Hello Essence Players,
I'm going to post our regular update stuff, but I've got two quick notes before we dig in.
First up, I've been listing our two Stretch Goal novellas ...
1
0
0
James Bell
about 1 month ago
February 2026 Monthly Update
Hello Essence Players!
It's time for our February Update. The TLDR summary - work continues on the manuscript before heading over to art direction, and progress has been mad...
1
0
0
James Bell
2 months ago
January 2026 Monthly Update
Hello Essence Players,
It's our first update for 2026!
The developers have incorporated your feedback from the campaign into the manuscript, and now they're working with th...
2
0
0
James Bell
3 months ago
December 2025 Update
Hello Essence Players,
I'm coming to you a bit early this month to hopefully give myself a bit of a break over the holidays and also to let you know that the campaign for In...
2
0
0
James Bell
4 months ago
November 2025 Update
Hello Essence Players,
It's the Wednesday before the last Thursday of the month, and may calendar says that's Exalted Update Day. We're still in the early stages of the pro...
2
0
0
James Bell
5 months ago
October 2025 Monthly Update
Hello Essence Player's
It's the Wednesday before the last Thursday of the month, and may calendar says that's Exalted Update Day.
Reddit AMA
Onyx Path recently held a Redd...
I'm going to post our regular update stuff, but I've got two quick notes before we dig in.
First up, I've been listing our two Stretch Goal novellas as For the March Lords, and Even the Heavens Will Burn, which are pretty cool titles. My tracking has them both in final draft status. That's info I pulled from Onyx Path's February summary, with Even the Heavens Will Burn moving into final drafts earlier in March.
But I've also come across the title "Murder on the Divine Carriage" which appears to be through final drafts and now in Development. I'm guessing that one of the earlier titles has changed (For the March Lords, possibly?) and moved forward, but I'm not 100% sure, so I'll get that clarified for our next monthly update.
The only other thing to note is Onyx Path's progress on a manuscript for the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. So, that's not part of this project, but certainly of interest to most Exalted: Essence players. I've probably mentioned it before, but it seems to be bubbling up in Onyx Path's weekly updates, so I expect to hear more about it before too long. I'll keep you posted.
With all my rambling out of the way, let's dig in to our regular update!
Pending Projects
Again, there's a chance that one of those novellas had a name change and has moved to development; we'll know for sure in April's update. Art Notes are being worked on between the developers and Art Director for our main reward, figuring out all of the moving pieces before artists are assigned.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
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://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <February 2026 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:
It's time for our February Update. The TLDR summary - work continues on the manuscript before heading over to art direction, and progress has been made on our stretch goal novellas.
While the final hammer blows ring in the manuscript forge, writers have been hard at work on the novellas we unlocked via Stretch Goal achievements. We knew about For the March Lords, which is now finishing up in it's final draft. But now joining that one is Even the Heavens will Burn, which is in the redline phase before feedback is incorporated into a final draft. With just the titles, I'm already a fan.
Let's dive into our regular review!
Pending Projects
Some dots filled in but many more to go.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
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://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <January 2026 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:
If you've got a question about your pledge or BackerKit page or any part of the process, you can contact me with any of these methods
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 CROWDFUNDING!
The World Below: Buried Treasures
The World Below is a game of adversity, heroism, terror, and awe. Your characters will overcome or be defeated by terrible beasts, environmental calamities, and Kaos storms ravaging their surroundings and the souls they encounter. They will chart their journeys, chronicle their tales, and pass their stories down to their descendants, who will, in turn, become your characters when your old ones perish or retire.
Now, two new books will let you delve deeper into The World Below and illuminate some of the darkness!
The Delver’s Guide is a Player's Manual for The World Below.
Delvers may be brave, but that doesn’t mean they don’t require help once in a while. That’s what this guide is: help for all delvers, explorers, and survivors in the World Below. New Callings and weapons, new Dialectics and powers, a new scenario and fresh rules for crafting and harvesting, and much, much more await within, so every delver can feel properly equipped for the adventures ahead.
Secrets of Kalm and Kaos is a Storyguide’s Handbook for The World Below.
There are hundreds of tales to tell of the World Below. From stories of adventurers braving Kaos storms to intrepid explorers who throw themselves into the dreamlike Obscura or harrowing Abyss. From chronicles of settlements rising and falling to those of bold delvers who go so far as to tame the beasts of their realm and call them pets. New playable options, new powers, new rules for Kalm, machinery, monstrous mounts, and more besides await within.
The developers have incorporated your feedback from the campaign into the manuscript, and now they're working with the Onyx Path team to figure out the general and scpecific artwork needs for the book before matching that to artist's schedules and assigning contracts. Meanwhile writers are working on drafts of our stretch goal fiction!
Not part of this project, but you may also note that Onyx Path has an "Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide" in their December monthly summary also working through writing drafts, so something to be excited about for the future!
Until then, let's get to our regular review.
Pending Projects
Forward momentum for our main book, as the manuscript is mostly done and thoughts turn to production. I'll continue to monitor Onyx Path's shared info and fill in dots as we move forward.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
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://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <December 2025 Project Status Summary>. Check out the Storyteller's Guide listed in second draft status!
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:
I'm coming to you a bit early this month to hopefully give myself a bit of a break over the holidays and also to let you know that the campaign for Infernals is finishing up in the next 24 hours and you've got one final opportunity to join in. I'll share that at the bottom of the page.
EXALTED 2025 RELEASES
While the past 16 months have been a pretty big challenge for Onyx Path in terms of getting physical rewards manufactured, they've done alright on the digital side! The Abyssal Exalted joined us this year, a trio of Exigents support projects came out, and a selection of items for the Exalted: Essence take on the game (including the fiction omnibus, Deeds Yet Undone, and Pillars of Creation!)
I look forward to the backer PDF for the Exalted: Essence Player's Guide and more amazing Exalted projects finishing up in 2026!
Pending Rewards
All of your feedback from the campaign has been incorporated by the developers, and our main book is now back in editing. Can't wait to see how it all comes out. In addition, one of our novellas has gone to redlines, where the developers help the writer fine-tune the manuscript. And it has a name, For the March Lords!
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
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://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <November 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:
If you've got a question about your pledge or BackerKit page or any part of the process, you can contact me with any of these methods
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 24 HOURS - INFERNALS: CROWNED BY HELLFIRE
The Infernal Exalted arise, clad in brass and hellish wonders, to punish the world.
Chosen for their spite and grievance, the Infernal Exalted command the alien powers of Hell itself. In the Demon Realm, they are crowned as the Green Sun Princes, the heroes who will give the Yozis their much deserved vengeance. In Creation, they are the fulfillment of prophecy for cults the world over — the hellish heroes who will topple the temples of the gods. For all the expectations placed upon them, though, it is up to each Infernal to answer the ultimate question for themselves: What will you become, when anything is possible?
This Exalted Third Edition sourcebook provides everything players and Storytellers need to introduce the Infernals to their story. Inside you will find:
Rules for creating your own Infernal characters, including their strange, overwhelming Charms.
New character options, including artifacts, a new martial art, and lost arts of the highest circle of sorcery.
Setting information for the Demon Realm and its cults in Creation.
A roster of demons to serve as allies, adversaries, and bound servitors.
I know some of you have joined in and backed the campaign, but for anyone holding out because they're not Infernal fans, or like the lore but prefer the Exalted: Essence rules set, let me note that a $5 pledge will get you the draft manuscript right now, the ability to upgrade your pledge later in the Pledge Manager (up until the books are finalized!), and the opportunity to grab any of the digital Add Ons. For these final 24 hours only, we have two special "GREE FIRE DAY" deals on 1st Edition and 2nd Edition bundles that you can add on to your $5 pledge. While not cheap, these bundles are dramatically reduced in price and contain a TON of great lore to possibly incorporate into your game.
It's the Wednesday before the last Thursday of the month, and may calendar says that's Exalted Update Day. We're still in the early stages of the production phase, and the team are hammering on the manuscript and the other bits we've unlocked via Stretch Goal. Many of these updates are going to be pretty similar, especially in these early days. I'd rather be a bit repetitive and have consistent communication than have silence until there's news, so here we go again....
Pending Rewards
No major changes from last month. The Essence team is working with your feedback to finalize the manuscript, and the writers are in the process of fine-tuning their fiction pieces before hammering out any changs with the developers. Since we're at the end of November and the rest of the year tends to move fairly quickly, I don't expect any big changes for next month either, but I'm hopeful that 2026 is going to bring lots of excitement and we'll fill in a bunch of dots along the way. I'll continue to monitor Onyx Path's website and share any new information as it comes out.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
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://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <October 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:
If you've got a question about your pledge or BackerKit page or any part of the process, you can contact me with any of these methods
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.
Infernals: Crowned by Hellfire
The Infernal Exalted arise, clad in brass and hellish wonders, to punish the world.
Chosen for their spite and grievance, the Infernal Exalted command the alien powers of Hell itself. In the Demon Realm, they are crowned as the Green Sun Princes, the heroes who will give the Yozis their much deserved vengeance. In Creation, they are the fulfillment of prophecy for cults the world over — the hellish heroes who will topple the temples of the gods. For all the expectations placed upon them, though, it is up to each Infernal to answer the ultimate question for themselves: What will you become, when anything is possible?
This Exalted Third Edition sourcebook provides everything players and Storytellers need to introduce the Infernals to their story. Inside you will find:
Rules for creating your own Infernal characters, including their strange, overwhelming Charms.
New character options, including artifacts, a new martial art, and lost arts of the highest circle of sorcery.
Setting information for the Demon Realm and its cults in Creation.
A roster of demons to serve as allies, adversaries, and bound servitors.
