The latest monthly summary has our Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars book in the "active art direction" phase, which means artists are actively working on interior illustrations. Once these are finalized and delivered, it will move to layout. Hopefully at that point some of the artwork will sneak out and I'll share some previews.
The last listing I saw said they had contracted artists for the splat images - the Roles you pick as your path. While we wait, I'll share one more excerpt from the Leviathan companion book that we unlocked via Stretch Goal. Today... down below the waves!
Aquatic Combat
While the air is a new frontier whose mastery has only recently been unlocked by the potential of condensed coal, the seas have been traversed and fought over for millennia. Though few technologies have been pioneered to eke out an edge on the waves, many have been refined to new heights, or indeed depths, hitherto thought impossible.
One of the newest technological developments enabled by condensed coal is that of submarines. Although many have been designed since the 16th century, it was only the discovery of this strange new fuel source that made them viable naval vessels.
Submarine Encounters
As with aerial combat, elevation plays an important part of submarine combat.
The highest combatant in an encounter always has an Elevation Advantage of 0 and each other combatant has an Elevation Advantage of 1 for every range band they are below the lowest combatant. This Advantage always applies to attacks and attempts to stay hidden based on vision. If you are using the Fixed Elevation optional rule, treat the sea level as Elevation 0 and increase Elevation for every range band below it by 1.
Almost every vehicle designed for submarine combat can rise quickly to the surface. When moving toward sea level, a combatant may move an additional range band as part of the usual reflexive action. This means, absent any special rules, a combatant can move from Close to Medium range.
A character piloting a vehicle, or a leviathan capable of swimming, can attempt a difficulty 3 roll using any appropriate pools as a simple action to move from Close to Long range, provided they end their movement closer to the surface. Should they do so, they — and any characters in the same rig or vehicle — suffer from the Dazed status effect as the vehicle shudders around them due to the increased speed. Until the end of the scene, all human combatants have a Major Complication that, if not bought off, inflicts Taken Out as decompression sickness ravages them.
Unless they are using a weapon specifically designed for underwater combat or a rule or tag states otherwise, all combatants’ ranged attacks suffer an increased difficulty of +2 and the maximum range band they can target is Short.
Underwater terrain functions as cover, either light or heavy, and underwater vegetation adds up to two points of armor to an attack’s target for the duration of that attack. Aquatic life either flees when the encounter starts, possibly functioning as cover until the end of the first round, or as a Complication of a level determined by the Storyguide; small predatory creatures are a Minor Complication, while creatures almost as large as a leviathan are a Major Complication. The consequences of these Complications could be damage, being knocked backward a range band, or an increased difficulty for the affected combatant’s the next action.
A rig or vehicle whose Ruin level becomes Ruptured must reach the surface by the end of their next turn or be rendered Inoperative and sink. The consequences of this are left to the Storyguide’s discretion but they should be able to be rescued, have an opportunity to escape, or similar.
Surface Encounters
Naval warfare remains unchanged since its invention millennia ago. The weapons are more powerful, and the ships are larger, but the tactics are the same.
Whenever a vehicle’s Ruin level becomes Ruptured or Inoperative, that vehicle’s engineer must use their next action to make a Technology + Mental Arena roll with a difficulty equal to the damage dealt by the attack pushing the Ruin level across the boundary.
If they succeed, the vehicle remains afloat. If they fail, the vehicle gains the Sinking Vehicle status effect.
They must roll when the vehicle becomes Ruptured and when it becomes Inoperative, unless an attack takes it straight from Dented to Inoperative.
Sinking Vehicle The vehicle is slipping beneath the waves. All actions to pilot or attack with it have an increased Difficulty equal to half the number of rounds it has been sinking. A vehicle sinks fully in a number of rounds equal to 10 − the total of its Size and armor.
Resolution: The vehicle fully sinks. If this happens, every character on board gains the Deprived condition for a number of rounds equal to their Stamina, or half their Desperation Pool, at which point they drown and are Taken Out.
Alternatively, the vehicle can be patched. This is a staged action with a difficulty equal to the vehicle’s Size + its armor, and removes the status effect, but doesn’t restore Ruin.
New Tricks
Each Trick below indicates if it is universal and can be used for any type of attack or can only be used on melee or ranged attacks.
The following Combat Tricks are available to human or piloted (rigs and vehicles) combatants only.
Supporting Battery (2 hits, ranged): The target moves one range band away from the attacker and gains the Dazed status effect until the end of their next turn.
Targeting Flare (3 hits, ranged): The next ranged attack against the same target gains +2 Enhancement and the Critical Trick’s cost is reduced to two hits.
The following Tricks are available to any combatant, human, piloted, or leviathan.
Poorly-aimed Bombardment (1 hit, universal): The attacker and defender must succeed at a difficulty 2 roll using an appropriate pool or suffer two Injury or Ruin.
Ramming Speed (1 hit, melee): If the combatant moved before making a melee attack, they may roll a number of d10 equal to their Size and deal additional damage equal to the number of successes.
Optional Rule: Supporting Fleet The vessels supporting the characters get their own spotlight. Instead of spending hits on these Tricks, the players can spend an equal amount of Momentum to activate them during this spotlight. Additionally, a single vehicle not piloted by the characters can use the Ramming Speed Trick for free as part of this spotlight, automatically hitting the target and losing Ruin equal to the target’s Armor or can automatically deal one Injury or Ruin to a target; unless the players spend one Momentum to choose the target, the Storyguide chooses the affected combatant.
Pending Projects
Leviathan is in the contracts and coordinating phase; our rulebook is in the active illustration phase. Hopefully I'll have artwork to share soon.
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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 status of a project, the rules, or the setting, you will probably hear back from a writer or developer in the Discord. Or if you just want to discuss this game with other fans, you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
As we've seen in the past few updates, our book is still in the "Art Direction" phase. There's a lot of stuff in layout in the Onyx Path project summary, so perhaps a bit of a logjam there. The last note I saw on TC: Steam Wars, Mike Chaney noted that he was "Digging up samples for potential splat artists" so it seems that there's still some illustrations to be assigned while Larry works on the other artwork for the book.
Hopefully things will start progressing soon. I'll share any artwork that appears as they move closer to finishing up Art Direction and getting into Layout.
While we wait, I'll continue to share excerpts from the Leviathan companion book that we unlocked via Stretch Goal. Today... up in the skies!
Aerial Combat
In this time of steam, condensed coal, and infinite possibility, no frontier on the planet is safe from the Steam War. The Tillencrest Airsled, the Luftramm 19, and the Hirohata Long Range Aerial Ram — detailed in Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars — introduced the idea of aerial combat and the rules in this section will allow you to design, and run, thrilling aerial encounters.
These rules modify the core rules, are to be used alongside them, and apply to vehicles, rigs, leviathans, and any other character type. Collectively, these are termed combatants throughout.
Elevation
Height is a major factor during aerial combat. To keep things as simple as possible, elevation is tracked as a new type of Advantage.
The lowest combatant in an encounter always has an Elevation Advantage of 0 and each other combatant has an Elevation Advantage of 1 for every range band they are above the lowest combatant. This Advantage always applies to attacks. It also applies to attempts to stay hidden during the day, when looking up into the sun makes it harder to see, but is applied in reverse at night, when the higher combatant would be outlined against the moon.
Optional Rule: Fixed Elevation 0 The ground has an Elevation Advantage of 0 and every range band from the ground increases a combatant’s Elevation Advantage by 1. This makes Elevation Advantage less impactful overall, but easier to track. Elevation also impacts how a combatant moves.
When descending, a combatant may move an additional range band as part of the usual reflexive action. This means, absent any special rules, a combatant can move from Close to Medium range. A character piloting a vehicle, or a leviathan capable of flight, can attempt a difficulty 3 roll using any appropriate pools as a simple action to move from close to long range.
Unless they are capable of sustaining flight, a combatant descends one range band at the end of their turn. If this results in them hitting the ground, roll a pool of d10s equal to twice the number of range bands fallen. They lose a number of Injury or Ruin levels equal to twice the number of successes.
Additionally, whenever a combatant uses the Roll Away Defense Trick, they may spend a second hit to move an additional range band.
An ascending combatant must attempt a difficulty 1 roll of any appropriate pool as part of the reflexive move action. If they fail, they must use a simple action to move instead.
Areas and Area Effects
Most of the Areas you will be using for aerial combat are in the sky, an environment devoid of fixed cover and susceptible to different types of weather.
When a combatant uses the Utilize Cover action, they gain one of the following benefits, determined by what they are using as cover:
Cloud Cover: The combatant’s Defense increases by +1, +2, or +3 depending on the thickness of the cloud.
Terrain: Things like mountains function as full cover, hills as heavy cover, and trees as light cover (Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars, p. XX).
Weather: While weather itself can’t provide cover, it can rob an attack of momentum and provides up to two points of Armor (Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars, p. XX).
When applying Complications from area effects, any Complication that causes a combatant to fall prone or similar, results in them moving one range band closer to the ground.
The following area effects presented in the core book can be used to represent a variety of aerial effects by tweaking their potential consequences:
Aflame: Fighting in a lightning storm invites disaster from stray bolts igniting wooden panels, condensed-coal reserves, or wing membranes.
Overgrowth: Snow-heavy clouds can freeze machinery and organic flight systems alike.
Overstimulating: Storms flood the senses with extraneous information.
Quaking: Turbulence is the bane of skilled pilots the world over.
Other area effects — such as Darkness, Extreme Temperature, Extreme Weather, and Suffocating — can be used as written.
Optional Rule: Effects of Elevation As a combatant rises, the effects of extreme altitudes make themselves known. When a combatant starts their turn at Long range or further, relative to the ground, they must use a reflexive action to make a difficulty 2 roll using Athletics + Stamina to resist the effects of altitude sickness. Failure imposes the Deprived status effect and failing two consecutive rolls imposes the Dazed status effect. These status effects resolve after spending two rounds at Medium range or less, relative to the ground.
Additional Systems
The following systems are optional mechanics.
Gravity
Projectile-based ranged attacks firing upward have their range reduced by one range band to a minimum of Short. Projectile-based ranged attacks firing downward have their range increased by one range band to a maximum of Long range.
Look Out Below!
Stray munitions, corpses, and chunks of armor rain down on the ground. When an encounter takes place over any terrain that has Storyguide characters present, or that the characters are likely to visit, the Storyguide should roll 5d10 when a ranged attack misses, a vehicle loses one or more Ruin levels, or a combatant is Taken Out.
The number of successes rolled is applied, on a one-for-one basis, as lost Injury or Ruin levels to an individual character or rig; an increased difficulty to the next action undertaken by any Large-Scale Units present; or, in the case of empty terrain, the Contaminated Ground area effect Complication.
Storyguide characters present shift their Attitude by one at the end of the encounter, in a direction based on their view of the outcome.
Rushing Wind
Unless characters are within Close range of each other, the wind makes communication difficult. All attempts to communicate become a reflexive action requiring a Culture or Leadership + Stamina roll with a difficulty equal to the character’s Elevation Advantage compared to the ground.
Next month we'll look at Underwater Combat.
Pending Projects
Many dots to fill in.
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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:
The last note about TC: Steam Wars I saw in the Monday Meeting Notes blog noted that the book was still in Art Direction and the Onyx Path crew needed to touch base with Larry Blamire. So, I'm guessing that Larry is creating artwork for the game and it's underway, but not yet delivered and prepped for layout. That's just my rough interpretation of a tiny comment with no real knowledge on my part, but I'm hoping that we'll see this come together soon.
While we wait patiently, here's some preview text from our Leviathan stretch goal:
Of Rigs and Monsters
“By that time I had dedicated my life to building the greatest war rig mankind had ever seen. But the beasts topped even my iron colossus. I had to adjust my thinking. This was larger than all of us.” — General Friedrich Conrad Voss, Commander-in-Chief KPD
The best engineers (including John Chandler Tillencrest, Lucy Tillencrest, General Friedrich Voss, Freya
Bausch, and Cassidy Blake) now put their minds to the task of battling and destroying the leviathans, which
continued to lay waste on six fronts. It was quickly proven that each was impervious to conventional steam-rig
artillery, leading to a series of experimentations and innovations, including the following.
Chain Gun
This variation on “chain shot,” which has a long history of use in naval battles and sieges, improved on their
wildly spinning unreliability by creating projectiles designed to retain accuracy via a delayed shell release of the
chain; the hope being that enough of these may entangle and slow down a leviathan.
Net Cannon
An artillery piece designed to fire large, weighted netting of a strong, yet lightweight, material. As with the chain
gun, this was conceived to deploy close to target.
Coordinated Maneuvers
Weapon development focused on the hope that each leviathan might have its own Achilles’ heel. But any success
depended on carefully coordinated tactical operations deploying multiple steam rigs. The simplest was a
triangular chain siege by three fighting rigs where any slip in timing could mean a rig being pulled down like a
toy soldier.
Also requiring coordination was aerial warfare against the leviathans (particularly Megalodopteryx), as various
aerial rams, airsleds and other airborne fighters were outfitted with the new weapons. Famously, former rivals of
the air Lucy Tillencrest (of Tillencrest Airsled fame) and Freya Bausch, aka “the Cloud Angel” (of Luftramm 19
fame), fought alongside each other with their respective crafts.
Airpooners
Airpooners, or “air whalers,” were one of the stranger developments of the Leviathan Wars; a new breed of
mercenary contractor hired by government or corporation to take to the skies in fast-flying steamskiffs. They
displayed almost absurd bravado, standing strapped-in at the fore section of the skiff, harpoon raised as they
swooped down on a monster, hoping their well-placed jab might do some damage. Often, the harpoon was
chained to an anchor which was then dropped overboard in hope of encumbering the beast. Wealthy ex-military
and big-game hunters also took part, just for the thrill.
I'll have another text preview next month!
Pending Projects
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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 don't have anything new to share with you (at least not this month), but that doesn't mean the Trinity Continuum team doesn't have anything to say! Let's check in with them from the recent Onyx Path Gaming Convention.
No major surprise in terms of future releases - there's already a lot of Trinity Continuum projects in the works right now, so the plan is to focus on getting those moved through the progress track before any big new releases. Always great to hear the people behind the scenes talk about the Trinity Continuum!
While we wait for artwork to get finished up for Trinty Continuum: Steam Wars so layout can begin, I've also put in a request to maybe get a sneak peek at some of the Leviathan contents from our stretch goal reward. If we get lucky, maybe we'll have a taste or two over the next few updates while our main reward comes together.
Which, of course, leads us to...
Pending Projects
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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'll say it right off the top - I don't have any new info for you. But I do have info about where you can get more info...
A great place to learn more about pending and future Trinity Continuum projects is Onyx Path's annual Virtual Gaming Convention! In just over two weeks, Onyx Path will be running their online convention - FRIDAY JUNE 5 to SUNDAY JUNE 7.
If you want information on current and possible future Trinity Continuum projects, I'd suggest checking out:
Trinity Continuum Panel on Friday June 5 at 5:30 EDT
What's Up with Onyx Path on Saturday June 6 at Noon EDT
Ask Us Anything Panel on Sunday June 7 at 2:00 PM EDT
Hopefully we'll get some new info in one of those panels and I'll be able to share it in next month's update!
Pending Projects
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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 think they're still hammering out the art needs and illustrations for this book, so we're in a bit of a holding pattern until that's all finished. As soon as there's anything new to share, you know I'll include it in my monthly update. I love Larry's artwork and style, so I'm really eager to see this.
Pending Projects
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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:
The latest monthly summary has our Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars book in the "active art direction" phase, which means artists are actively working on interior illustrations. Once these are finalized and delivered, it will move to layout. Hopefully at that point some of the artwork will sneak out and I'll share some previews.
The last listing I saw said they had contracted artists for the splat images - the Roles you pick as your path. While we wait, I'll share one more excerpt from the Leviathan companion book that we unlocked via Stretch Goal. Today... down below the waves!
Aquatic Combat
While the air is a new frontier whose mastery has only recently been unlocked by the potential of condensed coal, the seas have been traversed and fought over for millennia. Though few technologies have been pioneered to eke out an edge on the waves, many have been refined to new heights, or indeed depths, hitherto thought impossible.
One of the newest technological developments enabled by condensed coal is that of submarines. Although many have been designed since the 16th century, it was only the discovery of this strange new fuel source that made them viable naval vessels.
Submarine Encounters
As with aerial combat, elevation plays an important part of submarine combat.
The highest combatant in an encounter always has an Elevation Advantage of 0 and each other combatant has an Elevation Advantage of 1 for every range band they are below the lowest combatant. This Advantage always applies to attacks and attempts to stay hidden based on vision. If you are using the Fixed Elevation optional rule, treat the sea level as Elevation 0 and increase Elevation for every range band below it by 1.
Almost every vehicle designed for submarine combat can rise quickly to the surface. When moving toward sea level, a combatant may move an additional range band as part of the usual reflexive action. This means, absent any special rules, a combatant can move from Close to Medium range.
A character piloting a vehicle, or a leviathan capable of swimming, can attempt a difficulty 3 roll using any appropriate pools as a simple action to move from Close to Long range, provided they end their movement closer to the surface. Should they do so, they — and any characters in the same rig or vehicle — suffer from the Dazed status effect as the vehicle shudders around them due to the increased speed. Until the end of the scene, all human combatants have a Major Complication that, if not bought off, inflicts Taken Out as decompression sickness ravages them.
Unless they are using a weapon specifically designed for underwater combat or a rule or tag states otherwise, all combatants’ ranged attacks suffer an increased difficulty of +2 and the maximum range band they can target is Short.
Underwater terrain functions as cover, either light or heavy, and underwater vegetation adds up to two points of armor to an attack’s target for the duration of that attack. Aquatic life either flees when the encounter starts, possibly functioning as cover until the end of the first round, or as a Complication of a level determined by the Storyguide; small predatory creatures are a Minor Complication, while creatures almost as large as a leviathan are a Major Complication. The consequences of these Complications could be damage, being knocked backward a range band, or an increased difficulty for the affected combatant’s the next action.
A rig or vehicle whose Ruin level becomes Ruptured must reach the surface by the end of their next turn or be rendered Inoperative and sink. The consequences of this are left to the Storyguide’s discretion but they should be able to be rescued, have an opportunity to escape, or similar.
Surface Encounters
Naval warfare remains unchanged since its invention millennia ago. The weapons are more powerful, and the ships are larger, but the tactics are the same.
Whenever a vehicle’s Ruin level becomes Ruptured or Inoperative, that vehicle’s engineer must use their next action to make a Technology + Mental Arena roll with a difficulty equal to the damage dealt by the attack pushing the Ruin level across the boundary.
If they succeed, the vehicle remains afloat. If they fail, the vehicle gains the Sinking Vehicle status effect.
They must roll when the vehicle becomes Ruptured and when it becomes Inoperative, unless an attack takes it straight from Dented to Inoperative.
Sinking Vehicle The vehicle is slipping beneath the waves. All actions to pilot or attack with it have an increased Difficulty equal to half the number of rounds it has been sinking. A vehicle sinks fully in a number of rounds equal to 10 − the total of its Size and armor.
Resolution: The vehicle fully sinks. If this happens, every character on board gains the Deprived condition for a number of rounds equal to their Stamina, or half their Desperation Pool, at which point they drown and are Taken Out.
Alternatively, the vehicle can be patched. This is a staged action with a difficulty equal to the vehicle’s Size + its armor, and removes the status effect, but doesn’t restore Ruin.
New Tricks
Each Trick below indicates if it is universal and can be used for any type of attack or can only be used on melee or ranged attacks.
The following Combat Tricks are available to human or piloted (rigs and vehicles) combatants only.
Supporting Battery (2 hits, ranged): The target moves one range band away from the attacker and gains the Dazed status effect until the end of their next turn.
Targeting Flare (3 hits, ranged): The next ranged attack against the same target gains +2 Enhancement and the Critical Trick’s cost is reduced to two hits.
The following Tricks are available to any combatant, human, piloted, or leviathan.
Poorly-aimed Bombardment (1 hit, universal): The attacker and defender must succeed at a difficulty 2 roll using an appropriate pool or suffer two Injury or Ruin.
Ramming Speed (1 hit, melee): If the combatant moved before making a melee attack, they may roll a number of d10 equal to their Size and deal additional damage equal to the number of successes.
Optional Rule: Supporting Fleet The vessels supporting the characters get their own spotlight. Instead of spending hits on these Tricks, the players can spend an equal amount of Momentum to activate them during this spotlight. Additionally, a single vehicle not piloted by the characters can use the Ramming Speed Trick for free as part of this spotlight, automatically hitting the target and losing Ruin equal to the target’s Armor or can automatically deal one Injury or Ruin to a target; unless the players spend one Momentum to choose the target, the Storyguide chooses the affected combatant.
Pending Projects
Leviathan is in the contracts and coordinating phase; our rulebook is in the active illustration phase. Hopefully I'll have artwork to share soon.
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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 status of a project, the rules, or the setting, you will probably hear back from a writer or developer in the Discord. Or if you just want to discuss this game with other fans, you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
As we've seen in the past few updates, our book is still in the "Art Direction" phase. There's a lot of stuff in layout in the Onyx Path project summary, so perhaps a bit of a logjam there. The last note I saw on TC: Steam Wars, Mike Chaney noted that he was "Digging up samples for potential splat artists" so it seems that there's still some illustrations to be assigned while Larry works on the other artwork for the book.
Hopefully things will start progressing soon. I'll share any artwork that appears as they move closer to finishing up Art Direction and getting into Layout.
While we wait, I'll continue to share excerpts from the Leviathan companion book that we unlocked via Stretch Goal. Today... up in the skies!
Aerial Combat
In this time of steam, condensed coal, and infinite possibility, no frontier on the planet is safe from the Steam War. The Tillencrest Airsled, the Luftramm 19, and the Hirohata Long Range Aerial Ram — detailed in Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars — introduced the idea of aerial combat and the rules in this section will allow you to design, and run, thrilling aerial encounters.
These rules modify the core rules, are to be used alongside them, and apply to vehicles, rigs, leviathans, and any other character type. Collectively, these are termed combatants throughout.
Elevation
Height is a major factor during aerial combat. To keep things as simple as possible, elevation is tracked as a new type of Advantage.
The lowest combatant in an encounter always has an Elevation Advantage of 0 and each other combatant has an Elevation Advantage of 1 for every range band they are above the lowest combatant. This Advantage always applies to attacks. It also applies to attempts to stay hidden during the day, when looking up into the sun makes it harder to see, but is applied in reverse at night, when the higher combatant would be outlined against the moon.
Optional Rule: Fixed Elevation 0 The ground has an Elevation Advantage of 0 and every range band from the ground increases a combatant’s Elevation Advantage by 1. This makes Elevation Advantage less impactful overall, but easier to track. Elevation also impacts how a combatant moves.
When descending, a combatant may move an additional range band as part of the usual reflexive action. This means, absent any special rules, a combatant can move from Close to Medium range. A character piloting a vehicle, or a leviathan capable of flight, can attempt a difficulty 3 roll using any appropriate pools as a simple action to move from close to long range.
Unless they are capable of sustaining flight, a combatant descends one range band at the end of their turn. If this results in them hitting the ground, roll a pool of d10s equal to twice the number of range bands fallen. They lose a number of Injury or Ruin levels equal to twice the number of successes.
Additionally, whenever a combatant uses the Roll Away Defense Trick, they may spend a second hit to move an additional range band.
An ascending combatant must attempt a difficulty 1 roll of any appropriate pool as part of the reflexive move action. If they fail, they must use a simple action to move instead.
Areas and Area Effects
Most of the Areas you will be using for aerial combat are in the sky, an environment devoid of fixed cover and susceptible to different types of weather.
When a combatant uses the Utilize Cover action, they gain one of the following benefits, determined by what they are using as cover:
Cloud Cover: The combatant’s Defense increases by +1, +2, or +3 depending on the thickness of the cloud.
Terrain: Things like mountains function as full cover, hills as heavy cover, and trees as light cover (Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars, p. XX).
Weather: While weather itself can’t provide cover, it can rob an attack of momentum and provides up to two points of Armor (Trinity Continuum: Steam Wars, p. XX).
When applying Complications from area effects, any Complication that causes a combatant to fall prone or similar, results in them moving one range band closer to the ground.
The following area effects presented in the core book can be used to represent a variety of aerial effects by tweaking their potential consequences:
Aflame: Fighting in a lightning storm invites disaster from stray bolts igniting wooden panels, condensed-coal reserves, or wing membranes.
Overgrowth: Snow-heavy clouds can freeze machinery and organic flight systems alike.
Overstimulating: Storms flood the senses with extraneous information.
Quaking: Turbulence is the bane of skilled pilots the world over.
Other area effects — such as Darkness, Extreme Temperature, Extreme Weather, and Suffocating — can be used as written.
Optional Rule: Effects of Elevation As a combatant rises, the effects of extreme altitudes make themselves known. When a combatant starts their turn at Long range or further, relative to the ground, they must use a reflexive action to make a difficulty 2 roll using Athletics + Stamina to resist the effects of altitude sickness. Failure imposes the Deprived status effect and failing two consecutive rolls imposes the Dazed status effect. These status effects resolve after spending two rounds at Medium range or less, relative to the ground.
Additional Systems
The following systems are optional mechanics.
Gravity
Projectile-based ranged attacks firing upward have their range reduced by one range band to a minimum of Short. Projectile-based ranged attacks firing downward have their range increased by one range band to a maximum of Long range.
Look Out Below!
Stray munitions, corpses, and chunks of armor rain down on the ground. When an encounter takes place over any terrain that has Storyguide characters present, or that the characters are likely to visit, the Storyguide should roll 5d10 when a ranged attack misses, a vehicle loses one or more Ruin levels, or a combatant is Taken Out.
The number of successes rolled is applied, on a one-for-one basis, as lost Injury or Ruin levels to an individual character or rig; an increased difficulty to the next action undertaken by any Large-Scale Units present; or, in the case of empty terrain, the Contaminated Ground area effect Complication.
Storyguide characters present shift their Attitude by one at the end of the encounter, in a direction based on their view of the outcome.
Rushing Wind
Unless characters are within Close range of each other, the wind makes communication difficult. All attempts to communicate become a reflexive action requiring a Culture or Leadership + Stamina roll with a difficulty equal to the character’s Elevation Advantage compared to the ground.
Next month we'll look at Underwater Combat.
Pending Projects
Many dots to fill in.
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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:
The last note about TC: Steam Wars I saw in the Monday Meeting Notes blog noted that the book was still in Art Direction and the Onyx Path crew needed to touch base with Larry Blamire. So, I'm guessing that Larry is creating artwork for the game and it's underway, but not yet delivered and prepped for layout. That's just my rough interpretation of a tiny comment with no real knowledge on my part, but I'm hoping that we'll see this come together soon.
While we wait patiently, here's some preview text from our Leviathan stretch goal:
Of Rigs and Monsters
“By that time I had dedicated my life to building the greatest war rig mankind had ever seen. But the beasts topped even my iron colossus. I had to adjust my thinking. This was larger than all of us.” — General Friedrich Conrad Voss, Commander-in-Chief KPD
The best engineers (including John Chandler Tillencrest, Lucy Tillencrest, General Friedrich Voss, Freya
Bausch, and Cassidy Blake) now put their minds to the task of battling and destroying the leviathans, which
continued to lay waste on six fronts. It was quickly proven that each was impervious to conventional steam-rig
artillery, leading to a series of experimentations and innovations, including the following.
Chain Gun
This variation on “chain shot,” which has a long history of use in naval battles and sieges, improved on their
wildly spinning unreliability by creating projectiles designed to retain accuracy via a delayed shell release of the
chain; the hope being that enough of these may entangle and slow down a leviathan.
Net Cannon
An artillery piece designed to fire large, weighted netting of a strong, yet lightweight, material. As with the chain
gun, this was conceived to deploy close to target.
Coordinated Maneuvers
Weapon development focused on the hope that each leviathan might have its own Achilles’ heel. But any success
depended on carefully coordinated tactical operations deploying multiple steam rigs. The simplest was a
triangular chain siege by three fighting rigs where any slip in timing could mean a rig being pulled down like a
toy soldier.
Also requiring coordination was aerial warfare against the leviathans (particularly Megalodopteryx), as various
aerial rams, airsleds and other airborne fighters were outfitted with the new weapons. Famously, former rivals of
the air Lucy Tillencrest (of Tillencrest Airsled fame) and Freya Bausch, aka “the Cloud Angel” (of Luftramm 19
fame), fought alongside each other with their respective crafts.
Airpooners
Airpooners, or “air whalers,” were one of the stranger developments of the Leviathan Wars; a new breed of
mercenary contractor hired by government or corporation to take to the skies in fast-flying steamskiffs. They
displayed almost absurd bravado, standing strapped-in at the fore section of the skiff, harpoon raised as they
swooped down on a monster, hoping their well-placed jab might do some damage. Often, the harpoon was
chained to an anchor which was then dropped overboard in hope of encumbering the beast. Wealthy ex-military
and big-game hunters also took part, just for the thrill.
I'll have another text preview next month!
Pending Projects
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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 don't have anything new to share with you (at least not this month), but that doesn't mean the Trinity Continuum team doesn't have anything to say! Let's check in with them from the recent Onyx Path Gaming Convention.
No major surprise in terms of future releases - there's already a lot of Trinity Continuum projects in the works right now, so the plan is to focus on getting those moved through the progress track before any big new releases. Always great to hear the people behind the scenes talk about the Trinity Continuum!
While we wait for artwork to get finished up for Trinty Continuum: Steam Wars so layout can begin, I've also put in a request to maybe get a sneak peek at some of the Leviathan contents from our stretch goal reward. If we get lucky, maybe we'll have a taste or two over the next few updates while our main reward comes together.
Which, of course, leads us to...
Pending Projects
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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'll say it right off the top - I don't have any new info for you. But I do have info about where you can get more info...
A great place to learn more about pending and future Trinity Continuum projects is Onyx Path's annual Virtual Gaming Convention! In just over two weeks, Onyx Path will be running their online convention - FRIDAY JUNE 5 to SUNDAY JUNE 7.
If you want information on current and possible future Trinity Continuum projects, I'd suggest checking out:
Trinity Continuum Panel on Friday June 5 at 5:30 EDT
What's Up with Onyx Path on Saturday June 6 at Noon EDT
Ask Us Anything Panel on Sunday June 7 at 2:00 PM EDT
Hopefully we'll get some new info in one of those panels and I'll be able to share it in next month's update!
Pending Projects
Rewards Delivered to Backers
Trinity Continuum Core Rulebook PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Æon PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aberrant PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Adventure! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Assassins PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Anima PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aether PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
Trinity Continuum: Aegis PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beneath the Sea! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from Beyond the Grave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
They Came from [CLASSIFIED!] PDF + PoD Codes (April 9 '25 Update)
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://trinity-continuum-steam-wars.backerkit.com/
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:
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