some more reference….
• TCF RPG Anthology – Sending out notes… 
• SCION Mythic Shards – Updating cover artwork graphics and tweaking some of the existing graphics on the page.
• Pugmire 2e Jumpstart – Seeing what we need to get this going…
• SPU Rulebook (BK)– With Maria getting art.
• Branch Riders – Almost over!

In Layout

• TC Player’s Guide – with Pauline.
• Pugmire 2e – Me.
• SCION Path to Apotheosis – With Dixie and should be in proofing by end of the week at the latest.

They Came From Classified Jumpstart – Going over to Ron Thompson.

Proofing

• M20 Victorian Weird Wonders and Revolutionary Magic – first proof with devs.

Indexing

• Scion God

At Press

• Reprints:
• Scion Origin – Printing.
• TC Core – Printing.

• Exalted Essence Retail and LtD – Backer books at Studio2, shipping starting soon.
• Ex Essence Screen – Shipping starting soon.
• M20 Lore of the Traditions – Backer books at Studio2, shipping starting soon.
• Ex 3 Exigents – Getting quotes.
• Ex 3 Exigents Screen – Getting it quoted and prepping press files.
• TC Aether – Getting quotes. PoD files uploaded.
• TC Anima – Awaiting the proofs.
• Ex3 Sidereals – Inputting errata correx.
• Ex Essence Jumpstart – Inputting errata correx.
• Curseborne Ash Can – PoD proofs on the way.
• Scion – No Gods No Masters – PoD files uploaded.
• TC Aether – PoD proofs ordered.
• They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave – Proofs signed off on, should be printing.
• They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave Screen 
• They Came From CLASSIFIED – Proofs signed off on, should be printing.
• They Came From CLASSIFIED Screen
• Squeaks in the Deep Companion – PoD and PDF versions available this Weds on DTRPG! 

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Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Mostly celebrated out, but: following up from last week’s holiday: in 1776 Church bells (possibly including the Liberty Bell) are rung after John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Also, of interest to many in our community, in 1947 reports are broadcast that a UFO crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico in what became known as the Roswell UFO incident.