Last week, we sent out backer PDFs for Scion‘s Masks of the Mythos to the swarm of Kickstarter backers who were waiting with tentacles a-twitching. I had a lot of fun working with Mirthful Mike on the look and layout of this one – it’s Scion BUT it’s its own disturbing Cthulhoid thing – and so I was really glad to hear how much backers were enjoying digging into the PDF.
Remember, this is the Backer PDF, so a lot of our Kickstarter supporters already had a chance to read through the text during the KS, as we released it in sections during the month of the campaign, as we’ve been doing with our crowdfunding projects for a few years.
As backers were digesting the material, a few posted that they couldn’t find Lilith in the PDF, although she’s still mentioned. Yet she was in the KS text they read. So, where are yooouuuu Lilith?
The answer is, we changed her entry. She was originally included because she was mentioned in the original material, but upon review and some consulting with folks that would know, we decided that using her as she had been would continue a problematic depiction. And the antagonist really didn’t require that connection at all.
That’s the reason for the change. We actually put the text out there for that chance to have somebody out there catch something we missed – and that can be a spelling error, a rules glitch, or something cultural like in Lilith’s case. We know we’re not perfect, and we do listen when people tell us things!
That means, though, that changes may happen between your KS text, to your Backer or Advance PDF, right through to the printed book. Sometimes these are the usual tweaks to a word or a sentence here or there that our eagle-eyed community brings to our attention, and sometimes the change is more drastic.
(In fact, the biggest change to Masks of the Mythos is that we actually added in the companion stretch goal book that was achieved during the KS because both projects came together at the same time and complemented each other so well. I didn’t expect that we’d go that way, but it made sense and makes for a stronger book overall.)
But. We need to make changes! It’s a big part of our process now, an iterative quality boost sort of thing, which we need when trying to produce high-quality TTRPG projects. Thanks for understanding!
Meanwhile, we hope folks are gearing up for the next Onyx Path Gamenight at Start.Playing Games on Friday, Sept. 30th! Info to sign up to run and play games at the link below. It’s a great chance to try out your favorite games, and also to give other games, that you might not have the group for, a try!
This month’s game night features Pugmire, since this is Pugmire month (see below), but any and all of our games and gamers are welcome!
Not directly tied to Pugmire month, but welcome none-the-less, Noble Knight Games is having a big sale on our physical books! NKG has carved a well-respected niche with an amazing selection of TTRPGs across both the industry and back through time, so we’re thrilled they have been great supporters of Onyx Path these ten years, and that they’ve decided to run this sale: https://www.nobleknight.com/Publisher/Onyx-Path-Publishing
Check it out!
When Pugmire Was A Puppy!
Last week, as the start of our Pugmire celebration month for our Onyx Path 10th Anniversary Celebration I excerpted some of Eddy’s posts on his thoughts about the challenges he ran into creating Pugmire. Then I thought I’d talk this week a little bit about working on the initial visuals – BUT, the lovely LisaT and myself have been moving houses for what seems like months, and I still can’t find my sketchbook containing my early Pugmire sketches. I know it’s in a box…but which one?!
So, I’ll just mention how we’ve got the Pugmire celebratory sales going: 50% at IPR for physical books, and our 90% off sale on select Pugmire PDFs at DTRPG. Just as a heads-up, we’re going to be putting a selection of different Pugmire PDFs on sale this coming Friday the 16th, so grab what you want of the current sale before then!
And this week’s Onyx Pathcast sees a different group of players adventure in Pugmire as Eddy and Dixie are joined by Danielle!
But I will tell one little story about the early development of Pugmire, which ties into one of the key elements that makes the setting so awesome for me: the Code of the Church of Man. The whole Code is great, and the reason behind it, but the very first line was all I needed to buy-in to the world when Eddy first pitched it: Be a Good Dog.
What an excellent way to set up a world setting and springboard a variety of adventures! Or, at least, that was my gut-feeling, and Eddy’s, but we really didn’t know if gamers would feel the same way. Would the line resonate with anybody else?
We just didn’t know.
So, we playtested it at MidWinter Con that January, and sat down at a table with a bunch of experienced roleplayers. It was sort of super-secret, although we didn’t shoo anybody away, and Eddy ran the game while I observed the players’ reactions.
Our Shepherd would heal while chanting “Be a good dog”, so that was a good sign it was getting into the heads of the players as a viable part of the world. Very cool. But then we got into the final battle. Desperate measures were needed as the final monster fight was brutal, with characters collapsing and the Shepherd running over to heal them one after the other. The metal knight monster crashed towards the healer, but Sgt. Leo Bulldog jumped in front and took the hits before reeling back and slamming his sword right through the creature’s armored neck and decapitating it.
As it crashed to the ground, the bloody and panting Leo (he had one Stamina point left) straddled the armored form, and his player also stood up, arms over his head, and shouted out:
I AM a good dog!
We knew that the Code worked just fine, then.
Hopefully, I’ll find those sketches next week and be able to share how we created an entire marketing campaign based on that playtest!
Until then, I repeat:
TEN YEARS, MANY WORLDS, ONE PATH!
BLURBS!
KICKSTARTER/CROWDFUNDING!
Coming next on crowdfunding… Scion: God!
Onyx Path Media!
This week:
Continuing the month of Pugmire, Eddy runs Dixie and Danielle through a one-shot Squeaks adventure!
As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/
Onyx Path Media now has its own blog on Tuesdays! We’ll continue posting our highlight of the week here, but Tuesday will be the day to visit if you want to catch up on actual plays, interviews, deep dives, and other assorted Onyx Path media!
Please check out our attached media schedule for the impressive number of 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!
MEDIA HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK:
They’re back, baby! Aberrant: Atomic Youth by Simulacra TV has returned for season three of its excellent show! Check them out and give them your support. https://youtu.be/Q3weOAZCybo
The Onyx Path News goes live every single week to discuss recent and upcoming releases, dive into some of our most anticipated books, and answer questions from the audience. You can find it on our YouTube channel (click the bell to be informed when we go live!) but if you missed the last episode, here it is: https://youtu.be/q_2fYzHGXKM
Virtual Tabletop!
The Scion: Origin Compendium is now available on Roll20!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/compendiumexpansion/12522/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin
It’s native to Roll20, so not for use elsewhere, but perfect for starting your Roll20 Scion game – plus, the official Origin & Hero sheets are already available!
And the first of our official sheets designed for Roll20 are now available!
The first of our official sheets designed for Foundry VTTis now available!
Direct Link: https://foundryvtt.com
As they say: “Foundry Virtual Tabletop is a self-hosted roleplaying platform with support for hundreds of game systems with modern features and a developer-friendly API. Foundry VTT is a one-time purchase where your players connect for free using a web browser.”
More VTT offerings and projects will be arriving this year!
On DrivethruRPG, here is the main filter for all of our current VTT content:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/4261/Onyx-Path-Publishing?filters=0_0_0_45317_0
A few highlights of our platform agnostic DTRPG content:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/309127/Scarred-Lands-Creature-Collection-VTT-Token-Pack
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/317690/Trinity-Continuum-Hunt-for-the-Red-Widow-VTT
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/340327/Trinity-Continuum-Aeon-VTT-Tokens
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/311578/Scarred-Lands-VTT-Separation-Anxiety
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/311580/Scion-2e-VTT-Origin-Signature-Tokens
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/311579/Scion-2e-VTT-Hero-Signature-Tokens
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/
Pugmire/Mau books and dice are 50% off at IPR this month:
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!
Select Pugmire/Mau PDFs are 90% off at DTRPG:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/saleguide.php
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/4261/Onyx-Path-Publishing/subcategory/8329_23127/Pugmire
These will be available until Friday, when a new set of various Pugmire PDFs will go on sale!
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).
Check out the Trinity Continuum: Aeon novellas Dawn and Meridian in the Kindle store!
On Sale This Week!
It’s Wallpaper Wednesday! All Wallpapers! All the time!
Or at least the:
Squeaks in the Deep Wallpaper
Scion Demi-God Wallpaper
Dead Man’s Rust Wallpaper
Technocracy Reloaded Wallpaper
All available this Weds on DTRPG!
Conventions!
Because dates for physical conventions are subject to change due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we don’t yet have a list of upcoming physical conventions. Instead, keep an eye out here for more virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!
Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at Start.Playing is Friday the 30th, this month! Our special focus is the Realms of Pugmire!
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
And now, the new project status updates!
Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out August’s full list report here:
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY
Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:
Redlines
Trinity Continuum – Brave New Worlds
- Eddy: Drafts are all in! Can’t wait to see this sourcebook on Talents exploring space, underwater, and even time!
Final Draft
Trinity Continuum – Tasty Bit – Queer Nova Alliance
- Eddy: I was really happy with the draft for this, so it was easy to redline and turn around. Should see the final draft soon for this advice on playing queer characters in Trinity Continuum: Aberrant.
Post-Approval Development
TC: Aberrant – From the Shadows
- Eddy: It’s approved! Soon the developer will be digging into the comments on this book of nova espionage.
Trinity Continuum – Talents Player’s Guide
- Eddy: Also approved! The developer is already working on the comments for this great companion piece to the Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook.
Editing
Mage: The Ascension – Medley Through the Mirrorshades (was Technocracy Novellas)
- Matthew: Once again back to being a Melody over a Medley (blame a confused old developer with faulty cybernetic eyes supplied by a rogue Virtual Adept posing as a good, honest member of Iteration X), our Mirrorshades fiction novellas jump ahead to editing with great gusto and aplomb!
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Exalted Essence – Fancy fiction artwork being worked on.
- Ex3 Sidereals KS – KS artwork contracted out.
- TC Anima – Contracting art out for the book itself now.
- CtL2e The Hedge – Art buy worked out… awaiting notes.
- MtAw Tome of the Pentacle – Art buy worked out… awaiting notes.
In Layout
- Squeaks Jumpstart – Workin on it.
Proofing
- TC Proteus Nova Compendium
Indexing
- Scion Dragon
At Press
- Scion Demigod – KS books at fulfillment shipper.
- Scion Demigod Screen – Shipping to KS shipper.
- Squeaks in the Deep Screen – Shipping to KS shipper.
- Squeaks in the Deep – KS books at fulfillment shipper.
- Squeaks in the Deep Bookmarks – At KS shipper.
- Hunter: The Vigil 2e – KS books at fulfillment shipper.
- HTV 2 Screen – Shipping to KS shipper.
- Scarred Lands: Dead Man’s Rust – KS books at fulfillment shipper.
- TC Novas Worldwide – PoD files prepped.
- M20 Sorcerer – Errata being input.
- Scion Players Guide: Saints and Monsters – Errata being input.
- Scion Dragon – Errata-ing with KS backers.
- MTC Book of Lasting Death – Errata input.
- CtL 2e Kith and Kin – Awaiting errata.
- TC: Mission Statements – Awaiting errata.
- Scion Masks of Mythos – Out to KS backers for errata pass.
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
Today Scion: Demigod (first edition) is 15 years old! If you prefer to celebrate people here in the Reason to Celebrate, then you can rejoice that tomorrow is the birthday, supposedly, of the late, un-lamented, White Wolf intern of old: Bax Masterson. Bax was intern during a particularly tumultuous time at WW and he really got the short end of the stick. Literally. He was often hit with a little stick in order to get him to do the drudge jobs he was handed. What fun times we had back then!
Lilith is also one of Halsey’s coolest songs
Exactly. Lilith has a lot of cultural and pop-cultural meaning in a bunch of different ways, but most of that came after ol’ HP used the name as he did. We felt like leaning in on the later meanings doesn’t eliminate how Lilith was used in the original story, and that does bring up some bad connotations that we don’t think we need to continue. Thanks!
So I don’t much much to comment on this week, though the various updates look cool (especially looking forward the Trinity stuff, like the Core expansions and Adventure!) but I did want to speak on the Virtual Tabletop section. Its so long and its the same couple of sheets, seemingly anyway, week to week. I’m not saying I object to the tabletop area being talked about but its such a long thing with just a character sheet.
See, I don’t know who checks the MMN blog each week or with what degree of noting things until they need them. It can be up for 50 weeks but then on the 51st – boom, somebody sees it and is interested and checks the material out. Since you already know about it, please do feel free to scroll right past it. Thanks!
So, just for 100% clarity, does that mean we should report any mentions of Lilith in the rest of the text as an error to be fixed? Or is she still meant to be part of the setting despite not being a written up pantheon member and those mentions are fine?
If you feel it is confusing or a mistake, please do use the errata unless somebody like a dev or one of the in-house devs says not to. Thanks for checking!
“Exalted Essence – Fancy fiction artwork being worked on,” UGH, cant wait to see the results. I needs that sweet sweet backer PDF.
Sooooo apparently I miss the KS update that said Whispers was just getting put into Mask of the Mythos and I have tosay I wa sblindsided but like ina good way. Saves me the trouble of having flip through PDFs.
(Also kicking myself I didn’t get the physicals book this time around because man does the spread art for Masks and Dragon look rad.)
Glad the surprise was a good one! Like I mentioned, it’s not something we normally do but this time all the planets converged with non-Euclidian geometry and we were compelled. It’s a pretty nice bonus for backers, really. Also, you should be able to upgrade your pledge to a physical book on BackerKit if you pledged for less during the KS campaign.
So I pre-order Assassins on drivethru for $19.99, got the pdf. but I see that credit doesnt seem to apply to the pdf+book combo… Was that intentional? Because I really though my pre-order would apply to the combo
Are you set up to accept emails from DTRPG? You have to have OK’d them to get the combo coupon-
I’m in the same boat. I am definitely signed up to get emails. I got the discount coupon for Prometheus Unbound in March, but still haven’t got the discount coupon for Assassins, even though I bought the advanced pdf on day one.
A mass mailing is sent out to everyone who bought the pdf (pre-order or advance) when the pod goes live as part of our regular procedure. That email was sent when Assassins went on sale with the PoD. Because it is a mass email, some email programs may mark it as spam, so be sure to check your spam or junkmail folders. Otherwise, please use the theonyxpath@gmail.com email to let us know, thanks!
The Aberrant: Atomic Youth design reminds me of RWBY.
Maybe that was an influence when they did the design?