The (Steam) Wars Begin! [Monday Meeting Notes]

Our BackerKit crowdfunding campaign for Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars starts tomorrow at 2PM EST, Tuesday the 28th!

I wrote last week about how we’re thrilled to have this project demonstrate the “multiverse” aspect of the Trinity Continuum, as well as providing a great opportunity for us to introduce how the Storypath Ultra System could work in TC.

In just a day, as I write this, you can back the campaign and begin to enjoy exactly what I mean as backers will receive the text for the book during the campaign. (I know, I know, for most of you this is something you already know about our crowdfunding campaigns, but it’s always worth letting new folks know!)

And for some different viewpoints on what makes this such a fun addition to the Trinity Continuum, here’s developers Matthew Dawkins and Eddy Webb-

First, from Matthew:

One of the things that really excites me about Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars is how it plays with the geopolitics of 1897. This was a period where many international alliances were in flux, where Britain was friendly with Germany and detested France, but ultimately ended up aligned with France against Germany. Meanwhile, Austria-Hungary is flailing to survive and the Ottoman Empire isn’t doing much better, but for a brief while they consider aligning against Russia! There’s a huge amount of politicking in play, and this bleeds into Steam Wars with our system of alliances: one of the Paths your character adopts that adds a Diplomacy element to our game!

But more than anything else, what gets me most enthusiastic about this amazing game is the idea of building your own steam rig. People have been asking us for a mech game for a good while, and Steam Wars is a perfect one in the Trinity Continuum, where you don’t merely pilot a rig, but build it from multiple components so you can alter, augment, and repair your rig in the field as the situation demands. So many options and so much depth to this game! Do check it out.

With this from Eddy:

What am I excited about? I mean, it’s giant robots fighting each other. How is that not something I would get excited about?

In more seriousness, it’s a lot more than just slamming metal fists into each other. It’s wrapped around a fascinating steampunk alternative history, and Larry has managed to pitch everything so it’s pulpy, but not too wild. It feels really lived-in and grounded for a setting about gigantic war machines. Even outside of the rigs, there are plenty of opportunities for espionage, romance, and intrigue. It’s entirely possible to run an entire game of TC: Steam Wars where you never even step into a robot.

But why would you? It’s steam-powered robots.

Pillars of Creation art by Digital Art Chefs

And now, here are some thoughts from Larry Blamire, the creator of Steam Wars and an enthusiastic contributor to our game as writer, artist, and an incredibly collaborative team member who worked with all of our writers and devs to insure that TC: Steam Wars was the RPG version of the world he had done so much creating for over the years:

Some thoughts from Larry:

In developing my Steam Wars project over the years I had done a considerable amount of world-building, most recently for the graphic novel. But that world-building took a quantum leap when I began working with Onyx Path Publishing on adapting the concept to RPG.

In collaboration with Rich Thomas, Matthew Dawkins, Eddy Webb and a talented team, we began to expand and fill in the 19th century alternate reality in which the concept lives, with broad sweeping strokes that seek to define and flesh out this world as never before. The result will be, not only a rewarding game experience, but a rich and dense volume that presents all one could hope to know about Steam Wars. In fact, it’s my hope that the book itself will appeal to gamers and non-gamer Steam Wars fans alike.

It’s quite a deep dive. The book will contain both a detailed political and scientific history of events leading up to the development and implementation of the striding giants, the steam-driven fighting rigs unique to Steam Wars. It will focus on both the discovery of the volatile condensed coal as well as intrepid pioneers of invention like John Chandler Tillencrest and the eccentric Lucy Tillencrest. It delineates the development of the classes and styles of various steam rigs, as well as a breakdown of moving parts. It takes us inside for first-person crew accounts and you-are-there battle experiences. And this doesn’t even touch upon the mechanics of the game.

We hope that you folks will check out this project, not just for the wonderful work done with both the setting and the rules, but also for the potential Stretch Goals that we are including that will add something that at least a few of our TC fans have been asking for!

Check out the link down below in the Crowdfunding section of The Blurbs!

Pillars of Creation art by Gong Studios

Darby O’Gill Led Us Astray

(Darby is Eddy’s dog; that’s the only clue I’m giving to this week’s sub-headline).

We’ve seen some really big increases of our followers on Blue Sky these last couple of weeks, so here’s what Dixie wrote a couple of weeks ago as a reminder that we’d love to see you there:

For those who aren’t aware, Onyx Path is now on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/)! Bluesky is a microblogging app similar to the old days of Twitter. One of the features on Bluesky is Starter Packs, which allow you to follow multiple accounts at once, so we’ve made one for our freelancers you can follow here: https://bsky.app/starter-pack/theonyxpath.bsky.social/3laz43eiw3u22

We’re continuing to update it as freelancers let us know their Bluesky handles, so never miss a skeet (that’s what they’re called) from the Onyx Path team! You can also just follow us for company updates at @theonyxpath.bsky.social

Hope to see you all in bluer skies!

Today we finalized some plans for the Storypath Nexus Community Content Game Jam , which Travis has a few things to relate:

February 1st Awkward GM Corbin is kicking off the second annual Storypath Nexus Game Jam! This contest will run from February 1st to February 22nd, with a judging period running from the 23rd to the 28th! You’ll have three weeks to create a new Storypath Nexus project and get it uploaded to DriveThruRPG! Each game line we offer on the Nexus will have its own prompt this year, which will be revealed on the 1st! Keep an eye on Onyx Path‘s social media and or Twitch channel for news and updates!

Speaking of our Twitch channel, mucho apologies if you were settling in last week to watch one of the programs! In an unheard-of series of events, all of our programming last week had to cancel, delay, or otherwise bow out. Fortunately, we are back this week with even more shows (thanks to several coming back from the holiday hiatus)!

Pillars of Creation art by Gong Studios

And as a follow-up to our announcement at the beginning of the month and year, here’s Aegis Studios with some welcome news about the Savage Worlds Scarred Lands projects they are doing:

Tomorrow Aegis Studios is releasing the first Scarred Lands product for Savage Worlds! The  Scarred Lands Creature Profiles series will introduce a new creature or signature NPC each month! We are opening the program with the release of the Blood Reaper! Native to the Hornsaw Forest, these creatures are among my favorite monsters in the Scarred Lands! They are sleepless hunters with deadly blades for arms who take no prisoners. I think they’re a perfect creature to introduce the Scarred Lands setting to the Savage Worlds rules! 

We’ve got several creatures lined up to release over the coming months and are preparing to release Gauntlet of Spiragos in March! Gauntlet of Spiragos is an introductory adventure with ready-made characters and expanded setting info! This adventure takes the player characters from Novice to Seasoned Rank and contains rules for new Ancestries, Culture Packages, and Languages of Scarn. 

Be sure to hop into the discussion in the Scarred Lands channel at the Onyx Path Discord for news and updates about all things Scarred Lands!

One final reminder for this week, I promise, is about the Curseborne Tasty Bit PDF that goes on sale this Wednesday on DTRPG, which we’re really glad to be offering to our awesome Curseborne audience while the text for the main book enters into Editing, as well as anyone interested in scary new antagonists! While we’ve done a whole bunch of Tasty Bits over the years, and are even gathering some of them up into collections right now, this is one of the best examples of a small monthly offering stepping up and doing what we’ve wanted for those bite-size offerings.

Let us know what you think! We’re always interested in knowing if our ideas have hit as intended. How else can we better how we make our:

Many Worlds, One Path!


Blurbs!


Crowdfunding!

Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars

Starts 2PM EST on Tuesday Jan 28th!

Sign up now on BackerKit so you don’t miss it!

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/577605df-9dff-4d1c-8466-85e37e45d228/landing


Onyx Path Media!

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


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!

It’s a busy week for releases! Let’s start with the very first Curseborne supplement release with this month’s Tasty Bit PDF of The Doppleganger – available Weds on DTRPG!

Next, we have the PDF and PoD release of Deeds Yet Undone, the Exalted: Essence book of adventures, also on sale Weds on DTRPG!

Then for our Community Content folks on the Storypath Nexus, we have for Scion the Masks of the Mythos Community Content Package and the Dragon Community Content Package on sale this 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 this Friday the 31st! 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:

FIRST DRAFT

Curseborne – Curseborne Jumpstart

  • I’m watching the writer discuss various insidious plans for this Jumpstart. This is going to be a lovely, grisly adventure.

Storypath Ultra – Storypath Discord Dice Bot

  • We’re making a dice bot! Well, someone else is making the dice bot and we’re offering suggestions and notes, but it’s all very exciting!

FINAL DRAFT

Curseborne – Curseborne Antagonist #3 (Mar 2025 Tasty Bit)

  • There’s been a lot of interest in the epoch liminalities! Let’s see what happens when they come alive.

EDITING

Curseborne – Curseborne

  • The manuscript is revised and off to editing! Expect teasers as the weeks go by!

ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

  • Ex3 Abyssals – Finals getting refined.
  • Ex3 Miracles of the Divine Flame – Non AI sketches for halves in. Gonna talk to Wilson about the map.
  • Ex Essence PG – Art notes with Maria.
  • SCION Wild Hunt – TR stuff incoming so getting this going.
  • SCION Titans Rising – Sketches coming in.
  • SCION Mythic Shards -Sketches coming in.
  • TCF Murder Lake Jumpstart – Emailing Vince about it.
  • Branch Riders – With Gong
  • TC: SteamWars (BK) – BackerKit crowdfunder starts Tues.

Layout

  • Scion Tasty Bit Combo – Gonna knock it out this this week.
  • Ex Essence Pillars of Creation – Final text is ready so sending over to Travis.
  • TC With Great Power
  • TC Aether Screen
  • World Below Screen
  • Pugmire 2e Screen
  • SCION God Storyguide Screen

Proofing

  • TCF RPG Anthology – Errata input.
  • TC Aegis – Backer errata collecting.
  • TC Anima Jumpstart (Terra Surge) – Getting ready to send to backers.

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 – Talking with printer.
  • Ex 3 Sidereals – Quoting and press files.
  • Scion: God – Talking with printer.
  • The World Below – Wrapping up. 
  • Ex Essence Deeds Yet UndonePDF and PoD versions on sale this Weds on DTRPG!
  • Curseborne Tasty Bit #1: Doppleganger PDF this Weds on DTRPG!

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Commemorate rather than celebrate really: On this day in 1945 – 80 years ago – the Soviet 322nd Rifle Division liberates the remaining inmates of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Soviet military medical service and Polish Red Cross (PCK) set up field hospitals that looked after 4,500 prisoners suffering from the effects of starvation and tuberculosis. Local volunteers helped until the Red Cross team arrived from Kraków in early February. Before more help arrived, 2,200 patients there were looked after by a few doctors and 12 PCK nurses. All the patients were later moved to the brick buildings in Auschwitz I, where several blocks became a hospital, with medical personnel working 18-hour shifts. The liberation of Auschwitz received little press attention at the time; the Red Army was focusing on its advance toward Germany and liberating the camp had not been one of its key aims. Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

2 thoughts on “The (Steam) Wars Begin! [Monday Meeting Notes]”

  1. So, my interest in steam Wars is kind of sideways. I am HUGELY looking forward to curseborne and since they both share SPU dna, I am interested to see what tweaks on the system might be a fit for Curseborne, especially the factional diplomacy. Anything you can tease in that regard?

    Reply
  2. That’s a very interesting question! I’d suggest that the main part of Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars you could port over to Curseborne is, in a way, the mechanics for building one’s rig. It’s not difficult for me to imagine constructing a kind of Frankenstein’s monster in the same way as a rig is built, where you customise the components in a rather gruesome way.

    Reply

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