What the Heck IS That? [Monday Meeting Notes]

Monday Meeting, News

If you missed our series of blog posts last Friday, by happenstance or because you prefer to duck under the April Fools Day fray, then the above was the bright and fun Onyx Path logo that Mirthful Mike dreamed up to go with our happier, sunnier new projects. I think it is hilarious, but I do want folks to know that under no circumstances has Onyx Path actually decided to “lighten up”.

Fear not, true believer!

We always like to do something different every April Fools Day, and this year we decided to create a series of blog posts to launch throughout the day. We started with Mighty Monica Valentinelli’s Blood Connoisseur post as something that could be useful, was definitely grounded in classic VtM, but which was very much an alternative idea for Vampire.

We didn’t want to get too silly with a game world that a lot of people have invested a lot of emotional energy into, and her article hit the jugular. We’ve already heard that some folks will be using it for their Chronicles, which is great!

Below is an illustration that has nothing to do with April Fools Day blogs, but looks cool.

Next, we ratcheted up the “Wha?” with Fast Eddy Webb’s Pugmire LARP blog, which if you missed it, consisted of dogs playing at a dog park with serious captions about their gaming and costumes. This was cute on its own, but it was funnier to us because Eddy has had more than a few folks ask about Pugmire LARP rules and is so far dodging the subject.

Thirdly, Impish Ian Watson zoomed in from space to post an article about how Scion 2nd Edition and the Trinity Continuum were going to be combined into one game called Psion: the Divinity Continuum since they are both being created with the StoryPath System rules set.

The Divinity Continuum just cracks me up as a name for this unholy combo, but please rest assured that actually both lines continue with their own themes and storylines.

I really love that the whole idea started because those of us working on both games find it so very hard to talk about the two since the PC’s overall names are the same when said out loud. Scion and Psion. Totally a coincidence as there are years between each game line, but now that Onyx Path owns both lines, it’s really hard to differentiate them during Skype calls!

And below, not a Trinity or Scion illustration:

And finally I wrapped it all up by talking about how darkness and angst are passé, and shiny and cute and bright are the new black. Puh-lease! As if we would ever give up our black t-shirts and generally bad attitudes!

But I did kind of write it in response to some folks who have accused Onyx Path of doing just that, in a large part because of the success of Pugmire. I dunno if they are just worried that we are going to stop making the games lines they have enjoyed for so long, or assume that we will start “polluting” those games with sparkles.

Well, it ain’t gonna happen.

For myself, as a creative person, and I don’t think I am alone here either with our amazing creative teams or with you folks, I’m actually capable of loving and creating very, very different projects, In fact, it is often a spur to one project if the other is very different. The contrast limns each project’s specific qualities.

Plus, we have always been diligent with each of the game worlds we are working with to work within the themes and motifs and visuals that have always best expressed those settings, and to build from there. We’re not changing that, we love each of our game lines for what they are.

Also, we work in creative teams. Those teams are focused by their developers on that project. Some developers work on different lines, some stick to just the one. And our writers and artists are the same. So one project and its team are pushing a project creatively in one direction, and another group is pushing another project in another direction and they really don’t impede each other.

Which pretty much means that we’re gonna keep on as we have been; developing new game settings and expanding and enriching the ones we have currently.

We’re sticking with the dark and keeping the Onyx in the Path even while exploring new and different worlds.

(Although we are going to offer t-shirts and mugs and stuff with the Mirthful One’s logo on them, I mean it is just too fun!)

BLURBS!

ON SALE!

Here’s the link to the press release we put out about how Onyx Path is now selling through Indie Press Revolution: http://theonyxpath.com/press-release-onyx-path-limited-editions-now-available-through-indie-press-revolution/

The Black Hand returns! Look for V20 The Black Hand: Guide to the Tal’Mahe’Ra Advance PDF to evilly smash it’s way onto DTRPG this Wednesday!

Beware the Beast: the Primordial PDFs and PoDs NOW on sale at DTRPG.com! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/162443/Beast-The-Primordial

You are a Beast, and you must feed. Your Hunger drives you, and your Hunger might damn you. Indulge too lightly and your Horror will take matters into its own hands, roaming the Primordial Dream for sustenance and awakening murderous hatred in spiritually weak individuals. Feed too deeply and too often, and you become sluggish, sacrificing the raw edge of Hunger for the languor of Satiety. You must decide how to grow your Legend – will you be the monster incarnate, the thing that all other monsters fear? Or are you doomed to die under a Hero’s sword?

This book contains:

The complete guide to playing a Beast in Chronicles of Darkness

A game system designed for crossover with the other Chronicles of Darkness lines

A look at the Beasts and their broods all around the world, from Vancouver to Tokyo

Rules for Heroes, the deluded individuals who think that this is their story

The Demon Storyteller Guide has dropped its cover and is on sale as a PDF and a physical copy PoD on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/170165/Demon-Storytellers-Guide

The Demon Storyteller’s Guide includes:

Expanded information on angels, including a look at how Incarnations apply to them

A extensive look at the spy genre and its permutations and how they apply to Demon

Three “setting hacks,” including an examination of Demon in the Bronze Age

The Chronicles of Darkness Core Rulebook looms out of the shadows, and is now on sale with PDF and PoD versions on DTRPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/168428/Chronicles-of-Darkness

Chronicles of Darkness RPG rulebook contains:

A guide to creating characters to explore a world of modern horror, from hopes and fears to psychic powers.

Dramatic rules for investigation, social manipulation, and bone-crunching violence.

Over a dozen monsters straight out of weird fiction and urban legend… plus complete rules for creating your own.

The God-Machine Chronicle, a massive collection of sample characters and techgnostic adventures.

Formerly titled nWoD Core Rulebook 2nd Edition.

The Pugmire Early Access book is for sale in both PDF and PoD formats! Check out the beta-rules for our family-friendly fantasy game of uplifted dogs exploring a world they never made! Lord of the Rings meets Planet of the Apes, but with dogs!

CONVENTIONS!

Gen Con 2016 planning has started. We’re starting to plan our booth demo schedule and our 2016-2017 Brochure.

Stew Wilson will be a guest at Conpulsion, April 8-10 http://www.geas.org.uk/ conpulsion/

Here are some cons Fast Eddy Webb will be attending! Talk to him about V20 and Pugmire and Sherlock Holmes and Oxford Commas:

ECGC ( April 19-21, 2016 , Raleigh, NC)

, Raleigh, NC) MomoCon ( May 26-29, 2016 , Atlanta, GA)

And now, the new project status updates!

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM ROLLICKING ROSE (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)

M20 Book of Secrets (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Exalted 3rd Novel by Matt Forbeck (Exalted 3rd Edition)

CtL fiction anthology (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)

Ring of Spiragos (Scarred Lands)

VtM Endless Ages fiction anthology (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)

BtP Building a Legend (Beast: the Primordial)

Scarred Lands Player’s Guide 5E: Ghelspad (Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

DA V20 Dark Ages Companion (Vampire 20th Dark Ages)

Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

M20 Gods and Monsters (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

V20 Dark Ages Anthology (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)

Redlines

Dagger of Spiragos – Pathfinder Version (Scarred Lands)

EX3 Quickstart (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Scarred Lands The Wise and the Wicked (Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Second Draft

Arms of the Chosen (Exalted 3rd Edition)

The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Cavaliers of Mars

Night Horrors: Conquering Heroes (Beast: the Primordial)

Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition

Wraith: the Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition

Development

W20 Changing Ways (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)

V20 Lore of the Bloodlines (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)

Beast Ready Made Characters (Beast: the Primordial)

Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition, featuring the Huntsmen Chronicle (Changeling: the Lost 2nd Edition)

W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)

CofD Hurt Locker (Chronicles of Darkness)

Scion: Alpha (Scion 2nd Edition)

Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

Editing W20 Kinfolk (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)

Beckett’s Jyhad Diary (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)

Mummy Fiction Anthology (Mummy: the Curse)

DA Tome of Secrets (Vampire 20th Dark Ages)

The Prince’s Gambit (Vampire: the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition)

Post-Editing Development:

Scarred Lands Player’s Guide: Ghelspad (Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

W20 Shattered Dreams (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)

Shattered Dreams in-book stretch goals (Werewolf: the Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition)

Indexing:

ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:

In Art Direction

W20 Shattered Dreams – One artist running late, but hopefully moving to layout soon.

– One artist running late, but hopefully moving to layout soon. Promethean: the Created Second



Scarred Lands PG

Dark Eras Companion

Secrets of the Covenants – Okay… maybe this week the last of the art should be in.

– Okay… maybe this week the last of the art should be in. Necropolis Rio – Working out the art buy.

– Working out the art buy. W20 Kinfolk – Finals rolling in this week.

– Finals rolling in this week. V20 Ready Made Characters – Art heading off to WWP for approval.

– Art heading off to WWP for approval. EX3 Backer Charms – Finals coming in and being reviewed.

– Finals coming in and being reviewed. Beckett’s Jyhad Diary

CofD Hurt Locker

Mummy Novel – Contracting a cover.

In Layout

Mage: the Awakening Second – Finishing up corrections and getting things wrapped up for going into 2nd proof.

– Finishing up corrections and getting things wrapped up for going into 2nd proof. Curse of the Blue Nile – Rolling along on that.

– Rolling along on that. Beast Prestige Edition – Putting together the duotone version of the interior this week.

Proofing



Ex 3 core book – From RichT: Got PoD proofs, they need some color correction adjustments. Expect the PoDs not to be available for two more weeks as we adjust and get new PoD proofs sent to us.

– From RichT: Got PoD proofs, they need some color correction adjustments. Expect the PoDs not to be available for two more weeks as we adjust and get new PoD proofs sent to us. V20 Ghouls – I need to review it before sending it on for dev review.

I need to review it before sending it on for dev review. WtF2 The Pack – With Stew.

At Press

Beast Screen – shipping from printer to shipper.

– shipping from printer to shipper. Lore of the Clans LtD Edition – shipping from printer to shipper.

– shipping from printer to shipper. Lore of the Clans Screen – shipping from printer to shipper.

– shipping from printer to shipper. Beast Anthology – PDF version out to backers for errata.

– PDF version out to backers for errata. Dark Eras – Backer errata collecting.

– Backer errata collecting. V20 Black Hand – Advance PDF should be going live this week.

Special- projects on hold in the art and production area until an external factor is resolved

Wraith 20 – Art direction and layout can’t go further until art notes come in, still being developed by Rich Dansky.

Art direction and layout 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.