Onyx Path

[colonel wolfe]

With what is basically 2 full time employees, these guys have been pumping out some high quality product.
This kinda blows away the big lies that Small companies can't produce books on time, and that they can't produce high quality product.
I remember when I per-ordered the Vampire-20th book, yeah it was a steep price, 100 bucks, but it was a 500 page book.
since then I've backed a few of their Kickstarters and over all I've been pleased with the results.
WTA20's deluxe version has had it hiccups, but they have been keeping backers informed, via their blog, and the backer updates.
These guys aren't arrogant enough to hide behind claims of how long they have been in the industry and admit to the fans that they have had some problems, many unforeseen.
but the biggest compliment I can give this company is they have had open development for most aspects of the updates, and have taken fan input and made their products better.
some companies could learn from this, and embrace the PDF market, and POD model to get books the fans want, in a format they want them in.
even DnDNext went this method, giving play test packets to anyone who signed up, and taking player input seriously and redesigning things the majority of fans found to be problematic...
best thing is their schedule... theonyxpath.com/schedule/

[Sci-Fi]

I'm right there with you. I've backed the V20, The V20 companion (Which was one of their hiccups) The W20, the CB20 and now the Demon book.

As you've pointed out they're very open in the development. They don't BS. If stuff is late they tell you why. I get almost weekly updates for both the W20 and CB20 book, and now the Demon one.

The Werewolf book has had some hiccups, but most of them have been actual technical. Finding a way to cut claw marks into a leather wrapped book. Cutting claw marks into a steel plated book. Still they let us know, often with pictures, how the progress of the book is coming. More over, the millisecond that the PDF was done we got it in our mailboxes. So we have full access to the information, should we want to use the information we have it. We're just waiting on the 500 page leather bound, laser cut books to arrive for our collections. (I can't imagine many people whipping out the plush leather one to throw around the game table. lol)

Also like Wolfe pointed out, their open development is awesome. I had the text for the changing breed book the instant the kickstarter went live. Their revisions and addons have changed the final product but I could read through 95% or so of the content before I even pledged.

Also like Wolfe has pointed out, they listen to their backers during the kickstarter. People that voice concerns or complaints are listened to. During the kickstarter of Changing breeds 20 they went through so many stretch goals, that they asked what we, as backers wanted. Then, they gave us, exactly what we asked for. That was awesome.

The product by and large is good as well. I might not like all the art. That doesn't make it bad art. Just not something I like. The content was awesome though.

Wolfe is right. They are an example of how to do it right. Palladium should take notes.

[colonel wolfe]

and it easily dispels the BS that a Small company can't do it right.
I've read way to many time that Palladium is a small company and can't do what these "bigger" companies do...

[Sci-Fi]

Yeah. If you take that Vampire 20th book and put it down beside ANY game book. It's going to compare very well. Beautiful leather. Full color content. Professionally laid out. The art, for the most part was very much above the bar. It was a magnificent book.

It wasn't 'perfect' but nothing is.

It'd be very hard to find one that looks better though. Extremely high quality. I can't wait for my W20 and CB20.

I just hope hope hope they do a Changeling one.

[colonel wolfe]

Mage 20 is on the way, they have the Original Wraith guy working on Wraith 20.. and changeling was super popular, so I know it will have a 20th...
Hunter and Daemon are going to have to wait, even thou I'd love to see compatiable updates for the lines as well.
hell, they finished the missing technocratic convention books.

and then OP admitted the messed up on Wta20, they are giving us another book for free...

[Sci-Fi]

Demon Kickstarter is live now. They're doing it for the nWoD,

Spawning it off their "The God Machine" Rules update.

I've heard they're doing Mage 20. Sadly the last I heard about Changeling, was that due to the smaller print runs and smaller audiences (Alot of people thought it was too kiddiefied for WoD, to bright and shiny) That it had a smaller fanbase. They've said if they do a Changeling 20, it won't be like the Vamp and Werewolf. For Vamp and Werewolf, they did the Kickstarters for limited edition special books, but even if the kickstarter failed they'd produce the book via PoD and PDF. For Werewolf, Changing Breeds and now Demon, they've already had the books 95-99% written before the kickstarter even started.

They've said for Changeling it'd be a more traditional 'If we make _______ amount of money, THEN we'll write the book and do it'. Instead of "We're doing this book, but his kickstarter is for a leather bound ULTRA cool edition. If you want the normal edition we're doing that either way."