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Latest Updates from Our Project:
August Scion Update!
over 3 years ago
– Tue, Sep 01, 2020 at 08:59:52 PM
Hello Scion Backers!
RichT here:
During the current situation, we at Onyx Path hope that you are all keeping safe and healthy.
Sorry I'm a day late on this August Update, but I wanted to be sure we got the OK from Kickstarter and we were all set for our next Scion 2e Kickstarter for Scion: Demigod!
Now, I can announce that we are going live with the Scion: Demigod Kickstarter at 2pm Eastern US time on this Thursday, September the 3rd!
For all of you who supported the creation of Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero, with its ups and downs, I've put together a blog post to list how we do Kickstarters now as opposed to when we did the first Scion 2e Kickstarter.
TLDR version: We learned a lot from the first Scion 2e KS and have made significant changes to all of our 24 KSs since then to make it an overall better experience. This Scion: Demigod KS will be run with the benefit of those improvements.
Here’s a rundown of how this KS is different from the first one for Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero, since we have indeed learned a lot since then (the first Scion KS was our 22nd and we’ve done 24 more KSs since then):
1- The writing is done. In fact, it is at the stage where the writing is over and the heavy lifting for the developer is over. All those words are now “the text” and any changes are going to be tweaks and minor fixes. Errata stuff. More on that later. The writing that was ready when we did the Scion: Origin/Hero KS was at the Redlines stage, as stated on the KS page at the time, and we have learned that we need more finalized text before we go live on a Kickstarter.
2- The rules are done. Well, of course the rules are done if the text is done, Rich! Sure, yet the fact that during Scion: Origin/Hero‘s KS the Storypath System was still being heavily playtested by our teams, and was being developed for two different creative teams (for Scion and the Trinity Continuum) so that design decisions were still happening is actually very different than now. Storypath has been “battle-tested” in numberless games of Scion, as well as the Trinity Continuum, Dystopia Rising: Evolution, and the They Came From…! game lines.
3- The text will be previewed to backers in sections throughout the KS, you’ll have it all by the end, and can back out before we deliver. Almost exclusively, this is how we handle our Kickstarters now. It eliminates a lot of the fear that the game will develop differently as the writing and developing stages progress. And we get pretty solid discussions going about the text all during the KS, which can be a lot of fun for backers.
4- Our average track record (not including Dark Eras 2 which was structured very differently) for delivery of the Kickstarters after Scion: Origin/Hero‘s KS has been 1.6 months earlier than estimated. Part of that has been because we extended out our estimated delivery date, but the rest has been better internal systems, like:
5- James Bell runs our Kickstarters now. We call him the Kickstarter Concierge because his entire focus is managing our KSs and helping out our backers. He does a phenomenal job with getting folks answers and enabling fun conversations in the Comments.
6- One of our new processes is a set phase to contract and receive art for the KS, which then rolls right into getting art for rest of the book. This practice is also helpful in getting the art for the Stretch Goal rewards.
7- We have at least one Errata phase after the Backer PDF goes out, although in some cases, and possibly this one, other Errata phases can be included at the developers’ discretion. Rather than having backers write in to us on the forums or via Kickstarter, we now have an Errata system that includes a new form administered by one of our in-house development overseers. Not the developer themselves. In fact, the Text to Editing to Layout to Done process contains more than three times the number of eyes reviewing and confirming changes than it did when we were pulling together Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero.
8- There are more devs understanding the game and rules, with Neall as the lead dev as opposed to having to be deeply involved in every phase like for Scion: Origin/Hero because only he saw how all the pieces needed to come together. Meghan Fitzgerald, who developed Mysteries of the World: The Scion Companion that released recently, and Monica Speca, developer of Titanomachy (the Advance PDF of which releases on Wednesday), are just two of the devs who are able to develop Scion books now that the first two main books are available. Danielle Lauzon is able to bring her unmatched knowledge of how the Storypath System works if needed. This means that while Neall directly developed Scion: Demigod, he has other devs he can run ideas past or who can jump in now if real-life issues impact his work on Scion.
9- One book, not two. More focus, less stress on creators. Also, you’re only pledging for one book (although feel free to pledge for as many as you want!) so your pledge amount will likely be less for this KS, as will likely be our total amount.
10- Scion: Demigod presents concepts which are not just the next “levels” of power for our Heroes, but which expand on what happens once a Scion is more than a hero, but not yet a god.
I’m thinking there may be more differences, but let’s stick with these as we get a Top Ten List sort of thing going. We’re going to have a fun Kickstarter with Scion: Demigod, and we’re hoping all of you can join us for it.
Now, here are the current Scion projects we're working on!
Scion Fiction Anthology - First Draft
No Gods, No Masters - First Draft
Saints And Monsters - Second Drafts
Wild Hunt - Second Drafts
Scion: Dragon - Editing and Art Direction for Kickstarter illustrations
Scion: Demigod - Editing and Art Direction for Kickstarter illustrations
Scion LARP Rules - Editing
Masks of the Mythos - Post-Editing Development and Art Direction for Kickstarter illustrations
Titanomancy - Advance PDF goes on sale this Wednesday, September 2nd on DriveThruRPG!
Scion: Titanomachy has everything a Storyguide needs to bring the Second Titanomachy — a phase in the eternal cold war against the Gods — to their Scion Second Edition games.
It presents new threats from the Titans to their servants, plus their fell powers and Birthrights — ripe for use as antagonists or as new material for players’ characters. It also provides adventure hooks to springboard Storyguides into the action.
Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero are required to use this book.
This book includes:
Titans for each of the core pantheons, to be used as enemies or strange allies.
Three adventure hooks to help Storyguides run epic games involving the Second Titanomachy.
Dozens of all-new antagonists from enemy Scions to fearsome monsters.
New, Titan-themed Birthrights and Knacks for players to discover and use.
Note: This is the Advance PDF version. We’re collecting errata feedback before preparing the final PDF and Print versions of the book. Everyone who purchases the Advance PDF will automatically get the final PDF added to their Library on DriveThruRPG, plus they will receive a discount link for the Print version taking into account that they purchased the PDF.
July Scion Update!
over 3 years ago
– Sun, Aug 02, 2020 at 11:46:35 PM
Hello Scion Backers!
RichT here:
During the current situation, we at Onyx Path hope that you are all keeping safe and healthy.
We're doing a "What's Up With Onyx Path?" panel on this Thursday, July 30th at 1pm EDT US time, during the Gen Con Online convention that is happening instead of a physical space Gen Con this year. That will be shown on our Onyx Path Twitch channel, so you can check it out here: TheOnyxPath Twitch
There will also be gaming sessions during the virtual convention, so check the Gen Con page for those! https://www.gencon.com/online/
Also, we've posted the panels from our own Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention, including the Actual Play beta-test of Scion: Demigod, on our YouTube channel as well, so you can watch those there.
Things are still popping over at the Storypath Nexus Community Content site, which seems to get new projects posted every day, here with the link for that excellent resource for Scion fans and creators:
Also, if you want to watch Scion being played, either for fun or more as a demo, please check out our Onyx Path Twitch channel. We publish the weekly schedule every Monday in the Monday Meeting Notes Blog (which is also where I get the info for the Status Reports here in the Update).
Art from Titanomachy
Now, here are the current Scion projects we're working on!
No Gods, No Masters - First Draft
Saints And Monsters - First Draft
Wild Hunt - Redlines
Scion: Dragon - Editing and Art Direction for Kickstarter illustrations
Scion: Demigod - Editing and Art Direction for Kickstarter illustrations
Scion LARP Rules - Editing
Masks of the Mythos - Post-Editing Development and Art Direction for Kickstarter illustrations
Titanomancy - Layout
Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World - Awaiting PoD proofs which have been slowed down due to the effects of Covid-19, but after they come in and are approved it can go on sale.
Onyx Path's latest game of cinema-inspired fun is They Came from Beyond the Grave! If you're a fan of Christopher Lee as Dracula, Roger Corman's creature features, Hammer horror films, or the Amicus movies, this game is for you.
Set in two time periods - the 1970s, when these movies were made, and the 19th century, when many were set - you may just find yourself running or participating in a tale of suspense set across two different eras, both of which contain a mix of hammy acting, technicolor blood, wobbling sets, and all the screams an audience could want.
Indulge in the cigarette smoke, despairing mood, and wide collars of the 1970s. Enjoy the rock and drugs entering the mainstream. What was counterculture is now simply culture. Maybe you favor the disco, or perhaps the punk scene is more your thing. Grow a mustache. Grow a whole beard! It’s no longer rebellious to wear hair or sideburns so long or skirts so short: it’s expected. Hitchhiking isn’t a death sentence yet. Or not quite. Everyone owns a car, and international travel has never felt so easy.
Prepare to trudge through the London fog, creep around unlit alleys, and get lost on misty moors as your deerstalker and long coat gets saturated from the rain apparently incessant throughout the 19th century depicted in the cinema. Prepare to catch a ride in a carriage and ask the driver why he’s going so fast through this part of the woods. Expect to knock on the door to an imposing castle, only to see the butler, far too pale of face, ask whether you’re here to see “the mistress.” The 19th century beckons you to play within its Victorian gothic mood. Start the game here or start it in the 1970s — whichever you prefer, They Came from Beyond the Grave! has monsters, stories, and encounters for whatever tale you wish to tell.
June Scion 2e Update!
almost 4 years ago
– Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 08:55:01 PM
Hello Scion Backers!
RichT here:
During the current situation, we at Onyx Path hope that you are all keeping safe and healthy. A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to be able to play a playtest for Scion: Demigod during our Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention on Twitch. I played the Demigod version of Horace Farrow, from the Heroes of the World Ready Made Characters book, as he and a party of similarly upgraded characters explored the realms of the Theoi afterlife. It was enormous fun and hopefully was useful for Scion: Demigod developer Neall Raemonn Price who ran the game.
That session as well as other panels and actual play sessions from the Con are available to subscribers of the Onyx Path Twitch channel, and will eventually be available on our YouTube channel as well.
Here are some reminders that I posted a couple of months ago that are scarily still appropriate:
A lot of people are finding they are actually gaming more during all of this, whether with the folks they are staying-at-home with or virtually, so once again, here are reminders for ways you can get more inspiration or material for your Scion games:
An update and a reminder about the Storypath Nexus Community Content site, which seems to get new projects posted every day, here with the link for that excellent resource for Scion fans and creators:
Also, if you want to watch Scion being played, either for fun or more as a demo, please check out our Onyx Path Twitch channel. We publish the weekly schedule every Monday in the Monday Meeting Notes Blog (which is also where I get the info for the Status Reports here in the Update).
Finally, we just if you are playing virtually, we have released Scion signature character token packs on DTRPG for Virtual Tabletop play of Scion. Here are the links:
Now, here are the current Scion projects we're working on!
Saints And Monsters - First Draft
Wild Hunt - Redlines
Scion: Dragon - Editing
Scion: Demigod - Editing
Masks of the Mythos - Editing
Scion LARP Rules - Editing
Titanomancy - Layout
Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World - Awaiting errata from the Backer PDF from the developers. Then, the PoD files need to be made and that needs to be proofed and after that it can go on sale.
OUR CURRENT KICKSTARTER!
Grab your friends and escape to another world!
You've found anenchanted portal — a transition point — between worlds. The portal, called a Crossing, takes you to a world you thought only existed in novels and films: a magical land where dragons roam the skies, orcs and hobgoblins terrorize weary travelers, and unicorns prance through the forest. It is a world where humans join other peoples such as elves, trolls, dwarves, changelings, and the dreaded creatures who steal the night. It is a world of fantasy — of imagination.
Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World Backer PDF Links Sent Out!
almost 4 years ago
– Fri, May 29, 2020 at 01:06:54 PM
Hello Scion 2e Backers!
RichT here:
I just finished sending out the BackerKit messages containing links for the Scion Companion: Mysteries of The World backer PDF stretch goal reward to all backers whose reward tier included a copy of either the Scion: Origin or Scion: Hero 2e PDFs!
If you think you should have received a link message, but didn't, please first check to be sure the Reward Tier you pledged to contains one of those PDFs as part of your reward for that Tier. Then, please check your spam folders before messaging me, but if you do have problems, we'll figure it out.
You can also find the links in the Digital Downloads section of your BackerKit page for the Scion 2e Kickstarter.
Likewise, if you get the messages with the correct link(s) but for some reason the download isn't working, please contact DTRPG customer service before contacting me as I have no ability to engage on that aspect of getting you your reward(s). Either way, we will figure out any problems so you get your files. No worries!
As I mentioned in the message with the link, we encourage all backers to go to the errata form link below to send notes on any technical mistakes you might find. This is a Backer PDF, so this is the stage where we know we'll be tweaking it as well as adding numbers to PgXXs and adding bookmarks and hyperlinks and we really appreciate your help in turning it into the final PDF:
We'll be gathering up comments for the devs for a couple of weeks, and then after that they'll need to go through the lists and make tweaks before we can create the PoD printer files, and put the PDF and PoD versions up for sale to the general public. Any changes made to the PDF to turn it into the final PDF for sale will be automatically updated and show up in your DTRPG library. All you'll need to do is re-download the PDF.
Thanks again for making it possible to create the Scion Companion: Mysteries of The World PDF!
May Scion 2e Update!
almost 4 years ago
– Thu, May 28, 2020 at 11:23:22 AM
Hello Scion Backers!
RichT here:
During the current situation, we at Onyx Path hope that you are all keeping safe and healthy.
A lot of people are finding they are actually gaming more during all of this, whether with the folks they are staying-at-home with or virtually, so once again, here are reminders for ways you can get more inspiration or material for your Scion games:
An update and a reminder about the Storypath Nexus Community Content site, which seems to get new projects posted every day, here with the link for that excellent resource for Scion fans and creators:
Also, if you want to watch Scion being played, either for fun or more as a demo, please check out our Onyx Path Twitch channel. We publish the weekly schedule every Monday in the Monday Meeting Notes Blog (which is also where I get the info for the Status Reports here in the Update).
Finally, we just if you are playing virtually, we have released Scion signature character token packs on DTRPG for Virtual Tabletop play of Scion. Here are the links:
You've found anenchanted portal — a transition point — between worlds. The portal, called a Crossing, takes you to a world you thought only existed in novels and films: a magical land where dragons roam the skies, orcs and hobgoblins terrorize weary travelers, and unicorns prance through the forest. It is a world where humans join other peoples such as elves, trolls, dwarves, changelings, and the dreaded creatures who steal the night. It is a world of fantasy — of imagination.
