If you look all the way down at the Reason to Celebrate at the end of this blog, you’ll see that, yes, I did actually look up the historical reasons for Cinco de Mayo. Underline the part about how it only got popular after beer and alcohol companies put advertising weight behind the holiday. That’s the underpinnings and not really relevant to how the US has a day to eat and drink with your friends. That’s the good reason behind celebrating, because right now, in this mixed-up world, having fun with your friends is one of the best sanity-supporting things you can do!

And that goes triple for getting together and roleplaying with them – either live or online!

So much so that the subtitle for this week’s Monday Meeting is “Cocktail Hour”, even though our days of actually getting bombed at a meeting are pretty far back there in the rear-view mirror. The actuality of trying to stay focused during a virtual meeting is a big part of not attending in an altered state, but the spirit of enjoying some time talking with the folks you know – and might even like – remains!

But it was a short one today, whether because of living up to the “hour” part, or just because we had few changes from last week, so these notes are going to follow suit.

First off, we talked about the value of demonstrating the character creation process for different games. To whit – here’s Matthew’s Curseborne video for this week, where he does exactly that with the Raptors Family of Primals from the game:

I’m really glad Matthew decided on a chargen video, if only to break up his many excellent looks at the different Families, which while excellent and informative indeed are still a lot of vids for a game rich in character choices. Getting into the actual decisions you’re likely to be making when you sit down as a player takes that flavorful info Matthew is so good at and brings it forward towards the game itself.

One of the reasons the meeting was a quick one is that a lot of our discussion and focus on the upcoming – a month from now! – is that we have finalized the panels and gaming sessions that we’re doing for this year’s Onyx Path Virtual Game Con.

Here are the scheds as we currently have them set up, and some changes may occur, but the basic tetris game of arranging it is pretty much complete – phew! First, the panels:

Here’s Travis with some thoughts as well:

June is nearly upon us and with it comes Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention 2025! In addition to the informative panels and entertaining actual plays we’ll be broadcasting, we’ve also got a weekend long event on the schedule at Startplaying.games! This is an opportunity to sign up to run games yourself, or to join a game run by professional Storyguides or fellow community members. Details and information at https://startplaying.games/event/onyx-path-2025

We’ve also received word that our events at Gen Con, real and in-person, are now open for folks to sign up for – so if you’re going to Gen Con and want to sit down for a scary and engaging session of Curseborne, you can get your seats here:

https://www.gencon.com/events?c=indy2025&host=Onyx%20Path%20Publishing

That busy guy Travis is back with another update – this one all about his plans for the Savage Worlds version of our classic fantasy setting, Scarred Lands:

On Tuesday 5/6 Aegis Studios is releasing Dagger of Spiragos (SWADE) in Advanced PDF at DriveThruRPG! This follow up to Gauntlet of Spiragos (SWADE) is the second part of the Spiragos trilogy following the heroes as they contend with newly discovered titanic artifacts. The Dagger of Spiragosmust be destroyed! When the heroes are sent on a mission to retrieve the rare materials required to destroy the relic, other forces assault them attempting to claim this potent item for their own ends. Can the heroes keep the dagger out of the wrong handslong enough to see it destroyed?

Dagger of Spiragos (SWADE) expands the Scarred Lands setting for Savage Worlds by including detailed information on the Fangsfall region of Ghelspad, presenting two new playable ancestries, and providing game traits for over 60 monsters & NPCS! Advancement guidelines provided in the book help take the ready-made characters introduced in Gauntlet of Spiragos (SWADE) to Heroic Rank!

Keep an eye out for more news and announcements regarding Scarred Lands Savage Worlds releases!

Amazing! That cover with the skeletal crocodiles was where I took advantage of the fake croc or gator skull I keep in the studio and used as a model for this cover illustration! Yes Mr. Tax Man, buying freaky toys is a business expense…

Boy, I wished that worked like that!

Anyway, it’s really interesting to see how Scarred Lands is doing with a new audience, and if you are one or know of any Savage Worlds, please do check these new projects out! (It’s totally not just the fun of seeing these old pieces of mine get new life, honest.)

Right now, I’m working on wrapping up some of the Curseborne family symbols, and on Monster Kingdoms with Matthew – in particular, we’re going over the big map of the setting and getting all the place names, in, well, in place. With dark fantasy like this, ya gotta have a map!

But whether any given game world needs a map or not, we know you’ll find your way through to:

Many Worlds, One Path!

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Blurbs!

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Crowdfunding!

Coming Next?…

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Onyx Path Media!

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

On this week’s Onyx Path News Matthew discusses Scion: Titans Rising and Curseborne: The Quisivore! Check it out right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDk9caXxJlE

On The Gentleman Gamer’s YouTube channel, we have a new Curseborne Character Creation session wherein we create a Raptor survivalist using the most up to date version of the manuscript: 

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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

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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!

Pugmire/Mau and some screens are 50% off at Studio 2:
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/

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).

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On Sale This Week!

Here’s your chance to pick up a delightful and really great book in support of the students who created it (with Matthew’s guidance): Lost City of the Oracle’s Amulet for They Came From the Cyclop’s Cave! in PDF and PoD versions going live on DTRPG Weds!

Plus, we have two sets of tokens for VTT play: one set for CofD with Kith and Kin, and one set for Exalted Exigents – both live on DTRPG this Weds!

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Conventions!

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

This year’s Onyx Path Virtual Game Con will be happening on June 6-8! Mark your calendars! Here’s the signup link for gaming:

https://startplaying.games/event/onyx-path-2025

Envoy will be running multiple demos of Curseborne at Gen Con, Thu, Jul 31, 2025 – Sun, Aug 3, 2025 in Indy, so sign up and get to actually play the game if you’re curious (but do it as soon as you can because Curseborn has been getting a lot of attention and is sure to sell out like happened at PAXunplugged), and we’ll have books and screens for sale at the Studio 2 booth. Here’s the signup link:

https://www.gencon.com/events?c=indy2025&host=Onyx%20Path%20Publishing

Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at StartPlaying is the last Friday of each month! Come play some Scion 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 April’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-april-2025/

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!

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

FIRST DRAFT

Curseborne – Accursed Adventure Supplement

• Writers are getting acquainted with the updated Curseborne manuscript and coming up with their plans for creepy scenarios that can be tied together into a campaign named the Lethean Triad!

REDLINES

Curseborne – Toil and Trouble: Curseborne Player’s Guide

• Toil and trouble, indeed! The writers worked very hard on their first drafts, and we ran into a wide variety of speedbumps, but we have everything in hand now and are eagerly diving into redlining.

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ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

• Ex3 Miracles of the Divine Flame – Map continuing to progress.
• Heroes of Action and Wonder – Tweaking art buy and getting it going.
• Curseborne – contracting and sending out artnotes….
• SCION Dragon Companion – Had to tweak the art buy a little bit… it’s off to Navella.
• SCION Rock Gods – Trying to tweak the art buy for this one… should have it contracted by end of next week.
• TC Danger Skies – Got Leblanc to do the interior.
• Pugmire 2e Beyond Pugmire – With HIVE and arting.
• Curious Cats – art is in.

Layout

• Scion Tasty Bit Combo
• TC Aether Screen
• SCION God Storyguide Screen
• Pugmire 2e Screen
• World Below Screen
• Ex3 Abyssals – Rolling along.
• SCION Mythic Shards – With Ron Thompson.
• Essence Novella Omnibus
• TC Aether Jumpstart 
• TC Anima AR 

Proofing

Ex3 Exigents Jumpstart – At Paradox for approval.

Indexing

At Press

• Ex 3 Exigents – Quoting.
• Ex 3 Exigents Screen – At Studio 2
• Ex 3 Sidereals – Quoting.
• TC Aether – Printing.
• Scion: God – Printing.
• SCION Wild Hunt – Prepping Advance PDF.
• SCION Demigod Companion – Out to KS backers for errata.
• TC Anima DLC – Out to KS backers for errata.
• CofD: Kith & Kin VTT Tokens – available Weds on DTRPG!
• Exalted Exigents VTT Tokens – available Weds on DTRPG!
• Lost City of the Oracle’s Amulet – PDF and PoD on sale this Wednesday as PWYW on DTRPG!

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Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

As above, Happy Cinco de Mayo to everyone! Here’s a bit more detail beyond it just being a day for Mexican-based food and drink: The celebration was originally held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. More popular in the United States than in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo became associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. Celebrations began in Columbia, California, where they have been observed annually since 1862. The day gained nationwide popularity beyond those of Mexican-American heritage in the 1980s due to advertising campaigns by beer, wine, and tequila companies; today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl. Plus today’s the birthday in 1983 of Henry Cavill, actor and super-geek; in 1944 of John Rhys-Davies, portrayer of Gimli and Indy’s best friend; and a year earlier legendary Michael Palin of Monty Python was also born; and a little more recently, in 1988, so was Adele. Happy birthday, all you Cinco de Mayo babies!