Onyx Pathcast

By Eddy Webb

Chat, interviews, and banter by Onyx Path Publishing’s in-house developers. Join Matthew, Dixie, and Eddy on the Onyx Pathcast!... more

4.7

4444 ratings

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FAQs about Onyx Pathcast:

How many episodes does Onyx Pathcast have?

The podcast currently has 357 episodes available.

Onyx Pathcast episodes:

July 27, 2018 Episode 13: Video Games and RPGs
In which the Terrible Trio talk about video games, how they've influenced RPGs, the overlap between both, and some of our history with both.
* Our first video game consoles
* Puzzle design in text adventures close to tabletop RPGs
* British game censorship
* Connecting to the characters on the screen
* A little history on the tensions between tabletop gamers and video gamers
* Where to send your hate mail (Eddy gets it wrong)
* Using video game language to attract people to tabletop RPGs
* What have we taken from video games and incorporated into our tabletop RPG experiences?
* Narrative choice into Chronicles of Darkness design
* Illusion of choice
* We all get fake Twitter names
* Eddy takes a controversial stance on Planescape Torment
* Dixie shifts the discussion to Bloodlines as a good example of blurring tabletop and video games
* Turning something from a video game into a tabletop RPG
* Matthew gets a cease-and-desist and realizes he's obsessed with water
* Which of the Onyx Path games would make the best video games?
* Dixie talks about MMOs, because the other two forgot
* Matthew snuck into an exclusive DC comics party
* Saints Row 4 as Demon the Descent
* Wrestling reference! The WWE RPG and the make-a-wrestling mode in WWE video games
* At the last minute Matthew mentions the Street Fighter RPG
LINKS:We mention a LOT of games, so we're just listing the ones we talk about in detail.
* Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1g84m0sXpnNCv84GpN2PLZG/the-game-30th-anniversary-edition
* Metal Gear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Gear_%28video_game%29
* D&D 4th Edition: http://drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/44/Wizards-of-the-Coast/subcategory/9730_9739/Dungeons--Dragons-4e
* Mass Effect franchise: https://www.masseffect.com/
* Fable franchise: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fable_(video_game_series)
* Elder Scrolls franchise: https://elderscrolls.bethesda.net/en
* Bioshock: http://www.bioshockgame.com/site/us/
* Planescape Torment: https://www.gog.com/game/planescape_torment_enhanced_edition
* Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines: https://www.gog.com/game/vampire_the_masquerade_bloodlines
* Saints Row 4: https://www.saintsrow.com/about
...more
1h 19min
July 20, 2018 Episode 12: I Know What Cars Are (with Eric Minton)
In which Dixie and Eddy interview Eric Minton about everything Exalted!
* Matthew is banished
* Eric's history with Exalted and freelancing (including a brush with Paranoia)
* Development of Infernals: The Manual of Exalted Power
* Starting as a fan and coming up through the community
* The Exalted stable, and the challenge of hiring new writers
* What drew Eric to Exalted
* Thoughts behind the design of Third Edition
* Some teasing of War in the West
* The experience of working on Dragon-Blooded
* Learning how to be developers, and working collaboratively as devs
* Some discussion of Lunars
* A fifteen-book plan!
* Eddy digs into Slack and the collaborative process
* How Trinity and Exalted have some similar challenges
* Inclusivity in Exalted
* NSFW: Eddy talks about the development process of Exxxalted
* Relating to the Exalted community
* A teaser of Exigents
* Matthew is impressed with the interview
* Listener feedback! Should we keep doing introductions and wrap-ups for our interview episodes?
* Matthews asks Eddy about Johnny Wrestling and his fued with Tomasso Ciampa
LINKS* Exalted Third Edition: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/162759/Exalted-3rd-Edition
* Arms of the Chosen: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/226224/Arms-of-the-Chosen
* Exalted Discord: https://discord.gg/6WyJHPU
* Ask the Devs thread: http://forum.theonyxpath.com/forum/main-category/exalted/1069023-ask-the-devs
* Geist 2e Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/geist-the-sin-eaters-2nd-edition
...more
1h 13min
July 13, 2018 Episode 11: Deep Dive! Monarchies of Mau, Pugmire, and Pan's Guide
In which Dixie, Matthew, and Eddy talk about Monarchies of Mau, Pan's Guide (with the usual digressions)
* Overview of Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau
* Intentionally leaving the map open, and musing about Forgotten Realms
* Canis Minor community content program
* Pugmire's voice (fur, paws, etc.)
* Humor is tricky, and how it differs between Mau and They Came From
* The fun of decoding post-apocalyptic imagery
* Intentions behind the choice of using a derivation of the 5e OGL
* How "technology as magic" adds mystery and texture to the game
* How Mau reimagines D&D-style monsters
* No species as "the evil race" and addressing problematic elements in genre fantasy
* Pan's Guide as a new kind of introductory product
* Matthew is very proud of our work on Pan's Guide
* The challenges of doing something new
* What we each love about the realms of Pugmire
LINKS* Monarchies of Mau Early Access: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/211873/Monarchies-of-Mau-Early-Access
* Monarchies of Mau pre-order: https://monarchies-of-mau.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
* Pugmire: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/204313/Pugmire-Core-Rulebook
* Pan's Guide: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/239620/Pans-Guide-for-New-Pioneers
* Pan's Guide video adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dUUdvp2zM0
...more
1h 3min
July 13, 2018 Episode 11: Deep Dive! Monarchies of Mau, Pugmire, and Pan’s Guide
In which Dixie, Matthew, and Eddy talk about Monarchies of Mau, Pan's Guide (with the usual digressions)

* Overview of Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau

* Intentionally leaving the map open, and musing about Forgotten Realms

* Canis Minor community content program

* Pugmire's voice (fur, paws, etc.)

* Humor is tricky, and how it differs between Mau and They Came From

* The fun of decoding post-apocalyptic imagery

* Intentions behind the choice of using a derivation of the 5e OGL

* How "technology as magic" adds mystery and texture to the game

* How Mau reimagines D&D-style monsters

* No species as "the evil race" and addressing problematic elements in genre fantasy

* Pan's Guide as a new kind of introductory product

* Matthew is very proud of our work on Pan's Guide

* The challenges of doing something new

* What we each love about the realms of Pugmire

LINKS
* Monarchies of Mau Early Access: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/211873/Monarchies-of-Mau-Early-Access

* Monarchies of Mau pre-order: https://monarchies-of-mau.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

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

* Pan's Guide: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/239620/Pans-Guide-for-New-Pioneers

* Pan's Guide video adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dUUdvp2zM0
...more
1h 3min
July 06, 2018 Episode Ten: Interview with a Vampire (or Danielle)
In which Eddy and Dixie talk to Danielle about vampires and pirates and networking, oh my!
The transition to Requiem line developer
What's cool about Requiem
Working as line developer for 7th Sea
Origin via neuroscience and LiveJournal
Networking advice
How Danielle trains new writers
The industry is mainly contractors
The struggle with turning down work
How mentally draining creative work is
Capitalizing words
Trinity Core, Dystopia Rising, and the evolution of Storypath
Working with Choice of Games
Eddy ends up being awkward, again
Vampire the Requiem 2nd Edition: http://drivethrurpg.com/product/123898/Vampire-The-Requiem-2nd-Edition
7th Sea 2nd Edition: http://7thsea.com/
Trinity Continuum: http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/trinitycontinuum/
Dystopia Rising: https://www.dystopiarising.com/
Choice of Games: https://www.choiceofgames.com/
More of Danielle's work: http://drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?x=0&y=0&author=Danielle%20Lauzon
...more
1h 11min
June 29, 2018 Episode Nine: Free (or Reasonably Cheap) Lances
In which Eddy, Dixie, and Matthew talk about the freelance life, both for Onyx Path and in general.
How to get into freelancing
The submission guidelines
Importance of tone in submissions
Matthew's curveball: Networking and social media
The reality of emotions and personal conflict with clients
Dixie's experience on great projects
Eddy's experience on a difficult project
The importance of communication
Dealing with redlines and criticism
Eddy's experience with redlines on Futurama: Game of Drones
Dixie's experience with editing
Juggling work-life balance
Eddy's cuts a promo on Matthew: Do you feel better about yourself after becoming a freelancer?
...more
1h 12min
June 22, 2018 Episode Eight: Steffie de Vaan and Promethean
In which Dixie and Matthew interview one of our newest developers, Steffie de Vaan!
How Steffie got involved
Started on web games and Promethean 2nd Edition
Steffie talks about Matthew's development style
What it's like to work from the Netherlands
UK Games Expo and the trouble with rail
Steffie and the hosts do a detailed dive into Promethean: The Created
Matthew cuts a promo on Dixie (again)
How to handle Disquiet in Promethean
The Onyx Path games Steffie is most drawn to
Monarchies of Mau, Pugmire, and Scion at UK Games Expo
Matthew interrupts
Angry Hamster Publishing's games, and wandering through afterlives
Pitch for Changling the Lost
The emergency question!
Promethean 2nd Edition: http://drivethrurpg.com/product/189395/Promethean-the-Created-2nd-Edition
Changeling 2nd Edition at Backerkit: https://changeling-the-lost-2nd-edition.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
Angry Hamster Publishing: angryhamsterpublishing.com
More from Steffie: http://drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?x=0&y=0&author=Steffie%20de%20Vaan
...more
1h 11min
June 15, 2018 Episode Seven: Dissecting Vampire the Requiem
In which Eddy, Dixie, and Matthew talk about their experiences with Vampire the Requiem, and talk about some of the design decisions that went into it.
We totally plan these episodes (not really)
We each talk about our experience with Requiem
The differences between Masquerade and Requiem, and between first and second edition
The social dynamics of Requiem
Planescape and the X/Y/Z axis
The science of number of choices
Eddy gets academic, but it doesn't last
Dixie talks about how second edition mechanics makes you feel like you're struggling to not be a monster
The focus on relationships, and ghouls in particular
Breaking points
The role of noir and the detective tradition in Requiem
19-2, the Wire, and the influence of police drama
Matthew breaks down the power design, and how it avoids redundancy
Eddy asks Matthew and Dixie what their favorite clan and covenant combinations
You can pick up Vampire the Requiem at DriveThruRPG: http://drivethrurpg.com/product/123898/Vampire-The-Requiem-2nd-Edition
...more
1h 12min
June 08, 2018 Episode Six: Interview with Rich Thomas
In which Matthew and Dixie interview the boss, Rich Thomas. And Eddy gets put into a cupboard. Again.
Eddy gets kidnapped into the cupboard again
Matthew and Dixie talk to the boss, Rich Thomas!
Rich talks about his time as art director (among many titles) in the early days of White Wolf Publishing
Rich's work as an artist in Vampire: The Masquerade, as well as one of the first 49 on Magic: The Gathering
Working on television graphics in Philadelphia and meeting his wife, Lisa
CCP, the World of Darkness MMO, and the formation of Onyx Path Publishing
The build up to the new World of Darkness/Chronicles of Darkness. Did the Chronicles of Darkness "kill" White Wolf?
Creative highlights that Onyx Path has hit: W20 Ultra-Deluxe covers, Pugmire and worldbuilding, bringing back original creators, and second edition Chronicles of Darkness games
How does Rich handle when a game loses a key figure midway through the development cycle?
Richard Dansky, Wraith 20th, and the integrated nature of the game design community
Matthew unleashes the emergency questions!
Cavaliers of Mars, Pugmire, and They Came From Beneath The Sea!
Humor in RPGs
Your questions! Did we ask yours?
The Salubri are the worst
Rich talks about playing in Eddy's V20 game
V5 products from Onyx Path being discussed
Gangster Pitbulls!
Rich is into the experiences and stories, not the design
"White Wolf is not dead"
Which of us is the favorite?
Time for rapid fire word association!
Matthew breaks Eddy out of the cupboard
We talk about our convention schedule for the rest of the year
...more
1h 36min
June 01, 2018 Episode Five: How A Book is Made
In which Eddy, Dixie, and Matthew discuss the process of making a product for Onyx Path, from initial pitch to final printed product.
Pitches - what is the book intended to do? What's the value to the reader?
Cold pitches vs pitches from a known quantity
Pugmire pitch as an example
Outlines and hiring the freelance project developer
What traits do we look for in a developer?
Steffie de Vaan as an example of a great new developer
Then we contract writers
Some writers are unsuitable, but that's not the same as "bad"
Matthew interrupts to say he never interrupts
We often assume a writer is specialized, when that may not be the case
Then on to team planning, research, and first drafts
Collaboration is often key during the first draft stage
Matthew uses the Contagion Chronicle as an example
The first draft is not literally the first thing you write - there's an amount of polish needed
Eddy uses Dystopia Rising as an example of redlines, and how work on that project differs from Contagion Chronicle
Lexicon can be a real pain in the ass
Redlines as a teaching tool for writers
Then the final drafts go off to development
Dixie talks about the editing process, and the kinds of things she edits for
We sing the praises of the Chicago Manual of Style
Dixie confesses to Googling style questions, while Matthew talks a bit about American vs British English
You can't turn editor brain off
The one-sided conversation between the editor and developer, but that's changing
Style evolves, however, as Dixie mentions on the 20th anniversary books
Meanwhile, art notes and layout
The errata phase, because we're not perfect
Finally, indexing and printer proofs!
Why we take the time to make sure the book is as good as it can be
Matthew explains how he got his Twitter handle
Eddy tries to wrap things up, but Matthew steals the mic to issue a challenge to Dixie
Next episode, we interview the boss, Rich Thomas!
...more
1h 21min

FAQs about Onyx Pathcast:

How many episodes does Onyx Pathcast have?

The podcast currently has 357 episodes available.

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