Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Reddit Ask Us Anything yesterday! As always, there was a frenzy of questions and answers and we had a great time answering your questions – everything from our relationship with the new White Wolf Publishing, to which Kith will be appearing in C20. You can read the whole AMA (AUA) here: https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/3xldx5/hi_its_onyx_path_back_again_ask_us_anything/ or you can go to this very nice compilation of excerpts here: http://elsewherenightly.com/p/onyx-path-does-a-reddit-ama-talks-changeling-gives-excerpts/ Thanks to Sam “Part Time Rogue” Swicegood for pulling that together!
To repeat one answer, because I think it is one that bears repeating: Onyx Path is continuing to create and publish cWoD 20th Anniversary projects, Exalted 3rd projects, and Chronicles of Darkness (nWoD) projects. Our license with the new White Wolf Publishing continues, fear not True believer!
It was a weekend of Q&A, not coincidently timed to remind folks about our Deluxe Changeling 20th Kickstarter (see below). The lovely “chat session” used as our art this week was illustrated by the supremely talented Rebecca Guay for Changeling in the past, and seemed appropriate for this week’s chatty blog.
On Saturday I sat down with Dave Martin and Josh Maxwell of Podcast: The Wreckoning: http://thewreckingcrew.org/podcasts/ptw-ep10-interview-with-rich-thomas-of-onyx-path-publishing/ We talked about the Chronicles of Darkness re-branding and the future of Chronicles of Darkness and Classic World of Darkness, the Changeling: The Dreaming Kickstarter campaign and the upcoming Kickstarter campaigns for Pugmire and Scarred Lands. And, because it’s the event where Dave and I get to hang out and even, <gasp>, game a bit together, we talked about Gen Con 2016. Poor Josh tried to keep Dave and I on target, but we do tend to ramble and joke. A lot.
Your response to our 12 Days of Onyx Contest has been fantastic! So many funny conditions perfectly themed for the holidays! The crew here are having a hard time picking the best ones, and they’ll be sending out an update tomorrow (Tuesday). I’m looking forward to see which 12 holiday Conditions make it to the PDF on the 25th!
I have not yet seen the new Star Wars movie (no spoilers in the comments, please), yet Fast Eddy Webb and I were still able to talk about the similarity between the reaction to the clean sweep of the Star Wars setting before this new movie and our own discussions when it comes to game settings. You can probably figure that we talked about the obvious engagement (or entitlement if it gets ugly) issues of arguing minutia, but we also wandered into something I found interesting.
Star Wars is huge. I mean just a mammoth franchise. Like there is just no way that a guy arguing on the internet, or protesting even, is going to move the creators of Star Wars projects one inch from their intentions. The vast corporate bureaucracies that are overseeing and powered by the huge sums that are generated by everything Star Wars, are just not set up to be responsive to the individual fan.
But we are. And by we I mean both Onyx Path and most of the companies, from one guy to hundreds, that create tabletop RPGs. With social media, our Open Dev Process, Kickstarters, and conventions, where you can talk right to the creators, our RPG community has a chance to impact and influence our creators in ways that is simply impossible in the bigger media arenas. We just had an AMA with a big slice of our developers and Onyx Path crew all together answering questions.
That’s just an amazing chance to interact, when you think about it. (We never could do that with E. Gary Gygax, back in the day, for instance.)
Let’s not waste it.
BLURBS!
Starting today, check out the Mage: the Ascension 2nd Edition Bundle of Holding! This is a great two-week chance to get classic 2nd Edition Mage PDFs but you want to jump in there early before the prices rise as more legendary titles are added to the Bundle! https://bundleofholding.com/presents/MageAscension
KICKSTARTER!
The Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Kickstarter just keeps charging forward! We’ve added sections on How To Create Your Own Kith, two more bookmarks, and Kith from two international CtD books to the Main book! We’ve unlocked a new Reward Tier that will offer signed prints by Tony DiTerlizzi! A C20 fiction anthology, and a How To Manage Your Freehold PDF, and more – we’re just getting started! And we haven’t even announced the dice yet!
ON SALE!
V20 Lore of the Clans in PDF and PoD versions goes on sale Wednesday! Red (blood) and green (marble) for the holidays!
M20 How Do You DO That? is coming to DTRPG in PDF and PoD versions hopefully this week!
Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition PDF & Standard and Premium PoD physical book editions are NOW AVAILABLE on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/149562/Mage-the-Ascension-20th-Anniversary-Edition
The Pugmire Pamphlet we had available at Gen Con is now ready for PDF download. Read about the world of Pugmire from the enthusiastic and optimistic pen of Princess Yosha Pug, as well as notes from the gruff and worldly hunter Pan Daschund: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/153518/Pugmire-Gen-Con-Brochure
There are also six Pugmire posters available as free PDFs or $.99 physical posters, suitable for framing:
- Spike Mutt:Â http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/150845/Spike-Mutt-Pugmire-Poster-6
- Pan Dachshund:Â http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/150844/Pan-Dachshund-Pugmire-Poster-5
- Jack Rat-Terrier:Â http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/150944/Jack-RatTerrier-Pugmire-Poster-4
- Sgt. Leo Bulldog:Â http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/150843/Sgt-Leo-Bulldog-Pugmire-Poster-3
- Princess Yosha Pug:Â http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/149750/Princess-Yosha-Pug-Pugmire-Poster-2
- Sister Picassa Collie:Â http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/148516/Sister-Picassa-Collie-Pugmire-Poster-1
Start spreading the Code of Man!
CONVENTIONS!
3 WEEKS TO GO! We’re one of the Contributing Sponsors at Midwinter Con this year this January in Milwaukee! RichT, Fast Eddy Webb, and Newlywed Neall Raemonn Price will be there at our booth as well as running demo games of Scion and Pugmire. Right now we are planning panels for What’s Up With Onyx Path?, WoD 20th Anniversary Games and a Pugmire/Scion/StoryPath System one. In the meantime, check out the show here: http://www.midwintergamingconvention.com/
And now, the new project status updates!
First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)
- M20 Book of Secrets (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- CtL anthology (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- Night Horrors: Conquering Heroes (Beast: the Primordial)
- Scion: Alpha (Scion 2nd Edition Playtest Alpha Slice)
- Dagger of Spiragos (Scarred Lands)
- EX3 Quickstart (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Shattered Dreams in-book stretch goals (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Ring of Spiragos (Scarred Lands)
Redlines
- Mummy Fiction Anthology (Mummy: the Curse)
- Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
- Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)
- V20 Ready Made Characters (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Cavaliers of Mars
- Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)
- Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition
Second Draft
- Arms of the Chosen (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)
- WtF The Pack (Werewolf: the Forsaken 2nd Edition)
- Beckett’s Jyhad Diary (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- WtA Kinfolk (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
Development
- StoryPath System Rules (Base rules set for Scion and the Trinity Continuum)
- W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- CofD Hurt Locker (Chronicles of Darkness)
- VtM Lore of the Bloodlines (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- W20 Shattered Dreams (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Beast Ready Made Characters (Beast: the Primordial)
Editing
- W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Dark Eras Expansions (Chronicles of Darkness Dark Eras)
- Scarred Lands Player’s Guide: Ghelspad (Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)
- Beast Fiction Anthology (Beast: the Primordial)
- Dark Eras Companion (Chronicles of Darkness Dark Eras)
Post-Editing Development:
- V20 Ghouls (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)
- Secrets of the Covenants (Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition)
ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:
In Art Direction
- V20 Ghouls – Awaiting text.
- W20 Shattered Dreams – Awaiting artnotes for Ch. 5.
- Mage: the Awakening Second – Art approved…need CofD swapped in.
- Promethean: the Created Second – Pinging Ron to see where the splats are…
- Scarred Lands PG – more finals and sketches rolling in. Should see a big uptick in that over the next two weeks.
-
Dark Eras – Contracting artists for new sections.
- Pugmire Early Access – sketches and finals rolling in.
- Dark Eras Companion – Sorting through that art buy.
In Layout
- Dreams of Avarice – Wrapping that up and hopefully getting it out for approval.
- Guide to the Black Hand – Working on it.Â
- Chronicles of Darkness Condition Cards – After the errata pass is done on CofD core.
- Ex 3 Anthology – Awaiting reformatted file.
- Beast Screen – Awaiting feedback but almost done.
- Truth Beyond Paradox – Proofing with Phil.
- Awakening Second – Once updated text is in, this will move into the layout queue.
Â
Proofing
- Beast: The Primordial – At Paradox for Approval.
- Demon STG –  At Paradox for Approval.
- Ex 3 core book – From RichT: Got Dev notes and am reviewing those and adding my own art/design/backer names notes to the proofing PDF. Art corrections finishing up.
At Press
- M20 – Deluxes printing (Screen is finished and awaiting book).
- M20 How Do You Do That ?!? – Maybe this week, our PoD printer is slammed with holiday orders.
- V20 Lore of the Clans – PDF and PoD versions on sale this week.
- Chronicles of Darkness – Available in PDF format and the errata phase ends this Weds.
Special- projects on hold in the art and production area until an external factor is resolved
- Wraith 20 – Can’t go further until art notes come in, still being developed by Rich Dansky.
- Pentex Employee Indoctrination Manual – Some added and amended text needs to come in.
TODAY’S REASON TO DRINK: Happy Holidays to all! Merry Christmas to those that celebrate it!
Glad the AMA went well, I got there way late but didn’t have much to ask anyways.
Great to hear about Secrets of the Covenants! Almost ready! Now we just need the Pack to catch up. Need to get this CoD show on the road!
The Pack delay is on me. Life piled stuff on top of stuff, so submitting my finals was delayed. They’re in today, so hopefully the process can move forward again.
Sorry about that, Forsaken fans ?
Ahhh! That’s great news! No need to apologize when you tell us that, especially since we all have lives and can understand how things can happen in them. Especially around this time of year.
Woo! Can’t wait to get these books. I know Demon’s had a bunch of books already but it really feels like the first supplements for the “big three” will mean the chronicles are really a thing, especially with Mage 2e on the way.
Hey Rich, is there any chance we can get Chris Allen to write a book of all the crazy drugs he can think of for plot hooks, or just plot hooks he thought of in general? He’s done like 5 drugs already and they’re so freaking amazing and would make an amazing April Fools gift to use on players even. I and a lot of others would love to see more of them!
“Drugs”? I do not know what you are referencing, sorry.
Yeah, the context will probably help this comment make a bit more sense.
Said context: Some people wanted ideas for supernatural drugs like one might find in a goblin market, so I brainstormed a few up and they seemed to be well received.
Yay for Secrets of the Covenants moving up! I’m still trying to check my anxiety for Mage2e though.
Speaking of Star Wars… maybe Rose’s cavaliers have some sort of lightsabers, or even JackRat Terrier could dig up an ancient technological artifact from the Age of Man that lights up and goes “whooom”…
As you’ll see soon, Rex Pyrenees has a Masterwork sword with some special properties. He’ll be showing up in the Pugmire KS materials.
Dang it paradox!
Hurry up and approve the Demon STG!
Really excited for this book. Kinda bummed it isn’t out yet. Any spoilers we can get. A blurb or the cover art maybe?
If your demon hears Incepts coming, the proverbial just hit the fan!
#cryptic clue
:p
Wouldn’t seeing an excerpt or the cover art bum you out more because you still can’t get it yet? Just sayin’.
Everyone likes a little tease. ^.~
Holiday season, and us just getting started with approvals. And a bunch of books getting ready at once. We’re gonna give Martin and co. a little leeway to figure these things out. Thanks!
So… does this confirms Rebecca Guay’s artwork for C20? 🙂
Classic work for sure. New work? We’ll have to see.
First, Rebecca Guay is my heart! Her work is just… Oh, no words.
Second, Star Wars is worth the wait, and I regret even saying that much.
Third, I’m blown away by how much you all get done! Still! I’m glad that you’re holding on to what you have, and that the rest is in good hands. Woot!
Thanks, P!
So at least another week or two for M20 Deluxe? At least I’ll be getting more reading material in a few days.
I wonder how many gallons of gilt had to be used…
You hit the nail on the head there, it is the gilding that is so time consuming now.
Having worked in a print shop one summer in my youth as a gilder I fully don’t foresee my deluxe edition getting shipped till spring
Should we be able to expect ChroD core, Mage, Promethean, And Changeling next year?
Core is out now, unless you mean PoD. Since the errata pass will be done on that Wednesday, figure a few weeks for that depending on whether the holidays delay anything, and only longer if there’s a printing problem. Mage and Promethean are mostly done, so those should be ready pretty early next year as long as there aren’t too many cats catching fire.
Something pretty bad would have to happen for Changeling to not be done in the next 12 months, but it’s a bit further out.
I wouldn’t call it out until after the final version of the text is done. In many ways, but not all I do mean the PoD version. Obvsiously this book is a given for the beginning of the year. I’m more interested in the other books since Promethean got put on hold for so long.
According to the notes Promethean is done and is just waiting on final pieces of art before going into layout. Should be pretty close to Mage.
Yes.
I’m always glad to read the Monday notes because they actually contain useful information and not just shameless marketing.
Touching on your comments about being able to interact with your fans/customers, I’m going to ask that you never ever close the forums. I avoid social media like I would avoid a flea-infested werewolf and when Wizards of the Coast shut down their forums earlier this year, I lost the only halfway reliable source of communication I had with them or other players.
Well, there’s some shameless marketing. It comes with trying to get our community excited about all the stuff we do. But a big thanks and glad you like the rest of it!
Our forums are a classic tabletop RPG social environment for our community and I can’t see any reason to cut off that area that clearly a bunch of our fans enjoy.
Thanks again of being on the show Rich. I had a great time talking with you and Dave (including all the “wandering” conversation)!
My pleasure, Josh. I think you did a great job keeping us on target, and with your excellent questions. Thanks for having me on the show.
Any thoughts on the “secondary” World of Darkness lines? Will Mummy, Kindred of the East, et al be getting Twentieth Anniversary releases, too?
Mummy was only kind of a line. It was two books, with two previous “editions” that were really completely different beasts. If Hunter and Demon don’t get 20th releases, which they aren’t likely to then I doubt we’ll see Mummy. KotE on the other hand really did get a whole book line. Splats, companion, city guides, tieins to the other lines, Dark Ages books etc. I would love to see a Kindred of the East 20th edition.
Mummy was actually one of my favorites. I have both books.
Don’t get me wrong. Mummy was great, but with only two books there isn’t really a huge amount of material to gather together for a big 20th anniversary tomb. I’d love to see Mummy brought up to date with the 20th rules. I just don’t know that there’s enough for a big ole book.
For KotE I would love it if some of the new context and knowledge of Asian cultures was woven into a very updated version of the material. I loved the KotE books, but they weren’t perfect in a lot of ways. Way better than the Akashik 1st Ed tradition book, but not as well done as they could be now. I’d love to see how they would be handled now.
There are possibilities we are working on. We’d have to do “Anniversary Editions”, rather than “20th Anniversary Editions” for a couple of them. KOE is a different issue as our understanding of other cultures has been enriched past “what looked cool on the VHS tape we got at the con”. Which is a massive oversimplification of the issues involved and of individual contributors’ knowledge of the material.:)
What happened to Rio? No news is good news?
Correct.
I would like to say that the new core book development has not been done as openly as it could have. Some area’s of the text feel like they need to be expanded and clarified (imho), but it’s too late for that now. I know I was hoping for more examples. I expected it would be like 1st edition but 2nd edition rules. Instead the rules feel only slightly less compressed than they did. Some things added ( Investigation ) are very confusing to read, and could use a real examples.
And it was utilized more than other projects, which is how it goes. As I’ve mentioned before, no developer is told how to utilize the Open Dev Process. It is there as a tool we encourage Devs to use.
Any tentative estimates on how many more weeks the Ex3 artwork will be finishing up?
One artist is running late on some tweaks we wanted on the pieces. No real estimate to make there.
Would it be possible to get an update on Wraith 20th from someone at OPP? Last week Dansky live tweeted about a Wraith editing/writing retreat he did for himself and he posted that he completed 100k words worth of work (most of that was editing according to his post, but some of it was new writing). I’d really love to hear how close that gets wraith to moving forward out of redlines and hopefully into Art Development.
Once RichD returns from his “vacation”, which the retreat was a part of, he’ll be giving me a progress report that I’ll pass on to backers. Thanks!
Awesome. Thanks. I figured there might be a dynamic like that, but just wanted to check. I was really excited by what I saw him post last week and am hoping that he broke the back of the remaining development and redlining work during his trip of isolation and spookiness.
Hey
Long time fan and lurker here, and first time poster. I just really wanted to commend you all on just what an amazing job OPP does, in so far as interacting with your community and letting us know both the good and the bad that comes with these ventures.
I have played WoD games since VtM first came out in 91. On my 18th birthday, I got my first tattoo, which was the Tzimisce symbol from the revised edition. And since OPP took over the reigns of handling the WoD of Darkness line, both new and classic, I have never felt like it was in better hands. The 2nd Edition nWoD system is seriously one of my favorite systems in all tabletop RPGs, while previous editions of WoD games have been among my least favorite. In fact, they were all only surpassed by Rifts, in the amount of ire the systems have drawn from me. You’ve all done a remarkable job, and I think a large part of that has just been due to the positive and, for lack of a better or more apt way to put it, intimate relationship you hold with your fanbase.
I haven’t read the AMA yet. I’m about to go do that, now. I was wondering, though, how much of your relationship with the new White Wolf is talked about? Will we be seeing any more collaboration between the two companies? In my own personal opinion, after having watched a video, and read a few other things from the guys over at WW, they sound like they really have a very similar passion and desire to interact with the fans as you have. I wonder how much OPP is willing to work with and perhaps even assist WW in re-establishing the World of Darkness in the wider world of pop culture?
Given the properties are ultimately theirs, we’ll work with them as much as they want us to. We obviously love the properties and would be happy to work with them if they ask us.
MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE >=[