Latest from the Creator
James Bell
2 days ago
February 2025 Monthly Update - Sabian Sphynx von Angora preview
Hello Cool Cats, February is a short month, so let's get right to it! Our regular monthly update will be followed by our final character preview from the upcoming Curious Ca...
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James Bell
about 1 month ago
January 2025 Monthly Update
Hello Curious Cats, It's time for our first monthly update of 2025. As a reminder, I'll be posting these updates at the end of every month as we track the progress of our Cr...
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James Bell
2 months ago
December 2024 Monthly Update
Hello Cool Cats, One quick note before we get to our monthly preview of a character from the upcoming Jumpstart. If you backed at the House Rex pledge level or added the Rea...
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James Bell
3 months ago
November 2024 Update
Hello Cool Cats, As promised last month, we've got a series of previews from one of our Stretch Goal rewards that we'll be sharing over the next several months. Curiou...
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James Bell
4 months ago
October '24 Update
Hello Cool Cats, I'm going to be sharing previews from one of our stretch goal rewards over the next several months, as we track the various stages of our projects.  Here's our...
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James Bell
5 months ago
September 2024 Meowthly Update
Hello Curious Cats! It's the second last Thursday of the month, so time for our regular monthly update.  No reward news for you this month, but I do have a cool Realms of Pugm...
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PROJECT UPDATE
James Bell
CREATOR
12 months ago

Project Update: Curious Cats Draft Manuscript Part 5

Hello Curious Cats,

We've already had a sneak peek at most of the creatures from the next chapter in our manuscript, but here they are all together - with a lot more threats mixed in for good measure! It's time to detail some of the challenges our cat characters will face as they traverse the monarchies; it's time for Chapter 6 from our draft manuscript!




International Shipping – Collected in the Pledge Manager

One quick note about Shipping before we get into the manuscript previews. 

First up, it's amazingly expensive to ship, especially from Onyx Path's home base in the US. We get that, but there's not much we can do at this time. Onyx Path is in a difficult space where the company is big enough that they're not saving money by fulfilling out of Rich's garage, but small enough that they can't really set up international partners to handle portions of the fulfillment. So we are where we are - for now. 

The best we can do at this point is to plan carefully, advise everyone up front that international shipping will likely be expensive (see our projections on the main page) and only charge what it costs us when the time comes. We’ll be charging for shipping in the Pledge Manager once the books are being printed and we can deal with the actual shipping charges rather than using our best-guesses this far out. If you live outside the US and aren't sure you want the hardcover or other physical items, you can pledge to the PDF tier now and upgrade your pledge in the Pledge Manager once we know the final shipping costs.

DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS - BACKERS ONLY

Remember, thanks to BackerKit magic, these download links are visible to Backers only - you must be logged in and reading this on the website to have access to the manuscript preview links. So, if you're reading this via e-mail, click that "Reply to The Update" link on the bottom and I'll see you below the title treatment.

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

I'm going to be sharing the manuscript in sections over the next 30 days, Part of the reason for that is to keep focus on one section at a time so the developers, Eddy and Lauren, can gather feedback to help guide the manuscript through the next steps of editing and development. To that end, they've created a special Feedback Form for you to submit your comments after reading each section!



You can submit your comments here: CURIOUS CATS OF MAU FEEDBACK FORM <link>


Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
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PROJECT UPDATE
James Bell
CREATOR
2 days ago

Project Update: February 2025 Monthly Update - Sabian Sphynx von Angora preview

Hello Cool Cats,

February is a short month, so let's get right to it! Our regular monthly update will be followed by our final character preview from the upcoming Curious Cats jumpstart - this month, we've got Sabian Sphynx von Angora!

Pending Rewards

No big changes from last month, as the Onyx Path team works behind the scenes to make incremental progress. Hopefully we'll get a dot or two filled in over the next few months.

REWARDS DISTRIBUTED TO BACKERS



If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://curious-cats-of-mau.backerkit.com/



Onyx Path Project Tracking

You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <January 2025 Project Status Summary>

You can find the weekly Monday Meeting blog updates <here>, which note any projects with status changes since the previous Month End summary. The project statuses listed are current as of last Monday, so do check it out each Monday night to see if anything may have progressed!

I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.

Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:


TO CONTACT JAMES

  •  Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  •  Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.


Curious Cats Jumpstart Preview 5


Here’s Sabian Sphynx von Angora, converted to the latest edition, as part of the Curious Cats of Mau Jumpstart!

Sabian Sphynx von Angora

History: Sabian’s family has a reputation throughout the monarchies as powerful necromancers. While Sabian did follow in the family’s footsteps to pursue magical study, he’s nowhere near as dark and creepy as his family’s reputation would indicate. His whole life he’s gone against the grain, retaining a bubbly personality and a love for reading a book while quietly enjoying a cup of tea. He brings that same energy to adventuring.

Roleplay Tips: Unless pontificating about magic or talking about an interesting factoid, Sabian is often quiet. Those who don’t know him might mistake this as brooding. They may even find Sabian’s silence disturbing or intimidating. But his friends know that he’s just a little shy and prefers the company of books to people.

Description: Sabian has thin, gray fur. He prefers to dress in heavy black robes and the pointed hat commonly favored by mancers of House Angora.

Personality:
Drive: I am an excellent cat because I seek to learn as much as I can.
Secret: No one knows about how much I want to help others.
Weakness: No matter what, I just can’t manipulate people.

Level: 1
House: Angora
Family: Sphynx
Background: Sage
Calling: Mancer
Experience Bonus: +1
Stamina Dice: 1d6
Stamina Points: 6
Defense: 16
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft./35 ft.
Spell Slots: 2
Attributes:
Agility +1, Might −1, Vitality +0, Cunning +2, Intellect +3, Presence +0
Skills: Know Arcana, Know Culture, Know History, Search
Tricks: Mancy, Nearby Expert, Voracious Learner, Simple Weapon Aptitude, Light Armor Aptitude
Rucksack: One simple weapon, one set of light armor, one focus crafted from bone (acquired under unusual circumstances), a bottle of ink, an ink pen, a few sheets of parchment, and a small collection of books.
Plastic Track: A few coins

Tricks:

Mancy:
The cat starts with a magical focus made of bone. By taking this trick, the cat becomes attuned to the focus and can draw and channel her magic through it. The cat uses the focus to cast all her spells.

This focus is powered by the cat’s life force and is uniquely tied to the character once attuned — another cat cannot use it, and cats with a similar focus might find it allows her to create different effects.

The three spells the cat learns upon taking Mancy are Chill Touch, Eldritch Blast, and Prestidigitation, and they also receive two magnitude 1 spells from the mancer list. All references to “spellcasting attribute” are references to Intellect.

Nearby Expert:
Whenever a cat tries to learn or recall a piece of information and fails, she sometimes knows a person or a location from which to get the information. The Guide may decide the knowledge is secret or difficult to obtain. Fortune: If the player spends fortune, she can declare that a previously unknown non-player-character sage or expert is a friend or peer on good terms with the cat.

Voracious Learner: The cat with this trick gains a boon on Intellect checks involving something the cat might have read or heard about in the past. It does not apply to situations that are new to the cat’s experience.

Simple Weapon Aptitude: Cats with this trick can add their experience bonus to attack and damage rolls when using any simple weapon. This includes clubs, daggers, darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaves, shortbows, sickles, slings, small axes and crossbows, spears, and unarmed punches, kicks, and bites.

Light Armor Aptitude: The cat with this trick can wear light armor effectively, giving her a Defense of 11 + her Agility.

Spells:

Chill Touch
(Mancer Basic)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: 120 feet; Duration: 1 round

You attack a character within range with a spectral paw. Make a ranged spell attack. On a hit, the target takes 1d8 deathly damage and can’t regain stamina points until the start of your next turn. If the target is Invisible, they also have a hindrance on attack rolls against you.

Eldritch Blast
(Mancer Basic)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: 120 ft.; Duration: 1 round

You send a beam of crackling energy toward a character within range. Make a ranged spell attack. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 arcane damage.

False Life
(Mancer Magnitude 1)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: Self; Duration: 1 hour

Deathly energies temporarily bolster your stamina. You gain 1d4 + 4 stamina points. You lose these stamina points when the spell ends, possibly leaving you injured or dying.

Prestidigitation
(Mancer Basic)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: 10 feet; Duration: Up to 1 hour
You create one of the following effects within range:
  • You create a minor instantaneous, harmless sensory effect that cannot deal damage or inflict a condition.
  • You light or snuff out a flame no bigger than a small campfire.
  • You instantaneously clean or dirty an object no larger than one cubic foot.
  • You chill, warm, or flavor up to 1 cubic foot of nonliving material for the duration.
  • You make a color, small mark, or symbol appear on an object or surface for the duration.
  • You create a non-magical trinket, or illusory image, that can fit in your paw until the end of your next turn.

You can have up to three of these effects active at a time and can dismiss one effect as an action.

Unnatural Rebuke
(Mancer Magnitude 1)
Casting Time: 1 reflexive action; Range: 60 ft.; Duration: Instant

You summon black fire to wreath your attacker when you are dealt damage by a successful attack. They take 2d8 fire damage.

Test (Agility): The target takes half damage.



Currently Funding - Final Week!



In Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars, your player characters are the crewmembers of a war rig, venturing into battles against people from far off countries, aligned to ideals different than their own, and trying to preserve their peace, their way of life, or their rich deposits of a new, bizarre energy source: condensed coal. Your characters — the crewmembers of these war rigs — are as likely to be enlisted crooks as they are commissioned officers; gung-ho patriots as common as conscripted people from the imperial powers’ colonies. They fight because they have to. But in the fear and fog of battle, bonds form, friendships and rivalries grow, and legends are made.

Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars takes place outside the Trinity Continuum's "Alpha" timeline -- the worlds explored from Aegis to Æon -- taking place in a parallel reality, setting the stage for new adventures and discoveries.

Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars contains:

  • A complete setting based on the acclaimed graphic novel Steam Wars® with writing by Larry Blamire.
  • Detailed rules on piloting, managing, and fighting massive coal-powered giant war rigs in a parallel 19th century.
  • Six different roles you can perform on a steam rig, along with more than half a dozen Alliances involving in the Second Steam War that you can fight, ally with, or sabotage.
  • Storyguide advice, secrets, hooks, and plots, to enable you to start your game of Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars 

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PROJECT UPDATE
James Bell
CREATOR
about 1 month ago

Project Update: January 2025 Monthly Update

Hello Curious Cats,

It's time for our first monthly update of 2025. As a reminder, I'll be posting these updates at the end of every month as we track the progress of our Crowdfunding campaign rewards.

Rewards Still Pending


No big changes over the holidays. We've got another one of our characters featured in the Jumpstart to preview in this update, down under all of the monthly check in.

REWARDS DISTRIBUTED TO BACKERS



If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://curious-cats-of-mau.backerkit.com/



Onyx Path Project Tracking

You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <December 2024 Project Status Summary>

You can find the weekly Monday Meeting blog updates <here>, which note any projects with status changes since the previous Month End summary. The project statuses listed are current as of last Monday, so do check it out each Monday night to see if anything may have progressed!

I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.

Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:


TO CONTACT JAMES

  •  Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  •  Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.


Curious Cats Jumpstart Preview 4

Here’s Halo von Siberian, converted to the latest edition, as part of the Curious Cats of Mau Jumpstart!

Halo von Siberian

History: Halo was once an agent of House Siberian, chasing the house’s enemies and bringing them low wherever they hid. On one mission, she crossed paths with a stubborn and reckless dog who nearly killed her. It was only due to the intervention of a member of the Church of Man that she survived. Once nursed back to health, Halo returned to the monarchies. Ever since, she’s contemplated why she survived and the role the Old Ones may have played in her fate.

Roleplay Tips: Halo is calm, kind, and outgoing. However, if pressed to violence, she becomes cold, quiet, and calculating. The shift in demeanor is disturbing to all around her as every bit of softness fades and the fierce hunter of her past emerges from hiding.

Description: Halo has gray and brown mottled fur and greenish-yellow eyes. She dresses in pants and a vest, carrying all her possessions in a backpack.

Personality:
Drive: I am an excellent cat because I seek to understand the Old Ones.
Secret: No one knows about my violent past.
Weakness: No matter what, I just can’t watch a defenseless cat be threatened.

Level: 1
House: Siberian
Family: Siberian
Background: Criminal
Calling: Wanderer
Experience Bonus: +1
Stamina Dice: 1d8
Stamina Points: 10
Defense: 11
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft./35 ft.
Abilities: Agility +1, Might +3, Vitality +2, Cunning +1, Intellect +0, Presence −1
Skills: Balance, Bluff, Sneak, Traverse
Tricks: Friends in Low Places, Hardy Constitution, Martial Arts, Simple Weapon Aptitude, Martial Weapon Aptitude, Light Armor Aptitude
Rucksack: A crowbar and a set of dark common clothes that includes a hood, one sickle (1d4 edged, light), a shovel, torches, rations, and a musical instrument (gained under unusual circumstances).
Plastic Track: A few coins

Tricks:

Friends in Low Places: The cat has some (generally) reliable and trustworthy contacts among criminals. She can get information from such characters, unless the act of passing on information would endanger them. Fortune: If the player spends fortune, she can declare that a previously unknown non-player-character criminal is one of her contacts on good terms with the cat.

Hardy Constitution: The cat with this trick can add 1d4 to all Vitality tests.

Martial Arts: The cat relies on his own body more than fancy weapons and armor and fights best unencumbered. When he’s:
  • Not wearing armor or using a shield
  • Unarmed or wielding only simple melee weapons without the two-pawed quality
He gains the following:
  1. Unarmed and melee attacks gain the finesse quality.
  2. Damage increases to 1d6, though the damage type doesn’t change.
  3. If an attack is a success or triumph, you can make another attack of the same type as a supplemental action.

Simple Weapon Aptitude: Cats with this trick can add their experience bonus to attack and damage rolls when using any simple weapon. This includes clubs, daggers, darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaves, shortbows, sickles, slings, small axes and crossbows, spears, and unarmed punches, kicks, and bites.

Martial Weapon Aptitude: A cat without this trick always attacks with such weapons with a hindrance. Cats with this trick, however, can use martial weapons well, and can add their experience bonus to attack and damage rolls using them.

Light Armor Aptitude: The cat with this trick can wear light armor effectively, giving her a Defense of 11 + her Agility. Note that Halo is not wearing armor despite knowing this trick.

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PROJECT UPDATE
James Bell
CREATOR
2 months ago

Project Update: December 2024 Monthly Update

Hello Cool Cats,

One quick note before we get to our monthly preview of a character from the upcoming Jumpstart. If you backed at the House Rex pledge level or added the Realms of Pugmire PDF as an Add On option to your rewards list, the finalized PDF for that book is releasing today on DriveThruRPG.com. You have already received a redemption link in your BackerKit Digital Rewards page for it, but now you can download the latest version in your digital library at DTRPG at your convenience.



If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://curious-cats-of-mau.backerkit.com/





Curious Cats Jumpstart Preview 3

Here’s Blayze Rex von Rex, converted to the latest edition, as part of the Curious Cats of Mau Jumpstart!


Blayze Rex von Rex


History:
Blayze is descended from the founders of House Rex, though she does her best to distance herself from stuffy, boring nobles. Early in life she perfected her skills, sneaking out of the family home and running the streets with her friends. Now she puts those skills to use in pursuit of adventure!


Roleplay Tips: Blayze is quick-witted and enjoys jokes and pranks. She’s likely to run her mouth during combat, slinging barbed insults at her enemies and friendly jabs at her friends. She’s all about having a good time.


Description: Blayze has large eyes and ears, short white fur, and dresses in black leather armor. She adorns her armor in pouches, sheathes, and belts, employing the occasional splash of blue in her accessories.


Personality:
Drive: I am an excellent cat because I find problem-solving exhilarating.
Secret: No one knows about my craving for danger.
Weakness: No matter what, I just can’t intimidate people.


Level: 1
House: Rex
Family: Rex
Background: Noble
Calling: Footpad
Experience Bonus: +1
Stamina Dice: 1d8
Stamina Points: 7
Defense: 14
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft./35 ft.
Abilities: Agility +3, Might +1, Vitality −1, Cunning +1, Intellect +2, Presence +1
Skills: Bluff, Know History, Persuade, Steal
Tricks: Expertise (Bluff, Steal), Good Breeding, Perfect Balance, Simple Weapon Aptitude, Martial Weapon Aptitude, Light Armor Aptitude
Rucksack: A signet ring and a set of fine clothes, one dagger (1d4 stabbing, finesse, light, thrown 20/60), one small crossbow (1d8 stabbing, ammunition, ranged 80/320, loading), one set of leather armor, a hooded lantern, rations, 50 feet of rope, a set of footpad’s tools, and an item of great financial value (gained under unusual circumstances).
Plastic Track: Many coins

Tricks:

Good Breeding: In general, cats are inclined to give the noble the benefit of the doubt. The cat is welcome in noble society and at the courts of the monarchies, and characters assume the cat has every right to be where he is. Commoners also attempt to please the noble, or at least avoid his displeasure. Fortune: If the player spends fortune, he can declare that a previously unknown non-player-character noble is an old friend or relative on good terms with the cat.


Expertise: Blayze doubles the experience bonus she adds to any attribute check using Persuade or Steal.


Perfect Balance: This trick gives a cat a boon to any check having to do with balancing. Also, any falling damage they take is halved.


Simple Weapon Aptitude: Cats with this trick can add their experience bonus to attack and damage rolls when using any simple weapon. This includes clubs, daggers, darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaves, shortbows, sickles, slings, small axes and crossbows, spears, and unarmed punches, kicks, and bites.


Martial Weapon Aptitude: A cat without this trick always attacks with such weapons with a hindrance. Cats with this trick, however, can use martial weapons well, and can add their experience bonus to attack and damage rolls using them.


Light Armor Aptitude: The cat with this trick can wear light armor effectively, giving her a Defense of 11 + her Agility.


Rewards Still Pending


Still lots of dots to fill in. Hopefully Onyx Path will have a really productive 2025 and we'll see tons of cool cats!



REWARDS DISTRIBUTED TO BACKERS




DRAFT MANUSCRIPT

In addition to redemption links for distibuted digital rewards, all backers have received a link to the compiled draft manuscript. This link can be found in your BackerKit digital rewards page (See the link above for Claiming Your Digital Rewards if you need a refresher). Again, this isn't a new manuscript, it's just all of the pieces we shared during the campaign put together in order.


ONYX PATH PROJECT TRACKING

You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <November 2024 Project Status Summary>


You can find the weekly Monday Meeting blog updates <here>, which note any projects with status changes since the previous Month End summary. The project statuses listed are current as of last Monday, so do check it out each Monday night to see if anything may have progressed!


I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.

Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:



TO CONTACT JAMES


  •  Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  •  Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.

FINAL DAY TO PLEDGE

The Alchemical Exalted are the Chosen of the Machine God, biomechanical demigods forged from divine metal and heroic souls. They do not rule the Eight Nations, but serve as Champions of the people, a sacred duty greater than any ambition. The eldest of Alchemicals transcend their human forms to become metropoli, living cities that offer the Eight Nations a stronghold against Autochthonia’s perils.

The Realm of Brass and Shadows is unforgiving, and the Eight Nations find themselves faced with many challenges: cataclysmic upheavals of Autochthon’s world-machinery, incursions of gruesome techno-organic gremlins, and the ever-present threat to their livelihoods. All the while, the slumbering Autochthon grows ever sicker, his corrupting Blight metastasizing throughout his world-body. Despair not. There is work to be done.


Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God is an expansion for the Exalted Third Edition tabletop roleplaying game. It’s set in a mythic world where spirits walk openly among humanity, warring demigods topple kingdoms, and the restless dead roam on moonless nights. Heroes granted divine power contend against one another for the future of Creation. These are the Exalted!


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PROJECT UPDATE
James Bell
CREATOR
3 months ago

Project Update: November 2024 Update

Hello Cool Cats,

As promised last month, we've got a series of previews from one of our Stretch Goal rewards that we'll be sharing over the next several months.


Curious Cats Jumpstart Preview 2

Here’s Malcolm Maincoon von Cymric, converted to the latest edition, as part of the Curious Cats of Mau Jumpstart!



Malcolm Maincoon von Cymric

History: Malcolm’s dour demeanor and love of books have always set him apart from his siblings in House Cymric. Many consider him too stern and in desperate need of a bit of cheer. They fail to realize that Malcolm is quite happy in the company of books and artifacts.


Roleplay Tips: Despite his serious demeanor, Malcolm is friendly. He’s a bit of an overexplainer and pontificates at length on any topic if given the opportunity. He’s quick to pick up on social cues if others signal he’s talking too much, though.


Description: Malcolm is a fluffy cat with brown, black, and white fur. He wears black and green robes, from under which his fur sometimes sticks out in unkempt patches.


Personality:
Drive: I am an excellent cat because I protect the unity of the monarchies.
Secret: No one knows about my fun-loving side.
Weakness: No matter what, I just can’t be succinct.


Level: 1
House:
Cymric
Family:
Maincoon
Background:
Sage
Calling:
Minister
Experience Bonus:
+1
Stamina Dice:
1d6
Stamina Points:
8
Defense:
10
Initiative:
−1
Speed:
30 ft./35 ft.
Spell Points:
4
Attributes:
Agility −1, Might +1, Vitality +2, Cunning +0, Intellect +1, Presence +2
Skills:
Know Arcana, Know History, Persuade, Sense Motive
Tricks:
Given the Voice, Immaculate Grooming, Nearby Expert, Simple Weapon Aptitude, Light Armor Aptitude
Spells:
Animal Friendship, Command, Goodberry, Thaumaturgy, and Vicious Mockery
Rucksack: A magnifying glass and a set of common clothes, a mace (1d6 blunt), one set of leather robes, candles, set of formal clothing, rations, and a portable copy of the Precepts of Mau (gained under unusual circumstances).
Plastic Track: Some coins

Tricks:

Immaculate Grooming: Cats with this trick have a boon on Presence checks involving positive influence, like befriending someone or being polite and diplomatic.


Nearby Expert: Whenever a cat tries to learn or recall a piece of information and fails, she sometimes knows a person or a location from which to get the information. The Guide may decide the knowledge is secret or difficult to obtain. Fortune: If the player spends fortune, she can declare that a previously unknown non-player-character sage or expert is a friend or peer on good terms with the cat.


Simple Weapon Aptitude: Cats with this trick can add their experience bonus to attack and damage rolls when using any simple weapon. This includes clubs, daggers, darts, javelins, maces, quarterstaves, shortbows, sickles, slings, small axes and crossbows, spears, and unarmed punches, kicks, and bites.


Light Armor Aptitude: The cat with this trick can wear light armor effectively, giving her a Defense of 11 + her Agility.


Given the Voice: Ministers use their powerful voices to direct their magic. Whether a command, homily, or dramatic monologue, their words carry power generated by their own life force. When taking this trick, the cat learns three spells they can cast at any time: Animal Friendship, Thaumaturgy, and Vicious Mockery. The minister can also choose two magnitude 1 spells from the minister spell list. All references to “spellcasting attribute” refer to Presence.

Spells:

Animal Friendship
(Minister Basic)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: 30 feet; Duration: 1 day
You can magically compel an animal to trust you. Choose an animal that can see and hear you within range. It is Charmed for the duration. If you or one of your companions harms the animal, the spell ends.


Command
(Minister Magnitude 1)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: 60 ft.; Duration: 1 round
You give the subject a single command, up to two words long. The target must obey the command to the best of their ability and as soon as they are able. This spell has no effect if the target is immune to being Charmed or if your command is directly harmful to them.

Common commands and their effects follow. If you use a command not listed, the Guide describes how the target behaves.

  • Come! On their turn, the subject moves toward you as quickly as possible. They may not do anything else during their turn.
  • Drop It! On their turn, the subject drops whatever they’re holding and ends their turn without picking it up.
  • Heel! The subject stands in place and may not take any move actions during their turn.
  • Lie Down! On their turn, the subject drops to the ground and remains Prone until the spellcaster’s next turn.
  • Run! On their turn, the subject moves away from you as quickly as possible. They may not do anything else during their turn.
Test (Presence): No effect.
•             Improved: (2 spell points) You may target up to two characters with this spell.
•             Improved: (3 spell points) The spell’s duration increases by a number of rounds equal to your spellcasting modifier (minimum 1). You may change which command is active on your turn as a supplemental action.

Goodberry
(Minister Magnitude 1)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: Touch; Duration: Instant
You summon up to 10 magical berries in your paw. Each berry restores 1 stamina point and provides enough nourishment for one day. Eating a berry takes an action.

Berries not eaten by the end of your next nap lose their magical effect.

Thaumaturgy
(Minister Basic)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: 30 feet; Duration: Up to 1 minute
You manifest one of the following wonders within range for the duration:
  • Your voice booms up to three times louder than normal.
  • Flames flicker, brighten, dim, or change color.
  • Harmless tremors shake the ground.
  • A short, instantaneous sound originates from a point of your choice within range.
  • An unlocked door or window flies open or slams shut once.
  • You alter the appearance of your eyes.

You can have up to three of these effects active at a time and can dismiss one effect as an action.


Vicious Mockery
(Minister Basic)
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: 60 ft.; Duration: Instant
A character within range is the subject of a series of magic-infused insults. If they can hear you, they take 1d4 mental damage and have a hindrance on the next attack roll they make before the end of their next turn. They don’t need to understand you.
Test (Cunning): No effect.


REWARDS STILL PENDING




REWARDS DISTRIBUTED TO BACKERS




If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://curious-cats-of-mau.backerkit.com/





DRAFT MANUSCRIPT

In addition to redemption links for distibuted digital rewards, all backers have received a link to the compiled draft manuscript. This link can be found in your BackerKit digital rewards page (See the link above for Claiming Your Digital Rewards if you need a refresher). Again, this isn't a new manuscript, it's just all of the pieces we shared during the campaign put together in order.


ONYX PATH PROJECT TRACKING

You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <September 2024 Project Status Summary>


You can find the weekly Monday Meeting blog updates <here>, which note any projects with status changes since the previous Month End summary. The project statuses listed are current as of last Monday, so do check it out each Monday night to see if anything may have progressed!


I will continue to post regular updates everymonth until the final reward has gone out.


Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.


ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:





TO CONTACT JAMES

  •  Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  •  Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.

CURRENTLY FUNDING


Now Funding on Crowdfunding by BackerKit

The Alchemical Exalted are the Chosen of the Machine God, biomechanical demigods forged from divine metal and heroic souls. They do not rule the Eight Nations, but serve as Champions of the people, a sacred duty greater than any ambition. The eldest of Alchemicals transcend their human forms to become metropoli, living cities that offer the Eight Nations a stronghold against Autochthonia’s perils.

The Realm of Brass and Shadows is unforgiving, and the Eight Nations find themselves faced with many challenges: cataclysmic upheavals of Autochthon’s world-machinery, incursions of gruesome techno-organic gremlins, and the ever-present threat to their livelihoods. All the while, the slumbering Autochthon grows ever sicker, his corrupting Blight metastasizing throughout his world-body. Despair not. There is work to be done.




Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God is an expansion for the Exalted Third Edition tabletop roleplaying game. It’s set in a mythic world where spirits walk openly among humanity, warring demigods topple kingdoms, and the restless dead roam on moonless nights. Heroes granted divine power contend against one another for the future of Creation. These are the Exalted!



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