Happy New Year!
Here we are in 2025, looking eagerly forward towards a fresh new year! (If you want to check out all we did in 2024, here’s the link to that blog post by our own Ian Watson): https://theonyxpath.com/release-retrospective-2024/
But it’s this year, 2025, that we’re talking about! We have multiple core rulebooks that are going to wind up in your hands this year – both on DTRPG and as crowdfunding rewards – as well as all the Stretch Goal supplements and regular books not even a part of a crowdfunder. Realms of Pugmire. The World Below. Branch Riders. At The Gates. The Storypath Ultra Core Manual. Several Trinity Continuum cores.
And, of course, Curseborne.
Those are the core books, and we’re also looking at a raft of “fatsplats” for Exalted and a big, big book for They Came From!
Plenty to do, for us, and plenty to enjoy, for you, that’s for sure!
Right now, today, knowing we have all these great books to finish up and get into your hands, I asked the Onyx Path crew if they had any thoughts about the next year, and classic New Year’s Resolutions, or even just resolutions with a small “r”. These then, are their replies:
Eddy: This year I am resolved to develop more books outside of Pugmire. I love Pugmire, and that’s definitely not slowing down, but I’m also excited by some of our other games, and I’d like to change things up a bit.
LisaT: My resolution is to improve a few office processes that don’t seem to be working as well as they could. Sometimes change is good!
Ian: Much like last year: get more people playing what is now the longest-running edition of the best game we make, the Trinity Continuum! Especially since this past year gave us TC: Aether and the Trinity Continuum Player’s Guide, both of which open up lots of fun options for reality-hopping adventures.
Dixie: My resolution is to continue spreading the Curseborne love, while also playing new games and running them for other people. I’m especially excited to run all of the current Earthbane Cycle games, including the one I’m currently writing for!
Travis: My New Year’s resolution is to explore and expand upon all of the beautiful worlds we’ve created. I want to find new opportunities for storytelling and new ways to express the themes of our many worlds!
But I’m also going to work very hard to occasionally stop, take a breath, look around and appreciate the amazing work we get to do thanks to the support and passion exhibited by the fans. I’m grateful to be able to tell these stories. Thank you for allowing me to do so!
Danielle: My New Year’s resolution is to get At the Gates ready for publication and create some new content for it. Additionally, I resolve to recognize my limits and not take on too much work.
Mike: My New Year’s Resolution is to take nothing for granted. Everything is important… especially the small stuff.
RichT: Lose weight, exercise more, keep working with Mirthful Mike on book layout and design – just generally do more creative things but not at the expense of the biz things! A large part of the next three months will be concept art for Monster Kingdoms, and then more symbols for Scion, the rest of the symbols for Curseborne in the next six months. So I’m thinking if I can do all that and do the first two things, I’m on my way towards nailing these resolutions!
“Eddy Didn’t Set This”
I really never know the why’s and wherefore’s of the headers that start off each Monday Meeting on Discord, so your guess is as good as mine with this one above. Did somebody else besides Eddy write it so that we’d know he didn’t? Or did Eddy write it to put us off his trail, like Professor Moriarty? Or does it mean something entirely different…?
No matter what it means, there’s lots happening at OP Central, with some announcements, changes, and additions here at the start of the new year! Let’s get right to it:
First, check this out:
What’s that vid all about? Well, after some frankly brutal and vicious negotiations last year, Onyx Path has issued a license for the Scarred Lands setting to Aegis Studios so that they can create a version of Scarred Lands using the Savage Worlds System! We’re hoping that Aegis can use their expertise with Savage Worlds to introduce SL to a brand-new audience! As one of the original creators of Scarred Lands, I’m really looking forward to seeing where this combination of Savage and Scarred will take us!
And here’s Travis Legge, founder of Aegis Studios with some thoughts of his own:
I’m thrilled beyond words to be able to talk about my company, Aegis Studios, partnering with Onyx Path to bring Scarred Lands to the Savage Worlds system! Aegis Studios has held an ACES license with Pinnacle Entertainment Group — the publishers of Savage Worlds — since the ACES program rolled out. The ACES license allows Aegis Studios to publish third party Savage Worlds content, and over the years has enabled us to publish such games as Citizens Divided, Contagion Savage Adventures, and Odysseys & Overlords Second Edition, which we successfully Kickstarted in 2023! Savage Worlds is a fast, furious, and fun rules system that is quick to pick up and easy to play.
When creating Odysseys & Overlords Second Edition it became clear to me just how well the Savage Worlds rules could work to capture the dynamic heroism, supreme villainy, and incalculable magic of the Scarred Lands setting. Furthermore, the Savage Worlds fanbase is huge, enthusiastic, and has shown a deep love for fantasy settings. This licensing agreement will allow us to bring Scarred Lands to a whole new audience who may not otherwise encounter the world of Scarn while offering existing fans a new way to explore this rich and expansive setting!
As a longtime fan, contributor, and developer for Scarred Lands, I’m deeply grateful to Onyx Path for the chance to bring the Scarred Lands into a new sandbox. Keep your eyes peeled, as we will be announcing specific releases soon!
As Travis notes, keep an eye out for more info on upcoming releases!
Playing a little catch-up with this announcement, as it started while we were on break, but the New Year, New Game Sale over on DTRPG and Roll20 is rolling with amazing sales discounts on most of our projects!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/4261/onyx-path-publishing?promo=44298
https://www.storytellersvault.com/rpg_newyear.php?manufacturers_id=4261
I noted this several times last year, but am restating it now here in the year where you might notice the change: the Onyx Pathcast has ended its weekly broadcast and will instead appear as special events in 2025. The Pathcast gang are simply exhausted with the astounding number of episodes they have put together with insight, laughter, farty horns, and string, and need a gap year to refresh.
Which seems fair to me!
We’ve mentioned these before, but as we’re speaking of changes: this year each of our Tasty Bits at the end of each month will feature a menace or antagonist for Curseborne. Lots of folks wanted more ideas for Curseborne during the wildly energized and successful Kickstarter, so we figured that while we’re getting the book ready for PDFing, we could make sure nobody was cut off cold turkey as well as provide some additional breadth and answers to many folk’s questions with a Tasty Bit PDF each month.
Another change for ’25, is that Matthew would like to dedicate his last broadcast of the Onyx Path News each month to a feature we’re currently (and tentatively) calling Matthew Updates YOUR Favorite Project. Rather than his usual updates on the projects that are most in our heads each week, he’d like to receive submissions from all of you as to which books, or other projects, you would like to have him go into detail about.
This can be a project at any stage of production, or even post or pre-production – Matthew will look into just what’s going on with it! Is a book delayed? Are you worried about a project you heard about but can’t find on the schedule? Do you want to know who did the art in a recently released book, or whether you can order it in stores? Ask Matthew and if it is humanly possible, he’ll reply with an answer during the last Onyx Path News of each month!
Which you’ll be able to watch here in this blog and on our YouTube channel, at your convenience. Due to just how delightfully inquisitive a lot of our fans are, we’re limiting this to five questions per response, as we don’t want to drown the poor fellow! Here’s the link to the question entry form: https://forms.gle/qMQBXxXRVHjLUYp86
Today at the Monday Meeting, we all were able to express our sorrow together at the death of long-time WW and Onyx Path fan, interviewer, and all-around smart and helpful enthusiast Terry Robinson, which occurred while we were on break. Terry interviewed me multiple times over the years, always with insightful questions and many laughs, even about subjects that he clearly took very seriously and had in-depth knowledge of. I always ended each interview wanting to go longer (and sometimes we did), but I think that many people wanted more at the end of his podcasts – that’s how good he was.
Here’s a link for more about Terry: http://magethepodcast.com/in-loving-memory-of-terry-robinson-1984-2024/
We’re all going to miss him.
So we start 2025 with quite a mixed bag of notes; some looking excitedly towards next year, some adjusting how we’re headed there, and with sorrow for those of our friends and family and fans who won’t be participating in the journey with us. Although I normally use a kind of goofy little segue to end this blog with our tagline, this week let me just say that we are so glad to start this new year with all of you, and we’ll all go together to:
Many Worlds, One Path!
Blurbs!
Crowdfunding!
Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars
Coming Early in ’25!
Onyx Path Media!
Check out our attached abbreviated media schedule for the videos on our Twitch channel this week!
On this week’s Onyx Path News Matthew discusses upcoming 2025 releases, the Trinity Continuum: Aether Audio Book, Realms of Pugmire 2e, and more! Check it out right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQEoOD_Axas
On The Gentleman Gamer’s YouTube channel, we have a new Gentleman’s Guide to the Accursed with his guide to the League of the Hidden Crossroads family of the Outcasts! Check out this official lore drop about the Faustians here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckEgkHkBCrI
Virtual Tabletop!
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!
CofD Screens and Pugmire/Mau books, screens, and dice 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 New Year, New Game Sale is on now at DTRPG/STV/Roll20:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/4261/onyx-path-publishing?promo=44298
https://www.storytellersvault.com/rpg_newyear.php?manufacturers_id=4261
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!
These and other beautiful The World Below shirts and other merch are available this Wednesday only on our RedBubble store!
Conventions!
Here’s where you can find out more info on physical and virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!
Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at StartPlaying is the last Friday of each month! Come play some Curseborne 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 December’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-december-2024/
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!
Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:
EDITING
Branch Riders – Facilitator’s Guide
- The Facilitator’s Guide is a small manual of advice for trained experts on how to use Branch Riders in their therapy sessions. Not something you’ll necessarily pick up casually in a game store, but still a cool idea we’re excited about!
Curseborne – Curseborne Antagonist #2 (Feb 2025 Tasty Bit)
- The Nexus is coming….
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Ex3 Abyssals – Finals in.
- Ex3 Miracles of the Divine Flame – Full page sketch approvals sent.
- SCION Wild Hunt – Getting this rolling.
- SCION Mythic Shards – Maria sending out artnotes.
- TC Danger Skies – Sending interior halfs over to Leblanc and pinging Durwin about the cover.
- TC Aether Jumpstart – Pinging Durwin about the cover.
- At The Gates – Awaiting artnotes.
- Branch Riders -Ditto.
Layout
- Trinity Continuum CC – Getting this on wrapped up.
- Scion Tasty Bit Combo
- Ex Essence Pillars of Creation
- TC With Great Power
- TCF RPG Anthology
- TC Aether Screen
- SCION God Storyguide Screen
- World Below Screen
- Pugmire 2e Screen
- SCION God Storyguide Screen
- TC Anima Jumpstart (Terra Surge) – with Ron Thompson
Proofing
- TCF RPG Anthology – Jfc it’s a lot of book. Inputting fixes.
- TC Aegis – Awaiting additional text.
Indexing
At Press
- Reprints:
- Scion Origin – At Studio2.
- TC Core – At Studio2.
- Ex 3 Exigents – Quoting and press files.
- Ex 3 Exigents Screen – At Studio 2
- TC Aether – Quoting and press files.
- Ex 3 Sidereals – Quoting and press files.
- Scion: God – Quoting and press files.
- The World Below – Filling in xxs.
- Ex Essence Deeds Yet Undone – Inputting errata.
- M20 Faces of Magick – Going out to backers.
- M20 Forbidden and Forgotten Orders – Going out to backers.
- Redbubble – The World Below T-shirts this Weds!
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
Post New Year we have some birthdays today of folks that y’all might be into: 1969 – Norman Reedus, American actor, known for playing the zombie destroying crossbow hunter Darryl Dixon on the Walking Dead; and in 1984 – Kate McKinnon, hilarious American actress and comedian, known for her many years and characters on SNL, her “Egon” role in Ghostbusters, and as Weird Barbie!
Happy New Year!
And to you!
Well that would certainly explain why Scarred Lands has been so quiet. Will it effectively be moving entirely over to Savage Worlds?
No, not really. We’re going to leave plenty of space for Aegis’ licensed efforts to keep the focus, but then we’ll be doing more with SL ourselves.
Tragic news about Terry. I only had a few interactions with him over the years, but he was always friendly.
He really was, and even with all of his years of knowledge he seemed really nice to new players – that might be why he was so good at the “newb” role on the Exalted podcast.
Terry was a great guy. Always ready to help a person in need. He ran Mage for my group only a week before Pax Unplugged this past year. We also hung out a bit there. We were planning a dinner & game night for a few in my group at his place when I got the news of his passing. I’m gonna miss ya, Pal.
Condolences. Maybe a memorial game at some point in his honor?
So, cart before the horse and all that, but how soon can we expect more Curseborne books? Like, is the same day the Core releases to close a target for the players guide KS?
Some of the Curseborne Stretch Goal projects can be released before the core as they don’t require it, so you might see those before the core PDF to backers, but yes, ideally we’d have the core PDF out to backers _and then_ we’d start the next Curseborne KS. Time will tell if that’s how it goes…remember the Curseborne curse!
Nice to see Wild Hunt moving forward!