Or more properly: Curseborne CovenANT!
(Pretty sure coven and covenant come from the same root words meaning a group come together in order to benefit from their combined power…for evil! Just kidding about the evil part – just used it for dramatic effect).
But our backers certainly have come together (Thanks, folks!) to enable our Kickstarter campaign to plow through its first week at almost 150% backing (I haven’t checked since I started writing this blog) and to achieve a new Curseborne novella and having started the Advanced Spells PDF Stretch Goals!
The great thing after a week goes by during one of our crowdfunder campaigns is that there’s enough of the text released to the backers that many, many, comments and discussions sprout up all over social media, and Curseborne Covenant is producing a bumper crop (of evil?)! It gives us a chance to get a feeling for what elements of the project are really working for people, and conversely what things ain’t!
So here’s Matthew with a bit of a topic roundup:
Hello all, it’s Matthew Dawkins, one of Curseborne Covenant’s co-developers!
I thought I’d come on to the blog to discuss some of the material we’ve seen already in the crowdfunder manuscript!
The Tattered World: I’ve seen a lot of folks at work discussing the Fae side of Curseborne Covenant, especially now they’re learned of some of the various Outsider factions that exist in our game. The Fae, the Archons, the Nitheryne.. Maybe more. Not just that, but I participated in an excellent discussion about the transition detailed in this chapter “from crews to conspiracies”, and how to elevate your own games to that level of play. The greatest praise I’ve seen has been the rules and guidance for creating your own liminalities and Outsides! If you’ve enjoyed these sections, please let us know!
Conspiracies: This is the chapter that’s driven most of the discussion so far, and I can’t say I’m surprised. The material here is incredibly strong and really drives this tier of Curseborne play, introducing a host of new playable conspiracies, some nice, some decidedly not. That’s been a part we’ve had to spend a little bit of extra time communicating, as some of our backers were under the impression that every conspiracy would be accessible from every Family and every Lineage. While the vast majority are indeed accessible to all, there are a handful for more specific styles of play. That said, I’d love to see a Battleground(GROUND) Angel in service to El Imperio Eterno.
Families: Another chapter that’s generated a lot of chatter on Discord and Reddit is the Shadow Families: those Accursed Families who work (willingly or not) for the Fae. These ones have really captured the collective imagination, with a lot of happiness about the bat-like Whisper Thieves. As with the conspiracies, some folks are unsettled by the corrupted/disruptive nature of some of these Families, but as far as I’m concerned this is a good thing. The Fae Families may as groups be working against Accursed society, putting them in an adversarial role for many campaigns, but all that means is you can run your Curseborne games from a different perspective, pushing them as protagonists or having characters who are part of the Family, but not sharing their ideals.
And let’s be honest, I’ve so far not seen one Heir played in Curseborne who loves their Family, so why should a Bone Collector or a grim from the Black Ledger?
Keep the chatter going over on your preferred social media! We’ll unlock more stretch goals if we let more people know about the book.
Matthew is also continuing his excellent series of vids examining various aspects of CB Covenant:
Cursebinding: https://youtu.
The First Shadow: https://youtu.be/
The Mirror Market: https://youtu.be/
Besides the ongoing crowdfunder, we have tons of additional news about various aspects of Curseborne, so let’s get right to it!
The Curseborne Community Content program is unlocking this week at Storypath Nexus, so we’ve reached out to several creators to prepare materials for launch day! Here’s what they have to say about their forthcoming releases:
Melody Haren Anderson
“Chrysalis of the Unbroken is about a liminality that is a story that echoes backward from a future that could be and has lead to a cult that wishes to bring it into being. They are zealous antagonists for the Accursed that consider the world and it’s people little more than resources to be harvested.
I’m proud to have been asked to be part of this release and wanted to share an idea I had a few weeks ago inspired by a joking comment made by a friend that I realized would be a perfect jumping off point for a world of curses.”
Awkward GM Corbin
“Living on the Edge is a collection of narrative focused Supernatural Edges and Role Paths. It has thematic abilities such as what if your Dead character’s primary vessel is an inanimate toy, animal corpse, or a literal skeleton.
Much of the book is inspired by the themes within each of the Families and Lineages. Like if Keepers of the Broken Vine are the gardeners of Paradise then their gardens on Earth must have some magic properties. I am very grateful to Onyx Path Publishing for letting me work on this for the official launch because I’ve been following the game before it was officially announced. There will definitely be a Game Jam in the near future, if my schedule pans out!”
Sean Creef
“Myroslav’s Myriad of Wonders is a collection of 25 relics, artifacts, and heirlooms from magic lighters to potent magical aids.
Awful Antagonists Volume 1: Monsters is a grouping of monstrous adversaries ranging from Shiver to Nightmare, with a bonus Shattered Space.
I like to run lots of games, so I have more ideas than I ever know what to do with, so I let them out on paper to share with others. And it’s a thrill to be putting out new Curseborne content!”
Ryan Wheeldon
“Chestnut Grove Library is an attempt to provide a way for a Crew to meet and have a location in common where they could meet useful SGCs, outside of the traditional bar while also adding a handful of thematic spells and providing a safe space for ritual casting that might have a cost attached.
It’s partly inspired by my desire to encourage library usage as a third space in an increasingly disconnected world, and partly by the feeling that library stacks can contain anything and take you anywhere.”
Wow! What a great start to the CB CC program – and such diverse topics to explore on top of it!
Definitely clean your butt.
Some good general advice noted during our Monday Meeting today.
We’ll share equally valid advice, and answer your questions, this Friday on Reddit! Yep, we’re doing one of our very popular Ask Me Anything sessions for a couple of hours starting at 10am US Eastern time this Friday the 16th on the r/rpg Reddit channel: https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg
Join us, won’t you?
While I could have put this info about the Curseborne Compact Edition up above, I really want y’all to see this as a very different project for us and one that we’re hoping will be super-useful to you! So it needs a little room down here away from the other main CB stuff to breathe a bit.
Part of that is that we made this CB Compact Edition in order to ease the burden that some folks expressed of having a) a big book, and b) a big book that was designed to immerse readers in the brand-new Curseborne setting. Which it was, at the time. But some folks wanted something a bit more tightly focused on direct info, and we heard you. It’s also smaller, so it’ll be easier to haul around and refer to!
But, as always, I like to have you folks hear about these things from the creators themselves, so here’s Matthew again:
Curseborne Compact Edition is coming out this week, so I wanted to briefly tell you why you might want to pick it up, even if you already own Curseborne!
Where Curseborne itself is the fully loaded version of the game, with massive amounts of lore, rumours, setting material, and subjective thoughts and opinions from characters in the world, Curseborne Compact Edition is the version that’s been cut back to the bone. It has all the mechanics, it has all of the same playable options, and it doesn’t shortchange you on anything needed to play. Instead of rumours and opinions, it has objective truths about the Accursed and their various powers.
Curseborne Compact Edition serves as a “just the facts, ma’am” version, presenting the Families in new and authentic ways. What’s more, there’s new material in there too, from story hooks and Edges, to status effects, tags, and locations in which to set your game.
In short, for those of you who really loved Curseborne and want a streamlined version for your gaming group, this is for you. And for those of you who found the lore of Curseborne too subjective for you to get into, this is also for you.
Not one spell has been missed and every Family is included. Keep your eyes open for all the secrets and easter eggs I ferreted away in there, too!
Here’s Travis on Twitch:
This week on Twitch, Mike Athey is completing his Trinity Continuum: Adventure! Air Circus! actual play, with the penultimate episode airing tonight and the finale airing on 10/19 at 8 PM EDT! If you’ve missed the story so far, fear not! Episodes are rolling out on our YouTube channel each week on Tuesday at 8:30 PM EDT!
Usually I wrap these blogs up with more publisher-y stuff or things that I’m working on, but I’m gonna use the space today to share some pics that Mirthful Mike Chaney shot and sent to me of the “hard proofs” of Curseborne sent to him by our printer. That term is what’s used for actual physical proofs vs viewing PDF proofs online, which are “soft proofs” We thought you might enjoy seeing these:
Oh, we’re so close now!
It’s just so great to see all the parts of a project come together – and we’re really looking forward to getting these all bound up and gorgeous and headed your way, wherever you are in the:
Many Worlds… One Path!
Blurbs!
Crowdfunding!
Curseborne Covenant on Kickstarter!
Almost 150% funded in a week! Multiple Stretch Goals achieved!
Follow the moth to the campaign page to check out all the horror! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/curseborne-covenant
Onyx Path Media!
Check out Travis’ note in the blog above for the programming on our Twitch channel this week!
In this week’s Onyx Path News, Matthew covers Danger Skies!, Scarred Lands, and Curseborne Covenant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChQ8sL9SbnE
Over on The Gentleman Gamer YouTube channel, we have new videos about:
Cursebinding: https://youtu.
The First Shadow: https://youtu.be/
The Mirror Market: https://youtu.be/
If you’re making media content regarding any of our games, please get in touch so we can profile it on the blog!
Virtual Tabletop!
Check it out now! The Scion Demiplane Nexus! Click here for Early Access:
Campaigns for Scion Nexus went live last week as well. This blog post explains how Campaigns work on Demiplane:
https://www.demiplane.com/blog/campaigns-have-arrived
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!
Chronicles of Darkness, Monarchies of Mau, and more are up to 50% off for a limited time over at our Studio 2 shop:
https://studio2publishing.com/collections/onx-onyx-path-publishing
And don’t forget to let your local game store they can order direct
from Studio 2. Details here:
https://studio2publishing.com/pages/retailers
As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles in PDF and PoD versions at DriveThruRPG.com!
The Month of Darkness Sale is on now!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/4261/onyx-path-publishing?promo=1000223
https://www.drivethrufiction.com/en/publisher/4261/onyx-path-publishing?promo=1000611
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!
Easy to read, easy to carry: the Curseborne Compact Edition arrives easily – Advance PDF this Weds on DTRPG!
As noted above, we’re also releasing the tools to create Curseborne Community Content on the Storypath Nexus site!
Also, on RedBubble this Weds, we have the third batch of Family Symbols – The Primal and the Sorcerers– merch for Curseborne!
On Sale Last Week!
We take to the SKIES…the DANGER SKIES! An adventure for Trinity Continuum: Adventure! – PDF and PoD versions only on DTRPG!
Also, on RedBubble, we have the third batch of Family Symbols – The Outcasts – merch for Curseborne!
Conventions!
Here’s where you can find out more info on physical and virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!
GameHoleCon October 15th – 18th): Check out these Curseborne games to play there:
Twin Cities Con – November 20th – 22nd (Game Room demos).
PAX Unplugged – December 4th – 6th (Studio 2 will have our books and more).
Project Status Updates!
Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out September’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-september-2026/
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!
Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:
First Draft
Jadestorm Novella #2 – Flowers of the Ash Prince
- This novella allows us to dive into the precarious power structures and political intrigue of the world of Eos, as we travel to murky Ash-Daun for adventure!
Jadestorm Jumpstart and RMCs
- Let’s all head to the realm of the Sun Tyrant to resurrect everyone’s favourite Malefic!
Editing
SPU Tasty Bit – Support Cast (November 2026)
- The November Tasty Bit is ready for editing!
The Lords and Ladies of Rot (Jan Tasty Bit for The World Below)
- So is the January Tasty Bit! We’re going to have lots of small treats for folks in the coming months.
Eye of the Storm (Curseborne Novella)
- The second novella form the Curseborne Player’s Guide Kickstarter is off to editing! Another 30,000 words of spine-tingling Curseborne fiction.
Post-Editing Development
The Advent of Silt (The World Below)
- Woohoo! Excellent edits on this one. We’re well on our way on this West Marches-style campaign.
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Ex3 Infernals – Awaiting finals.
- Ex3 Champions of the Divine Flame – In progress with the DAC guys.
- Ex3 Liminals (BK) – Art going to Paradox for approval.
- Ex3 Sidereals Companion – With Gong.
- Ex Essence STG – Working on art buy for the rest of the book.
- TCF Murder Lake Jumpstart – Sending out artnotes.
- Curseborne Solo – Fixing something I thought was taken care of.
- Curseborne PG Jumpstart – Small project in the grand scheme… so knocking it out asap.
- Curseborne Seattle – Okay… sending out the notes for the fulls.
- TC Aether Player’s Guide – Fixing another thing I thought was taken care of.
- TC From the Shadows – Digging up some reference.
- Curseborne Covenant (KS) – Ongoing.
Layout Queue
- Monster Kingdoms – As soon as Essence PG is done with errata and PoD… getting this rolling.
- TC Aeon Tasty Bit Omnibus #2 – Knocking this out this week while things are proofing.
- PUGMIRE 2E Screen
- ROP Curious Cats of Mau Screen
- Curseborne Digital Wallpaper
- Curseborne PG – With Ron Thompson.
Proofing Queue
- Pugmire Adventures
At Press
- Curseborne – More hoops to jump through and taking photos of hard proofs – see pics above.
- Curseborne Screen – Printing.
- Curseborne Jumpstart – Awaiting cover hard proof.
- Making of Curseborne – Printing.
- Curseborne Slipcase – Awaiting cutlines from printer.
- Curseborne Dice – Getting those rolling along.
- Ex Essence PG – With Backers. Errata ends Wednesday.
- TWB Underworld Adventures – Backer PDF out to backers this week for sure.
- Curseborne Community Content Stuff– This Wednesday on the Storypath Nexus CC Site!
- Curseborne Primal and Sorcerer Family symbols shirts – Available this Weds on RedBubble!
- Curseborne Compact Edition – Advance PDF available this Weds on DTRPG!
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
Here’s some freaky factoids for your gaming use, in honor of it being October, that happened today in:
1692 – The Salem witch trials are ended by a letter from Province of Massachusetts Bay Governor William Phips.
1773 – America’s first insane asylum opens.
1798 – Flemish and Luxembourgish peasants launch the rebellion against French rule known as the Peasants’ War.
1810 – The citizens of Munich hold the first Oktoberfest in celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Louis of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
1856 – An M 7.7–8.3 earthquake off the Greek island of Crete causes major damage as far as Egypt and Malta.
1871 – The British in India enact the Criminal Tribes Act, naming many local communities “Criminal Tribes”.
1933 – The military Alcatraz Citadel becomes the civilian Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.
1960 – Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pounds his shoe on a desk at the United Nations to protest a Philippine assertion.
1962 – The Columbus Day Storm strikes the U.S. Pacific Northwest with record wind velocities. There was at least U.S. $230 million in damages and 46 people died.
1973 – President Nixon nominates House Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford as the successor to Vice President Spiro T. Agnew.
1983 – Japan’s former Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei is found guilty of taking a $2 million bribe from the Lockheed Corporation, and is sentenced to four years in jail.
1994 – The Magellan spacecraft burns up in the atmosphere of Venus.
1999 – The former Autonomous Soviet Republic of Abkhazia declares its independence from Georgia.
2019 – The Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans, which is under construction, collapses, killing three workers and injuring 30 others. Also in 2019 – Typhoon Hagibis makes landfall in Japan, killing 10 and forcing the evacuation of one million people.
The etymologies in my trusty American Heritage College Dictionary says they both come from “convene” (coven via “convent”), which it traces to hypothesized proto-Indo-European kom-gwa (“come or go beside, near, by, or with”). Now you know, and knowing is half the Mandatory Educational Content Segment™. Or, if you still don’t know, at least you’re confused on a higher level and about more important things. As always, the Mgt. apologizes for any convenience this may cause.
Soooo much good Curseborne material this week!