After kicking around many names for the Obsidian Twilight update, I came up with Obsidian Apocalypse and this one kind of sticks with me so we are going with it. We have also created a all new logo for it and if you are interested in seeing it, check it out here. I have also decided that this will be a Kickstarter project that we will be starting September. Here is the new website page we have build for Obsidian Apocalypse and you can check back regularly for updates and things we have planned for this re-release. And just to start your interest in Obsidian Apocalypse we are planning to add five more powerful and evil NPC characters to the setting including Lylith; former angel and love interest of Zebadiah; now fallen angel / succubus hybrid and consort of the vampiric lich Calix Sabinus. Fun time ahead and thanks for the support of Obsidian Apocalypse.
Not kickstarter... I can't resist a kickstarter! Oh well, at least I have a few months to save up... I'll just go and sob in the corner until your ready to take my money!
Thanks for the support. This one is going to be a AMAZING revamp of the original setting to make sure everything we did before and did work, getting them to work and work right. Better yet, getting things we did real well and do it even better. Plus there will be more amazing artwork to go with this setting. I hope to have artwork for Lylith and the various higly important NPCs coming in the next few weeks.
This will be the premiere survival horror / post-apocalypse setting for Pathfinder rules set.
I love the name. And I've been wanting a post-apocolyptic setting for a long time now. Definitely looking forward to this.
Thanks for the interest. We are trying to keep people very much in the loop with this project all the way until it's Kickstarter start in September. The best way to keep up with us is via our facebook page. Feel free to "Like Us" to get our regular updates on this project.
We are currently working on a Obsidian Apocalypse: World of Abaddon preview book to give you an idea of what we are updating, modifying and changing in this new updated version from the original Obsidian Twilight. Expect to see this upcoming in the next few weeks for free at our website.
Read it now - Obsidian Apocalypse: Five Artists now onboard…
And for our Facebook fans out there, here is a new piece of artwork we just got in. Enjoy!
Rough draft sketches of Asi Magnor for Obsidian Apocalypse and tell us what you think...
If you are interesting in seeing what the graphic design of the book will look like, check out our Facebook Page or our company blog to see the Obsidian Apocalypse: Sample page layout test. Enjoy!
Here is the latest update to the Asi Magnor image. A little color makes him even more scary. What do you think? I think Obsidian Apocalypse is going to be even more incredible than I think it is going to be.
From everything I've seen so far, it looks like Obsidian Apocalypse is being built out of pure awesome! Richard Pett? I'm drooling already. I'm just glad that the kickstarter you're planning begins after the one for a certain FGG dungeon gets funded... easier to convince the wife that way...
One question: before Obsidian Apocalypse was announced, it seemed there was a phase after Obsidian Twilight called Obsidian Eclipse. Is Eclipse going to be rolled into Apocalypse, or is Eclipse a story bridge to Apocalypse, or is it something else entirely? Thanks for any light you can shed!
From everything I've seen so far, it looks like Obsidian Apocalypse is being built out of pure awesome! Richard Pett? I'm drooling already.
We are trying REAL hard to get him on board with this project. I plan to see and speak to him in person when I see him at PaizoCon to speak further on this.
I'm just glad that the kickstarter you're planning begins after the one for a certain FGG dungeon gets funded... easier to convince the wife that way...
We are not planning to start thin until Labor Day weekend (September 2), so you have a few months to save up.
One question: before Obsidian Apocalypse was announced, it seemed there was a phase after Obsidian Twilight called Obsidian Eclipse. Is Eclipse going to be rolled into Apocalypse, or is Eclipse a story bridge to Apocalypse, or is it something else entirely? Thanks for any light you can shed!
Originally I planned to go with the name Obsidian Eclipse before I cam up with Obsidian Apocalypse. But I didn't think it was powerful enough for what we were planning so I changed Eclipse to Apocalypse and the rest is history!
Obsidian Apocalypse: World of Abaddon available this week. Best of all it is free.
Sounds like fun!!
Nice, I always enjoy the art in your books Louis.
Obsidian Apocalypse: World of Abaddon for Paizo and Pathfinder RPG fans is now available completely FREE! All you have to do is pay for it with a tweet. Enjoy!
So for everyone who downloaded Obsidian Apocalypse, what did you think about it? Comments? Issues? Let me know. Thanks!
There was an issue with it that I JUST fixed. Try it now.
So for everyone who downloaded Obsidian Apocalypse, what did you think about it? Comments? Issues? Let me know. Thanks!
OK -- I was having the same issues as Kthulhu, but everything seems to be copacetic at this point.
The primer does a great job at convincing the reader that this place is very different from what they're used to. I assume that the specifics (are magical classes limited or eliminated, mechanical changes to the races, and so on) will be in the full product. I'm looking forward to it!
OK -- I was having the same issues as Kthulhu, but everything seems to be copacetic at this point.
Very good.
The primer does a great job at convincing the reader that this place is very different from what they're used to. I assume that the specifics (are magical classes limited or eliminated, mechanical changes to the races, and so on) will be in the full product. I'm looking forward to it!
Yes everything will be in the full version be we are going to release little pieces of info on the setting in the upcoming months until we start the kickstarter in September. So enjoy.
Are the psionics in this updated version going to be Dreamscarred Press Psionics Unleashed compatible? I think I remember that being one of your regrets from Obsidian Twilight.
We will be using Dreamscarred Press' Psionics Unleashed for our psionics in this setting. Dreamscarred Presshave even helped directly with the update to the psionic race, the Khymer, in the setting. Items, characters or monster psionic in nature will have stats for both a psionic and non-psionic version so you can play them as you like for the setting.
Also, will this book pretty much fully replaced Obsidian Twilight?
Yes. You can think of Obsidian Twilight as our beta test, now we are working on the alpha version.
I also noticed that the timeline seems to be a bit advanced, at least from what I remember without bothering to look back at Obsidian Twilight. Most noteably in that the mummy (sounds like Asia Minor, but don't have the book in front of me at the moment) was defeated / destroyed.
Defeat and destroyed take on a "new meaning" in a undead setting like this. Plus this was not the FULL history of the Obsidian Apocalypse setting which inludes some new VIP NPCs like Magdalyne, a fallen angel now turned succubus, who was the love interest of Zebadiah but has turned into Calix "romantic" interest. We alos have Reikenjo, a Flesh golem / iron golem hybrid-ish thing in a Max Max / Road Warrior inspired area. Lots of fun stuff going on here.
Last week, JP and I were talking about Obsidian Apocalypse and he was giving me “feedback” on what he thought about it. (And when I say “feedback” I mean JP was cursing me out, yelling and point at me and calling me stupid and all kinds of names OR as all call it a typical Thursday.) After this “feedback” meeting, I took some of his ideas to heart and I starter to work on them in rough draft form in my head.
On Sunday while sitting down and making some notes of the Obsidian Apocalypse setting, a little voice in my head asked me a very simple but profound question: Why are you making this setting? My first answer was the typical one of want to do another cool setting that people showed interest in. Then my little voice in my head asked me an even better question: Why was I focusing on Obsidian Apocalypse instead of NeoExodus?
And that is when it hit me like a ton of bricks. I think I was using Obsidian Apocalypse as a distraction from my NeoExodus work. I mean I have TONS of NeoExodus work to do, but I was placing all to the back burners for Obsidian Apocalypse. While Obsidian Apocalypse is exciting because it is the new shiny toy, NeoExodus is what I have been focusing on for five plus years. Plus most importantly doe we really need ANOTHER campaign setting for Pathfinder? I mean there are tons coming out already for Pathfinder and no matter how exciting it will be, do I really want to build a complete support system for another campaign world setting? I barely have enough time for NeoExodus, why the hell do I think I have enough time for NeoExodus and Obsidian Apocalypse? So after all the thinking and contemplating, I decided that it is best NOT to do Obsidian Apocalypse as a campaign setting. I would be silly to a full blown setting for Obsidian Apocalypse.
But then the little voice in my head said (As you can see my little voice is WAY TOO TALKITIVE) that since I have already paid for the writing and artwork, instead of making an OK campaign setting, why don’t you turn it into an AMAZING one of a kind adventure. A kind of adventure that does homage to the original Ravenloft adventure where players get a taste of the setting with the adventure without all the baggage of what a campaign setting must have. And with that, Obsidian Apocalypse is NOW going to be an adventure. We are still going to do the funding with kickstarter so all that says in play. Better yet, if one of my conversation at the upcoming PaizoCon goes well, I hope to announce that we be attaching a VERY WELL known name in the horror genre for Pathfinder to this adventure.
I think this is the better move for Obsidian Apocalypse in the long run. I am “planning” for this adventure to be between 32 to 48 pages in length with fantastic new artwork. So be sad there will not be a Obsidian Apocalypse campaign setting, BUT be VERY GLAD that we are going to do a adventure that will go down in the legendary chronicles of Pathfinder adventures. Once again thanks for your support of us and this change.
I can certainly understand deciding to focus on a single campaign setting. Just one setting is a tremendous amount of work to provide all the necessary support to have it thrive. A second on top of that is a potential nightmare.
Good luck with the adventure! I hope it does well and look forward to seeing it.
After having read through the campaign setting (now adventure), all I can say is...dark...and oh so awesome. I'm thinking I'll hang onto it until my players decide they want to try plane-hopping. Then I'll think of a way for their method of transporation to go awry, and they'll end up in Abaddon...horror filled fun!
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A bit disappointed it won't be fully expanded...but Obsidian Twilight still exists for those who want to use it as a full-on setting. And really, I kind of like it as a "setting templat"e...maybe a really bad "What If?" type scenario. I think it could work as a jump forward in time for a group that failed while playing Second Darkness.
As long as we can still get those awesome races of yours in that smaller book, I'm not gonna complain (as much as I hate to admit it, I DO have too many campaign settings already!)
Now that the Advanced Race Guide is out, we are going to update the races for Obsidian Apocalypse to make them even more interesting.
I can certainly understand deciding to focus on a single campaign setting. Just one setting is a tremendous amount of work to provide all the necessary support to have it thrive. A second on top of that is a potential nightmare.
It always sound cool when you first think about it, but then reality sets in...
After having read through the campaign setting (now adventure), all I can say is...dark...and oh so awesome. I'm thinking I'll hang onto it until my players decide they want to try plane-hopping. Then I'll think of a way for their method of transporation to go awry, and they'll end up in Abaddon...horror filled fun!
Then you will be real happy when we announce who is going to be writing on this project with us. This is going to be a match made in heaven.
A bit disappointed it won't be fully expanded...but Obsidian Twilight still exists for those who want to use it as a full-on setting. And really, I kind of like it as a "setting templat"e...maybe a really bad "What If?" type scenario. I think it could work as a jump forward in time for a group that failed while playing Second Darkness.
I think the "templated setting" will be used more and more by small to medium sized 3PP to save cost and to get their ideas across. It's a Win-Win situation for everyone involved, especially is Kickstarter is used.
I personally am excited about your decision - an adventure can easily be used as a kind of campaign-template and your NeoExodus-material and setting, at least when compared to Obsidian Twilight, felt more interesting to me. Have you thought about making it not one adventure, but rather an arc/AP? I could actually see that work quite well!
That being said - I still hope you'll find a place for e.g. the Khymer in NeoExodus or as a separate release. :)
Cheers!
I personally am excited about your decision - an adventure can easily be used as a kind of campaign-template and your NeoExodus-material and setting, at least when compared to Obsidian Twilight, felt more interesting to me.
Well due to some VERY cool news I just got, I think even this might be changing.
Have you thought about making it not one adventure, but rather an arc/AP? I could actually see that work quite well!
I kind of want to stay away from APs for Obsidian Apocalypse. It is just a personal business decision. But I think we have come up with something that I think everyone will find to be a good solid compromise to a full campaign.
That being said - I still hope you'll find a place for e.g. the Khymer in NeoExodus or as a separate release. :)
You mean like in a book like this? I bet you never thought about / wondered where the Khymer might be ORIGINALLY from?
Yes, in fact I did - and looking at this page made me cringe, since I distinctly remember looking forward to all of the books and still waiting for them. Oh well, a longer gestation period is always preferable to a prematurely put out one. :)
BY the way: Any plans for those convention-NE-adventures seeing the light of publication some time?
Cheers!
Yes, in fact I did - and looking at this page made me cringe, since I distinctly remember looking forward to all of the books and still waiting for them. Oh well, a longer gestation period is always preferable to a prematurely put out one. :)
When it is all said in done it will all make sense AND be interconnected. Talk about a double feat.
BY the way: Any plans for those convention-NE-adventures seeing the light of publication some time?
Well if you are going to be at PaizoCon you can play in TWO of them GMed by the writer of those adventures and NeoExodus Creative Director, JP Chapleau. He will be running Ruins of Trovaska AND The Battle of Trovaska. So if you are going to PaizoCon, come and meet me in person AND take a look at the adventures!
Curses! I unfortunately won't be able to attend (can't afford the flight from Europe and back), but one day, I'll swear I'll be there, if only so that all the people can kick me in the shins for my reviews. ;D
While this is a business, it is not a dictatorship. I have people to answer to and they are call our fans. NOT our customers, but our fans and there is a difference. A few days ago I said that we would bot be doing Obsidian Apocalypse as a setting but as a adventure. Needless to say there saw some backlash. The once pice of back lash was this comment on Facebook:
LPJ Design: @John: I dont want to create another setting and not really support it. I dont think making a setting that isn't supported a good thing. You spend your money and I don't want you to feel you wasted your money on a ”dead” setting.
John: I purchased Obsidian Twilight and already feel like i have, no offense.
OUCH!
Now that hurt. The part that hurt the most was that it was true. So this got me thinking, how could I make my fanbase happy with out doing somethign that would not be good for business. So After a while a came up with a plan. I have decided to NOT to make this one complete setting, but FOUR toolkit setting templates that you can add to your campaign world. Which include:
Hell on Abaddon: Angels and Demon have been brought to this world via the meteor and engage in battles all over this world. Exalted, Infernal & Genesai focused races for this setting
Cthulhu-ese on Abaddon: The meteor is actually a prison from unusual monsters that breaks open and escapes to this world. Infernal, Lykian, Osirian & Raijin focused races for this setting (a la A Place Beyond Hell)
Plague covers the world: A super powerful virus begins infecting, mutating and killing people of this world. Exalted, Infernal, Harrowed & Khymer focused races for this setting
Undead Apocalypse: Undead raise due to the necromantic energy in the meteor. Harrowed, Khymer, Osirian & Raijin, focused races for this setting.
This is MORE interesting to me as a 3PP of Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, plus make it a book that is more useful than one lone setting. So you kind of get the best of both worlds PLUS with a 16 page adventure written by [CLASSIFIED UNTIL AFTER PAIZOCON]! So thank you agaon for helping me see the "light" and give you something that we BOTH want. Thanks for the support of LPJ Design we are always grateful. Talk to you later...
Obsidian Apocalypse: World of Abaddon (PFRPG) just picked up a 4-star & 5-star review! Read them here! So go and pick it up for fans of Pathfinder RPG by Paizo and best of all, it is 100% FREE!
If you are interested in looking at the rough color drafts of headshot of the races of Obsidian Apocalypse, come here and take a look! Enjoy!
Since PaizoCon is over, we will have a HUGE announcement about the upcoming Obsidian Apocalypse Kickstarter coming in the next few days, but all we will say is this: Richard Pett. Keep watching this thread for more upcoming info.
We just added another legendary writer to this project and we are planning to announce a few more RPG writing superstars to this project. Expect to find out the full list of people working on The Obsidian Apocalypse Kickstarter project on July 21st. Until then keep guessing.
If Pett is on board, my excitement for the project has just went up by quite a notch.
If Pett is on board, my excitement for the project has just went up by quite a notch.
Let's say after this PaizoCon and due to the recent events (which are a good thing) I am hoping to make announcement of a VERY WELL KNOWN writer on this project. This one will be GROUND BREAKING and EARTH SHATTERING. Yes, it IS that big of a name.
Review of the free teaser:
This teaser for the upcoming revamp of the Obsidian Twilight-concept is 12 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of advertisements, leaving us witha total of 9 pages of content, so what does this pdf constitute?
If the ominous name of the world wasn't ample clue enough - the setting described in Obsidian Apocalypse is anything but a cozy one - 100 years ago, a meteor hit the world, destroying not only large swatches of land and covering the sky in soot, but also carrying vast amounts of negative energy with it, resulting in an undead apocalypse that further diminished the thinned ranks of the survivors. Worse, the resulting ash-cloud carried vast amounts of magically-enhanced plagues and the ice-age-like winter that has all but slain plant-life on the world and plunged it into hunger to accompany disease, with only magic, alchemy and psionics keeping the remaining populace alive, the latter suddenly becoming more pronounced and wide-spread and a glimmer of hope in the otherwise bleak world. Worse, the energies of the meteor have made Abaddon cut off from the planes, making it possible for beings to enter, but not to leave.
But even in this desolate vision of endtimes, war rages: Undead mummy-king of the Shaan, Asi Magnor cuts a swathe of order and dominance through the undead lords and remains uncontested for a while - until vampiric lich Calix Sabinus rises to stand against the mummy. The ensuing war was fought bitterly and saw another tragedy - Zebadiah, last angel of Abaddon, sire of the race of exalted, was vanquished by Calix Sabinus, half his body scorched and used as a living battle-standard before being cast away and condemned to an existence as a mere observer. And the worst part is - the triumph of the vampire lich may actually be better for the world - the mummy-lord sought only undead subjugation and slaughter, whereas Calix and his brethren want people to farm them.
100 years have passed since the meteor fell and the horsemen have had a plentiful bounty - but new life has also emerged - from the sentient blood that is the Khymer-race, to people possessed by spirits of vengeance and the Osirians aiming to rise up against Calix's ghast-lord, the world of Abaddon is still in flux and while salvation is out of reach, heroes are still struggling, still fighting, still clinging to a life beyond the two primary choices of death and slavery. And there's so much more in here...
Conclusion:
Editing and formatting are very good, I noticed no significant glitches. Layout adheres to a beautiful two-column full-color standard and the pdf comes with gorgeous artworks, some of which you might know from Obsidian Twilight, while others, no less gorgeous are new. The pdf has no bookmarks, This all-fluff introduction serves as a comprehensive introduction to the world of Abaddon, more structured and better presented than in the predecessor. The world of Abaddon is a dark, apocalyptic wasteland and has potential galore - it always had. I'm currently really hoping that the revamp under the banner of "Obsidian Apocalypse" provides us with all the glorious details on cities, currencies, landscapes etc. to make this work as a full-fledged setting. As a teaser and introduction, this pdf does a stellar job to wet one's taste and is free to boot - lacking complaints, I'll settle for a final verdict of 5 stars for this.
Endzeitgeist out.
Reviewed here, on DTRPG and sent to GMs magazine. Cheers!