As a Hero, a Scion becomes a figure of myth and story, an exemplar of some virtue of their chosen society or the culture they’re born into. Even before their Visitation, the children of the Gods are a breed apart. But some want more than this lesser form of immortality, forever in the shadow of their parents. The golden ichor within the Scion’s heart sears and cooks them, ever burning away any human frailties of the Scion and driving them toward more audacious Deeds. They seek to become truly transformational figures, leaving The World forever different in their wake. At the fifth dot of Legend, it all reaches a tipping point, where the Scion is formed more of divine ichor than mortal flesh —more immortal than mortal, a true Demigod. They have declared to The World that they will not be pawns of Fate, but players in their own right. They will succeed in becoming a God, or they will die with their failure. 

Everything up to this point was your prologue. Now it’s time to live your myth.

Scion: Demigod continues the path set down by Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero, expanding Scion Second Edition’s power level and charting the next level of power tiers for the Scions of the Gods. Players will take their characters through a tightly designed yet flexible story arc that ends in apotheosis or death – either way, the character will no longer be mortal after this book. Your characters don’t have to follow every Milestone with their Deeds — but they cannot run from their destiny once they’ve chosen to embrace it.

Note that Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero are needed to get full use of the rules and setting for Scion: Demigod. If you don’t have Book 1 and Book 2 for Scion Second Edition, there are reward tiers containing all 3 books, or you can use the Add On options to fill in your library. See Reward Descriptions, below, for more information.

This Scion: Demigod Kickstarter campaign is designed to enable Onyx Path to create a  hardcover rulebook that will sit proudly alongside your existing Scion Second Edition rulebooks. The book will be approximately 250 full-color pages featuring both new  stunning artwork and a few select classic pieces. Exception funding may allow us to add Stretch Goals that further develop the setting and add additional materials for play, including more character options and additional abilities! We also want to get at least one print run into traditional distribution and available for sale at game and hobby stores.

Scion: Demigod provides the next steps for your hero’s journey to fully embracing their destiny and assuming their rightful mantle. The final book will contain the following chapters:

•  Chapter One: Storyguiding Apotheosis describes the Milestones every Demigod must undertake to achieve Apotheosis, the act of becoming a God.
•  Chapter Two: Pantheons details the five pantheons in this book, suitable for any level of play.
•  Chapter Three: Character Creation details new and improved Birthrights and character options at the Demigod tier of play.
•  Chapter Four: Chasing Divinity introduces new rules and expanded powers, including Dominion Boons, to represent a Demigod’s powerful association with a Purview.
•  Chapter Five: Underworlds describes the various Underworlds of the pantheons, physical locations that a Scion may venture to.
•  Chapter Six: Antagonists features a number of new antagonist rules and entities who can challenge a Demigod.
•  Appendix: The Keepers describes The Keepers of the World, a group of cross-pantheon Scions who aim to become a new pantheon, to the detriment of every other God in The World.

The Storypath system is Onyx Path’s rules set designed specifically to allow the sort of rules scaling necessary to seamlessly enable players to play ordinary people as well as mystics and monster hunters.

The basics of the Storypath system should be familiar to anyone who has played many other Onyx Path games of action-adventure or heroic exploits, as it is a 10-sided dice pool system, where in order to resolve an action you basically roll a number of dice equal to the character’s Skill + Attribute and must roll an 8 or better a certain number of times in order to succeed in the action.

That is the very basic resolution system, but we expand on that to further enhance how your gaming group can build their stories. Failing to hit your number of successes, or having more successes than your required amount, are built-in options in the rules. Here is a handy graphic that illustrates what we mean:

To further explain the basics of the Storypath system, here is a small PDF download that goes into more detail: SYSTEM PREVIEW PDF.

The primary goal of this Kickstarter campaign is to create the best version of Scion: Demigod that is possible. Your support allows us to fund the best production, use the most appropriate components, and possibly even contract more art for the core book. We hope to not only deliver a beautiful book to all of our backers, but also fund at least one print run to be sold through distribution and into book and hobby stores that are so vital to our community.

Beyond that primary goal, we hope to gain additional funding to explore more of the world of Scion: Demigod, possibly creating additional content in the form of scenarios, threats, and ready-made characters. The greater our funding for this project, the more resources we are able to explore this thrilling world.

Beyond those campaign-specific goals, we hope to do what our games have always done — open a path to a new world; a setting for our community to build new stories and entwine imaginations. Every person who participates in this campaign is joining with the goal of bringing this game into the world — and like our protagonists, this goal gives us a common path. When you back this project, you join our pantheon as we create our story together.

All participants who would like to make this project happen can pledge their support and add to the overall campaign total. If the campaign meets the funding target ($35,000), then we will have funded the project and it will become a reality. Your pledge will only be collected if we achieve our funding target.

In thanks for your support, we offer rewards based on your level of funding pledged. The Reward Tiers down the right side of the page outline the various rewards reflecting various levels of support pledged. Please note that rewards may automatically add additional charges to cover shipping expenses.

To help simplify matters, the Reward Chart lists the core rewards and then combinations with each of the additional rewards offered as part of this campaign (see Reward Descriptions, below).

Decide Your Destiny: do you save some shelf space and go digital-only with the PDF version, or go all in with the hardcover rulebook? Please note that physical rewards may automatically add additional charges to cover shipping expenses.

Backers looking to receive multiple copies should also note the Stymphalian Birds and Hippolyta’s Belt Reward Tiers, which offer 2 or 5 copies of the book (and may save on shipping per unit!).

Finally, we love retailers, but modern publishing methods don’t always make it easy for them to get books into their stores. With this Scion: Demigod campaign, we have created two special Reward Tiers just for you. Any retailer who pledges at the Diomedes’ Mares Retailer Reward Tier level will get 5 copies of the Scion: Demigod hardcover book (as well as the PDF versions) at a retail-specific discount so that they can sell in-store. Similarly, any retail who pledges at the mighty Cerberus Retailer Reward Tier will get 5 copies of all three Scion Second Edition rulebooks (Origin, Hero, Demigod) as well as 5 copies of the PDFs and the Scion Second Edition Reference Screen.

Several Reward Tiers offer special limited or premium rewards in addition to the basics, including everything from a Signed Book Insert (autographed by as many of the creative team as we can wrangle), an option to act as a Art Model, as well as a chance to name an NPC included in the Scion: Demigod book or a possible supplement. We’ve even got a few slots that include participation in an online game session, and a chance to peek behind-the-curtain as a Consulting Developer on an upcoming Scion Second Edition book. Check each of the Reward Tier descriptions for more details.

ACCESS TO MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW UPDATES – During the course of the campaign, we will be posting the ENTIRE manuscript for Scion: Demigod. These previews will be shared via Backer-Only updates. You must be a backer of this project to receive these updates.

SCION: DEMIGOD PDF VERSION – The digital version of Scion: Demigod, fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Kickstarter backers will receive a redemption link for an early version, before it goes on sale to the public. This initial “Backer Version” will be used to get feedback from the fans to make the final version the best that it can be. When it has been updated to the final version, it will be automatically added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.

SCION: DEMIGOD HARDCOVER VERSION – The main goal of this campaign is to fund the creation, production, and print run of a beautiful hardcover edition of the game. Note that all Reward Tiers that include the Hardcover version also include the PDF version as a bonus. Additional shipping charges are automatically added to your pledge by Kickstarter, based on your delivery location.

SCION: ORIGIN PDF and HARDCOVER – Scion is a game about Gods and humanity, and everything in between. It’s a game about mythic Deeds and the reasons people talk about those mythic Deeds. Scion: Origin details the Scions when they’re still (mostly) human, before the Visitation that introduces them to the divine World — they’re exceptional humans, perhaps, blessed with luck and skill or cursed with ill fortune and strange trials in their lives, but humans nonetheless.

SCION: HERO PDF and HARDCOVER – Scion: Hero details the children of the Gods when they have been touched by the divine, awakening to the miraculous power their parents wield. But this great power comes with grave responsibility. The Scions must negotiate both the human World and the divine one, acting as intermediaries and shielding the worshippers of their parents from harm. Can they struggle to fulfill their Fate and still remain tied to what they care for most? Note this is not a stand-alone rulebook. Scion: Origin has the necessary core rules for the game. 

SCION SECOND EDITION ORIGIN/HERO REFERENCE SCREEN – A sturdy three-panel screen featuring beautiful art from Scion 2nd Edition on the outer side, and on the inside there’s a selection of charts and other info to make referencing a little bit easier.  Limited stock remaining from the first Scion Second Edition kickstarter campaign.

SCION SECOND EDITION ORIGIN/HERO DELUXE DICE SET – Ten 10-Sided Dice with each die having a different Pantheon symbol in place of the 0, and inked with a different color appropriate to the Pantheon featured. Limited stock remaining from the first Scion Second Edition kickstarter campaign.

OPTIONAL “AT COST” PoD VERSION –  For Scion: Demigod, you will have the option of using DriveThruRPG.com’s Print-On-Demand service to purchase a physical, printed copy directly from their PoD partners at as close as we can get to the cost of printing and shipping (this cost is not included in your pledge, and you do not need to increase the cost of your pledge to use this option). When the PoD versions are available to order (which will be some time after the book has gone to print), you will receive links to purchase these versions of the book from DriveThruRPG.com. You DO NOT need to take advantage of this PoD offer as it does not affect in any way your pledge rewards.

DIGITAL REWARDS

In addition to the rewards listed in each Reward Tier, backers can increase their overall pledge to add on the following additional rewards. Simply increase your total pledge amount by the value indicated – we will confirm which add on rewards you’ve chosen via BackerKit surveys after the campaign has run (see Pledge Manager, below).

 PHYSICAL REWARDS 

All physical items that will require shipping (additional books, etc.) can only be added to reward tiers that already include a hardcover copy of Scion: Demigod (Reward Tiers of $55+). Your rewards will be sent in a single shipment when Scion: Demigod becomes available.

As we increase the overall funding and support for the project, we’re able to add additional resources to the project, expand the rewards listed, and add in new offers and opportunities. Each Stretch Goal will have a target that, once reached, will add a project to the reward list. We will continue to build on this list when we achieve these targets during the campaign. Whenever we achieve a stretch goal, the image will be updated to reflect the achievement.

ACHIEVED! – At $50,000 in funding – New Add On: Demigod Reference Screen! – We’ll create a Scion: Demigod Reference Screen with new charts and tables, and updated artwork to reflect the ongoing journey of the characters introduced on the Origin/Hero screen. This can be added to any reward tier containing a hardcover book for only +$20.

ACHIEVED! – At $65,000 in funding – Scion: Demigod Companion – New Boons – New Boons for Purviews, including Pantheon-Specific Purviews for every extant pantheon, will be created and released in a supplemental PDF, which will be added to the rewards list of all backers receiving the Scion: Demigod PDF.

At $75,000 in funding – Scion: Demigod Companion – New Creatures – New creatures for the pantheons in the book and expanded Creature rules, including Storyguide advice for how to incorporate Creatures into the narrative of your character, will be created and added to the Scion: Demigod Companion PDF supplement.

At $85,000 in funding – Scion: Demigod Companion – New Guides – New Guides across multiple pantheons in the book, and Storyguide advice on how to act as a Guide to up-and-coming Scions will be added to the Scion: Demigod Companion PDF supplement.

When you pledge to a reward tier that includes a physical item (the Scion: Demigod hardcover book), Kickstarter will automatically calculate additional shipping costs based on your location.

Unfortunately, international shipping has become increasing expensive and is often prohibitive to non-US backers. Several contemporary publishers have decided to discontinue international shipping completely. For this project, Onyx Path wants to keep all options open to our customers, though shipping costs will reflect the expense. Please be aware that you are responsible for additional import duties, taxes, and brokerage fees, and that we must comply with international law and cannot mark your reward as a gift or as a zero-value item.

If you live outside of the US, here are your options for obtaining a physical copy:

• Pledge to the campaign at Lernaean Hydra or Cerynean Hind reward tiers to get the PDF version plus a redemption code to purchase the print-on-demand version of the book at a discounted cost (plus shipping) from DriveThruRPG once it’s available (see Reward Descriptions, above, for more details).
• Wait and buy the hardcover book via your local/preferred game store when it hits distribution.
• Pledge to the campaign at the Follower of the Gods reward tier to get access to the Kickstarter preview manuscript. Later, you can buy the PDF and/or Print-on-Demand when eventually released.
• Contact your local game store and make sure you’re put on a preorder list so they know there’s demand for the game that they’re being asked to fill, and then encourage them to back at the Retailer Tier (Diomedes’ Mares or Cerberus) for this campaign!
• Look into a freight forwarding service that can give you a US-based shipping address, get packages delivered to it, and then forwarded to you.
• If you don’t mind the high shipping costs, pledge to the appropriate reward tier and pay for shipping now! We’ll send your package at the same time we fulfill domestic rewards.

After the campaign is over we’ll launch BackerKit, our post-campaign pledge manager, and invite the backers to set up their rewards via survey. This allows you to confirm your pledge and add on anything that you might have missed, as well as possibly increasing your pledged reward tier, should you choose to expand your reward selection. This option will give international backers additional time to investigate shipping options, should they choose, knowing they can confirm a physical reward at a later date. Funding collected in BackerKit after the campaign does not count toward any campaign Stretch Goals, however.

Onyx Path Publishing has managed more than 40 Kickstarter projects, and the company has learned how to focus during a campaign to maintain manageable projects and achievable goals. To read more about the knowledge that has been applied to this project, you can read the FAQ linked here: http://theonyxpath.com/about/faq/kickstarter/