Last week, I mentioned that there are other lingering “tentacles” that seem to continue to cling to what Onyx Path is all about. Some sucker-tipped thinking gets us fightin’, just like the awesome fight scene that our old buddy Ron Spencer created for W20 Book of the Wyrm. Here’s where I digress and push the Deluxe W20 Book of the Wyrm Kickstarter that is entering it’s last 36 hours! Go quickly and pledge the Wyrm out of it if you don’t want to miss it: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/deluxe-w20-book-of-the-wyrm
Now back to how we can get fighty about things and what Onyx Path is trying to do. First, there’s a general position that I think its useful to express once in a while: I don’t want Onyx to be a company that slags other companies, games, or creators, in order to boost ourselves. When we do something awesome (which is, of course, all the time) I think we should be talking about how and why that awesome thing is awesome. My desire not to rip at previous work also applies to the work done on all the WW products for the many years they’ve been around. A complicating factor to that with anything creative that has that sort of longevity is that there were a million decisions made by the creators and some were good and some were stinko. One of the joys of fandom is lauding the parts that you think are great and ripping apart the parts you hate. So for us as creators, there’s a natural tendency to play to that when we’re showing how the new thing we’re doing is going to fix that old crappy thing. It gets folks excited, and talking, and yelling- all about your cool new thing. I’ve fallen into that trap myself.
Plus if you’re a creator who was/is also a fan of the line you’re now working on, it is really hard not to let those critiques you developed over the years spill forth.
What I’d like Onyx Path to do as a whole is to acknowledge the parts that aren’t going to work in whatever new version we’re working on, and explain why. Just not do it by ripping at those parts or the folks who created them. Besides the “Can’t We All Just Get Along” aspect of positive karma and beams of white light and all that, there are practical reasons for this intention.
One, if Onyx Path gets a reputation for letting our current creative teams rip apart the work of folks past or from other companies, how many creative folk today are going to want their work ripped apart by new guys in years to come? We’re going to have some issues with getting talented people involved in our projects. I’ve set up Onyx Path in a way that I hope allows us to avoid a lot of the external negative factors that can, and did, influence some of those questionable bits of game design and content, but its important that current creative folks recognize that there were factors in those days that they might not be aware of. It’s not much of a mental hurdle to accept that and to show a little respect, even if you’re sure you’d never had made that call that way.
Two, with over twenty years of game lines we have a varied and intense community who has members in it who may just love the very thing that is getting lambasted. Our fans are creative and intelligent enough to take an idea and make it work for them- and they don’t deserve to be told that idea they ran with actually sucks. That leads to some folks feeling like we’re saying they suck, and down we slide on the slippery slope to BadWrongFun.
And all of this ties into the idea I’ve talked about before of wanting our entire gaming community to understand that this hobby of ours is just too small for us to forget that simply being a tabletop RPG player makes us a rare and freakish species. We should be exalting (small e) each other, not fightin’.
More on inclusion next week, I think.
Here are the projects as they fight their way to completion:
– Book of the Deceived (MtC): In Editing.
– Sothis Ascends (MtC): First draft heading into redlines.
– Cursed Necropolis: Rio (MtC): First draft heading into redlines.
– Exalted 3rd Edition: From Holden: “Final Charm balance tune-ups continued this week, while Evocations are hitting their final tree. The Introduction is currently being written (yes, we left the first part of the book as the last part to be written). This coming week should focus on finishing Evocations, art notes, and getting various 98%-done parts of the book done with final clean-up passes.”
Both EX3 novels are being worked on, and notes went back on Matt Forbeck’s synopsis. The EX3 Music Suites are at a standstill right now until our composer gets through his full time job commitments.
– V20 Anarchs Unbound: It is live on DTRPG in PDF, ePub, PoD and PDF/PoD combos. http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127247/Anarchs-Unbound Getting printer quotes finalized for Deluxe version.
– V20 Rites of the Blood: Approved by CCP. PDF on sale at DTRPG very soon.
– V20 Dark Ages: Scribes are scribing 2nd Drafts and some 3rd Drafts. David Hill has delivered some art notes. Finishing full page art notes.
– V20: Ghouls: In 2nd drafts.
– V20 Red List: In final draft stage.
– The Making of the Art of Children of the Revolution: Creating PoD files to go with PDF for sale on DTRPG.
– V20 Lore of the Clans: Was Blood Diaries. Writing.
– Deluxe Werewolf 20th Anniversary Edition: Mike Lee has delivered several new chapters this week of the W20 “Houses of the Moon” novel for Bill to review. The White Howlers Tribe Book is in layout approval, and the comic was being scripted by Bill Bridges and John Bridges has started on the art. W20 Wyld West: PDF and physical book PoD versions are on sale now: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/130128/W20-Wyld-West-Expansion-Pack.
– W20 Changing Breeds: Deluxes and Screens on trucks on the way to the fulfillment shipper.
– W20 Book of the Wyrm- 2 Days to go and still having a lot of fun with the Pentex Board Nominees posting their schemes and campaign platforms, and have already passed several Stretch Goals including the creation of a Pentex Employee Indoctrination Manual including sections on Magadon, The RED Network, Sunburst Enterprises and a transcription of the Pentex Guide to Werewolves online video series, a Wyrm KS t-shirt and a Pentex t-shirt discount, and added a section on Fomori First Teams, Fallen Changing Breeds, more info on Mockeries, Wyrm Cults, and more on the Black Spiral Dancers to the book itself- said topics of extra text being chosen by the backers themselves. Next Stretch Goals are for adding more info on Fomori and Banes, and adding Endron, the massive oil company to the Pentex Employee Indoctrination Manual.
– W20: The Umbra: In post-second draft development.
– Mage the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition- Satyr Phil has handed all the text off to Bill. Bill has started his “second set of eyes” developer’s pass. The Character Pack book and the “How Do You DO That?” book would be next on our agenda. The M20 Quick Start PDF was sent to backers today, with the PDF and PoD versions getting set to be made available on DTRPG as soon as we can figure out one tiny problem with the PoD!
– Trinity Continuum: System Doc being assembled by Joltin’ Joe Carriker. He says system development is really hard and apologizes for the delay. The first new piece of art in YEARS has been commissioned. We’re doing some Gen Con things with that.
– Scion: Sketch for Scion: Origins came in and WOW!
– Demon: The Descent: Demon Seed Collection is in post-writing development. DtD Seattle is in layout. Heirs to Hell backers’ PDF went out to KS backers last week. Demon Translation Guide is being written. The Demon Fiction Anthology + Interfaces is in post-writing development.
– DtD Players Guide: Flowers Of Hell: PDF is available now: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/131419/Flowers-of-Hell-The-Demon-Players-Guide.
– nWoD: Dark Eras: All but one 2nd draft is in, and Black Hat Matt expects to be able to run a focused dev pass on that to get it to editing too.
– WtF: The Idigam Chronicle: In redlines. Stew Wilson is doing a remarkably regular Friday blog that focuses on specific topics for the book- lots of good discussion happening right now: https://theonyxpath.com/category/projects/werewolftheforsaken/
– GtSE: Geist Ready Made Characters: In redlines.
Reason to Drink: This week is the week of the 4th of July. Two of my kids have birthdays this week.
We ever gonna get a sneak peak at something for the new Scion Game? Even a scrap of art?
Hell I’ll take a paragraph on which god could out drink the others.
We have a few sneak peeks we’re getting together for Gen Con and then to generally let loose.
Is Scion going to get a Kickstarter or will it be released direct through DrivethuRPG?
The plan is for a Kickstarter, then DTRPG.
Can’t wait.
Rich’s said a Scion Kickstarter is planned.
I love that Spencer piece too. 🙂
Always leave the introduction for last (unless you have no idea what you’re doing and you need to use the introduction as an excuse to write your outline).
Also, I just noticed there was an Exalted Comic way at the bottom of the Current Projects page. I’m assuming that’s the Tale of Visiting Flare, which has already been released? Or is there another Exalted comic that I forgot about amid the deluge of stretch goals?
Yes, that’s the Flare comic. We need to clean that up. Thanks!
I know this is off topic, and there may be licensing issues, but I was wondering if you all had plans to release T-shirts for the other clans on red bubble.
Absolutely fine to ask here, and absolutely yes.
I Rich,
Does “post-writing development” for the Demon Seed and Demon Fiction Anthology mean Red-Lines or Editing or such? Just curious about which of those two parts it covers, or if its inclusive of both?
Thanks,
Hawthorn
Its usually the stage before editing, unless the Dev decides during it that a writer needs to rework some of what they’ve handed in.
I usually refer to it as “greenlines,” because I use the green bit of my four-color pen to mark up the drafts.
Excitement for Ex3. So close I can taste it!….ew…glue.
We’re not using glue on this one- the pages will be held together by awesome.
Good job, Rich. The Wyrm *wants* you to rip apart those previous designers, and cause dissension.
The Wyrm is a poopy-head.
But it that same Book of the Wyrm, it states that viewers of a channel (RED Network) representing politics the writers don’t like are “inured to hatred and discrimination”. They even made this section a stretch goal ahead of vital things like Wyrm cults, fomori, even Endron. (“You mother is dying and the biggest threat to her is …cable news?”) I return to my question: what percentage of OP’s fans and writers is it okay to insult?
There’s a difference between fiction- like this game- and real world politics. Things like the RED Network are exaggerations of elements from the real world- they are pushing real world ideas into the much worse World of Darkness paradigm. Just like WoD has always done with anything from the real world.
Stew Wilson blurs that difference by claiming the things WW said about its fictional corporations have become true. (I guess Teslas actually come with evil spirits.) Statements like “far-right talking heads with a questionable relation to actual news” and “inured to hatred and discrimination” aren’t exaggerations, they’re made-up smears. Are you saying FOX viewers are just slightly inured?
These exaggerations seem to go only one way. I can’t believe people get their news from left-wing comedians who mock anyone who disagree with them, but Colbert is praised as an example to follow. Are there versions of MSNBC, Al “Crown Heights” Sharpton, or Keith Olbermann in the WoD? The bad things in the RL Occupy movement (filth, drug use, rape, bomb plots) were ignored in “Occupy Malfeas”, glorifying it to the point of propaganda. What’s next, Barack Obama in the WoD is a kami and anyone who voted against him is Wyrm-tainted?
Call it exaggeration all you want, but you can’t deny the intent is to demonize a cable channel because it’s slightly to the right of the writer, and to call its viewers ignorant. It’s an attempt to manipulate people IRL from even admitting they watch it. (Like the people who call it Faux News, not realizing the “x” is silent.) Would this be allowed against Colbert Report fans? Going to the topic of this post, would an OP freelancer be more comfortable keeping his television habits in the closet if they’re outside this bubble?
Writer on Board is usually considered a flaw, because preaching gets boring even to the choir. John Scalzi is pretty left, but he keeps it out of his books which get recommended even by libertarian sites. As I said, RED was made a stretch goal before things wyrm cults and Endron. Tellus didn’t make the cut. What can it add beyond a self-indulgent 5000 word rant about how the writer hates a FOX expy?
*On the threat of cable news:
1. Focusing on stories that are pretty much un-newsworthy or done with to fill up a 24-hr channel for weeks or even months on end.
2. Influencing public opinion.
3. Not covering certain stories at ALL so they are not in the public eye as much or to make sure the public doesn’t know about it.
4. Making stuff up as they go along to fill up air time when they don’t have any information when a crisis is happening. “We think the shooter had blue eyes…” Hours later, “We now know the shooter doesn’t have blue eyes, but brown eyes…”.
5. Hyping up or causing mass panic over events that aren’t that big or downplaying news that should be concerning.
6. Hacking people’s phones and violating their privacy for news.
Plus many, many other things.
So your pack has managed to get secret files or information that Pentex doesn’t want people to know about (Say like the drugs your dying mother is on that really isn’t helping her at all).
One of the pack members suggests getting a news channel to pick up the story so humans can become aware of the problem or cause a scandal for the Pentex company you infiltrated. Guess what? RED squashes that story from getting any airtime or has enough influence to make a smaller news channel or newspaper look like kooks for reporting it.
Do not underestimate the power of corrupt news.
As I said, your mother is dying. 1-6 barely rise to the level of annoyances compared to that. Also, this is cable news, a fraction of the networks, unless all the tvs in the WoD are only set to receive the RED Network. It couldn’t squash a story that wasn’t submitted to it or discredit one without proof. (Just put it on Wikileaks.) RED is also explicitly meant to be Fox news, somewhat out of the mainstream. It’s not doing non-stop Malaysian Flight 370 coverage like CNN and can’t set the tone for other news coverage (see Journolist). Dissent used to be the highest form of patriotism, now it’s linked to cosmic evil. The main outrage seems to be the “talking heads”. “Their viewers, enthralled by the talking heads, embrace the network’s sound bites as ideological truths, and push them on their neighbors and children.” It’s only acceptable to get ideological truths from comedians. Don’t talking heads occur during Garou moots?
One of these weeks, Ex3 note will say “the book is done, pdf to be sent later today” and I will kneel down and cry the tears of joy.
…though, to be honest, I’m kind of hoping that doesn’t happen so soon. I can find out that Ex3 is finished only once and it sort of feels like a kid waiting for New Year. I might almost say that the anticipation alone was worth the price tag.
Never mind me, I’m just overly giddy about Ex3.
I’m kinda in the same boat. Finally having it is going to be such a heavy blow to the feels (especially the trials that some of the developers had to go through while it was being made), that I’m hoping it isn’t this month, since I’m already moving and have some other stuff happening.
I am not *excited* that it took this long, but the finished product will be such a relief that I may cry.
I also get teary thinking about how close we finally are to publishing this!
“V20 Rites of the Blood: Approved by CCP. PDF on sale at DTRPG very soon.”
Does this mean no deluxe version or is it a change to the way you’re releasing PDFs for books that are being Kickstarted?
I mentioned this several times in the Monday Meeting Notes, but we made the call on this one about a month ago not to Kickstart it. So it’s coming out on PDF and physical book PoD versions a LOT sooner than if we KS’d it.
I saw that too, and I jumped to the conclusion that it’s no Kickstarter. Not getting a deluxe version makes me a little sad but only because I’d hoped that the community could maybe do something like we did with The Hunters Hunted II. That is, make a good book into a truly great book!
…On the other hand, I’m excited about getting the book sooner rather than later. So I’ll find a way to be pleased about this one way or another. *wink*
I know it’s a long, long way off but… for the NEW Guide to the Technocracy RELOADED book I would like to suggest that a section be included for Sons of Ether and Virtual Adepts technologies and sciences. When I’ve run Mage The Ascension games in the past I’ve always used material in “Guide to the Technocracy” for Sons of Ether and Virtual Adepts characters. It’s just a suggestion.
I’ll pass on your suggestion to The Brucato. Thanks!
First up, it’s an exciting time to be a fan with so many projects coming together.
Second, I totally agree with your comments in this blog. The world has moved on and what seemed like a great idea 15-20 years ago doesn’t always seem like such a great idea now. That said, even the questionable stuff is part of your worlds’ respective DNAs. And, if a lot of us old school fans are honest we’d have to admit that some of the more “wrong” or gonzo stuff really tickled us at the time. That’s almost a Dirty Secret, y’know…
Thanks- that’s exactly what I’m talking about. We have to really be clear in talking changes to any of these game lines that those changes are being to made for the overall quality of the whole new thing. As opposed to changes because that old thing sucked. Those who already know it’s just a bad rule or setting will be glad of the change and assume it confirms their opinion, and those who either worked around it, or who really weren’t bothered won’t feel they are being dissed for it.
Can we get an update on The Making of the Art of Children of the Revolution?
The creating PoD status has been in place since January, and I’m curious about the delay as well as when it will be available.
Straight up- I mentioned that our projects were finally breaking out of a logjam a couple three months back. Those projects, like the three we made available last week, are getting most of our attention right now. Projects that will build the lines. Art books have proven time and again to be incredibly special interest and niche, and so when prioritizing what gets done, they get back burnered. I was just glad to finally get the PDF out to backers of the Children of the Revolution KS! We will certainly get the other versions out on DTRPG as soon as a break in our production comes around.
What I’d dislike on Onyx Path is the dependence on DTRPG as single source to provide physical books. DTRPG charges exorbitant price for the shipping costs, for example, take a look on this image: http://a.pomf.se/sctnjc.jpg The shipping cost is almost the same price of one hardcover color premium book.
Please, consider others alternatives to DTRPG like Indie Press Revolution http://www.indiepressrevolution.com
Thanks, we certainly will always consider other options. If IPR has found less expensive shipping to Brazil, I’d love to hear about that- because based on the pricing I reviewed for our Kickstarter fulfillment, the cost in your example from DTRPG seems on target. And I agree, international shipping in general is absolutely crazy right now.
You know what Rich and Co!? Keep doing what you are doing. I see a lot of respect and care going into the 20th Anniversary lines. I trust your judgement.
I am thrilled you got Dansky on Wraith and am now sitting back waiting. Waiting to buy the PDF of M20, and pledge stupid amounts of my monies for Wraith. I know it is months off, but I can’t stop being excited. Perhaps as a stretch goal a small black satin bag with ten Oboli props in it lol.
Gotta feel for you, it’s hard to preach good behavior without people thinking you’re telling them they’re acting badly.
I for one like what you’re doing. Obviously it would be nice if you could have Onyx Path books in every store that sells books, but it doesn’t seem feasible. And yeah a lot of people sure don’t like the 90s, and they are very loud about how they don’t like the 90s, but the 90s were the 90s, and because people feel differently about things now doesn’t mean everyone was wrong then. Bleh. Good luck.
Anyways, I liked the title Blood Diaries of the Clans better.
Here’s a great real astrophysics report that would be awesome to insert into the Void Engineers Technocracy storyline. There’s a 1.8 BILLION LIGHT YEAR diameter void cold spot in the Universe. http://io9.com/the-coldest-spot-in-the-universe-may-actually-be-a-mass-1599786798
I am sorry to be so impatient, but I do we have an estimated date of arrival for The Prestige Edition Demon book? In December, you estimated that it will be delivered in July. I know it is only July 5th, but we still haven’t received an estimated date.
I also saw that there was a problem with the proof and that the production was set back because of it. I am trying to be patient, but my excitement to get my copy is showing. Just a range of dates would be adequate.
Thanks 🙂
Right now, I’m hoping that we can still start shipping in July, but until we hear from our printer that everything is cool, books are printed and bound just fine, and we see a sample copy, I’m not estimating. If everything is OK with the book, and if our new shipper works out for Changing Breeds we’ll be sending Demon to them- so there are still a couple of possible trouble points, but things are looking good right now for late July/August shipping.
I understand. I can *probably* wait until then. 🙂