Our Horrific Baby is Almost Curseborne! [Monday Meeting Notes]

CURSEBORNE! It’s almost here!

At least, the Curseborne Kickstarter campaign starts tomorrow, Tues the 1st of October, at 2pm Eastern US time! We’re going to have a Kickstarter Countdown starting at 1pm on our Twitch to watch us activate the KS and live react to what’s happening, as well! More info on that and other festivities below.

Just today, we received word that our Kickstarter pre-launch page has well over 1,000 sign-ups! That is amazing and bodes well for our highly anticipated return to horror! Thanks, everybody who already signed up – and to all of you who will be joining us during the course of the campaign – we know you’re going to be amazed at what you see!

Oh yes, so so much Excitement! Our Curseborne Discord has exploded, folks are asking about it all over social media! But that’s all the hoopla – how about some real thoughts and feeling from our team here to ground us all?

As I like to do as we start a new project’s crowdfunder, I asked our Monday Meeting crew, all of whom were involved over the years with Curseborne, what they are thinking about now that we are on the cusp of the KS:

Danielle expresses where she is right now:

I can’t express how excited I am for this to finally go live. I’ve been pushing Rich to get this to crowdfunding for about 2 years now. In his wisdom, he made me wait, always saying that he wanted the game to be the best it possibly could be. He wanted time to prepare, get the word out, and make the game really sing. I’m an Aries, so you can imagine how well I took this.

I’ve been through hours of politely agreeing in public, then privately screaming, cussing, and wishing I could really cast curses. But in the end, Rich was right. If we had launched this last October, the game would still be great (there’s no way we’d make a mediocre game), but we wouldn’t have been as prepared as we are now. Folks wouldn’t be as hype. Ultimately, it’s about making sure this game has the best chance possible to make an impression. We’ve had time to get some fantastic art, make some truly infuriatingly vague teasers (thanks Travis), invent curseboi, and just generally build a stellar hype train.

Now it’s here, and I’m practically vibrating out of my skin. I just need to wait less than 24 more hours. I can do it. I know I can. And I really hope to see you all joining into this amazing journey with us.

OK, maybe not so much grounded, and up in the stratosphere. How about long-time game creator Eddy, who adds his take after coming off the SPU crowdfunder:

I’m really excited for how curse dice work in the game. It’s such a cool addition to the Storypath Ultra system, and having played it a couple of times now, it really organically leads into taking the kinds of actions you should be considering when you play a monster. It’s really cool!

Maybe, the exuberance is contagious. Even the normally droll Matthew uses exclamation points when he talks about one of his favorite elements in the book:

I’m very much looking forward to seeing how people respond to the setting and lore elements we’re introducing in the Curseborne! It was a huge amount of fun to write up the various setting elements, both in our world and into liminalities and the Outside, for the core book. I think some of the best story hooks I’ve written appear there, so hopefully you folks will agree and find lots of stuff to play with!

And then, Dixie, never a shrinking violet, looks at the big picture: fun!

So jazzed to watch the actual plays and get everyone hyped up for this. We’ve been working on it so hard, and it truly is a labor of love. I’ll be on the stream tomorrow when we push the button, and I think you’re all going to get to see a few creators (us, I mean us) genuinely lose their minds over this Kickstarter. I can’t wait to hear what everyone’s favorite bits are, and of course the inevitable (friendly!) arguments over which family is best. If you like what you see, tell your friends!

The World Below art by Johnny Hodgson

As for me:

I’m thrilled that we are finally here, at the point of actually sharing this mammoth project! We’ve created a world that we think will prove itself to have as much depth (lore, backstory, history, what have you) as the previous WW horror settings I helped create, but with a necessarily broader viewpoint as we early-on decided to include all the starting supernatural types in the core book.

That’s a tremendous undertaking that we think will pay off for all our many sorts of players, because there’s enough info and story hooks here in the core book for a mixed supernatural type game, a limited mix of Lineages game, a single-Lineage game, or even a single Family game!

These setting possibilities are married to the SPU rules, our single most polished and versatile rules system yet, so we really aren’t expected the dreaded Vampire Lawn Chairs here!

Then throw in the new art we’ll be showing during the KS, and a couple of new ways to support the game line, and this should be an exciting campaign to match our exciting new game!

The World Below art by Vince Locke

Here’s Travis, who is also way excited about Curseborne, but mostly glad that all of the video crunching he did – every blog post these last two months had a vid, as well as all our teasers AND the KS video AND putting together the AP vids and audio – is now almost done!

Travis:

As we ramp up to launch the Curseborne Kickstarter we have an ample roster of media lined up at https://twitch.tv/theonyxpath to showcase our highly anticipated return to horror! In addition to the streams we announced last week, we have another wave of programming waiting in the wings, and will be exploring the world of Curseborne via actual plays, interviews, and deep dives throughout the Kickstarter!

We have three events tomorrow, starting with the In Between Places Actual Play at 7 AM EDT from Denmotherplays!

Next at 1 PM EDT we have the Kickstarter Kickoff where you can join us to count down to the campaign going live!

RichT here, to expand a bit on this: Dixie will start hosting the Curseborne Kickstarter Kickoff at 1pm Eastern US time on our Twitch with a curated selection of horror-ish Jackbox games for folks to jump in on, and then as we close in on 2pm, we’ll move to a countdown with a bunch of us in attendance including me, so that I can push the big KS red button live, and then we’ll keep chattering, maybe answering questions, and hopefully cheering as the KS rocks and/or rolls!

Finally, at 8 PM EDT awkwardgm Corbin will be talking Curseborne with the Beginner’s Guide!

But that’s just day one, folks! Tune in Friday at 1 PM EDT as Matthew Dawkins and Phil Keeling sit down for Meet Your Makers at a special time to talk about Curseborne!

And next Monday at 7 PM EDT, we will air part 2 of our Curseborne: Curtain Call actual play which premiered tonight at 7 PM EDT. Run by Matthew Dawkins and starring Athena Palmer, Nyla Rose (both of the All Elite Wrestling Women’s Division; Athena being the current Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion), Bridgett Jeffries, and Laura, this actual play tells the story of a group of Accursed putting on a play rumored to carry a curse of its own. If you missed tonight’s premiere, fear not! You can sit in and watch it alongside Matthew on https://www.youtube.com/@TheGentlemanGamer tomorrow morning (Or afternoon for folks in the UK and eastward)!

In related news I will be running a Roleplaying Game Workshop and Demo on Friday October 4th at 6PM CDT at Maze Books in Rockford, Illinois as part of Rockford’s Art Scene! I’ll have copies of the Curseborne ashcan on hand and be teaching groups how to play!

(Then on Saturday, I will be hosting two sessions of Scion Live-Action at Maze Book, running from Noon-3 PM and 4-7 PM! If you’re in the Rockford, Illinois area we’d love to see you at the event! More info at https://www.maze-books.com/)

Jeez, Travis, that last part wasn’t totally, absolutely, mono-maniacally about Curseborne…has your mind-control indoctrination started wearing off?

Well, I’ll get us back on track! This Friday’s Onyx Pathcast is the audio version of the Actual Play of Curseborne: Curtain Call Part 1! If sitting there watching an hour and a half video ain’t your thing, this amazing audio might be more convenient for you!

The World Below art by Drew Tucker

Hard To Believe, We Did Talk About Other Things in the Monday Meeting.

But not really anything to share, and I’m revved up for tomorrow, so…

Many Worlds, One Path!


Blurbs!


Crowdfunding!

CURSEBORNE

Kickstarter campaign begins tomorrow, Tuesday October 1, at 2pm Eastern US time!

Click on this link to start your dark journey into the highly-anticipated world of CURSEBORNE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/curseborne-tabletop-roleplaying-game

On Kickstarter, October 1st!


Onyx Path Media!

This week: The audio of the first session of our star-studded Curseborne AP (with Matthew as Storyguide) will be released on the Pathcast!

As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue!


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

In this week’s Onyx Path News, you’ll find Matthew talking about the Curseborne, Scion: Dragon, and Scion: God! Check it out here: https://youtube.com/live/-LlE6TXTKZQ

Two weeks ago, Awkward GM Corbin released another super video with Matthew Dawkins, covering Storypath Ultrahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tno6bAw-Or4

Our good friend Tom Murr is running four Learn to Play sessions of Curseborne over on Start Playing and unbelievably, there are still spaces available! You can find out all about those sessions if you follow the upcoming link, and we strongly advise you join! Tom is one of the best Storyguides out there today: https://startplaying.games/gm/tommurr


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!

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books, dice, and screens? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

Half-o-Ween sale on IPR starts today:

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!

Now the PoD physical book version joins the PDF, and both versions of Threats and Curs for Realms of Pugmire roars, howls, growls, staggers, scuttles, and oozes into DTRPG this Weds!


Conventions!

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

GameHoleCon – Oct 17th – 19th

https://www.gameholecon.com/


PAX Unplugged – December 6th – 8th

https://unplugged.paxsite.com/

Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at StartPlaying is the last Friday of every month! Come play some of our games 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 August’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-august-2024/

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!

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

Final Draft

Tasty Bit – Æon: Starship Fight (November)

  • Eddy: The starships, they are a-fightin’! This Tasty Bit will help Storyguides come up with great starship battles on short notice!

Post-Approval Development

Curseborne – Curseborne core book

  • Eddy: Curseborne is coming. Very, very soon.

ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

  • Ex3 Alchemicals – Sending sketch feedback back over to Gong… they still owe us a few more pieces but moving right along.
  • TCF RPG Anthology – Emailing artists to see if they need help tweaking their “splat” scenes. I got Sheikman squared away over the weekend….
  • M20 Forbidden and Forgotten Orders – Gonna get HIVe or Navella to do the splats… and Gaydos will end up with the fulls.
  • SCION Demigod Companion – Got some new guys to try out on Scion…
  • Curseborne (KS) – Finishing graphics for the final page, and advertising, and then LIVE!

Layout

  • Trinity Continuum CC 
  • Scion Tasty Bit Combo
  • The World Below – Getting the shit layed out of it this week.
  • Ex Essence Pillars of Creation – Approved Sketches for the three DAC redos… and sent Gong’s sketches for the cover off.
  • Ex Essence Deeds Yet Undone (Dirt Cheap) – Sent feedback to Maria for the artists… so hopefully we’ll have finals in soon.
  • SCION God Storyguide Screen
  • TC With Great Power 
  • M20 Victorian Bizarre Tales and Unusual Characters

Proofing

  • They Came From Classified Jumpstart 

Indexing

  • Realms of Pugmire

At Press

  • Reprints:
  • Scion Origin – To Studio2.
  • TC Core – To Studio2.
  • Ex 3 Exigents – Reviewing quotes.
  • Ex 3 Exigents Screen – Looking at proofs.
  • TC Aether – Reviewing quotes.
  • TC Anima – Advances in and signed off on.
  • TC Anima Terra Surge Screen – Printer sending to Studio2.
  • Ex3 Sidereals – Index in. Awaiting Page XXs.
  • Ex Essence Jumpstart – Errata input.
  • Ex Essence Charm Cards
  • Realms of Pugmire – Indexing.
  • Sidereals Novella – Errata shut down this week.
  • Scion: God – Reviewing quotes for trad printing.
  • They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave – Advances in and signed off on.
  • They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave Screen – Printer sending to Studio2.
  • They Came From CLASSIFIED – Advances in and signed off on.
  • They Came From CLASSIFIED Screen – Printer sending to Studio2.
  • TC Player’s Guide – Working XXs at 2:01 pm Tuesday.
  • Curseborne Brochure #3 – Getting files over to the printer this week.
  • Curseborne Gamehole Con Card – Printer sent them out.
  • Pugmire: Threats and Curs PoD and PDF versions available Weds on DTRPG!

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Trying to find a Reason to Celebrate with a spooky horror vibe shouldn’t be this hard on the day before the spookiest month, but it is! Nevertheless, I was able to find you this horrific morsel: today in 1888, Jack the Ripper kills his third and fourth victims. Not really something to celebrate, but it is scary and certainly Springheel Jack leads the list for legendary urban horror stories! Very appropriate leading into Curseborne…

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