The Age of Apocalypse…

A..POC…a..lyyyyypse!

What that bit of song parody is all about is that we’re going live with the Kickstarter for the Deluxe W20 Apocalyptic Record tomorrow, Tuesday the 21st! We haven’t done a W20 Kickstarter in quite some time, so we’re all really excited to HOWL with you all once again!

Developer Matthew Dawkins has this to say overview of the book:

It’s a big roleplaying sourcebook for Werewolf: The Apocalypse, covering around 30 years of story threads and lore elements from Werewolf and expanding them to make them accessible and playable.

Also check out this chapter by chapter breakdown from two week ago’s MMN blog: https://theonyxpath.com/in-the-red-monday-meeting-notes/?preview=true&_thumbnail_id=18288

We’ve been calling this the capstone book for W20, and while there will no doubt be at least one added Stretch Goal project to come out of this KS, the Apocalyptic Record will certainly be the last W20 book Kickstarted!

(Unless plans change again…)

So check out the preKS page and sign up for an alert when the KS goes live so you don’t miss all the excitement!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/339646881/apocalyptic-record-for-werewolf-the-apocalypse-20th-ann-ed

Much of our talk today during the Monday Meeting (of whose notes these are) was focused on our online GenCon panels and games that ran over the weekend. While weird to be doing them while other friends in the business were posting all sorts of in-person event pics, we actually really enjoyed our sessions this year. In fact, I think that the two panels I sat in on were some of the best we’ve ever done!

The Storypath Panel gave us a chance to go into how and why we started creating it, then how the designers ran with the system and what they did as they used it for different game lines, and then what we are doing with it in the future. How we see it evolving, and, again, why we see it evolving.

I particularly liked that Matthew and Eddy could talk about the factors that go into working on it as game designers, while Dixie and I were able to talk about the expected and actual player experiences while using Storypath. Something for everyone in that discussion, I think.

We didn’t really have announcements about new projects, mostly because we’ve already announced what we could up til now, but we did reveal a bunch of our thoughts – particularly in the What’s Up With Onyx Path? panel as we answered the questions submitted during the chat.

And one submitted right here in our MMN blog comments from Troy: “What has been the most frustrating thing about COVID for putting out books? What has been the most surprising? (Assuming those are not the same thing)”

Overall, the group seemed to agree that the most frustrating aspect it terms of making our games was/is just how impacted almost all of our creative teams were – with the flip-side of just how great everyone was in supporting one another. From our town-halls, to our devs all coaching one another and encouraging each other, it was a joy to see our crew try and provide safe harbors for each other. And it still is!

We talked a bit about books that are currently being worked on, and Matthew expanded on Trinity Continuum: Aether and revealed the types of player characters and some more about the martians and their invasion(s).

We (OK, it was me) also mentioned that we are thinking of doing the Kickstarters for They Came From [CLASSIFIED]! and They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave! together, as a They Came From…! Double-Feature!

In response to some questions in the chat, Dixie mentioned again that we don’t call the shots for the WW game lines and we have to work with the timing and schedules and approvals that come from Paradox. That applies to them being open to a W20 book again in the form of the W20 Apocalyptic Record that we’re all howling about, or M20 Lore of the Traditions, or generally in terms of the release schedules in general.

When we get the OK, we are thrilled to once again work on these game lines – from the connections Mirthful Mike or Eddy or I have from having worked with them at old White Wolf, to the love our creators have after years (and years) of playing in them.

Now, back onto what we talked about, we did mention TC: Assassins as there will be some preview blogs going up starting this week, but then Impish Ian surprised us today at the meeting with a logo he’s been playing around with! Even our own folks were inspired by that panel! Here it is:

I got one of those questions lobbed at me that just beg for a one-word answer: “Are you going to support Virtual Table Top more?” I just had to answer: “Yes.”

Full stop.

But since that’s just being bratty, and not at all really answering what they were really asking, I expanded on that to let folks know that we really do have more and more of our game lines receiving VTT elements to enable play on specific platforms. Already, we have multiple starters up on Astral Tabletop (three for the Trinity Continuum – as shown below, one for Scion and one for Pugmire, and starter adventures for Scarred Lands, come to mind).

And that’s just Astral, mostly because it is a really easy interface, with Fantasy Grounds, and Roll20, and more, all being venues that we’ll be announcing projects on.

For whatever reason, the Gen Con panels seemed to spur on lots of comments from our crew on new sales and a raft of convention appearance notifications. I don’t remember if those were caught on the recording, or we discussed them after or before the panel sessions but you can check them out right now in the updated sales and convention appearances sections below!

This includes the spur-of-the-moment Talk Like A Pirate Day Sales, which were pretty much inspired by how much fun it is to talk like a pirate!

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/371311/Pirates-of-Pugmire–Talk-Like-A-Pirate-BUNDLE

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/371312/Blood-Sea–Talk-Like-A-Pirate-BUNDLE

The audio for these panels are going to be going up as Pathcast releases in the weeks to come, and the visual recording with join our YouTube channel as soon as we can get them OK’d to go up there.

Which means, and I may never live this down, if you watch or listen you’ll be able to see or hear me completely forget our company motto at the end of the What’s Up panel.

I mean, just fumble the whole thing. The motto I write out every week on this blog. Nope. Total brain-freeze. Many Paths…Lots of Worlds…That Path Over There…Seven Paths For Seven Brothers…

Finally they all shouted out:

Many Worlds, One Path!

---

Blurbs!

---

Kickstarter!

Our next Kickstarter will be The Deluxe Apocalyptic Record for Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition going live on Tuesday, September 21st!

Be sure to visit the pre-Kickstarter page to sign up for immediate notification when it goes live! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/339646881/apocalyptic-record-for-werewolf-the-apocalypse-20th-ann-ed

---

Onyx Path Media!

This week: The gang take a vengeful Deep Dive into Deviant, joined by developer Eric Zawadzki! What’s it all about? What is the Web of Pain?!

As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/

For anyone new to our media section, you can find us running and playing games over on twitch.tv/theonyxpath every day of the week! Plus, if you’d like your games hosted there, just get in touch with Matthew Dawkins using the contact link on matthewdawkins.com. 

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!

Come take a look at our YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/theonyxpath, where you can find a whole load of videos of actual plays, dissections of our games, and more. Please subscribe and click the bell icon if you want to be notified whenever new news videos and uploads come online!

Are you interested in Promethean: The Created? If so, we’ve got an excellent series of videos for you. The Domain Gaming channel has a multi-part series already uploaded, so you can start from the beginning or skip to the present episode and find out a little more about the troubled and tragic lives of the Created. https://youtu.be/NOxlcWC0U9I

That’s not all, because The Domain Gaming also have a crossover chronicle on their channel! So if you like The Contagion Chronicle or are interested in seeing various characters of different types conflicting (and working) with each other, check out their latest episode: https://youtu.be/6U3b0GyupfU

Are you interested in Trinity Continuum: Aeon? If so, this actual play from Onyx Path Con over on our Onyx Path Publishing YouTube channel is for you! Check it out here: https://youtu.be/AlWR_9RQNZU 

Red Moon Roleplaying hosted a chronicle of Mummy: The Curse Second Edition last year, so if you’re interested in the newly released book, please check it out starting with character creation: https://youtu.be/GJIEAEAx2MY 

The Exaltcast is talks about demons and Malfeas! Get Infernal with these fine folks: https://www.exaltcast.com/2021/09/06/impossible-emerald-brilliance-demons-and-malfeas/

Simulacra TV‘s amazingAberrant actual play – Atomic Youth – continues! Please check them out and give them some support. This is the newest episode of this chapter, so please get involved. https://youtu.be/Uzt9hvMPeqk 

Aberrant: Atomic Youth episodes premiere Wednesdays at 5pm EDT on https://www.twitch.tv/SimulacraTV

ExalTwitch: Academy Season Two follows three young Dragon-Bloods in the aftermath of their school’s destruction. The House of Bells’ fall was blamed on Anathema corrupting the student body, but Oresta, Pyres, and Gale Whispered must clear their names and seek out those actually responsible before the Realm collapses.
Watch ExalTwitch: Academy live every Sunday at 18:00 ET on https://www.twitch.tv/rpgclinic.

And here are the first episodes of the new season for you! 

S02E01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx-YTKL3lPQ&pp=sAQA

S02E02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggLrSDdddZE&pp=sAQA

S02E03: https://youtu.be/Uwb2ZGjv8XI

S02E04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R30uK0manCk

S02E05: https://youtu.be/VIOQkx8XMI8

S02E06: https://youtu.be/pJThYEGvSeo

S02E07: https://youtu.be/k2yIv4oTcpg

S02E08: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzZh0mlhKks

S02E09: https://youtu.be/AScafMqH-A8 

---

Electronic Gaming!

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is live! The dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is awesome! (Seriously, you need to roll 100 dice for Exalted? This app has you covered.)

---

Virtual Tabletop!

Jump into the Trinity Continuum with 3 NEW Astral Jumpstarts!

The Trinity Continuum is a vast timeline of adventure, speckled with dramatic points across the past, present, and future. Explore parts of the Trinity Continuum timeline with these three Jumpstarts fully enabled for play on Astral TableTop. Each Jumpstart includes ready-to-play characters and all the rules you need to embark on your Astral adventure.

A Quantum Leap (A Trinity Continuum: Jumpstart)

A group of cultists is playing with matter altering explosives beyond their control. Join forces with 3-5 players to track down and stop them before the universe as we know it is changed forever. 

The Adventures of Teen Tomorrow (A Trinity Continuum: Aberrant Jumpstart)

Bring the superhero action to your table with all the rules you need to assume the roles of Teen Tomorrow and jump right into play! This adventure is designed for 3-6 players.

Quantum Entanglement (A Trinity Continuum: Aeon Jumpstart)

The Stars Await! – Launch yourself onto the galactic stage with this high-flying, interstellar romp. Includes everything you need to run this adventure for 3-5 players. 

Also on Astral TableTop is the Secret of Vinsen’s Tomb for Realms of Pugmire!

Play Now on Astral TableTop!

The Secret of Vinsen’s Tomb module comes with all the maps and encounters, ready to play, along with pre-generated characters and character sheets wired up for automated rolling. It also offers the GameMaster some guidance on playing the scenario on Astral for those GMs new to the platform or entirely new to virtual tabletops (VTT).

Create a free account first, then the Quickstarts will be available on the Home page. If you are getting this via DTRPG, after checkout, look for the link to unlock your adventure on Astral.

Also on Astral TableTop, we have two free projects: Scion 2E: A Light Extinguished and Scarred Lands: Gauntlet of Spiragos and this Dagger of Spiragos module for sale: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/336406/Dagger-of-Spiragos-5e–Astral-VTT

Astral TableTop is the easiest way to play any tabletop RPG online, free. Astral already supports popular systems like D&D and Pathfinder, and Astral can support virtually any tabletop roleplaying game. Get started quickly with built-in support for most popular game systems. Whether you’re brand new to TTRPGs or a veteran tabletop gamer, Astral‘s ease-of-use and built in automation is designed to streamline gameplay.

https://www.astraltabletop.com/

How to guides and FAQ: https://help.astraltabletop.com/

Here is the main filter for all of our current VTT content on DTRPG:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/4261/Onyx-Path-Publishing?filters=0_0_0_45317_0

A few highlights of our platform agnostic 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

---

On 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).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue from which you bought it. Reviews really, really help us get folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these latest fiction books:

---

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!

You can pick up the traditionally printed Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau main books, screens, and the official dice through our friends there! https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

Now, we’ve added Chronicles of Darkness books such as Changeling: The Lost Second Edition products to Studio2‘s store! See them here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/all-products/changeling-the-lost

Scion 2e books and other products are available now at Studio2: https://studio2publishing.com/blogs/new-releases/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin-now-available-at-your-local-retailer-or-online

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

And you can order Pugmire, Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2e at the same link! And now Scion Origin and Scion Hero and Trinity Continuum Core and Trinity Continuum: Aeon are available to order!

As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles at DriveThruRPG.com!

RIGHT NOW, DTRPG is having a “Fae” Sale, including the PDFs for both Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition, and Changeling: The Lost 2e!

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/sale.php?manufacturers_id=4261

YARRR! And here are our amazing Talk Like A Pirate PDF Bundles:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/371311/Pirates-of-Pugmire–Talk-Like-A-Pirate-BUNDLE
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/371312/Blood-Sea–Talk-Like-A-Pirate-BUNDLE

---

On Sale This Week!

We open a jade casket to reveal the mighty Heirs of the Shogunate tome for Exalted 3rd Edition in PDF and PoD versions on DTRPG this Wednesday!

Haughty Dynasts feasting amid the stolen treasures of the Threshold; proud Seventh Legion officers clad in panoplies of jade; lone outcastes struggling to carve out a heroic legend at the world’s edge — they’re all heirs to the Shogunate, yet they each stand on their own as a prince of the earth.

Heirs to the Shogunate details the Realm’s cadet houses and secondary schools, the military city-state of Lookshy, Prasad’s expanding empire, the weird Forest Witches, and outcastes. It also contains new Dragon-Blooded Charms, heirloom artifacts, and Quick Characters. Lastly, it describes the impending Realm Civil War, including a fully playable scenario depicting the War in the West.

---

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!

Matthew will be appearing at AlbaCon in the very near future!
https://albacon.co.uk/

Eddy will be running a Pugmire game at NerdBurger Con: https://www.geeknative.com/73852/nerdburger-games-con-online-announced/
And he’ll be on panels and possibly running a game at Save Against Fear Online: https://startplaying.games/event/save-against-fear

And speaking of Save Against Fear Online, we’ll be appearing on three Onyx Path panels:

Turning Old Favorites into New Favorite TTRPGs – Friday, October 8, 2021 – 12:30pm – 2:00pm Eastern US Time

What’s Up With the Onyx Path? – Saturday, October 9, 2021 – 10:30am – 12:00pm Eastern US Time

A Deep Delve into the Crossroads Continent 5e Setting – Saturday, October 9, 2021 – 6:30pm – 8:00pm Eastern US Time

---

And now, the new project status updates!

Development Status from Eddy Webb! (Projects in bold have changed status since last week.):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep.)

• Exalted Essay Collection (Exalted)
• Terat Novella (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
• Tasty Bit: New Team (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
• Squeaks in the Deep Companion (Realms of Pugmire)
• Squeaks in the Deep Jumpstart (Realms of Pugmire)
• Tasty Bit: Dracula’s Tomb (They Came From…!)

Redlines

• Dragon-Blooded Novella #2 (Exalted 3rd Edition)
• Tome of the Pentacle (Mage: the Awakening 2e)
• Scion: God (Scion 2e)
• With Great Power (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
• Weird Wonders and Revolutionary Magick (M20 Victorian)
• Scion: Dragon Jumpstart (Scion 2nd Edition)
• Scion: Dragon Companion (Scion 2nd Edition)

Second Draft

• No Gods, No Masters (Scion 2nd Edition)
• Trinity Continuum: Aether core book (Trinity Continuum: Aether)
• The Hedge (Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition)
• Bizarre Tales and Unusual Characters (M20 Victorian)

Development

• Contagion Chronicle: Global Outbreaks (Chronicles of Darkness)
• Adversaries of the Righteous (Exalted 3rd Edition)
• Wild Hunt (Scion 2nd Edition)

Manuscript Approval

Post-Approval Development

• Exigents (Exalted 3rd Edition)
• They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave! core book (They Came From…!)
• TC: Adventure! Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum: Adventure!)

Editing

• Lunars Novella (Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)
• The Book of Lasting Death (Mummy: The Curse 2e)
• Dead Man’s Rust (Scarred Lands)
• M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
• The Clades Companion (Deviant: The Renegades)
• CtL2e Novella Collection: Hollow Courts (Changeling: The Lost 2e)
• Dystopia Rising: Evolution Fiction Anthology (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)
• Legacies of Earth (Legendlore)
• Scion Fiction Anthology (Scion 2nd Edition)
• TC: Aeon Novella: Meridian (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)
• Exalted Essence Edition (Exalted 3rd Edition)
• Crucible of Legends (Exalted 3rd Edition)
• Proteus Nova Compendium (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
• TC: Aeon Novella: Dawn (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)
• Trinity Continuum: Anima
• Tales of Depravity! (They Came From…!)
• They Came From [Classified]! (They Came From…!)
• They Came From [Classified]! Jumpstart (They Came From…!)
• Realms of Magic and Mystery (was Terra Incognita) (Scion 2nd Edition)
• Vigil Watch: The Kelder Mountains (Scarred Lands)
• The Paranormal Investigator’s Handbook (WoD 20th)
• Once and Future (Scion 2nd Edition)
• Apocalyptic Record (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
• M20 Lore of the Traditions (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
• Many-Faced Strangers – Lunars Companion (Exalted 3rd Edition)
• Panopticon Novella (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
• Kith and Kin (Changeling: The Lost 2e)

Post-Editing Development

• Masks of the Mythos (Scion 2nd Edition)
• Scion: Demigod (Scion 2nd Edition)
• Scion: Dragon (Scion 2nd Edition)
• N!ternational Wrestling Entertainment (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
• Squeaks In The Deep (Realms of Pugmire)
• Novas Worldwide (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)
• They Came From Beneath the Sea! Jumpstart (They Came From…!)
• Saints and Monsters (Scion 2nd Edition)
• Trinity Continuum: Assassins (Trinity Continuum Core)
• They Came From Camp Murder Lake! (They Came From…!)
• Prometheus Unbound (was Psi Orders) (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)
• Ghost Hunters Jumpstart w/RMCs (WoD 20th)
• The Devoted Companion (Deviant: The Renegades)
• Contagion Chronicle Ready-Made Characters (Chronicles of Darkness)
• Across the Eight Directions (Exalted 3rd Edition)
• Trinity Continuum: Adventure! core (Trinity Continuum: Adventure!)
• They Came From Beyond the Grave! Jumpstart (They Came From…!)
• Heroes in a World of Horror! (They Came From…!)
• Mission Statements (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Indexing

---

Art Direction from Mike Chaney!

In Art Direction

• Scion: Dragon – Getting Gong on board for the Flights.
• Masks of the Mythos – Mirko and crew on pantheon art. Working ideas for border designs.
• TC: Adventure! (KS)
• M20 Victorian (KS)
• Dead Man’s Rust
• Exalted Essence (KS)
• TC Mission Statements
• TC Aberrant N!WE – Sketches coming in.
• M20 Technocracy Dossier/Companion – Artists working.
• Squeaks In The Deep (KS)
• TC Prometheus Unbound – Finals keep coming in gorgeous.
• Realms of Magic and Mystery
• Saints and Monsters – Maria ADing this.
• TC: Anima (KS) – Shields rolling.
• TC: Assassin – Interior art rolling.
• Legendlore: Legacies of the Earth
• Novas Worldwide – Working on it.
• W20 Apocalyptic Record (KS) – KS goes live Tuesday!
• They Came From Beyond the Grave! Jumpstart
• Mage20 Lore of the Traditions – KS art kickoff meeting scheduling
• TCFBtG! Monsters From the Crypt – LeBlanc’d
• They Came From [CLASSIFIED]! and They Came From the Cyclops’s Cave – KS art kickoff meeting scheduling
• Ghosthunters Jumpstart/Ready Made Characters

In Layout

• They Came From Beneath the Sea! Jumpstart
• M20 Technocracy Jumpstart
• Hundred Devils Night Parade – Two chapters to go!
• Aberrant VTT
• Scion: Demigod
• Squeaks in the Deep Screen
• WoD Ghost Hunters Screen – Working on it.
• Legendlore Screen – Text is in for this.
• Squeaks in the Deep
• They Came From Camp Murder Lake! – All art is in. Next for Ron Thompson.

Proofing

• Hunter: The Vigil 2e – Backer PDFs out to backers for errata.
• Spiragos Collected Adventures
• M20 Rich Bastards Guide – Charles inputting fixes
• Legendlore – Backer PDF out to backers.
• They Came From Beyond the Grave! – Backer PDF going out this week to backers.
• V5 Forbidden Religions – Reviewing dev proof notes.

At Press

• M20 Technocracy Reloaded – Deluxe getting ready for press.
• Mummy 2e – Getting ready for press. PDF and PoD versions on sale on DTRPG!
• Mummy 2e Screen – Files sent to printer.
• Deviant – Maybe press proofs this week.
• Deviant Screen – Files sent to printer.
• Technocracy Reloaded Screen – Files sent to printer.
• Heirs to the Shogunate – PDF and PoD versions on sales Weds on DTRPG!
• Players Guide to the Contagion Chronicle – PDF and PoD on sale soon.
• Dearly Bleak – Deviant: The Renegades Novella – PoD proof shipping.
• WoD Ghost Hunters – PoD files uploaded

---

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Today in history, 1863, during the American Civil War (aka the War of Northern Aggression as I was told it was called in Atlanta public schools), the Union position was overrun during the Battle of Chickamauga and only the steadfast command of Gen. George Henry Thomas (no relation) holding a position on a small hill prevented the entire Union army from routing. Thomas was thereafter known as The Rock of Chickamauga because he and his men, as well as soldiers who fled the field but joined up on the hill, refused to flee and kept fighting sufficiently that the Confederate forces couldn’t leave them to chase the rest of the Union army including the commanding general. Sometimes, stubborn is better than flashy. Also, pick your hills well.