A Month On Mars [Monday Meeting Notes]

Monday Meeting, News

Wow. We are indeed closing in on a month of visiting the red planet via the Cavaliers of Mars Kickstarter campaign!

Now, the KS is closing in on its last few days, and we raised quite a bit more than expected (wow 700%+) and were able include some cool extra Stretch Goal projects so far. Really looking forward to see what the usually energized last days will bring.

Most importantly, thanks to our KS backers, Onyx Path can now be sure that we are able to fully bring a complete new world to all the gamers out there looking for sword and sorcery, pulpish fun, but with a modern sensibility appropriate for our community today.

That’s really what this is all about, and why Rose’s idea for this game was so appealing. I want Onyx Path to have the range to handle huge expansive settings and also be able to create a focused, “jewel box” of a game, and Cavaliers is just that. Even the system, which Rose and I discussed many times, is something designed to work specifically with the other game design in the game and reflect and complement the setting. (Rather than using an existing system, as was the case several times as Cavaliers of Mars was iterated upon during its creation).

So please join us before the KS ends Thursday, here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/cavaliers-of-mars-a-tabletop-roleplaying-game

But before Thursday hits, we have our weekly Wednesday sale day, and while I usually let the info in our BLURBS! section do all the talking about what is going on sale, this week we have something I wanted to highlight for ya’ll.

Maybe for obvious reasons considering my background as an illustrator, art director, and visual designer, but I’m just really impressed by The Art of Mage: 20 Years and More art book that Satyr Phil Brucato has written for our M20 line.

As you should expect from Phil, not only is it lusciously illustrated by Mage: The Ascension artwork from the first edition core book all the way up to our latest M20 releases, but it is an in-depth and interesting read filled with personal anecdotes from Phil’s years interacting with artists and the original WW‘s and Onyx Path‘s production departments.

There is even a one-page breakdown of each stage of the creation process for a book that we’re intending to pull out and link to in the future so everyone can get a better idea of each of those stages we list below in the progress list on this blog. (Page 11, if you have the book).

When you order it, I strongly suggest you go for the Premium printing version, the way that reproduces the art will be well worth it!

Like I mentioned last week, I spent this Saturday at the Save Against Fear convention in Harrisburg, PA, and had a great time. As always, it is not a big con, but the attendees are energized and willing to come and game for days for a great cause. Here’s my friend and the prime motivator of the convention and the Bodhana Group, Jack Berkenstock:

He is just such a huge nerd.

One of the highlights was sitting down in a circle with a huge bunch of other game designers and answering questions on publishing, game design, graphics, and I was once again able to elicit gasps by describing Pugmire as a world where an entire culture is sitting at the window waiting for the masters to come home.

Actually, Pugmire continued to be a huge part of what folks were talking to me about at the con, even though most of the people I talked to got started with WW and Onyx Path through the old WW game lines. That was very cool. Also cool was being able to pick up the Havenfall deck-building card game set in an 8-bit medieval-fantasy world that was just getting started two years ago when I talked to creator

It was really great to see how they brought their game to fruition, and there were actually a surprising number of folks who have created very different games there, with really different systems and subject matters. And watch out game designers: the smartest designer I met there is in his early teens!

Finally, a huge shout out to remind folks that our own Black Hatt Matt McFarland’s new Kickstarter for his Undead supplement to his company’s new version of the classic Chill is in its last two weeks, and could use your support to get it over the top! Check it out here, and pledge if you love incredibly well written horror: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/playattentiongames/undead-a-sourcebook-for-chill-3rd-edition-horror-r/

And with that, I only want to leave you with one more thought, our Onyx Path motto:

Many Worlds. One Path.

BLURBS!

ON SALE!

It’s very SPOOKY here!

Welcome to DriveThruRPG’s Halloween Sale!

First, we have a super sale on Mummy: The Curse: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/featured.php?promotion_id=ScaryStuff2017

And then the big sale itself! Over 170 Onyx Path PDFs discounted! It’s terrifying!

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/sale.php?manufacturers_id=4261

YOUR COVER IS BLOWN! The Demon: The Descent Bundle of Holding runs until the 23rd – unlocking new books as it runs! http://bundleofholding.com/

KICKSTARTER:

The Cavaliers of Mars Kickstarter is in its final week! Over 700% funded with Stretch Goals including an Exclusive T-Shirt, an increased art budget, Postcards from Mars, and we’ve passed the goal that completes an additional book: City of the Towered Tombs, describing the bustling canal city of Vance, from the brooding waters and desperate criminals of the Dredge to the beautiful environs and macabre spectacles of the Hangman’s Garden. Delve into the affairs of colorful nobles and the schemes of the desperate criminals in this look at Mars’ greatest remaining city! If all that sounds interesting to you, here is the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/cavaliers-of-mars-a-tabletop-roleplaying-game

ON AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE:

We’re delighted to announce the opening of our ebook stores on 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). Our initial selection includes these fiction anthologies:

Vampire: The Masquerade: The Endless Ages Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Rites of Renown: When Will You Rage II (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Mage: The Ascension: Truth Beyond Paradox (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Chronicles of Darkness: The God-Machine Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Mummy: The Curse: Curse of the Blue Nile (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Beast: The Primordial: The Primordial Feast Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

And here are six more fiction books:

Vampire: The Masquerade: Of Predators and Prey: The Hunters Hunted II Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Werewolf: The Apocalypse: The Poison Tree (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Werewolf: The Apocalypse: Songs of the Sun and Moon: Tales of the Changing Breeds (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Vampire: The Requiem: The Strix Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Werewolf: The Forsaken: The Idigam Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Mage: The Awakening: The Fallen World Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

Andand six more more:

Vampire: The Masquerade: The Beast Within Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Werewolf: The Apocalypse: W20 Cookbook (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Exalted: Tales from the Age of Sorrows (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Chronicles of Darkness: Tales of the Dark Eras (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Promethean: The Created: The Firestorm Chronicle Anthology (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Demon: The Descent: Demon: Interface (Kindle, Nook)

And even more books are now on Amazon and the Nook store!:

Scarred Lands: Death in the Walled Warren (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) V20 Dark Ages: Cainite Conspiracies (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Chronicles of Darkness: Strangeness in the Proportion (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Vampire: The Requiem: Silent Knife (Kindle, Nook)

(Kindle, Nook) Mummy: The Curse: Dawn of Heresies (Kindle, Nook)

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the Screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there!

https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? 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/

You can now order wave 2 of our Deluxe and Prestige print overrun books, including Deluxe Mage 20th Anniversary, and Deluxe V20 Dark Ages! And Screens…so many Screens!

And you can now order Pugmire: the book, the screen, and the dice! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=296

ON DRIVETHRURPG.COM:

For over 20 years, the artists of Mage: The Ascension have conjured spirits and constructed hypertech that can transform reality on a whim.

Within this retrospective, those artists and images depict the ever-changing face of magick. From the debut edition to the twenty-first century, this book explores the people behind the pictures, the process of putting such books together, the story behind Mage’s Tarot iconography, and more.

Featuring the artwork of Echo Chernik, Joshua Gabriel Timbrook, Michael Gaydos, Mark Jackson, Leif Jones, Michael Kaluta, Steve Prescott, Alex Sheikman, Christopher Shy…and many, many more.

The Art of Mage: 20 Years and More manifests this Wednesday on DTRPG in PDF and physical book PoD versions!

A Land Where Legends Walk

Drawing enthusiastically on Greek mythology, the revised and re-imagined Scarred Lands nonetheless retains its place as a modern fantasy RPG setting. This is a world shaped by gods and monsters, and only the greatest of heroes can expect to be counted among them. The most populous continent of Scarn, Ghelspad, plays host to vast unexplored regions, hides unsolved riddles from ancient cultures, and taunts adventures with the promise of undiscovered riches hidden among the ruins of older civilizations.

Yet the myths of the Scarred Lands are relatively recent events. The effects of the Titanswar still ripple through the world, and the heroines and villains of many of these stories are part of living memory, if not still living.

The Award-Winning Fantasy Setting Returns

Scarred Lands has been a favorite fantasy setting since the release of the Creature Collection for the d20 System in 2000. In subsequent years, over 40 titles were published for Scarred Lands, making it one of the most fully supported fantasy RPG settings ever and the premiere product line of Sword & Sorcery Studios.

Available in both 5th Edition and Pathfinder compatible versions! PDF and PoD formats available NOW!

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/193014/Scarred-Lands-Players-Guide-Pathfinder

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/197803/Scarred-Lands-Players-Guide-OGL-5e

Heroes, Villains, and Others in Between! This tome is a revision of the original book by the same title, originally published for use with 3rd edition rules for the world’s most popular roleplaying game. In this revised edition of The Wise & the Wicked, all the same characters have returned (and we’ve added some new ones, too!), for use with the Scarred Lands Player’s Guide. Champions of Gods and Titans The Wise & the Wicked introduces a rogue’s gallery of the Scarred Lands’ movers and shakers, characters who carry out the will of the gods or the fallen titans. These non-player characters can be friends, enemies, or simply convenient resources for the player characters in your game. Inside, find villains such as King Virduk of Calastia, the Black Dragon, along with his wife, the beautiful (and black-hearted) Queen Geleeda; the Grand Vizier to King Virduk, the wicked warrior-mage Anteas; and the sinister general of Virduk’s northern armies, Archduke Traviak the Steel-Fisted. At the other end of the spectrum, meet the gracious Lady Ariniel, the Swan Knight, champion of Madriel; Kimer the Shatterer, bearer of the Earth Sword of Scarn and tenacious foe of the titanspawn of the north; and King Thain the Just, the Aleking, ruler of Burok Torn. And many others beside! Here you’ll find a fascinating compendium of characters from the Scarred Lands, but easily transported into campaigns set elsewhere. In addition, find multiple appendices full of new magic items and artifacts, class archetypes and prestige classes, new feats, new creatures and races, and more. Available in Pathfinder and 5th Edition versions! PDF and PoD formats available NOW! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/202523/The-Wise–the-Wicked-2nd-Edition-Pathfinder

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/204371/The-Wise–the-Wicked-2nd-Edition-5e-OGL

From the massive Chronicles of Darkness: Dark Eras main book, we have pulled this single chapter, Dark Eras: God’s Own Country (Geist: The Sin-Eaters New Zealand 1950s). World War II is over and a new age of technology is coming, but a hidden storm threatens to overwhelm both the Maori and the European New Zealanders, flooding the world with the restless dead. The Bound are the last line of defense between a spirit-world gone mad and a sleepy island nation concerned with the advent of rock and roll and mourning their lost soldiers.

On sale in PDF and physical copy PoD versions on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/218455/Dark-Eras-Gods-Own-Country-Geist-the-SinEaters

EX3 Music Suite #1: Fanfare for the Chosen sounds off long and proud on DTRPG! http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/213806/Fanfare-for-the-Chosen-An-Exalted-3rd-Edition-Music-Suite

Fanfare for the Chosen includes inspiring soundtrack themes for each of the ten types of Exalted (Solars, Lunars, Sidereals, Dragon Bloodeds, Abyssals, Exigents, Getiminans, Liminals, Infernals, Alchemicals), to set the tone as you encounter these Exalted in your games or are seeking inspiration for new stories.

From out of the Dreaming, the C20 Jumpstart: Yours To Keep PDF and PoD are now live on DTRPG.com: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/217594/Yours-to-Keep-A-Changeling-The-Dreaming-20th-Anniversary-Edition-Jumpstart

There is magic hiding everywhere. You just need to know where to look.

You are a changeling, a faerie soul hiding in a mortal body, fighting the chill of Nightmares and the oppressive weight of Banality with the pure creative power of Glamour. You have lived many lives, but the story of this one? It outshines them all.

In this hidden world, knights in steel and leather clash sword to sword outside the homecoming dance, dragons fly between skyscrapers, and fantastic castles rise from suburban lawns. A world of magic, intrigue, and adventure, and now that your fae side has awakened, it’s your world too.

“Yours to Keep” includes a rules and setting overview, as well as pre-generated characters and a complete introductory scenario for Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition. It’s perfect for jumpstarting a new Changeling chronicle!

The PDF and PoD versions of C20 are now on DriveThruRPG.com: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/210616/Changeling-The-Dreaming-20th-Anniversary-Edition



Twenty years ago, White Wolf published Changeling: the Dreaming, the fifth of their promised five game-lines that together comprised the World of Darkness. Seen by some as a lighter, more fantasy-based setting in the modern-day, and by others as the darkest game White Wolf had yet created, players had to face the question of what happens once creativity and magic fades from their world.

This 20th Anniversary Edition of Changeling: the Dreaming returns to that deceptively bright yet terrifying world and both compiles and completes the concepts of the previous two editions. Led by veteran White Wolf and Onyx Path developer “Blackhat” Matt McFarland, our writing team consists of longtime Changeling creators like Ian Lemke, Jackie Cassada, Nicky Rea, and Peter Woodworth, as well as familiar names such as John Snead, Maggie Carrol, Matthew Dawkins, and Krister Michl. One and all are dedicated to making Changeling: the Dreaming Twentieth Anniversary Edition the most playable edition yet – while not losing the wonder, awe, and majesty that Changeling is known for.

A revised and up to date look at the World of Darkness through the eyes of the Kithain – what has happened to the Dreaming in the last 20 years, and what is the state of Glamour and dreams?

through the eyes of the Kithain – what has happened to the Dreaming in the last 20 years, and what is the state of Glamour and dreams? Rules for all of the kiths including in 2nd ed, plus fan favorites from other books: selkies, piskies, clurichaun, and both Arcadian and Concordian sidhe.

Rules for the Gallain: The inanimae, the hsien, the Nunnehi, and others!

An overhauled and reimagined system for fae magic, including new Arts and the powerful but dangerous practice of Unleashing!

New full-color beautiful artwork as well as classic Changeling illustrations including remastered full page pieces of the kiths by Tony Diterlizzi.

Calling all Good Dogs! The Pugmire Core Rulebook PDF is now available on DTRPG.com!

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/204313/Pugmire-Core-Rulebook

And the actual physical book, screen, and dice, are available to order on the IPR and Studio2 websites!

Studio2: https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

What dark secrets do the eldest vampires hold? Find out in Thousand Years of Night for Vampire: The Requiem! Advance PDF version available now on DriveThruRPG.com. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/214130/Thousand-Years-of-Night

You may think that with a multitude of people coming, going, dying and running away, we’d be tired, done, or ready to give up.

Instead, I find myself restless, looking for the next thing.

There’s always a next thing, and I for one am not yet ready to die.

– Elder Kincaid, Daeva Crone

This book includes:

• Detailed instructions on creating elder vampires, including how to base chronicles around them

• A look into the lives of elders, how they spend their nights, who they work with, and why including their roles in both their clans and covenants

• New Devotions, Merits, and Rituals for elder vampires

• The kinds of creatures that pose a threat to elder vampires, including Inamorata, Lamia, Sons of Phobos, a new elder conspiracy, and more!

CONVENTIONS!

Fast Eddy Webb will be running Pugmire during the online convention Gauntlet Con: http://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/ which runs from Oct. 20 – 22. Here is the sign-up link for the event which will be live-streamed. Currently three of six seats are still open: https://gauntlet-con.firebaseapp.com/event-detail/-KsmNjZtiH5ARXA6T6vb



In November, we’ll be at Game Hole Con in Madison, WI. November 2-5: https://www.gameholecon.com/ Monica Valentinelli (Hunter: the Vigil 2e, Dark Eras), Manda Collis (Exalted 3e), Scott Holden (Scarred Lands), Matt M McElroy (Operations Manager) and other folks from the OPP crew will be there!

Also in November, the Onyx Path crew including Rich, Matt, Lisa, Neall, Dixie, and Meghan will be at the first ever PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, November 17-19. http://unplugged.paxsite.com/

In December, Matthew Dawkins, Dave Brookshaw, and Eddy Webb are going to be at Dragonmeet in London. https://www. dragonmeet.co.uk/ Expect plenty of playful class warfare as these three mix it up, represent Onyx Path, and generally redefine the term “hooligans”.

Planning ahead for 2018, we’re heading back to Midwinter Game Convention in Milwaukee, January 11-14, where we’re going to be bringing a big crew of many of your favorite Onyx Path designers and we’ll be running demos and making some special announcements at the show! http:// midwintergamingconvention.com

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

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

C20 Novel (Jackie Cassada) (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)

Monarchies of Mau (Monarchies of Mau)

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

They Came From Beneath the Sea! Rulebook (TCFBtS!)

Redlines

Kithbook Boggans (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition)



Hunter: the Vigil 2e core (Hunter: the Vigil 2nd Edition)

Second Draft

WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)

Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)

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

Night Horrors: The Tormented (Promethean: The Created 2nd Edition)

Development

Signs of Sorcery (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

SL Ring of Spiragos (Pathfinder – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Ring of Spiragos (5e – Scarred Lands 2nd Edition)

Scion: Origin (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion: Hero (Scion 2nd Edition)

Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

Trinity Continuum: Aeon Rulebook (The Trinity Continuum)

GtS Geist 2e core (Geist: the Sin-Eaters Second Edition)

The Realm (Exalted 3rd Edition)

WW Manuscript Approval:

Editing:

Ex Novel 2 (Aaron Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Pugmire Pan’s Guide for New Pioneers (Pugmire)

Dragon-Blooded (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Post-Editing Development:

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

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

DtD Night Horrors: Enemy Action (Demon: the Descent)

Indexing:

ART DIRECTION FROM MIRTHFUL MIKE:

In Art Direction

W20 Pentex Employee Indoctrination Handbook



Cavaliers of Mars



W20 Changing Ways



Ex3 Monthly Stuff



Scion Origins



Ring of Spiragos

Book of Freeholds



DtD Enemy Action



C20 RMCs – Art going to WW.

Art going to WW. Changeling: the Lost 2 – Artists are arting.

Artists are arting. Trinity Continuum – Splats for core book with Mr Jones

Marketing Stuff

In Layout

Beast PG

Pugmire/Scarred Lands Community Content

VtR Half Damned

Proofing

Ex 3 Arms of the Chosen – Inputting corrections.

Inputting corrections. Wraith 20

M20 Cookbook – Inputting corrections.

Inputting corrections. Becket’s Jyhad Diary – With WW for proofing.

At Press

Beckett Screen – Shipped to shipper.

Shipped to shipper. Scarred Land PGs & Wise and the Wicked PF & 5e – On a boat to the US. PDF and PoD physical book versions on sale at DTRPG.



– On a boat to the US. PDF and PoD physical book versions on sale at DTRPG. VTR: Thousand Years of Night – Files updated and PoD processing.



Files updated and PoD processing. Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition (Changeling: the Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition) – Deluxe Edition cover and Screen in the works. Getting more color density samples from the printer… and if all good, they’ll start running the interior proof.



Deluxe Edition cover and Screen in the works. Getting more color density samples from the printer… and if all good, they’ll start running the interior proof. CtL Huntsmen Chronicle Anthology PDF – getting PDF ready.



– getting PDF ready. Art of Mage – On sale this Wednesday.

– On sale this Wednesday. Pugmire Trick, Condition, and Initiative Cards – PoD proofs ordered.



PoD proofs ordered. V20DA Jumpstart – PDF going out to backers this week.

PDF going out to backers this week. Prince’s Gambit – PDF/electronic versions going out to backers this week.

TODAY’S REASON TO CELEBRATE: Over the weekend, our good friends Dhaunae and Lorenzo were joined in a vampire wedding! Even before Onyx Path, D&L would show up together at our “Eddy and Rich Talk On and On” panels at conventions, and they always, always, had great and timely questions to lob our way. They once missed a panel and I was pretty dejected that whole day. They make a great team, and I couldn’t be happier for them! Dark congratulations to a wonderful couple!