Well, you know, none of us can see the future, especially in these chaotic times – but let me clue you in on some future plans we have, at least!
This week we are in that rare time where we’re not running a crowdfunding campaign. So naturally, here’s some info about our upcoming campaigns through the year!
I mean, I’ve just got to talk about them as we’re all pretty amped!
Coming next is the campaign for Monster Kingdoms! I’ve teased some of the visuals already for this fantasy Storypath Ultra game where the world is ruled by various kinds of monsters, with more to come as we ramp up to the campaign. We expect this one will run on BackerKit, as I think we’ve done with the other two EarthBane Cycle game lines: The World Below and At The Gates.
Monster Kingdoms‘s original idea and pitch were something I came up with many years ago, but the execution and background for the setting are all new, and all incredible. Matthew Dawkin’s original setting bible was deep and dense and really explored just how this fantasy world has turned out into the fantastic mess it is in! And the writing from that stage onward has just been fresh and compelling – we can hardly wait to be able to show it to you during the crowdfunder.
Years ago, a computer game creative director gave a long talk about the nature of evil – mostly in reference to the World of Darkness – and while you absolutely can play the monsters in Monster Kingdoms against type, the game, much like that lecture, is also an exploration on what evil is – especially when the societies of the setting are by-and-large ruled by monsters.
Of course, there’s a lot more to do than debate morality in Monster Kingdoms, but more on that next time!
Because it’s time to move on to our next intended crowdfunder, which we’re really hoping to have up on Kickstarter this October, the Curseborne Players Guide: Toil and Trouble!
First of all, although the title is a line from the three witches in Macbeth, this is not a particularly “witchy” book, but rather it’s a Player’s Guide with new Families, and how to play them and the Families in the Curseborne core book, as well as new spells and even some new opponents. Which includes the dreaded and oft-requested Venators.
In the next couple of months, we’ll be teasing and revealing more info about this book in advance of the KS, so keep an eye out!
Related to this, we’re pushing hard to have the Backer PDF of that same Curseborne core book out very soon, and ideally before October.
Finally, we’re looking to have the next Exalted crowdfunding campaign in the Nov-Dec time-frame: the Infernals! The gang is pulling the text together to have it ready in time, and so far, knock on orichalcum, things are looking good!
We expect all three campaigns to be for our usual traditional printed standard and Deluxe books where appropriate as those are the books folks expect to be able to get, and that the current period of massive uncertainty will settle down by the time we need to send the books to press. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to keep doing it step by step as I noted last week. Fingers crossed.
On a different topic, here are some notes from the Monday Meeting today:
Scarred Lands Fantatical Bundle has a few days left:
https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/scarred-lands-5th-edition-rpg-bundle
X-Mas in July Sale on DTRPG and Roll20 – final week!:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/featured_promotions?promotion_id=25_DTRPG_XMas
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/featured_promotions?promotion_id=25_DTRPG_XMas2
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/4261/onyx-path-publishing?filter=31815
https://www.drivethrufiction.com/xmas_in_july.php?manufacturers_id=4261
https://www.storytellersvault.com/xmas_in_july.php?manufacturers_id=4261
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/36460/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea
Frequent freelancer Kim Godwin will be running The World Below on Friday 1 August in Asakusa for the Tokyo RPG Society!
“Song from the Depths”
“The Kaos Storms have quieted in your settlement and a strange Kaos Portal has mysteriously appeared within your settlement’s cavern. Something is calling out to you, to everyone in the darkest moments of the sunfly cycle. Children have started disappearing. It’s time to pick-up your weapon and find out where this portal leads.It’s time to dig and see just what new horror or opportunity the World Below has provided you.”
Today I got this note from Travis congratulating the winners of our Community content Fiction Contest:
The OPPCon Fiction Contest is complete! The votes are in and the winners are:
Top Story goes to The One Who Shines (Exalted) by Estevan Fernandes Queiroz
1st Runner Up goes to Hollow Men (Changeling: the Dreaming) by C. Truman Aitken
2nd Runner Up goes to From the Shadow of Doubt (Exalted) by C.A. Wallace
The winners will be reached by the email addresses provided upon entry to distribute their prizes from DriveThruFiction and Storytelling Collective!
Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all who participated in the OPPCon Fiction Contest!! Ten authors brought their voices to eight game lines and crafted wonderful short stories! If you haven’t yet checked out the short stories submitted to the contest, a full list can be found at this blog post!
GenCon is next week, and if you’re going, here’s some info: Envoy will be running multiple demos of Curseborne at Gen Con, Thu, Jul 31, 2025 – Sun, Aug 3, 2025 in Indy, so sign up and get to actually play the game if you’re curious (but do it as soon as you can because Curseborne has been getting a lot of attention is almost completely SOLD OUT), and we’ll have books and screens for sale at the Studio 2 booth (1929/2029). Here’s the signup link:
https://www.gencon.com/events?c=indy2025&host=Onyx%20Path%20Publishing
And with that coverage of our meeting today, the one thing I can say is that we have a ton of amazing books that will be coming up for you to enjoy besides the crowdfunding projects mentioned above, as well as our anticipated Demiplane Scion Nexus site coming before the end of the year. 2025 is ramping up to finish huge – and while my scrying device says “Answer Hazy, Ask Again Later” about 2026, if we stay on target there’s an amazing list of projects coming next year too!
Looking forward to journeying with you to all our:
Many Worlds, One Path!
Blurbs!
Crowdfunding!
Coming Next: Monster Kingdoms!…
Onyx Path Media!
Check out our attached media schedule for the videos on our Twitch channel this week!
On this week’s Onyx Path News Matthew discusses the Christmas in July Sale and Curious Cats of Mau! Check it out right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRc_lfLwmPY
On The Gentleman Gamer’s YouTube channel, we create a newly Accursed character for the Dead Lineage: https://youtube.com/live/cO9r19Nr0H8
Virtual Tabletop!
LAST DAYS! XMAS IN JULY SALE on Roll20:
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/36460/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea
Scion Demigod Available on Roll20 NOW!
The Scion: Origin and Scion Hero Compendiums are now available on Roll20!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/publisher/1716/onyx-path-publishing
The first of our official Scion sheets designed for Foundry VTT are
now available! https://foundryvtt.co
They Came From Beneath the Sea! on Roll20 VTT!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea
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/
As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles in PDF and PoD versions at DriveThruRPG.com!
LAST DAYS! It’s the famous Christmas In July Sale on DTRPG and the Roll20 Marketplace! Fantastic deals on all of our projects, with up to 75% off!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/featured_promotions?promotion_id=25_DTRPG_XMas
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/featured_promotions?promotion_id=25_DTRPG_XMas2
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/4261/onyx-path-publishing?filter=31815
https://www.drivethrufiction.com/xmas_in_july.php?manufacturers_id=4261
https://www.storytellersvault.com/xmas_in_july.php?manufacturers_id=4261
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/36460/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea
The first part of the print shopping experiment is live on DTRPG:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?format=1000240-book-printed-publisher-fulfilled
This is limited to the USA only at first, but will expand later after data crunching and review.
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!
This week the monthly Curseborne Tasty Bit PDF: Master Cat comes sneaking in on little cat feet! Coming your way on 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!
Envoy will be running multiple demos of Curseborne at Gen Con, Thu, Jul 31, 2025 – Sun, Aug 3, 2025 in Indy, so sign up and get to actually play the game if you’re curious (but do it as soon as you can because Curseborne has been getting a lot of attention is almost completely SOLD OUT), and we’ll have books and screens for sale at the Studio 2 booth (1929/2029). Here’s the signup link:
https://www.gencon.com/events?c=indy2025&host=Onyx%20Path%20Publishing
Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at StartPlaying is the last Friday of every month and through that weekend! Come play some Curseborne that night! (But any of our game lines are welcome all weekend 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 June’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-june-2025/
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!
Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:
DEVELOPMENT
Realms of Pugmire – Pugmire and Beyond Appendix
- I’ve been poking at this since it was funded during the campaign! I’m at a point where I know where everything needs to go; just need to find the time to do it. Since Pugmire Unleashed‘s feedback has already been incorporated, I’ll wrap this up and send the whole puppy pile to editing all at once.
EDITING
Curseborne – Curseborne Fiction Anthology
- After a few adjustments and some reshuffling of the story order, the anthology is now off to editing!
POST-EDITING DEVELOPMENT
Curseborne – Curseborne Antagonist – Weeping Scars (Aug 2025 Tasty Bit)
- This may be the darkest Tasty Bit yet and I’m looking forward to seeing its reception!
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Ex3 Alchemicals – Sketches being revised.
- Ex 3 Sidereals Companion – Working up art buy.
- Ex Essence PG – Working up art buy.
- Heroes of Action and Wonder – Got the map contracted.
- Curseborne – Getting last art bits done… starting on laying some sections out. I’m also drawing up some of the various visual elements… occult symbology, teeth, and other creepy stuff.
- Curseborne PG KS – Pinging various artists…and trying to get that going.
- SCION God Player’s Guide – It’s going.
- Monster Kingdoms – Continuing contracting out crowdfunding artwork and looking for a font for Kingdoms.
Layout
- Pugmire 2e Screen
- World Below Screen
- TC Anima AR
- Ex3 Miracles of the Divine Flame – Finishing up last layout details.
- TCPG Wallpaper
- Curseborne Tastybit August
- Branch Riders – Ron Thompson gathering text and art to begin layout.
Proofing
- TC Aether Jumpstart – Inputting first proof corrections.
Indexing
At Press
- Ex 3 Exigents – Quoting.
- Ex 3 Exigents Screen – At Studio 2
- Ex 3 Sidereals – Quoting.
- TC Aether – At Studio 2.
- TC Aether Screen – At press.
- Scion: God – At Studio 2.
- SCION God Storyguide Screen – At press.
- Realms of Pugmire Wallpaper – Out to backers.
- Realms of Pugmire Mobile Wallpaper – Out to backers.
- Curious Cats of Mau Wallpaper – Out to backers.
- Ex3 Abyssals – PoD proof ordered.
- Mythic Shards Ref Booklet – PoD proof ordered.
- Exalted Essence Novella Omnibus – Prepping PoD.
- July Curseborne Tasty Bit PDF: Master Cat on sale this Weds on DTRPG!
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
Today in 1508, Robert Blackadder, bishop of Glasgow, died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Not celebrating his death today, but rather the comedic ideas that arose as I read his Wikipedia entry through the lens of being a fan of the entire wonderful Blackadder series of historical comedies (which as far as I know were not connected to the bishop). Here’s an example: “Blackadder was back in Scotland by Christmas but returned to Spain the following spring. His business was obtaining a bride for his king. The same business also took him to France. However, it was in England that a bride was eventually obtained, Margaret Tudor, the daughter of King Henry VII of England.” I mean, that reads like a wacky comedy of errors plot just as is!
Looking forward to Exalted infernal in Nov-Dec, but I must admit I might hesitate to back a deluxe printed version if we have not received by then some of the currently ongoing exalted campaign physical books like exigent/sidereal. Understandably hard times for both the industry and consumers.
I understand, and yes it is. Whomever this is helping, it certainly ain’t all of us.
Oh man, a Backer PDF for Curseborne by October would be first rate. I can’t tell you, as a old hand at World of Darkness & Chronicles of Darkness, how much fun I’m having exploring, playing, and sharing with people Curseborne.
Congrats to the winners of the fiction contest, and to all who submitted their work! I really enjoyed reading (and writing) them 😉 thanks OPP for organizing this <3
Glad you enjoyed it and I’m really glad for the writers who were able to make this their first public showing of their fiction work – congrats all! Hopefully, folks will feel even more comfortable in submitting when we do it again in the future.
Feels like this will be a 3 for 3 backing for me on these! I agree it would be best if the Curseborne core would be out before the crowdfunding for the PG starts though!
Could not agree more! Thanks!