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As this picture shows, we just this week launched our T-shirt store on RedBubble. http://theonyxpath.redbubble.com Right now we have the retro classic VtM Clan Shirts, a set of three Scion cover art shirts, and an Anarchs shirt for V20. We figure on slowly adding shirts as we have spare time, and as impelled by our Kickstarters, so expect to see the range of possible shirts grow. And as with everything, we’d love to hear your ideas as to what kind of shirts you’d like to see up there. And by “love” I mean we’d really like to know but would prefer you don’t start by telling us the ones up there already suck.

With Eddy away wrestling Pythons, I didn’t have my Monday dose of his unbridled optimism. Which really does help put some, repeat: some, comments from our community into perspective. Because if you think right now I’m talking about you, then you have enough reflexive empathy to not be who I’m talking about. Frex- our incredibly awesome 108 post discussion in the comments of last week’s blog about Stretch Goals was pretty sweet. A lot of good points were made, and a lot of clarifications and other info was exchanged. Not a problem.

Maybe I’m just peeved in general. Certainly sitting down with the tax man on Monday is high on my list of “not fun” moments. Good news, despite the obscure and arcane methods used by accountants, is that Onyx Path showed a bit of a profit last year. “But Rich”, I think I can hear you faintly say, “surely you’re being coy?” or even “You’re lying, you lying liar who lies! You live the dream and we saw what you made in Kickstarters alone last year- you dick!” Nope. It’s true- just a bit of profit. First of all, those eldritch arcane accounting practices only count your income and costs for projects shipped that year. And we, uh, well you know that we had some slippage.

Then, just in terms of KSs- we have percentages to pay to KS, Amazon Payments, and CCP right off of those posted KS funds, and then marketing expenses right after that. After those deductions, figure the biggest bulk of costs will come from the manufacturing and shipping, and then because we care, all those Stretch Goals we all have fun with have costs that get pulled from the total. So not a lot left: deliberately as we want to build the lines and have fun with the Stretch Goals, like we said last week.

But here’s something- to return to being peevish: I know why people post them, but that Fry pic with the “Shut up and take my money” tagline really irks me. I’m peeved. Maybe even vexed. You know why? It’s rude to say that to somebody working their ass off to make something cool. It dehumanizes us. I know that in most cases nobody posting that, or just the tagline, is actually telling us to shut up. But the end effect is that it seems like you’re saying that who we are, why we made this thing, the struggles to do so- none of that matters so much as the dollars in your fist and your almighty hunger to consume. Which I truly hope is not how our community sees this relationship- certainly it’s not how Onyx has positioned ourselves in regards to ya’ll.

Oh, and also, the Deluxe Mage 20th Kickstarter campaign is doing really amazingly well. Which doesn’t irk me. At all. Thanks to all of you for all the action in the comments section and for your support! 600% of the Funding Goal met, 2640 backers, an Ultra-Deluxe Edition added, and a ton of Stretch Goals passed. And with almost two weeks left to go.

 

And this irksome thing I have to fill out every week-grrr! :P:

- Mummy the Curse - Cursed Necropolis DC is in editing.

- Exalted 3rd Edition:  From Holden: Starting up the Craft Charms revealed some final tweaks that needed to be made to the core Craft rules. While those are being implemented, John has switched over to Occult Charms, and is over halfway done with them. Craft systems are undergoing final refinements. Valuable feedback is rolling in from the Phase 2 playtest and some time has been dedicated to sorting through that; so far the new social mechanics seem very popular, though we may need to mess with the Essence prerequisites for a few Charms, and several Keyword errors were caught. Final or near-final (depending on how Occult shakes out) revisions to the sorcerous project system were also covered in the last week, along with some design work on Evocations to prepare for Arms of the Chosen.

Zub’s EX3 Comic is more than halfway finished being illustrated and both EX3 novels are being worked on. Starting to get one of the EX3 Music Suites to a finished state, the Dragon Blooded theme.

- V20 Hunters Hunted 2:  US/Canadian missing packages being gone through case by case- at this point I should have messaged all of you back. Hearing every day from International backers who are getting their packages, so it does seem that all International packages have been sent. 

- V20 Anarchs Unbound : Backers had their chance to get the discounted AU shirt, and now the extra text on the added Free State is being worked on- plus an added Free State that Justin was so passionate about that we’re including as a bonus.

- Deluxe Werewolf 20th Anniversary Edition: As with HH2, US/Canadian missing packages being gone through case by case- at this point I should have messaged all of you back. Hearing every day from International backers who are getting their packages, so it does seem that all International packages have been sent. The Heavy Metal Deluxe W20 is slowly being assembled- the current delay being a glitch on the W20 disc on the spine that’s being fixed by the printer. Mike Lee has a new batch of chapters of the W20 “Houses of the Moon” novel for Bill to review. Jess Hartley has the White Howlers Tribe Book in red-lining and is jumping back into inputting changes. W20 Wyld West patch writing is in editing and is being art directed.

- Mage the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition- the Deluxe M20 Kickstarter KS went live just about two weeks ago and we have (as of this writing) 2640 backers, and $429,689 in pledges! We’ve passed 15 Stretch Goals including 3 early t-shirt designs, a Character Pack PDF Parts 1&2&3, a Quickstart PDF, a PDF on the way the Spheres work, an increase in the art budget, Book of Secrets PDF Parts 1&2, two more silk bookmarks, a Mage20 Fiction Anthology,a pay bump for the creative team and unlocked the Ultra-Deluxe M20 Quintessence Edition. Come check it out, the fun is just starting! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/deluxe-mage-the-ascension-20th-anniversary-edition

- W20 Changing Breeds  PDF and PoD versions are on sale at DTRPG! Deluxe files are with the printer- proofs were shown to backers and are back with the printer. The cover emboss needed a tweak and has been. The Changing Breeds Fiction Anthology in editing.

- W20 Book of the Wyrm is in layout. This will be the next Kickstarter project if everything times out as expected. We think this book should appeal to W20 and W20 Changing Breeds fans alike.

- V20 Rites of the Blood: is ready for layout, but layout is not yet ready for it, art finals rolling in.

- Dark Ages: Darkening Sky (classic Dark Ages): PDF and Physical book PoD are available on DTRPG.

- Trinity Continuum: New System ideas continue being hammered out. Most of the Aeon setting material is in. Logo discussion has started. We’re looking at starting some preliminary blog posts. We’re looking at posting the New System for community review before we roll it into either Scion or the TC, so getting that ready.

- Scion: New Systems discussion continue. Both Scion and the TC above are now moving into active mode for 2014. Contracts and art notes out for the Scion: Origins cover.

- Demon: The Descent: We delivered the Demon PDF to KS backers before the end of December, and I’ll be sending PoD and other links to backers in the next day or so. Traditional printing files at the printer. The Demon: Ready Made Characters is one of the other links I’ll be sending to backers. Demon Seed Collection is in first drafts. DtD Seattle is in first redlines. Heirs to Hell is in second drafts. Demon Translation Guide is being written.

- Hunter: Mortal Remains: Art coming in and going in for approval to CCP, and is in layout.

- Book of the Deceived (MtC): Redlines. The loss of a writer means their section has to be given to a new writer, CAS is on top of it.

- nWoD: Dark Eras: Writers are following up on redlines except for one chapter which is having writer issues.

- V20 Dark Ages: Scribes are scribing 2nd Drafts. David Hill has recently moved to a new country and is still acclimating, more info once he is settled in.

- DtD Players Guide: Flowers Of Hell?: In layout and being art directed.

- V20: Ghouls: First drafts coming into to the developer for redlines.

- V20 Red List: In final draft stage.

- The Making of the Art of Children of the Revolution: Out to backers who pledged for it. Creating PoD files to go with PDF for sale on DTRPG.

- W20: The Umbra: In redlines.

- WtF: The Idigam Chronicle: First drafts being written.

- GtSE: Geist Ready Made Characters: Being written. Just thought we’d throw this in.

 

Reason to Drink: Actually don’t need a drink after venting here. Thanks!

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Regardless of how you feel about Valentine’s Day, there is probably someone that is hopeful that there will be a gift on its way from you, so here is a quick guide to help you out with that.  If you don’t feel like hunting through the usual selection from places like Amazon, here are a few quick and easy gifts that you cant go wrong with.

First and foremost, when it comes to Valentine’s Day, the last thing you want to do is forget mom or the mother of your children.  With that said, Mom Agenda has some discounts on many of their mom specific planners that you can find here.

I don’t even have an iPad Air, but this iPad Aire case from Saddleback Leather looks so amazing that it almost makes me want to go buy the stupid tablet just so I can get the case.  This is a great time to grab the iPad Air case from Saddleback Leather though because they have free shipping on orders over $75 until February 14th.

You really cant go wrong with anything from Levenger, but their Circa Leather foldover notebooks are a great gift.  Not only is it a great organizing tool, but it is also one of the highest quality notebooks that you could give as a gift.

For something a little less serious this heart shaped hole punch is great for your office supply geek of a valentine.

If you want to get your favorite office supply geek som flowers for Valentine’s Day, why not get some that will never die?  This magnetic daisy paper clip plant looks pretty cool.

Keeping with the theme of things that grow, this Moss Terrarium is actually a great way to give something living that will actually stay that way longer than some basic flowers.  It also brings a nice cheerful array of greens to brighten up any desk.  Check out the Moss Terrarium at Uncommon Goods.

 

The post Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for the Office Supply Geek appeared first on OfficeSupplyGeek.

Dark Age Games has their January releases now up for your post-apocalyptic sci-fi skirmish gaming pleasure. Source From the release: The Skarrd are the first to appear in the new year, players! From the twisted ranks of the Grafters comes a new breed of psychopath: The Worm Shepherd. This abomination has psychogenically evolved to control [...]

Original post here.

Original text:

rraaaarrl:

I think Ruby’s going to win this argument.

I have no fixed formula for deciding when to ride a scooter or motorcycle.  Weather, time, destination and other elements factor into the decision but the mix can be cloudy and inconsistencies develop.  This morning was a perfect example.  Light rain and mild temperatures and I decided to drive.  Safer and easier than riding in snow but I was tired and just not in the mood to put on the gear and deal with the weather.


Any second guessing about the decision were gone by the time I got to town as the rain fell harder.  State College was empty -- few people and fewer cars.  Nothing quite as lonely as a college town during the Christmas break.


Last meeting at Saint's with Gordon this year.  He surprised me by showing up with gelatin silver prints made in his darkroom.  I'm motivated now to finish the repairs to my darkroom sink and produce some prints of my own.  Who knows what kind of photographic work the new year will bring.


Writer-artist wife Kim in her studio.  On rainy days we talk about projects and things we can work on together.  Again, not sure what the new year will bring.


Junior continues to practice the art of guilt, flashing those sad eyes at whoever he can in hopes of inspiring a change in action.


He usually gets what he wants -- food, treats, a walk, or a trip up the mountain to run and play ball.  What a life.

As the new year approaches I think I'll try to be a lot more like a dog...

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Original post here.

Sourced to Space Ghost Zombie via bleedingbetty1960.

Original post here.

Original text:

threecheersfortheundertaker:

Gabrielle Drake, in Gerry Anderson’s UFO (1970).

Dragon’s Crown is a modernisation of the old side-scrolling beat ‘em ups like Final Fight and, more specifically, the D&D side-scrolling beat ‘em ups like Tower of Doom and Shadow Over Mystara. These were arcade games, back in the day, where you’d control a 2D character moving constantly (usually) to the right, beating up a succession of enemies and bosses to get to the end.

Dragon’s Crown is a bit more developed than that, in that it has a fully featured equipment system (and your appearance changes appropriately!). You can enhance and advance your character, undertake quests, play together, work alongside NPCs and so it has a lot more depth and length to it as a game.

Gameplay is, mostly, simple (more complex if you play a mage) but there are little touches that add to it – searching the screen for treasure, assessing equipment, revisiting old places as you uncover new secrets, levelling up.

What really sells the game is its art which, considering this was the target of the most criticism in the lead up to release (and the reason I bought it because I’m a contrarian) and the most controversy. On the one hand many people considered the art to be horribly sexist – largely based on the Sorceress’ boobs and the Amazon’s arse – and horribly distorted, based on the exaggerated style.

Here’s the thing though. It works. It really, really works.

The game plays like you’ve stepped into a painting. Every character animation is full of character and fun. The exaggerations help that a great deal if anything as well as making it easier to spot your character on the screen when things get busy. Every background is gorgeous, every piece of still art adds to the whole. It’s a glorious experience to play and breathtakingly smooth, playing a comic, playing a cartoon film – one of the better ones.

I don’t think it’s for everyone, but for those who remember the old side scrollers and have a love of anime and fantasy it’s an essential buy. Just make sure you have a bit of a sense of humour, especially when it comes to boobs.

Style: 5 – Perfect.
Substance: 4 – There’s nothing ‘new’ here, but the ways in which depth and play time has been added to the genre is clever and effective.
Overall: 4.5

One image from a photoset. Original post here.

Original text:

doctormonocle:

Some great illustrations, more in link. (via Neobedouin’s deviantART Gallery)

I'm one lazy blogger and when I catch up it can often mean a boatload of photos with little text, description or commentary.  Such is the case with some images of a Piston and Pints gathering from earlier this month AND images made today at the final moto hang cookout.

Couldn't resist photographing the tank on this vintage Royal Enfield.  How often do you get to see one anymore.  The rider, I did have his name written down somewhere along with all the technical details about the bike, rode in from Beford, Pennsylvania, about 90 minutes south.  Along with the Enfield he had some other vintage British bikes.  Perhaps sometime in the future we'll have the chance to see them.




Paul Ruby interrogates, I mean interviews the owner of the Enfield...



Another vintage bike -- a Harley Davidson that doesn't rattle your fillings when it goes by.




Early in the evening.  Ken Hull's trials bike in the foreground.  Looks uncomfortable for long trips.




A Triumph and a Vespa.  Doesn't get much better than that.



Piston and Pints executive board and think tank members stand aside and ponder deep thoughts.



Always at least one two-stroke machine at the event.  The sound reminds me of my youth...



Romance or just jostling for position to admire the Royal Enfield???



Ken Hull leads Mario towards his first ride on a full sized motorcycle (I think).



I should have shot video.  The results -- Mario was ripping around the yard and then off down the alley.  Not sure I saw him return...




I'll end this group with "a good time was had by all..."

October 26 Moto Hang Party

Hot Italian sausage from Hogs Galore was on the menu today along with a host of other fine foods.  Ken is just beginning to get things going...

A lot of pictures, it's late, I'm tired, so I will just post them here.  Visit the Scooter in the Sticks Facebook page if you need to share or tag pictures.  I think that's how it works.

Our third entry this year comes from Lon Ryden, the tireless illustrator of the Tales of Gnosis College. Like Kristin, he provides his own explanatory text in his highly-complex illustration (you can get high-resolution versions by clicking through the image.)

For those of you who are fanatical about all the detail in the image, there is also a caption-free version:

(Click on the image for larger size.
Moorcochcommissioned by Dr. Faustus of EroticMadScience.com and drawn by Lon Ryden is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.)

This is the PDF version of the MotSP tarot deck. A hardcopy version is hoped to be made available via The Game Crafter within the next couple of weeks.

The MotSP Tarot is intended as an in game prop, inspiration for a Games Master and if you really want to you could try using it as an actual tarot deck.

Want some ‘playing cards’ for your game?

Want the ancient seeress to do a reading for the characters?

Need to know something about a random NPC that the characters have taken a sudden interest in for no explicable reason?

Draw and lay some cards and there you go.

Buy it HERE.

Of the two Women below, see if you can pick the one who might be able to carry on an intelligent conversation about firearm function, safety, and use.

What a freaking moron....

The hand painted sign appeals to drivers and riders alike to slow down.  Traveling slowly may be the most difficult riding skill of all.

I pass this way frequently and admit how inviting the winding road can be to push the Vespa to soar through the curves like a bird in flight.  The bigger challenge is to resist that urge, make a choice to travel at a speed almost foreign to mind and senses.  It can be painful at times, like struggling for air, being restrained from what's good and natural in the world.

The romance of power and speed mixed with self importance and rationalization propels vehicles at speeds far beyond posted limits.  Rush, rush, and rush some more.  And grumble about the idiots who post roads far below their potential interrupting needs to get to a destination.  Traveling slowly isn't an option.  Or so it seems.

Riding at 25 mph can be torture and almost unbearable.  I've seen drivers so agitated that they can't go faster that I imagine their heads exploding as I seem them wildly gesticulating and mouthing words of encouragement to those impeding their progress.

There are real benefits to slowing down. Reducing speed in almost every roadway environment provides extra time to evaluate hazards, choices and make decisions. All easily put aside for another day when the highest and best skill is often reflected against speed.

Whenever I talk to riders of big machines the almost universal response when asked about what part of riding makes them nervous the most common response is slow speed maneuvering.  If the bike is going down that's where it's likely going to happen.



There is something peaceful about going slow.  It's not always possible where heavy traffic forces the pace but I see riders and drivers race over roads like these where speed is a choice.

Going fast can be fun.  So can going slow.  And the latter is far more difficult because it requires commitment and willpower — even on a Vespa.

Speaking of slowing down on the road....

This morning I was traveling with the traffic flow when I saw a Ring-necked pheasant clip the top of an oncoming car's windshield and tumble onto the road in the middle of an intersection.  The traffic light was red and I knew I had a few seconds to create a barrier in front of the bird.  It was alive but stunned, likely dispatched by a passing car in next few moments.  Leaving the Vespa on the center stand I motioned for traffic to stop as I approached the bird.  For a moment everything stopped.

The bird came to life and raced towards a cornfield on the other side of the road before I could reach it, narrowly missing an oncoming minivan moving slowly through the intersection.  I've seen this sudden change before as traffic halts to let a family of ducks cross the road.  Or a dog.  YouTube has a series of video clips from Russian highways of drivers stopping to rescue dogs, help elderly people cross busy roads, or pick up dangerous debris that might cause disaster.  Little gifts of slowing down.

A few smiles and beeps of horns acknowledging the event and we were all on our way again.  And I was glad I slowed down...

While I work on a reply to the Wired article, this may as well have another airing.

Growling and whimpering the deformed beast makes its way – very delicately – towards you, as though it were treading upon broken glass. It’s lips are drawn back in a snarl of pain and frustration and its eyes burn with… insane lust?

Lupus Phallus Level 3 Lurker
Medium Natural Magical Beast
Initiative +6
Senses: Perception +8, Low-light vision
HP 38; Bloodied 19
AC 17, Fortitude 17, Reflexes 15, Will 15
Speed 3
Bite +8 (Standard, At-will)
1d6+4, 2d6+4 against a prone target.

Trip +8 (Standard, recharge 5,6)
1d6+4 damage, +6 Vs Reflexes or target is knocked prone.

Infuriate (Standard, recharge 6)
Close blast 6; +6 Vs Will. Anyone affected attacks the Lupus Phallus with a -2 penalty to hit and a +2 bonus to damage doing so. Attacking any other enemy retains the -2 penalty to hit but not the bonus to damage.

Surprise Sex (Standard, Encounter)
1d6+4 damage, can only be used against prone targets at +6 Vs Fortitude. Affected targets are unable to act while engaged by the Lupus Phallus and the attack automatically continues on the following turn and every turn after that until it fails.

Alignment: Unaligned

Ability Scores
Str 14 +4 Dex 15 +4 Wis 14 +4
Con 14 +4 Int 2 -2 Cha 10 +2

The Lupus Phallus – also known as the ‘dickwolf’ in the vulgar common tongue – is a creation of magic and not a natural beast at all. It is created using complex transformation magics upon the still developing pups within the belly of a normal female wolf changing them into these strange and pitiable creatures with a phallus for every limb.

Why anyone would initially want to create such a beast is unsettling to speculate about but they have come to serve a purpose in humiliating and disciplining slaves, prisoners and criminals in the mines, dungeons and stocks of lands and settlements that have access to powerful magic and which aren’t so concerned with matters of ‘good’.

The origin of the Lupus Phallus is lost to time immemorial but was first documented in the apocrypha of Onestrum Fiddler, the notorious ‘blue’ mage in the third age. The less permissive fourth age of the world has made things difficult for practitioners of blue magic, limiting their works to the more obscure corners of the published world but, during the third age it briefly flowered into serious academic debate and record and it is here, in these now-forgotten tomes that we find them first described.

The Lupus Phallus is the target of a great deal of hate and resentment, especially from those who have suffered its sticky attentions but the beast is actually as much a pitiable victim as anyone who has had to endure its lusty advances.

When a Lupus Phallus is born it cannot walk. It’s loose and floppy limbs are more like useless, uncontrollable tentacles. Each Lupus Phallus must be hand-reared until they hit adolescence and it is only then that they can – gingerly – make their way slowly around on their limbs. Even after this point they are unable to hunt and must, instead, be fed. It is also at this time that their trademark behaviour of trying to mount anything and everything kicks in and their trainers must harshly discipline them so that they only try it on that which they are supposed to.

The results may be unpleasant, but the Lupus Phallus is only acting on its natural instincts. An unfixed male puppy or dog with the loveliest temprement will still try to hump someone’s leg due to sexual frustration. Imagine that puppy with not one, but five phalloi, pumping hormones and reacting to the slightest daydream or pleasant sensation with powerful urges. The poor Lupus Phallus is driven insane, every day, with beatings and sexual frustration, little wonder then that it unleashes those urges with such enthusiasm when it is permitted.

Even then the poor beast’s suffering does not end. A quintuple orgasm not only drains the beasts vital bodily fluids but causes such strain on the creature’s heart that many die the first time they’re allowed relief.

Subject to a recent witchhunt the poor Lupus Phallus is now more endangered than ever and this majestic and misunderstood beast may soon be extinct. Adopt one today and protect the Lupus Phallus from exploitation and hatred until specialist mages can complete their work on the Coochcoyote and allow for the Lupus Phallus species to become self-perpetuating.

Board to Death has posted up all their GenCon videos in one place so you can see all of what was going on at the show.

Bayer, of Aspirin fame, invented Heroin and used to manufacture it for over the counter sales?


Heroin was marketed as a less addictive substitute for Morphine. It was only later that they discovered that heroin converts to Morphine once its inside the human body and it can be even more addictive.

We are in the middle of 2013 and wanted to check in with our readers, how has your year gone so far?

We hope everything is going to plan but if not, we are happy to provide a few ideas to help guide you to a more fulfilling finish this year. Below are free templates that you can download from our website and insert into your planner or notebook.

Start Over – There are still 6 months left to change how your year is going. Try our New Years Resolution template.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change Perspective – Sometimes it’s all about how you look at things. Download a template that changes your view point, go from horizontal to vertical etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep Track – If lofty goals have prevented you from taking action this year, start smaller. Record some of your favorite things that you already do, in this case books. Have you read anything good this year?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join In – The Moleskine community creates new templates everyday, such as this template for how to optimize your daily routine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you want to change or get done by the end of the year? Make a commitment by sharing that in the comments below and let’s check back in 6 months!

Publisher: GrimOgre Laboratory
Price: $9.90

My Buddy, Borepatch, posted a couple of times last week about the dust up over 3D printed guns... he points out that people are perfectly capable of making their own guns without 3D printers. It ain't that hard..

"But by all means, feel free to freak out over 3D printed guns.  As the saying goes, the Lord truly loves Stupid People - he made so very many of them."

People have always been able to make their own homemade firearms - ever since firearms were invented. The fact that so many people today get all nutted up over someone being able to "print" a single use gun using a printer costing several thousand dollars - when I could go into my workshop right now and make a substantially better, more durable, and more accurate weapon using the most basic tools you can imagine at a fraction of the cost - just goes to show you the level of disconnect and ignorance found in the Media and Ruling Classes today.

These two guns were made as "art", by a man named Tom Sachs in New York in the 1990's.

And you thought a cat walking on your keyboard was bothersome (via)