Yoooo Hoooo! It’s a big green tentacled horror!

It’s also the gang at Onyx Path saying hi and letting you know that our crowdfunding campaign for Storypath Ultra is doing great!

We have more than a week to go, we’re over 400% funded, and we might even be at 900 backers by the time you read this! We’re so glad so many people are interested and excited because of this project!

In fact, as long-time readers might have suspected, SPU Core Manual dev Eddy Webb has something to say now:

Wow, 400% funded! I’m so excited everything is ticking along. And it looks like our first setting vote is settled: “An experimental space flight flings the player characters into a distant galaxy full of strange and alien sights.” At this moment I’m thinking things like Farscape, Buck Rogers, and a dash of sci-fi isekai, but let’s wait and see what the second vote looks like before I finalize my thoughts. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the next one is fantasy, and here are the three options:

* A cozy fantasy game where explorers look for ingredients to help heal their sick dragon friend.
* A war-torn world ripped apart by a devastating magic war, and a few surviving wizards try to prove who is the best among them.
* A group of young heroes are blessed with magical armor and weapons in order to defeat an evil sorcerer queen seeking to destroy their land.

I do want to mention that none of them will be a “generic” or “D&D-like” fantasy world — no matter which one wins, it’ll have some neat twists and turns along the way.

I’ve said before that these are not only meant to be complete (if extremely focused) games in their own right, but also meant to be illustrations of how the SPU rules can be tweaked, built upon, and expanded. As such, I need to see which pitches win before I can sort out a good spread of material I can illustrate between the concepts. For example, right now magic is a pretty big component of each fantasy pitch (because, well, fantasy), but how that looks on the page can be vastly different. And since the first pitch talks about long-range travel via some method of propulsion, I probably won’t go into, say, planar travel in the fantasy setting so as to avoid too much conceptual overlap.

Anyhow, it’s all very exciting, and I can’t wait to see which pitch wins!

Thanks, Eddy!

And since we’re rolling along, that also means we’re rolling past Stretch Goals and dropping them into our little Achieved! basket! Last week, we already had attained the SG of us pushing the SPU faster into being available for Community Content on the Storypath Nexus, and then we also passed the SG for us putting together a licensing program to enable creators to use Storypath Ultra rules for their own games!

These will not be on the Nexus, but actual licensed games that the creators will own – subject to the terms of the licensing agreement. So folks will need to pitch us their ideas for their game that they want to be “powered” by SPU, and if we like what we see, we’ll set up a licensing contract. No further details before the crowdfunder is over, but it’s an exciting new direction for us!

High-Ho, Meeting!

Today, a lot of what we went over in the Monday Meeting were all the moving parts that we’re dealing with as the Curseborne Kickstarter looms on October 1. Just so much we are finishing up, and so much left to do – so it was really important to touch base, compare notes, and make sure that each facet of this dark gem we call Curseborne is polished.

Which is not to say that all the other creators who are working on other projects are neglected, nope, that’s why we also use each Monday to review the status of our ongoing projects! It’s like we’re already juggling balls, plates, a goldfish bowl, some torches and a brace of knives – and then somebody throws in a live cobra to be juggled as well!

(And to be fair, that somebody was me, when I first broached the idea of us doing our own horror game line!)

We’re still pushing to give folks more info about the game – hopefully stuff that will interest and engage folks and lead to their signing up for the Kickstarter pre-launch page, and/or checking out the KS itself. Link down there in the Crowdfunding section of The Blurbs!. Right now, we’re up to three blog posts on this very site a week, and that will continue until October and the Kickstarter.

Besides the written blog posts, is anybody catching the great vids Travis is making that launch with each blog?

I’m lovin’ them, as I like that you can now see how those earlier teaser vids connect to the Lineages and other Curseborne concepts, and also that we get to play with the overall mood and kinds of visuals that suggest a world of curses.

Travis also wants you all to know that we’re doing a Curseborne AMA, but this time it’s on our Twitch channel this coming Friday the 20th! Here’s his notes about what promises to be a fun show:

On Friday at Noon EDT Rich, Danielle, Dixie, and Eddy will be coming to the Onyx Path Twitch channel for a Curseborne AMA! They’ll be answering questions from the chat, so you won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about our highly anticipated return to horror! Join us!

So, last week we released a monster book for Realms of Pugmire called Threats and Curs that I’ve talked about on occasion on this blog. We’ve received a lot of wonderful comments about it, and I’m especially thrilled that people take the time to praise both the art (huge thanks from me, the sole artist) and the overall look that was so clearly based on the very first D&D hardcover!

As someone noted, that first Monster Manual was out before the first Player’s Guide, and Threats and Curs is very likely going to be out in PoD before Realms of Pugmire is. So the two monster books are kind of related! Which wasn’t in the front part of my brain, although maybe it was obvious to Eddy, but we did want to give folks who enjoyed the first Pugmire books as well as those who have backed Realms of Pugmire and Curious Cats of Mau and already have those manuscripts, new material they can play with sooner than after Realms hits stores. We think Threats and Curs will be great for all Pugmire fans, in other words!

Then, besides those folks, I’m really hoping that the way we have clearly respected and loved the early D&D look and feel will be obvious to people who maybe also came into the hobby in its early years, or who at least enjoy a tome of line drawn monsters! Certainly, I was having a blast emulating the design and layout I remembered so well, although there are touches of the Realms of Pugmire graphic design so that it’s not just a copy of the old days.

(And honestly, there were several occasions where I really had a tough call to make vis-a-vis the difference between our modern layout, and that of an earlier era when they probably cut out the text and pasted it onto boards to be photographed or statted at the printer.)

So if you have friends that are more D&D-heads than not, maybe let them take a gander at the DTRPG page for Threats and Curs, check out the cover and the two-page spread samples, and see what they think. The more, the merrier in our:

Many Worlds, One Path!

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Blurbs!

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Crowdfunding!

Storypath Ultra Core Manual!

Funded in just over 1 HOUR on BackerKit Crowdfunding!

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/e1e8ffda-b5fb-485e-9b8c-4bed270ffde9/landing

We’re now at over 400% funding and have opened up a bunch of Stretch Goals including Expedited Community Content tools on Storypath Nexus, and a Licensing Program !

NEXT!

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!

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Onyx Path Media!

This week: Matthew, Danielle, and Dixie construct some villains for your games!

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

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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 Storypath Ultra, Threats and Curs, and Curseborne! Check it out here: https://youtube.com/live/FaN4lrxrnlw

Awkward GM Corbin continues with his excellent roll of videos with a new feature on Trinity Continuum: Aether! Watch Getting Started, and be sure to watch out for sneaky Edison coming to rob you blind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og8si9B9AHI

Corbin continues to be the most prolific creator of media concerning our games! Can you topple him from his stylite-esque pedestal, where he climbed to grow closer to the god of RPGs, but just lures you to take him on, gladiator-style, with a rival pillar and pugil stick? Give it a try!

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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

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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/

OGL Books and Screens are 50% Off over 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).

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On Sale This Week!

You have prepared and struggled to ascend and assume your divine throne! Now the fourth of the main Scion 2e rulebooks arrives with thunder! Scion: God is available in PDF and physical copy PoD versions this Weds on DTRPG!

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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

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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:

Editing

Tasty Bit – Scion Dragon Lair #3 (September)

• Danielle: This is moving forward quickly, and will make it to layout later this week, I’m excited for folks to get a chance to check it out next week.

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ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

• Ex3 Abyssals – Getting that contracted out.
• Ex3 Alchemicals – Notes with Maria….
• M20 Victorian Bizarre Tales and Unusual Characters – Art running a little late, but will be in this week.
• Curseborne (KS) – Making more graphics for the final page, and advertising.
• SPU Core Manual (BK) – Live!

Layout

• Trinity Continuum CC 
• Scion Tasty Bit Combo
• The World Below – Getting template files over to Travis… gathering the art.
• Ex Essence Pillars of Creation – Hammering out changes on fulls – into this week.
• Ex Essence Deeds Yet Undone (Dirt Cheap)
• SCION God Storyguide Screen
• TC With Great Power 
• Curseborne Brochure #2 – Getting ready for press.

Proofing

• They Came From Classified Jumpstart 
• Curseborne Gamehole Con Card – Getting to press.

Indexing

• Ex3 Sidereals 
• Realms of Pugmire

At Press

• Reprints:
• Scion Origin – At port, then to Studio2.
• TC Core – At port, then to Studio2.

• Ex 3 Exigents – Reviewing quotes.
• Ex 3 Exigents Screen – Looking at proofs.
• TC Aether – Reviewing quotes.
• TC Anima – Printing.
• TC Anima Terra Surge Screen – Proofs sent back.
• Ex3 Sidereals – Indexing.
• Ex Essence Jumpstart – Dixie inputting errata.
• Ex Essence Charm Cards
• Realms of Pugmire – Indexing.
• Sidereals Novella – Backer PDF out to backers 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 – Proofs sent back.
• They Came From CLASSIFIED – Advances in and signed off on.
• They Came From CLASSIFIED Screen – Proofs sent back.
• TC Player’s Guide – Page XXs.
• Pugmire: Threats and Curs – Gathering errata.
• Scion: God – PDF and PoD versions on sale on DTRPG this Weds!

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Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Happy Birthday to comics legend, Mike Mignola, born September 16, 1960 – an American comic book artist and writer best known for creating Hellboy, part of a shared universe of titles including B.P.R.D., Abe Sapien, Lobster Johnson, and various spin-offs. He has also created other supernatural and paranormal themed titles for Dark Horse including Baltimore, Joe Golem, and The Amazing Screw-On Head. I had the pleasure of art directing Mike on several projects for WW when we were publishing fiction, including the cover and interior illustrations for Dark Destiny 2, and our republication of the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series. He was fun, engaging, and always had great ideas and amazing finished art!