The pistons are churning, the engines are pumping, and our TC: Steam Wars crowdfunder on BackerKit is racing for the funding line even as I write this!
Once we pass that goal, I think you’re going to find the first Stretch Goal prettty interesting! Well, I hope so – because it adds an additional dimension to the already big-fighty-stuff nature of TC: Steam Wars.
Meanwhile, we’re continually fielding questions about the project, which is great, and we’ve prepared a series of vids we’re calling “Letters From the Front” that show off some of the wide possibilities inherent in the game while taking advantage of Larry Blamire’s gorgeous and flavorful illustrations. Those will be rolling out on our social media venues very soon!
In addition, Matthew has also done a series of informative vids about TC: Steam Wars, which are linked below in the Onyx Path Media section- check them out!
But in case you’d like to know more right now, here’s Matthew to clarify some aspects of TC: Steam Wars:
It’s wonderful to see Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars has nearly funded. Thank you all so much for your support so far, and please keep sharing the campaign!
We’ve had a good few questions submitted regarding TC: Steam Wars, so here’s an FAQ for you prospective backers:
1. Do you need another book to play Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars?
No! Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars is a self-contained rulebook and has everything you need to play games of Steam Wars and any spin-off you should wish to create for your group. There’s a multitude of options within for characters and rigs, so you can start playing immediately upon purchase!
2. Are characters regular people or Talents?
The term “Talents” isn’t used in Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars, but the characters are “talented.” They get access to a wide range or Edges that set them apart from regular humans, with some tied to rig warfare, and others having a wider context. Your characters are heroes in war and in the wider world.
3. Is this game They Came From or Trinity?
Larry Blamire has worked with us on the They Came From games, but this is most definitely a Trinity Continuum game.
4. Is this a Trinity Continuum game?
Steam Wars fits within the Trinity Continuum just like Aether, Aegis, and Anima. Steam Wars is the newest volatile element in the Trinity Continuum toolbox, setting 1897 up to be a very different year to the one we have in our recorded history. The book contains a depth of setting too, to help establish your stories and games.
5. Why is this a Storypath Ultra game?
We’ve conducted a lot of playtesting using SPU and find it more streamlined and more fun to play than Storypath. That’s not to say Storypath isn’t good; we came to the conclusion after much testing that Ultra was the version to use for this Trinity Continuum game.
6. Is airship combat a thing in TC: Steam Wars?
Absolutely! Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars sees a radical pace of war technology advancement, and with it, greater dangers to those operating them. If you want to use one of the skysleds from this game, have fun (and good luck)!
7. How does this link to the Trinity Continuum?
It’s a part of it. It’s linked in the sense that Aether may precede it and Adventure may follow it, at your table. Plus, some familiar characters from the Trinity Continuum show up in the setting for this game. You’ll find out even more when we drop the setting secrets as part of the backer manuscript.
8. Is all gameplay conducted inside a war rig?
No, not at all. Your character Roles are diverse and many of them excel outside the rig, especially the Envoy and Navigator, though all have their uses inside and outside their iron giant. This is a game that supports adventure, espionage, action, diplomacy, and of course, warfare.
If people have more questions, feel free to ask them here or in the comments on the BackerKit!
Thank you, Matthew!
Also, if you want to fire off some direct questions and get answers live, please join us on an AMA on our Onyx Path Reddit this coming Friday the 7th at 12 noon EST! We’ll be talking TC: Steam Wars, but really, any sort of questions – about other TC projects, Curseborne, Scion, Exalted, whatever you are interested in. Looking forward to talking with you then! https://www.reddit.com/r/OnyxPathRPG/
WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE SITE IS DOWN?
Which is what I said early this last Saturday morning. Sorry, for any of you trying to get on to our site, or forums, or…this place.
In cleaning up our various providers, one of them was not changed to correctly direct to our servers. Only takes one, but there you go. Ian rapidly diagnosed the issue and together we got things fixed up. And by together, I mean Ian really did the fixing, while I read off info for the fix that Ian needed. Things seem back to normal now – fingers crossed – but we are on the lookout for any weirdness we might have missed.
Slightly impacted but not too badly, our Storypath Nexus community content Game Jam started on Feb1, and our crew made sure that the info needed was available on our Discord, at least! Here’s more info about the Jam from Travis:
The 2nd Annual Storypath Nexus Game Jam started on February 1st! Full rules can be found at https://theonyxpath.com/storypath-nexus-game-jam-2025/ but the short version is you have until February 22nd to create your entry and publish on Storypath Nexus with #StorypathNexusGameJam2025 in the game’s description. Following that time we’ll be holding judging as well as audience voting with the winners announced on the Onyx Path Twitch at 8pm EST on February 28th, 2025.
This game jam offers prompts for every game line open for publication on the Storypath Nexus! The prompts are:
- Dystopia Rising: Evolution: Community: projects entered around the idea of building or maintaining a community.
- Scion: Changes: supplements centered around shifting from origin to hero or hero to demigod.
- They Came From…: Greenlight a Sequel: projects that are a follow up to any official story ranging from published adventures to published story hooks.
- Trinity Continuum: New Worlds: new dimensions, planets, or tangents.
I cannot wait to see what everyone submits! Looking forward to trying out your stuff!
We had some excellent conversations with folks stopping by our booth at Pax Unplugged last December that I touched on then, and I even mentioned the fantastic job our demo team were doing in introducing so many folks to Curseborne. But I never really talked about the company we’re working with to provide us that team.
Those folks are Double Exposure‘s Envoy program (https://www.dexposure.com/envoy/) who had demos of the Curseborne Ashcan that they worked from:
(https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/484466/curseborne-ashcan-edition)
and it was a great success! We’re working with the Envoy team again
this year for even more Curseborne demos, as well as Exalted: Essence,
Realms of Pugmire, The World Below, and more at several conventions that they let us know about.
The next convention is coming up soon. Be sure to get registered for
SaltCon soon! Details here:
https://tabletop.events/conventions/saltcon-spring-2025/schedule#?query=curseborne
And if you personally enjoy running demos and teaching new games at conventions?
Envoy is seeking more GMs! Details here:
https://www.dexposure.com/envoy/envoyheralds.html
Wanted to mention that this Wednesday, we’re putting out the TC: Tasty Bits Compilation! For those not aware: In 2021 and 2022, we released small PDF products for various Storypath games which we call “Tasty Bits”. Now we’ve combined everything for our Trinity Continuum Tasty Bits into one convenient book. While most of the Bits are tailored for specific games, as a whole, this book provides a wide variety of options, advice, and story hooks for any of your Trinity Continuum games!
This compilation contains the following products:
• New Lives (for Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook)
• The Phoebe Trust (for TC: Æon and TC: Core Rulebook)
• 22nd Century Pets (for TC: Æon)
• Amalgamated Idea Dynamics (for TC: Aberrant)
• The Earth Orbital Habitat (for TC: Aberrant)
• Les Fantômes (the original version for TC Core Rulebook)
• Polyphemus (the original version for TC Core Rulebook)
• The Queer Nova Alliance (for TC: Aberrant)
Wednesday is the Advance PDF, we’ll have a short errata period, and then we’ll move towards getting the physical book PoD out for ya’ll!
One of the things we are doing this year is trying to make sure that folks know the various things we have published, not just our upcoming projects that we’re currently working hard on and are excited about showing to all of you. We have been doing a monthly Release Roundup on our blog here, but with a lot of our audience getting their game news via vids, Matthew is intending to repurpose his last Onyx Path News each month into more of a release retrospective.
Not just what came out last month, but further back as well – AND he’s looking for questions to answer and specific topics to cover concerning our previous releases! Here’s his first Release Roundup video:
Just a second mention as a reminder, “if you want to fire off some direct questions live, please join us on an AMA on our Onyx Path Reddit this coming Friday the 7th at 12 noon EST! We’ll be talking TC: Steam Wars, but really, any sort of questions – about other TC projects, Curseborne, Scion, Exalted, whatever you are interested in.” You can even suggest topics that Matthew could use on one of his Release Roundup vids! https://www.reddit.com/r/OnyxPathRPG/
So, there you go- it was kind of a busy week, with lots more to come! We’re hoping to share some good news next week about printers and moving forward with those projects that need them even though the international import and shipping situation is changing all the time. It’s weird and wild out there, so join us in here on one of our:
Many Worlds, One Path!
Blurbs!
Crowdfunding!
Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars
ALMOST FUNDED!
https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/onyx-path/trinity-continuum-steam-wars
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 Travis discusses the Scarred Lands (of course he does), the Storypath Nexus Game Jam, Exalted, and Curseborne! Check it out right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trnk_MAeENk
On The Gentleman Gamer’s YouTube channel, we have a new Gentleman’s Guide to the Heirs with his guide to the heart-eating family of Hungry! Check out this official lore drop here: https://youtu.be/-Q4UO_9py4g
Matthew also introduced Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars here: https://youtu.be/C7O-PeRXAPM
And this evening, a guide on what you can play in TC: Steam Wars: https://youtu.be/IZgShfqu_8c
The Onyx Path Release Roundup went up last Wednesday 29th January at 16:00 GMT! Check that video out for all the latest releases and company updates!
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!
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
Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books, dice, and screens? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/
Select books and screens on sale at 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).
On Sale This Week!
Here are two releases for the Trinity Continuum!
Let’s start with the Advance PDF of the Trinity Continuum Tasty Bits Compilation, which contains the following products: • New Lives (for TC Core) • The Phoebe Trust (for TC: Æon and TC Core) • 22nd Century Pets (for TC: Æon) • Amalgamated Idea Dynamics (for TC: Aberrant) • The Earth Orbital Habitat (for TC: Aberrant) • Les Fantômes (the original version for TC Core) • Polyphemus (the original version for TC Core) • The Queer Nova Alliance (for TC: Aberrant) – available Weds on DTRPG!
Next, we have the PDF of the TC: Adventure! Storyguide’s Screen, also on sale Weds on DTRPG!
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 every 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 January’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-january-2025/
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!
Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:
REDLINES
Earthbane – Monster Kingdoms
- I’m picking through this one nice and slowly, as I want it to be as perfect as can be. The writers have done a stellar job with their first drafts, and I’ve no doubt finals will be even finer.
FINAL DRAFT
Curseborne – Curseborne Antagonist #3 (Mar 2025 Tasty Bit)
- The epoch draws ever nearer, and with it comes a special kind of hell.
POST-APPROVAL DEVELOPMENT
Trinity Continuum – Steam Wars
- Rich has approved the manuscript, so we’ll wait for the crowdfunder feedback and then make changes before slinging this one to editing!
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Ex3 Abyssals – Finals getting refined more.
- Ex3 Miracles of the Divine Flame – Non AI sketches for halves in. Gonna talk to Navella about the map.
- Ex3 Exigents Jumpstart – Sending to DAC. They are chomping at the bit.
- TCF Cyclops Cave Jumpstart – Checking with Sheikman to see if he has time.
- TCF Murder Lake Jumpstart – Gonna throw this all at Leblanc
- SCION Wild Hunt – TR stuff incoming so getting this going.
- SCION Titans Rising – Finals getting worked on. Having trouble with one artist.
- SCION Mythic Shards – One set of finals in….one more almost in.
- At The Gates – Have art notes. Need to see about some availability.
- Branch Riders – Gong’s working on it.
- TC: SteamWars (BK) – BackerKit crowdfunder running.
Layout
- Scion Tasty Bit Combo – This one is gonna be time consuming.
- 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
Proofing
- TC Anima Jumpstart (Terra Surge) – Backer errata gathering.
Indexing
At Press
- Reprints:
- Scion Origin – At Studio2, prepping for shipping to backers.
- TC Core – At Studio2, prepping for shipping to backers.
- Ex 3 Exigents – Quoting and press files.
- Ex 3 Exigents Screen – At Studio 2
- TC Aether – Talking with printer.
- Ex 3 Sidereals – Quoting and press files.
- Scion: God – Talking with printer.
- The World Below – Wrapping up everything this week and prepping PoD.
- TCF RPG Anthology – Getting quip cards and PoD files prepped.
- TC Aegis – Pg XXing.
- TC Tasty Bit Combo – Advance PDF available this Weds on DTRPG!
- TC: Adventure! Screen – PDF version available this Weds on DTRPG!
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
Here, let us celebrate what might have been if this event had not occurred: 1959 – Rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed in a plane crash along with the pilot near Clear Lake, Iowa, an event later known as “The Day the Music Died”. The most widely accepted version of events was that Richardson had contracted the flu during the tour and asked Jennings for his seat on the plane. When Holly learned that Jennings was not going to fly, he said in jest: “Well, I hope your damned bus freezes up.” Jennings responded: “Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes”, a humorous but ill-fated response that would haunt Jennings for the rest of his life. Valens, who once had a fear of flying, asked Allsup for his seat on the plane. The two agreed to toss a coin to decide.