Onyx Pathcast

Episode 48: Great Exaltations with Monica Speca

In which we mostly talk about Exalted with Monica Speca!

* Finger guns! Good at audio!
* It's Monica Speca!
* How she got started with roleplaying
* How she joined Onyx Path
* Getting into Exalted via Scion and Trinity
* So much Exalted talk!
* Dixie messes up researching our guest!
* We talk a lot more about Exalted
* What are our Exalt types?
* We talk a bit about Infernals
* We're keeping Monica
* We talk about Storypath System
* Bonus Experience podcast!
* A bit more about Exalted

Links:
Exalted: http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/exalted/
V20 Dark Ages: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/144495/Vampire-20th-Anniversary-Edition-The-Dark-Ages
Changeling:The Lost Second Edition: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/248078/Changeling-the-Lost-Second-Edition
Scion Second Edition: http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/scion/
Trinity Continuum: http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/trinitycontinuum/
Bonus Experience: https://bxpcast.com/
Contagion Chronicle Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/contagion-chronicle-a-chronicles-of-darkness-cross?ref=769170&token=2d954ccb

Episode 47: Emotional RPG Experiences

Episode 47: Emotional RPG Experiences
In which Matthew, Dixie, and Eddy discuss the range of emotions they've experienced at the gaming table and retell some anecdotes of emotional roleplay.

* All the Appalachians
* Chicago by Night editing
* Pirates of Pugmire and Aberrant art direction
* Pirates of Pugmire and Cults of the Blood Gods design diaries
* The Contagion Chronicle is on Kickstarter
* Dixie's in-character and out-of-character divide (roleplaying as acting)
* Matthew's experience at the Convention of Thorns
* Eddy's many Vampire LARPing experiences
* Heroic roleplay over mundane play
* Power dynamic and power fantasy
* Roleplaying characters we're comfortable to play
* Tears at the tabletop, from Vampire to Pugmire
* Evoking emotions from your fellow players
* Matthew's games aren't fun
* Getting emotionally invested in one-shots
* Evoking fear and revulsion
* Feeling anger in your roleplay
* Misogyny isn't much fun
* Where to find us online

Links:
Chicago by Night on Backerkit: https://www.backerkit.com/projects/200664283/chicago-by-night-for-vampire-the-masquerade-5th-ed
The Contagion Chronicle Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/contagion-chronicle-a-chronicles-of-darkness-cross
Pugmire on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/204313/Pugmire-Core-Rulebook

Episode 46: The Unforgettable Chris Spivey

In which Eddy and Dixie interview Chris Spivey of "Harlem Unbound" fame, and Eddy forgets that he's already worked with Chris.

• Introducing Chris Spivey
• We wonder how bodies die in space
• Chris started so he could see more people like him in games
• Digression to talk about Metatopia
• The origin story of Harlem Unbound
• Why Lovecraft clicks with Chris
• Racism in the RPG industry
• Historical research
• Dixie forgets someone (L. S. Alexander Gumby)
• Eddy forgets someone (Chris)
• V5: Chicago by Night
• Chris and Dixie at High Level Games Con
• The ENnies
• Updating old products
• What can we do within the industry?
• Scion: Masks of the Mythos
• Matthew didn't die in space!
• We need to be better about keeping track of our freelancer pool
• Hearing everyone's origin story
• Differences in regional gaming culture
• Contagion Chronicle Kickstarter!

LINKS:

• Darker Hue Studios: https://www.darkerhuestudios.com/
• Harlem Unbound: http://www.darkerhuestudios.com/shop/harlem-unbound-core-book
• Double Exposure, hosts of Metatopia: https://www.dexposure.com/home.html
• L. S. Alexander Gumby: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._S._Alexander_Gumby
• Chicago by Night: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/chicago-by-night-for-vampire-the-masquerade-5th-ed
• HLG Con: https://hlgcon.com/
• ENnie Awards: http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/
• Contagion Chronicle Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/contagion-chronicle-a-chronicles-of-darkness-cross 

Episode 45: In (Re)Search of...

In which the trio talks about research best practices and processes for writing RPGs!

* Which books took the most research for Eddy and Matthew?
* Fan wikis are the best.
* IP research
* Game lines that take a bit more research
* Pugmire research (What do you do when it's your own idea/IP?)
* Research holes
* What do you do if research is boring?
* Testing games
* What's the most interesting thing you've learned while researching for games?
* Historical research process
* Cultural research
* Seriously, what IS fun?

Links:
Sothis Ascends: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/146995/Sothis-Ascends
New Wave Requiem: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/60377/New-Wave-Requiem
Beckett's Jyhad Diary: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/225322/V20-Becketts-Jyhad-Diary?term=beckett
Chicago by Night: https://chicago-by-night-v5.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/210616/Changeling-The-Dreaming-20th-Anniversary-Edition
Legendlore: http://www.calibercomics.com/legendlore.html
Pugmire: https://www.realmsofpugmire.com/
They Came from Beneath the Sea!: https://they-came-from-beneath-the-sea.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
The Giant Gila Monster: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052846/
Dark Eras 2: https://chronicles-of-darkness-dark-eras-2.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
Contagion Chronicle: http://kck.st/2uraRsz

Episode 44: Our new developer, Chris Allen!

In which Matthew and Eddy interview Chris Allen as a new (to us, at least) developer at Onyx Path

* We start off low and somber
* Dixie goes to play Pokemon Go
* What Chris is working on right now
* Mongoose Publishing during the d20 boom
* Working with license holders
* Coming back to the industry via Werewolf the Forsaken
* What's exciting about Forsaken
* Onyx Path Publishing at UK Game Expo!
* Developing M20 Victorian Mage
* Night Horrors: Shunned by the Moon
* Deviant the Renegades
* Contagion Chronicle
* Let's talk more about Pokemon Go!

LINKS
* Chris Allen's Onyx Path work: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?author=Chris%20Allen 
* Steam and Steel: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/18141/Steam--Steel-A-Guide-to-Fantasy-Steamworks 
* Werewolf the Forsaken Second Edition: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/145541/Werewolf-the-Forsaken-2nd-Edition 
* UK Game Expo: https://ukgamesexpo.co.uk/ 
* Mage the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/149562/Mage-The-Ascension-20th-Anniversary-Edition 
* Pokemon Go: https://www.pokemongo.com/ 

Episode 43: Let Us Sell You On Some Games!

In which Eddy, Dixie, and Matthew ask for people to mention Onyx Path games they don't know well or have been on the fence about, and spend five minutes each talking them up.

• Dixie's curse rubs off on Eddy
• Matthew makes it gross
• Suddenly it turns into a morning radio show
• Dixie: Exalted Third Edition
• Eddy: Legendlore
• Matthew: Promethean: The Created Second Edition
• Dixie: Cavaliers of Mars
• Eddy: Pugmire
• Matthew: Werewolf: The Forsaken Second Edition
• Dixie: Geist: The Sin-Eaters Second Edition
• Eddy: Trinity Continuum
• Matthew: Demon: The Descent
• Dixie: Scion Second Edition
• Check out our past interviews for more information!

Links:

• Exalted: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/162759/Exalted-3rd-Edition
• Legendlore Comic: https://www.drivethrucomics.com/browse/pub/403/Caliber-Comics/subcategory/779_3768/Legendlore
• Promethean Second Edition: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/189395/Promethean-the-Created-2nd-Edition
• Cavaliers of Mars: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/242299/Cavaliers-of-Mars-Core-Rulebook
• Pugmire: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/204313/Pugmire-Core-Rulebook
• Werewolf Second Edition: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/145541/Werewolf-the-Forsaken-2nd-Edition
• Geist First Edition: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/64033/Geist-The-SinEaters
• Trinity Continuum: https://trinity-continuum-aeon-rpg.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
• Demon: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/124155/Demon-The-Descent
• Scion: https://scion-2nd-edition-tabletop-rpg.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
• Exalted character creation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRr9WZHa2PA&t=564s
• Eddy's Extra Credits episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH6yL-exWUM 

Episode 42 - Richard Dansky Interview

Episode 42: Richard Dansky Interview
In which Matthew and Dixie interview their surprise co-host Richard Dansky about his work on Wraith: The Oblivion and other games!

* Where's Eddy?
* The long journey of Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
* Wraith Art
* The Wraith Curse
* How to start a Wraith chronicle
* Cainite Religions
* Richard Dansky: Author
* The Street Fighter RPG
* Shout-out to R Talsorian!
* The learning environment in White Wolf
* Richard Dansky's development style
* The Wraith Curse Reprise
* Personal Questions
* Migrating from TTRPGs to video games
* Board games we're playing
* Tonal palate cleansers
* Charnel Houses of Europe: The Shoah
* Harlan Ellison
* The small world of RPGs!
* Where to find us on social media

Links:
Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/233842/Wraith-The-Oblivion-20th-Anniversary-Edition
Handbook for the Recently Deceased: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/243684/Wr20-Handbook-for-the-Recently-Deceased

Episode 41: Board and Card Games

In which the trio talks about board and card games! (Obviously. I mean, look at the title.)

* Eddy's name and wrestling references
* Candyland and game complexity
* Clue/Cluedo
* Mansions of Madness
* Monopoly (the dreaded topic!)
* Diplomacy
* Co-op versus competitive games
* T.I.M.E. Stories
* Forbidden Desert/Island
* Gloomhaven
* More T.I.M.E. Stories
* Word games: Probe and Scrabble
* Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
* Fetch Quest
* Miserable Secrets
* Bonus: What Dixie looks for in editors!

Links:
UpUpDownDown: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIr1YTkEHdJFtqHvR7Rwttg
Candyland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Land
Cluedo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluedo
Mansions of Madness: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/mansions-of-madness-second-edition/
Monopoly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_(game)
Diplomacy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy_(game)
T.I.M.E. Stories: https://www.spacecowboys.fr/time-stories/language:eng
Forbidden Desert: https://gamewright.com/product/Forbidden-Desert
Forbidden Island: https://gamewright.com/product/Forbidden-Island
Gloomhaven: http://www.cephalofair.com/gloomhaven
Probe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probe_(parlor_game)
Scrabble: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: http://drafts.asmodee.us/en/games/sherlock-holmes/
Fetch Quest (coming soon!): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/fetch-quest-a-deck-building-game-in-the-realms-of
Miserable Secrets: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/245941/Miserable-Secrets
Lunars Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/lunars-fangs-at-the-gate-for-exalted-3rd-ed?ref=ah2ix6&token=8efa2927

Episode 40: Deviant The Zawadzki

In which Matthew and Dixie talk about the interview that Eddy and Dixie had with Eric Zawadzki. Also, so many pop culture references. So many.

• Eddy isn't here (he's still recovering from surgery). But who is the mysterious Editor?
• Some Buffy, Smallville, and Supernatural discussion
• Eric started on Paranoia XP
• Dixie's first book was the Demon Translation Guide
• Moving into co-developer of Deviant: The Renegades
• The high-level view of Deviant
• The drawbacks of using powers
• A wide number of inspirations, and some spoilers for Orphan Black
• Customizing your conspiracies and magnitude of play
• Deviant is not a superhero game, but superhero media flaws can help understand Deviant
• What's the tone of Deviant?
• The thread of anger in Deviant
• Creepy relationships and conviction touchstones
• Balancing powers
• New developer excitement
• Will Matthew Dawkins die during the podcast?
• Deviant sounds very cool! Also, a few more pop culture references
• Hat and a trenchcoat as a perfect disguise
• Lunars Kickstarter is doing very well. Check it out! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/lunars-fangs-at-the-gate-for-exalted-3rd-ed  
• More Onyx Path YouTube videos! https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOnyxPath/videos
• Eddy blooper at the end

Episode 39 - What we look for in Writers

Episode 39: What we look for in Writers
In which Matthew and Eddy discuss the skills they look for in freelance writers.

* Where's Dixie?
* Diverse Voices
* Finding the right voice for the game
* Voice in Pugmire vs. voice in Vampire
* Voice in Vampire: The Masquerade vs. voice in Vampire: The Requiem
* Spaces around emdashes
* How clean should a first draft be?
* The strength of collaboration
* Matthew's high standards - he's a benevolent tyrant
* Speaking to the developer and asking for aid when needed / Proactivity
* Meeting up with the developer and co-writers
* Unsolicited advice vs. strong collaboration
* Don't try to become the developer when hired as a writer
* Swapping assignments
* Getting the most from redlines
* Read other writers' drafts
* Writing without shame
* Read the required writing!
* Research and write
* Where to find us on social media
* Come back, Dixie!

Links:
Chicago by Night on Backerkit: https://www.backerkit.com/projects/200664283/chicago-by-night-for-vampire-the-masquerade-5th-ed
Pugmire on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/204313/Pugmire-Core-Rulebook
Monarchies of Mau on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/243273/Monarchies-of-Mau-Core-Rulebook