#hopefully ill have time to go through all my main blog stuff on monday but for now have this :)

[euphoriacrossing]

The closer we get the more my anxiety plays up...

What if I can't keep up with my journal that I worked so hard on?

What if I mess up something I can't change on my island? (I don't WANT to have to reset, but if it's the first day i will... i don't want to have to reset two or three days in because i change my mind about something...)

And the bigger ones.... I've been so tired I can barely stay awake two or three hours at a time. I can't do a whole lot of recreational things because I'm asleep. Right now I'm attributing it to depression, but I am going to ask my oncologist if maybe the meds could cause it (the meds I DID stop, but thay messed with my hormones anyway) or if the slight bit of anemia I have could cause it maybe? What if I am not awake enough to fully enjoy the game?

I go to the oral surgeon I think for a consultation to get some teeth pulled, what if he wants to do it anytime soon after the game is out? Will it mess with my enjoybility to have that kind of procedure? (Last time I had teeth out... my wisdom teeth I did very poorly, I got two dry sockets and was in some of the worst pain... I was LUCKY to be able to sleep as much as I did, because the pain was awful. And I followed instructions, so I don't know if I am more prone to those kinds of things or if it was the fact he didn't tell me to stop my birth control or what... but it was bad. And now I have a much higher tolerance to pain meds and will have to use the ones I'm ON so they'll be less effective probably. I'll die if I get a dry socket. Pain tolerance, mine is high until you get to my mouth and then I'm an absolute crybaby.) So say he wants to do it the Monday after... will I be out of commission to play for two weeks or more while I recover? I know this sounds more important, but to me the game is important, too. I want to be able to put in at least some work daily for quite a while so I can create a beautiful island at the same time others who start on the 20th are. So it may not seem like a huge deal, but it is to me okay? Enough of a huge deal for my anxiety to use it against me.

Those are just examples though. I have an anxiety disorder which in past years has become more generalized and entwined with my bipolar symptoms. So I am in no short supply of things related to the 20th to be anxious about.

I wish I could just be happy. And I mean, I am. We have less than a week and I'll be playing a game that is 7 years in the making for those of us that play Animal Crossing. I've been waiting with baited breath probably more than a year, to the point where when Pokemon Sw/Shld came out it was just a distraction instead of the main event, at that point I was already craving New Horizons desperately. And here we are nearly at the end of our waiting, I am happy, don't get me wrong.

But my mind never just let's me be happy.

What if I am too late to make friends in the first few days like I've planned? Everyone else seems to already have their friendships, but I knew I couldn't keep up with a friendship that long. So here is the week to make friends, and I don't feel I know how, or I feel like most people already have their friends. I have maybe two people besides my sister to play with. And I'm excited for that. But I'd love to be included in a larger group of friends or something, you know, that sort of thing is nice. If I only have a few close friends though, that'd be nice too. And i think the first few days it seems people might just be playing on their own, i don't always NEED someone to play with, I'll probably prefer to play alone, or maybe with my sister mostly, or just my close friend when I play. But it's just i guess i expected to use this opportunity to make more friends and now i feel i am wasting it. I don't often have such an "easy way" to make friends because I am disinterested in most things and just don't have a lot to talk about. This common interest is an amazing thing to talk about and should make things easier, but it doesn't as much as I hoped I guess.

What if I don't finish my journal? I worked so hard on it, but i need my dad's help with the label maker and need to finalize the decisions about what I'm going to record in it before I do make the labels. It can still be changed later because I am using labels on plastic tabs and a discbound journal but what if I don't have time once i'm playing?

Ugh. Just all the "what ifs". And I know some people will think "why'd she bother making this post?" Well random person, it does help to get them out in the open. Since most everything I have been thinking has been AC related lately, this has turned into a bit of a personal blog. Sorry for that. I do plan to make it a New Horizons blog and post as much original content as I can once ACNH is out.

Oh another one. What if posting original content is too hard?

Like, I want this blog to have original content and all that, but if you have to remove your memory card and get on a computer to do it, that's a lot of trouble and extra energy I don't have these days. And you had to do that for New Leaf and everyone did including myself, but I had more energy and it seemed easier. And it seems like it was less effort those days because people DID THINGS on the computer including myself. Now I use my phone and ipad as computers, you can do almost all the same things on them, and my laptop sits idle which might be the reason it doesn't run as well these days. Or it may just be that it's old as crap for a laptop. I mean, I guess it's moderately old for what it is, it's a very nice laptop, but I think it's the same one I had for New Leaf so it's been with me a while. Anyway, it SEEMED like less trouble because you were on the computer doing stuff anyway, so just pop your memory card in there and go while you're checking your stuff. It's not that easy on a phone, BUT I am hoping you can post photos and screenshots to SOMETHING through the Nooklink app. We don't know everything about the app yet as it isnt out yet, and I doubt you can post straight to tumblr (though that'd make things easy, huh?) because this is not the most used platform anymore, but if I can post them to anywhere (like facebook or twitter... I'd probably post them privately to facebook because I am less versed in twitter stuff, but then I did recently become an AC twitter on my personal twitter because I never used my personal twitter anyway, so... yeah...) I can grab them on my phone once they are uploaded and reupload them here. But I also plan to make my "diary like" text posts here. I am not recording a diary in my journal having to do with NH, I only want like... data and information I can use, etc. But that doesn't mean I won't want to write diary like entries, and I am less likely to lose my blog that a physical journal anyway it feels. (I say less likely... I lost my New Leaf blog for a few years there, but with effort I did recently find it.) So it could be very easy to post original content here, or if the app doesn't do things it really totally should, then it might be a bit more effort and I don't know if I have that to give right now, so I'm nervous about that. Everything I post here about my game experience is going to be more for me to look back on than anything, so I WANT to be able to post about that stuff here. But I guess we'll have to wait to see, along with waiting for the game.

And everyone knows how well waiting and anxiety get along. They are two peas in a pod, they play off each other like it's no one's business.

But I hope everything in the end will just be okay. I am "lucky" in a way. Since I'm chronically ill, disabled, and have cancer, I don't have work or school to worry about and while being sick is a big bummer, that does take a lot of stress off of me. I don't know how I would handle a job or school even just mentally these days, I don't see how it could go well and I guess that is because I am so sick, even just mentally... but I know a lot of disabled people DO still do those things anyway, sometimes because they HAVE to, so I am glad I am in a position at my age where I am still largely take care of. My disability money doesn't cover a fraction of my necessities, so I feel blessed everyday for my parents, even though my mom and I fight like cats and dogs. Annnndddd now I am getting to be anxious about what happens to me when my parents are gone and that's a WHOLE different type of anxiety... yikes... I need to stop letting my anxiety run rampant now I guess, it's gone too far.

But I am very "lucky" to be in a position where once the game comes out it can be my main focus for a while. Partially because i don't have the energy to focus on many different things, so it's good Animal Crossing can take up that main spot in my life for now.

Come on now, back to AC anxieties. Ya stupid general anxiety...

And I guess I am anxious about the typical things people are anxious about... what fruit will I get, will I like my first Islanders, etc. but to me those things arent as major. All the fruits are so pretty I could really get on with any of them I think, and hopefully my first villagers will be great, but I'll make myself a net if they're not, and I do have amiibo cards for moving in some of my favorite villagers later on, so I can deal with a dud or two.

I'm a little anxious about map layouts too, just picking the right one seems a little difficult to me since there are some things you cannot change. But I think I can make a good choice, I'm more worried if I'll be able to draw it in for my journal or not. I should draw the general layout for the map, but I don't even know if I can do that right.

Oh I also have a package to finish working on and get in the mail before Friday, BUT I finished the hardest parts (writing a bunch of postcards, basically a latter's worth of text but on postcards) last night, so I just have to do finishing touches and get it out. I maybe want to type another letter to send out, too, but if I don't get it done I'll try not to beat myself up. I got really burnt out on mail stuff lately and as much as I still get, which is about one or two things in the mail daily, I can't reply to all the things I should. I'm stressed about it, but I won't let that ruin my New Horizons time. Especially since mail was supposed to be a fun hobby for me and just... stopped. But that's a whole different thing, that has less to do with New Horizons than the other stuff.

Now I genuinely do feel less stressed since I rambled on for a while. Thanks for reading this, if you read any of it. I don't expect anyone to read all this anxiety inducing, depressing junk.

But anyway, now I am going to try and think about the Nooklink app and what kind of features I think it should have. Like I said, it really should have a way to post screenshots/pictures to social media, and I bet it's got something like that since we have the camera in game. I bet we maybe even can post pictures to social media from the switch. I mean, well, I know we can technically, but I mean I bet we can without having to leave the game. Because you can do that in New Leaf now. Gosh would that have been handy YEARS ago. I guess it came with the "welcome amiibo" update?

But at least we know we can scan in QR codes. I dunno if you've noticed but I have been collecting some and tagging them (you can find them under the "QR" tag on my blog, or by type of QR code, likes dresses I just tagged "dress") so I have them once we are able to use them in game. I am going to check my @playtimewithmadi blog to see if I have QR codes saved that I used in New Leaf, too, so I can reblog any good ones here. All of that gives me something to do, I suppose.

I could also work on my journal, or my mail. Both need to get done before Friday and need work.

But honestly, I am probably gonna play Happy Home Designer right now. I'll design at least one house, and then maybe I'll work on my mail and journal stuff. We'll see.

Anyway, thanks again for sticking with me, I love everyone who stays subbed to this blog even though the BS posts like this. Sorry for rambling on, but I needed this, so thank you for letting me have it.

Off to more distraction then...

[singswithmicoff]

I don't really blog on here but I am tonight. It's been a weird week or so at work and I'm ready for a longer break. Last Thursday I took Bernie into work for a bit so my coworkers could see it. It's technically not allowed but my new boss is very chill and no one really knew. But someone tattled to HR and I was reminded we can't have nonservice dogs in the office. So I took him home, no big deal.

Except because there's this weird tension and kinda cliques in the building. In January I switched departments from working at our main building in front desk support to support staff at our other office in town for our children's services. I started training at the end of December and my official transfer date was January 1. My old boss (who told me to apply) was super controlling and wanted control over my transition.

Because I really needed a job when I got hired (the Am*zon fulfillment center I worked closed) I was extra accommodating when she hired me. And it was taken advantage of because she had two fucked millennials that were terrified of being unemployed (myself and my best friend's brother-in-law). We were accommodating and reliable so it didn't really matter that Jennifer has chronic illness or that Amanda quit or that we couldn't keep it completely staffed. She had Arthur and me for four years to fill in the gaps. Then Arthur quiet last September. Then in December they offered me the transfer. And Rebeca was moving to Montana. And Debbie had transferred to Med Services. And Robin approved Stephanie's transfer to the Coffeyville office.

All between September and mid-December. Robin's brilliant idea was that I could put my office in her area because they didn't really need someone full time (and she'd still get to be in control of me). That didn't happen thankfully. But part of the deal was that I would help out at the main office until she got staffed. It dragged out until my boss put an end to it because we were going on two months into my transfer (I'm fuzzy on dates because this year has been a shitshow but I know I was still dealing with it when I went to Dallas Valentine's Day weekend) and at some point it had to end. I just kept wondering what she would've done if I had left the company. She wouldn't've been able to make me come back 20 hours for two months.

Anyway. It eventually ended and COVID happened so I got to hide in my little cubby and not care that she was mad, at me or because she lost control of me (a whole other tangent about how she has a weird fixation on my uncle so that didn't help that she lost three connection of his niece working for her). During all of this too she was getting divorced from her husband who hadn't lived in the same state as her the whole four+ years I'd worked for her. Then she got remarried after like 6 months and it's apparently another shitty situation.

Back to Thursday and the cliques. I'm in the children's services department so I've clicked in with them and our small club of Democrats (we're friends with the Republicans in CBS too though). There's also Sarah who's in Robin's department and was moved to front desk in the last year or so. She's emotionally immature for her age and is on the spectrum (I don't know anything for certain but it's obvious). She's a few years younger than me but since we live in a small town, especially as we've become adults, we've existed in each other's orbits. I'm super introverted but people are still drawn to me somewhat and between my customer service nature and general awkwardness, I end up with...I wouldn't say friends but something more than acquaintances. Sarah falls in there.

Also on Robin's team (she's being downsized and losing charge of the main support staff) is Becky. I've made awkward small talk with her a little since I moved into the building but she's pretty miserable from what I'm to understand so I never got too invested. Becky covers for Sarah when she goes to lunch or needs to get away from the desk. So when Bernie came to visit, Becky covered. Sarah said something about him being at the office and Becky said something about the fact we aren't supposed to have pets in the office. Then a short time later I received the email from HR. So Becky tattled to Robin who tattled to HR (because she's a monster who doesn't like dogs and is mad at me still 11 months later).

There was an incident Monday in lobby and Michele intervened because she was there and she's part of our crisis team. On Tuesday, Robin sent them an email and Sarah sent me part of it where she was basically being scolded (in my opinion) for how the situation was handled and told not to talk about it. Robin and the rest of her department (maybe not Hillary) bully Sarah. She vented to me and I mentioned how since I stopped working for Robin I realized how much better things were. It's made pretty clear I don't like Robin.

Tuesday afternoon my boss sends me a text, asking if I can meet with her in her office at 3:30. I begin panicking because I'm obviously being fired or getting in trouble somehow because usually she'd just pop down to see me. When I get there I ask if she wants me to shut the door, she said no we had two more people coming to join us. I internally panic as we discuss some upcoming stuff (which helped a bit because she wouldn't be telling me if I wasn't going to be there for it).

In walk Robin and Sarah, it took everything I had not to roll my eyes. Thank god for masks. Robin was made aware there were some emails. And how would we like it if Tammy and Robin were emailing about us. And she has always tried to promote us. She wasn't/couldn't tell us not to speak to each other (she very much wanted to tell us we couldn't speak to each other). I apologized for using work email/time to talk about someone because we're all a team (seriously may have strained my eyes in my attempt to keep from rolling them.)

It's a nonissue. We weren't in trouble but sure, we shouldn't be using work email like that (if she really wants to know how I feel she can go through Arthur's old emails that she got when he left.) Sarah's upset because Robin's her boss. Michele speaks to her and hopefully really got her less freaked out. Michele also speaks to IT and finds out no one has access to our emails but us (because our first thought was Robin was tracking her department's emails.) Instead someone (Becky) got into Sarah's emails and read them then tattled to Robin. Robin made it an issue. I apologized to Tammy on Wednesday because I don't want her bothered with bullshit drama from my old boss.

My best friend and her husband are on quarantine until after Thanksgiving. As long as she doesn't test positive I won't have to quarantine from our walk on Monday. My brother's on his second quarantine. My mom's office shut down until after Thanksgiving because they had a positive case. I want a quarantine. Or a cold so I have to be 72 hours symptom free before I return to work.

[theonyxpath]

(Sometimes, even I have trouble thinking up a general fun title. No real reason, just not connecting to that part of my brain today. Maybe, it’s something to do with that symbol above…)

This week our Monday Meeting crew were still talking about the impact of the Corona Virus (go figure), and generally letting off steam over the situation. We’re all trying to be responsible and self-isolate, wear masks and such, and social distance. So far, we’ve all been fortunate not to have been stricken ill, or to have lost loved ones.

There have been some effects across our various creative teams, but we’re doing what we can to help out. Our first developer “Town Hall” was so successful that we’re doing another set in a couple of weeks – just so our creators know they have a place to ask questions, vent, and really just to be connected and listened to.

For our core Onyx Path team, there’s been some self-care put together, with Eddy taking a couple of days off at the end of last week just to get a break from maneuvering in the virus situation, and this week Matthew needs extra time, so Eddy and Dixie are interviewing some of the Gehenna Gaming gang for the Onyx Pathcast. Which is a change they are flexible enough to make happen.

Lunars art by Gunship Revolution

Meanwhile, Behind the Facade of This Innocent Looking Bookstore…

We sent the M20 Technocracy Reloaded Kickstarter over to WW for review. Once they give the OK, we’ll set a date – hopefully soon. They have their own issues with the pandemic over in Sweden, but right now are still approving what we send, so more hopes that everything remains good over there.

EDIT: Actually, as I was finishing up this blog, they got back to us with the OK! So the M20 Technocracy Reloaded Kickstarter will come online on Tuesday, April the 28th, at 2pm Eastern US time!

Related to that, Travis Legge is starting a Twitter game for M20 Technocracy Reloaded – as he says:

“And then like BOOM black suits fill the room up.”

I have the extreme honor and pleasure of bringing Technocracy Reloaded for Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition to Twitch starting May 5th with Phil Brucato, Jacqueline Bryk, Hiromi Cota & TK Johnson

Don’t miss out! Head over to https://twitch.tv/theonyxpath, follow & subscribe.

Be seeing you.

That’s a very stellar cast of players, so this promises to be a real treat – while at the same time providing an in-depth look at the new book.

Plus, before that specific Actual Play series arrives, we have our usual great list of programs for many, many of our game settings being played which you can find below in the Blurbs!

During our meeting, we received word that DriveThruCards is back to being able to print PoD cards, which is great! Coincidentally, just before we heard that news, Eddy let us know that he heard that the Expedition card game is back in stock on the Expedition store!  Since our own Scarred Lands is the theme of one of the supplements and allows players to add in SL creatures, treasure, and adventures, that’s great news and yet another option for a fun diversion.

You can get the cards via DTRPG as well, and I also hear they have online way for multi-player quests, so that’s even better these days!

Helnau’s Guide to Wasteland Beasties art by Michele Giorgi

Finally, here’s the news about our latest sale of physical books from our friends at Indie Press Revolution!

Exalted 3rd Edition and Dragon Blooded Deluxe Edition books and screens are 20% off all April (while supplies last).

Select Onyx Path books with Storyteller Screens are 25% off April 20 through May 24.

Scion Book 1 and 2 (Origin and Hero) are available together for 25% off April 20 through May 24.

Check out the specific book and screen sale bundles here: https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Deals-and-Specials/

That’s it for this week, so please all take care of yourselves, and we’ll see you soon in one of our:

Many Worlds, One Path!

Blurbs!

Kickstarter!

The M20 Technocracy Reloaded Kickstarter will start at 2pm Eastern US time on Tuesday, April the 28!

Onyx Path Media!

This week features an in-depth interview with the folks from Gehenna Gaming. Who are they, what are they up to, and how did they do such a great job running their Virtual Horror Con?

As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/

Tune in to our games this week on Twitch! There’s a lot of games coming up, including: V5, Scion, Pugmire, the fantastic and new Storytellers with Coffee chat, Changeling: The Lost, Changeling: The Dreaming, Mage: The Awakening, Scarred Lands, Dark Eras Werewolf: The Forsaken, Chronicles of Darkness, and a new Deviant: The Renegades game! 

This week you should look out for the new Chronicles of Darkness game, Tooth and Claw. You can subscribe to our channel over on twitch.tv/theonyxpath to catch up with any episodes you missed!

Come take a look at our YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/theonyxpath, where you can find a whole load of videos of actual plays, dissections of our games, and more, including:

Trinity Continuum – Aberrant: Community Service: https://youtu.be/oY9gGocsTtU

Changeling: The Lost – Littlebrook Reunion: https://youtu.be/1OiLEtvunkM and https://youtu.be/M9qJVeyvxmY

Vampire: The Masquerade: Blood City – Chicago by Night: https://youtu.be/deky_yW-0Ho

Do subscribe to our channel and click the bell icon if you want to be notified whenever new news videos and uploads come online!

Have you checked out the Botch Pit‘s gaming transcripts? Have a look on their clean, beautiful website, and check this one out for a Chronicles of Darkness game: http://thebotchpit.com/new-england-by-night-season-1-session-01-im-not-making-anyone-a-supernatural-yet-transcript/

New England By Night | Season 1 | Session 01: I’m Not Making Anyone A Supernatural Yet [Transcript]

More new Occultists Anonymous for all you Mage: The Awakening fans:

Episode 98: Looking Back Atratus speaks with a Supernal Being with a single purpose: Determine what caused the death of her twin brother, Gabe. The ghost of Gabe and the rest of the cabal support as Atratus resolves the last anchor to her past.  https://youtu.be/hGxqIjQTa0U

Episode 99: Looking Forward   While the cabal speaks back through a scrying spell, they learn more about Gabe’s college experience and the notorious Specter Aviation. Plans are made for retribution and then the cabal begins planning searching for the last grimoire.https://youtu.be/Cjo5vaoDvtM

Here’s the Story Told Podcast where recently they’ve interviewed our developers about Exalted Essence and the great houses of Exalted 3rd Edition: https://thestorytold.libsyn.com/

Did you miss that Garblag Games have commenced a new series of Mage: The Ascension? Here’s where you can find the first episode: https://youtu.be/yN47_NjYxtA

Roll the Role continue with their Scarred Lands Gauntlet of Spiragos actual play! Roll the Role is a fantastic show, so please do give them a look: https://www.twitch.tv/rolltherole

And the wonderfully named Scabby Rooster continue their actual play of Scion, right here on their Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/scabbyrooster

One of Matthew’s personal favourites, Devil’s Luck Gaming, continues their Werewolf: The Forsaken chronicle over here: https://www.twitch.tv/DevilsLuckGaming Please do give them a follow!

Please check these out and let us know if you find or produce any actual plays of our games! We’d love to feature you!

Electronic Gaming!

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is live! Our dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is awesome! (Seriously, you need to roll 100 dice for Exalted? This app has you covered.)

Update: the devs are working on the updates for the roller in both Android and iOS; here is the rundown from them:

1) Redo the UI for system for Android. It will look the same as the current design. My goal is to have something ready by Saturday to send out to the Facebook users, asking them if this fixes the issues. This will be a beta type thing. This will break several of the fancy dice.

2) If the above worked out and the android users give all the clear, we’ll redo the graphics system to fix the fancy dice that got broken. We’ll do another Android beta through Facebook. This might take up to two weeks, as my schedule allows.

3) If everything worked well, we’ll release to Android for real at that point.

4) Port all of the existing stuff to iOS and release on that.

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).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue from which you bought it. Reviews really, really help us get folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these latest fiction books:

Our Sales Partners!

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau 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

We’ve added Prince’s Gambit to our Studio2 catalog: https://studio2publishing.com/products/prince-s-gambit-card-game

Now, we’ve added Changeling: The Lost Second Edition products to Studio2‘s store! See them here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/all-products/changeling-the-lost

Scarred Lands (Pathfinder) books are also on sale at Studio2, and they have the 5e version, supplements, and dice as well!: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/scarred-lands

Scion 2e books and other products are available now at Studio2: https://studio2publishing.com/blogs/new-releases/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin-now-available-at-your-local-retailer-or-online

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

And you can order Pugmire, Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2e at the same link! And now Scion Origin and Scion Hero and Trinity Continuum Core and Trinity Continuum: Aeon are available to order!

Deluxe Exalted 3rd Edition continues its fantastic sale at IPR, soon to be joined by Game-Line Bundles! Check them out!

As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles at DriveThruRPG.com!

On Sale This Week!

This week the Helnau’s Guide to Wasteland Beasties for Dystopia Rising: Evolution will be available in PDF and PoD versions on DriveThruRPG on Wednesday!

Traveling across the wasteland and dealing with all manner of beasties isn’t an easy job, but someone’s got to do it. Using their wits, their strength, and a whole lot of luck, they manage to tame, kill, and drive off creatures that threaten areas of newly built civilization. 

Some highlights of Helnau’s Guide to Wasteland Beasties include: 

• Details on some of the terrain and mutated animals you will find in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. 

• Rules for presenting six distinct creatures in your series, and also for customizing your own. 

• Stories about Helnau and her beast-hunting crew as they travel across deserts, through forests, and deal with some of the worst the wastelands have to offer. 

This Wednesday also features the debut of Distant Worlds for Trinity Continuum: Aeon in PDF and PoD versions on DTRPG!

Distant Worlds expands the setting of Trinity Continuum: Aeon with new worlds, new alien mysteries, and rules for playing actual aliens, the secretive telepathic Qin.

Distant Worlds requires both Trinity Continuum: Aeon and the Trinity Continuum Corebook to play. Inside, you will find:

Further information about the eight extrasolar worlds described in Trinity Continuum: Aeon, including new dangers and new opportunities for adventure.

Detailed write-ups of 10 new planets, including one that is home to a recently contacted intelligent alien species.

New technologies for interstellar travel and colonization, as well as a wealth of new devices created by aliens, and new Edges and Paths specifically for interstellar explorers and settlers.

The secrets of humanity’s alien allies, the mysterious Qin. This section includes descriptions of four Qin interstellar colonies as well as rules for creating and playing Qin characters and for designing and using custom-made Qin biosuits.

Conventions!

Though dates are subject to change due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, here’s our current list of upcoming conventions:

UKGames Expo: https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/

GenCon: https://www.gencon.com/

Tabletop Scotland: https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/

Gamehole Con: https://www.gameholecon.com/

PAX Unplugged: https://unplugged.paxsite.com/

And now, the new project status updates!

Development Status from Eddy Webb! (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.)

Exalted Essay Collection (Exalted)

Under Alien Suns (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Mission Statements (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Adversaries of the Righteous (Exalted 3rd Edition)

The Clades Companion (Deviant: The Renegades)

The Devoted Companion (Deviant: The Renegades)

Saints and Monsters (Scion 2nd Edition)

M20 Rich Bastard’s Guide To Magick (Mage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary)

Wild Hunt (Scion 2nd Edition)

Dead Man’s Rust (Scarred Lands)

V5 The Faithful Undead (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

V5 Trails of Ash and Bone (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

V5 Forbidden Religions (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Redlines

Dragon-Blooded Novella #2 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Hundred Devil’s Night Parade (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Trinity Continuum: Adventure! core (Trinity Continuum: Adventure!)

Contagion Chronicle Ready-Made Characters (Chronicles of Darkness)

Novas Worldwide (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Exalted Essence Edition (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Second Draft

Exigents (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Many-Faced Strangers – Lunars Companion (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Kith and Kin (Changeling: The Lost 2e)

Assassins (Trinity Continuum Core)

The Book of Endless Death (Mummy: The Curse 2e)

N!ternational Wrestling Entertainment (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Development

TC: Aberrant Reference Screen (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Across the Eight Directions (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Contagion Chronicle: Global Outbreaks (Chronicles of Darkness)

M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

They Came From Beyond the Grave! (They Came From!)

Crucible of Legends (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Manuscript Approval

Post-Approval Development

Scion: Demigod (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion: Dragon (Scion 2nd Edition)

Editing

Terra Firma (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Lunars Novella (Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Buried Bones: Creating in the Realms of Pugmire (Realms of Pugmire)

Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition core rulebook (Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition)

Player’s Guide to the Contagion Chronicle (Chronicles of Darkness)

Contagion Chronicle Jumpstart (Chronicles of Darkness)

TC: Aberrant Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Trinity Continuum Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum)

Masks of the Mythos (Scion 2nd Edition)

LARP Rules (Scion 2nd Edition)

One Foot in the Grave Jumpstart (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2e)

Heirs to the Shogunate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Post-Editing Development

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

W20 Shattered Dreams Gift Cards (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th)

Cults of the Blood Gods (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

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

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant core (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

Monsters of the Deep (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Legendlore core book (Legendlore)

Titanomachy (Scion 2nd Edition)

Pirates of Pugmire KS-Added Adventure (Realms of Pugmire)

Tales of Aquatic Terror (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Indexing

Art Direction from Mike Chaney!

In Art Direction

Scion Titanomachy – Wrapping up contracting.

Tales of Aquatic Terror – Contracted.

TC Aeon Terra Firma – One artist was delayed by Covid in Italy, but their art is coming in.

V5 Let the Streets Run Red – Tweaking some art re: WW art approvals.

Cavaliers of Mars: City of the Towered Tombs

WoD Ghost Hunters

Aberrant – Contacting and contracting.

Pugmire Adventure 

Hunter: The Vigil 2e

Mummy 2

Deviant – Rolling along.

Legendlore – Kickstarter on hiatus.

Technocracy Reloaded (KS) – Awaiting approval.

Cults of the Blood God – Rolling along.

In Layout

Yugman’s Guide to Ghelspad

Vigil Watch

Duke Rollo Book

Proofing

Trinity Aeon Jumpstart 

Pirates of Pugmire 

TCFBTS Heroic Land Dwellers – Inputting proofing comments.

Lunars: Fangs at the Gate – Getting ready to send to WW/Paradox.

Scion Companion – Tweaking art re: proofing notes.

Contagion Chronicle

At Press

TC Distant Worlds – PDF and PoD versions on sale Weds!

Night Horrors : Nameless and Accursed – Prepping PoD files.

Dark Eras 2 – PoD proof shipping.

VtR Spilled Blood – PoD proof shipping.

DR:E Helnau’s Guide to Wasteland Beasties – PDF and PoD versions on sale Weds!

TCFBTS Screen and Booklet

They Came from Beneath the Sea!

Geist 2e Anthology – PoD proof coming.

C:tL 2e Oak, Ash, & Thorn – Page XXing.

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

20 years ago today, White Wolf launched the New Bremen DigiChat environment. A persistent online setting with hundreds of people online at any given time, it was an early success in playing RPGs with others over the Internet. As Impish Ian Watson sez:

“It was fun in the sense that it was all the wildest WoD stories in one place. When, during V20 development, Vampire players talked about some of their favourite memories happening when they botched? That was NB every day. It was frankly ridiculous and I burned out pretty hard, but I look back on it fondly.”

[steveramsdale]

The Я Выдерживаю, мы выдерживаем Blog 9.14

Hello. How are doing in lockdown? Uzbekistan is a bit more shut down. You’ll also read how the screws were tightened, but I put things in chronological order, apart from explaining the title. I’m sure everyone reading this blog is part of that group of people who are behaving sensibly, following advice and looking after everyone. It’s so important. We will (the planet, I mean) will get through this and it will be quicker and less painful if we do the right things. But you know this.

We (here in Tashkent) should be going back to work on Monday, this has been half-term week. But schools are still shut. More later.

So, the title. I have a couple of sources of the ‘Word of the Day’ variety, in Russian. On Friday, up came выдержать. I knew держать meant to hold, as in hold hands, hold on to something, keep it. I also know that вы as a prefix means ‘out’ or ‘complete’. The word of the day best translates as to withstand, bear, endure. I imagine that some kind of algorithm throws up the word of the day, but it is appropriate. The blog title means I endure, we endure (obviously conjugated in the the imperfective and then first person singular and first person plural forms).

I managed to find gas canisters. I have a camping stove and a camping heater but only had one gas can for them. The hunting shops did not have the cans in stock. I had managed, last week, to visit the one that is only open on week days but they said that, now borders are closed, they don’t know when they’ll have them again. I asked a friend from work if he know where I might get them and he found a source. So, on Saturday, I went and found some - I bought two.

Until Sunday, I was still feeding the cat, so I camped out on Dave’s drive. It was good even if the street was a little busy. The journey in this van, if it becomes possible again, is not going to be like being in the caravan. That (the caravan) is almost like living in a house. We’ll be learning how to live really minimally in four weeks in a VW T3! I was able to steal Dave’s WiFi and cook and make drinks. Even just with me, there’s a lot of moving stuff around. It will be fun with two of us. As it will (hopefully) be summer, we’ll be able to use the outside a lot. I need to get either a roof box or something on the back for storage.

Tashkent is supposed to be shut down but there is still lots of activity. From Sunday, the build site opposite me went very quiet with just a couple of people working. I’m going crazy in slow motion. I went to a supermarket and had to wear those plastic gloves offered at petrol stations.

One thing went very well this week - I managed to get the peel off a satsuma in one whole piece.

I talked to a potato baking in the oven. In a silly (borderline xenophobic) Spanish accent. There was no way it could hear me.

We got the message that everyone must wear face masks when out of the house. This order will be enforced by fines of up to $60. That’s a lot. Face masks make your glasses steam up. Face masks also mean the your phone’s facial recognition does not work. School have provided staff with a supply of masks. I have ten. I know....

It’s beautiful here now. Not too warm yet, but t-shirt weather with a bit of breeze. Except, I’m staying inside. Most of you know, we’re staying in because either: we’ll get it and not notice but pass it on, we’ll get and be ill and maybe pass it on, we’ll get it and die. So, we’re staying in. I had a lovely cup of tea. I don’t drink tea nearly as often as I used to, but this was a good cup of tea made from a Yorkshire Tea teabag. I really enjoyed it.

On Wednesday morning, I’m went down to the bin and saw that the gates to the park were open. I tentatively approached (pod-hodited, if you will) and asked the guard if it was open. He said it was. I had a lovely walk among the trees. There were two other people there, running. The best half hour of the week so far. I also repeated the single peel satsuma trick. I also went back to the park and sat and read.

On Thursday we had an earthquake. “That’s all we need,” I thought to myself, in my own inner monologue accent.

The building site opposite was very quiet at the start of the week. By Thursday it was busy and noisy again. At half past midnight, somebody was using a power tool. I think it was a strimmer, that’s what it sounded most like.

I stayed up late to talk to Freddie. Normally, Mairi has Fred on a Thursday and we have a video call at their lunch time, about 5pm for me. But Mairi had an upset stomach and could not do her shift. I waited until Keir and Emily had finished work and we had a chat then.

Friday morning. I went down to the bins and saw that the park was closed. I wondered if this was another change of policy. I heard my name being called and it was the older sister of a couple of our students (Maryam and Makhinor’s sister, Mairi). She said the park would open at 10am. It was and I had a little walk. It was almost closed again by six o’clock. I mean that the main gates were closed but one side gate was open. I saw a young man being allowed in. I think there was some sort of towel on the floor, perhaps to disinfect shoe (shoes are a source of infection, by the way).

We had a message that we could get gloves, more masks and hand sanitiser, supplied by the clinic we use. I ordered a bottle of sanitiser. This was delivered to a colleague who lives near me (I had no idea he lived there and I bumped into (not literally, of course, another colleague who lives even closer, when I went to pick it up). I went to pick up the sanitiser and spent a bit of time with colleagues as someone else was picking up their order. I did feel a little anxious about being in a different house with other people. But it was nice as well to have company and people to talk to.

I also had a long video call with Mairi and Ben. Ben is down in Derbyshire for as long as necessary. This will be good for both of them.

Tashkent got even more shut down. The fines for not wearing a mask in public were raised to $110. People have now be told they can only go out for groceries or to go to a pharmacy. They must not be in groups of more than three (with exceptions for families) and must observe a distance of 2 metres.

We’d had an email from work saying that we would be resuming our online teaching but they didn’t know if we would be going in to school to do it. I was certain I would not be going in to school to do it. Everything I need to do, I can do from home. Later, we received a message that the school buildings cannot be opened (yet). I will be working from home until it is definitely safe to start going out again. That will be several weeks, I think.

And now it is Saturday. I decided earlier in the week that I would need to switch my Russian lesson to an online session. My teacher agreed. However, she has just sent a message to say she is not well (food poisoning). So it won’t be until tomorrow.

Stay safe, have the best week you can. See you next time.

[ratherbeem-blog]

Down the line again

After an unexpected procrastination hiatus, I’m going to give blogging another go again. What better way to start than dwelling on those goals I said I’d stick to.

1.       It’s pretty easy to see that I haven’t kept up with this one – the last time I blogged on here was October 15th. I haven’t really got a good excuse, but I found that writing is useful to me to get my thoughts out and track them, so I’m going to try and get back on this wagon. I want to be able to look back on my progress over the year, so I’m going to make more of an effort to keep this updated for myself.

2.       I haven’t read a full book yet, but I have started on The Great Indoors by Ben Highmore. I’m very into interior design and homeware, so it’s a good starting point. I need to make more of an effort to finish it, so let’s make this my own smaller goal – I’ll post something proper about it on this blog by 5th December at the very latest.

3.       I haven’t got involved in community things specifically – I’ve done a bit of shopping in charity shops, but nothing that gets me directly into the community. I want to do a big food shop soon and donate stuff to the food bank, but I’d also like to do something more hands on. There’s a community theatre down the road from my flat, and I’d love to paint scenery or something for them, but I’ve not got round to contacting them yet. I’m getting more involved at work, in a way – I’ve been talking to people more and I’m doing the Secret Santa, and someone even came to me for programming advice on Friday. While I’m hoping to connect to more people in real life, I’ve been posting a bit more on Reddit recently, especially in AskWomen and AskUK. I’m also doing the Secret Santa over there because I really enjoyed shopping for someone last year and they sent me a really sweet thank you message.

4.       I’ve seen my old friends Robert and Ryan a few times since I last posted, at random events and hanging out in pubs. I’ve also voice-chatted with Daniel to talk about D&D. I’ve never played it before but we’re starting a campaign on Monday. I flaked for a while, but I’m so glad that Daniel was patient with me and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll be playing with Jamie, Felix and Ryan – Daniel is the DM. I’m playing a half-drow sorceress based on Daniel’s suggestions.

5.       Haven’t done cooked for anyone but James and I yet, but I’d still really like to!

6.       We went to the cat café in Manchester when we were visiting James’ brother, which was nice. The cats were a bit more active than the last time we went. We’re going back to James’ hometown next weekend, so we’ll probably visit the cat shelter. We both want to get a pet but we know that we need to make sure our flat is cat-proofed and that we get permission from the landlord before we get one, and make sure that we’ve got money saved up for any big vet bills.

7.       It turns out that my payments for council tax weren’t going through properly, so this has been a rough month financially because I had to pay the whole bill for six months in one go. I’ve still got £1500 more in my bank account than I had at my lowest point in the summer, though, so I will be able to recover. I’ve also got my pension sorted through work, so some of my savings will be going into a retirement investment account that I can’t touch for about thirty-five years. I need to set something better up for my own personal savings, maybe getting a high-interest current account and passing money between my main and my secondary current account via a standing order to ensure that my money is liquid. I’ve not been able to pick up any shifts back at uni since five weeks ago so I can’t count on that income totally, but I did do a few hours of overtime at my day job. I’ve been filling out YouGov surveys so I should hit the payout threshold for that in a couple of months.

8.       Our trip to Ireland is very soon now! Also his cousin is getting married in France next summer and his parents have invited me along for the week before. I’m excited to travel with James and hopefully see a lot of the world together. I’d like to go to America and Canada at some point, but I still want to go inter-railing – I’m not sure how much Brexit will ruin my chances of that, though.

9.       I haven’t started a handmade recipe book yet, but I’ve been looking for the perfect book to do it in. I’d like something with removable recipe cards, so maybe a photo album or a file of index cards would be good. James’ mum gave me a recipe notebook but I’d like to be able to reorder things as I need to. I know that makes me sound bratty, but I’m quite particular about the way I do things (or maybe I’m just lazy and making excuses).

10.   No new fun facts, but I’ll keep you posted!

11.   I’m “ill ill” for the first time in a year or so at the moment – lots of phlegm and losing my voice. From a more long-term view, I went to see the GP about my mental health, and he seems to think that it’s something along the lines of OCD or anxiety, maybe both. He prescribed me some beta-blockers to take when I know I’m going to be anxious, and they make things a little bit easier – I’ve found that they’re really good for when worrying about something is stopping me from sleeping, but not so much on the social side of things. I’ve not been to speak about my physical health yet, but I’m not noticing symptoms as much lately. I’ve been overweight for most of my life, and ended up buying a scale sometime in October. Since then, I’ve lost 7 pounds (actually, I lost some of it and gained it back again, and then lost some more – but I’m 7 pounds lighter now than when I started). I’m hoping to reach a healthy weight in 2019.

12.   I haven’t spoken to any of my siblings yet. I’ve been trying to sort some sort of family dinner or something out via my parents, but they’re not very cooperative. I’m spending Christmas with James’ family, and I’m excited for that.

13.   I’m still watercolouring, and I can see improvements in my work from week to week. I need to practice more and I’m hoping to send my Reddit giftee something I’ve painted along with a commercial gift. I’d also like to make something for James, and something for his parents. I’m continuing learning HTML and CSS – I’ve used it to tweak an application at work and entered a little site I made in a hackathon. I’d like to get around to using the skills I’ve built to make my Tumblr a bit more personal.

14.   I figured out most of it, and then James figured out how to get the radiator in the bedroom to work. We don’t have it on much – a couple of hours in the evening, if at all – but it’s nice to know that we’ve got it when we need it.

15.   I haven’t done this yet, but I might try doing Veganuary or something. We’re still eating very little meat, except for when we go to restaurants.

16.   We’re going to see Come From Away soon, watch this space…

17.   Getting my five-a-day hasn’t always been successful – I think if I track it a bit more I’d become better at it. James and I eat a lot of vegetables compared to my parents, but we’re not always on track to five-a-day and I’d like to get better at this and become healthier.

18.   I haven’t been to the market in a while because we’ve been pretty busy for a few weekends (and I was pretty ill yesterday). We need to get around to buying from that bakery soon still. I’ve picked some homewares and clothes up from the charity shops, so that’s something at least.

19.   In an effort to reduce my plastic consumption, I have bought a mooncup, but couldn’t quite get the hang of putting it in comfortably on my last period. When the next one comes around, I’ll give it another go and hopefully have more success. I try to buy loose vegetables where I can and such.

20.   I bought some chocolate hearts with sweet messages on to hide in his jacket pocket, but he ended up finding them before I did it and assumed they were just part of the regular chocolate supply for the week, and ate them... oh well, I guess they got to the intended recipient! Even though we live together, I want to post him a love letter or something to make him smile. I make his lunch when he’s rushing around some mornings and he’s always very appreciative.

21.   The only step I’ve really made career-wise has been competing in a hackathon (with James, who’s never programmed before – we won a prize for being the best newcomer project!). We’d like to do more of them in the future. I got to interact with a lot of other computer geeks and do a little HTML side-project and complete a site under time pressure, so I’ve got a few more skills I can highlight on a CV. I taught James a bit of HTML, and it would be nice to do something more with that. I might get involved in some community GitHub projects or something to sharpen my skills. I think my medium-term plan is to find a job as a programmer in the transport industry, because they seem to have jobs for XSLT developers and have nice benefits like free travel for employees and their partners, which would definitely help with the seeing the world side of things.

22.   I’m still badly organised, no real progress here. I know that my boss doesn’t really mind, but I think my goal for the next fortnight is being early for work every day without needing to get a taxi.

Some things have been successful so far, and some haven’t, but I want to motivate myself to get these things done. Let’s do this.