Kicking off the FINAL WEEK!
over 3 years ago – Tue, Oct 06, 2020 at 06:41:28 PM

Backers! Hello! 

Hope everyone is well & feeling good as we head into our FINAL WEEK! Quick recap: we had a really solid weekend, unlocking the anthology INTERIOR ART stretch goal (which I am VERY excited to do the art for. Hope I can fit it in amongst all the extremely awesome Companion Deck COVER ART I have planned!) And we're closing in on the TRIBAL & NOMADIC Mini Companion, which I know a lot of you were VERY vocal about wanting. 

And, since the work week started yesterday, as has been noted (thanks Sherriff @SeanAlgate, for the straight talk), progress has been a little pokey the past 2 days.  To thee I say a resounding WHATEVS. I love to see big numbers as much as the rest of you, unlocking stretch goals like a bullet belt feeding into a gatling gun. BUT, I have every reason to anticipate a very strong final week, and a SUPERCHARGED last couple of days. Just to let you stretch-goal-hungry jackals know in advance: Nerses and I have stretch goals planned for you through 300K. Among them, there's one thing he and I feel you really really need, and TWO things we know you're gonna really love. Think you can help us get there? 

The REFER A FRIEND program is still in effect, & a bunch of you have already taken advantage. (yes, we're keeping track.) Get one friend on board? Get either the 2021 new release of the updated Volume 1 or Volume 2. Refer a second friend? Get the other deck you didn't pick the first time. Between the two, Volume 1 has the most new cards, revisions, & revamps. But, Volume 2 trades an in an entire category, which is just a taste of something you'll be seeing a lot more of in future releases: the REINVENTION category gets retired - and gives center stage to a whole new category: POWERS.

Oy. I have other news. Kickstarter creator lesson number 965: stop trying to cram so much news into one update. 

Nerses and I are closing formation for a stellar final week. Prepare for new visuals, and, as I said, new stretch goals! Meanwhile, I'm in the process of staffing up - getting us new content writers and new artists to fill out all the good stuff we've unlocked!

And, this weekend: listen in to me on the GADGETS & GEEKERY podcast! I'll have a solid date for you as soon as its charming & charismatic host, Q, lets me know when she's gonna drop the episode. (She said she's aiming for Friday or Saturday of this week.) She and I had a FANTASTIC time recording this, & I hope you'll tune in!

Illustrator-Author GREG MANCHESS heads up the Short Story Anthology
over 3 years ago – Tue, Sep 29, 2020 at 09:28:36 PM

There’s some big developments happening with the Short Story Anthology!

MEET OUR FEATURED AUTHOR

First big announcement: Illustrator and novelist GREG MANCHESS has agreed to join us as the Featured Author of the Anthology Book!

Many artists (& artists in training) know Greg from his long tenure as an instructor in the SmArt School online illustration program, and the annual week-long Illustration MasterClass (which is where I met him, way back in 2008!) He is also well known for his amazing illustrations in the Science Fiction/Fantasy world and beyond, having created many book covers, worked extensively for National Geographic, and painted the paintings seen in the Cohen Brothers movie The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. 

In 2017, Greg published his first illustrated novel, ABOVE THE TIMBERLINE - a coming of age adventure tale set in a Steampunk-inspired, frozen alternate future, filled with airships, exploration, treachery, and polar bears.

ANTHOLOGY INTERIOR ART

Right now, we’re chasing down another anthology-enhancing stretch goal - interior art for each story! As of now, it’s my intention to do these illustrations MYSELF. I’m extremely passionate about the anthology, and the quality of the story entries we’ve received so far have only made me double-and-triple down on my excitement for it. And the idea of getting to do a whole series of black & white line art illustrations for a book I’m publishing myself is just too good an assignment to pass up (or to pass off to someone else.)

Each illustration will be custom-created based on the story it accompanies. So if you’re considering entering the short story contest, I hope the possibility of seeing a full page illustration paired with your story makes entering sound even more enticing.

RETURN TO TIMBERLINE

Greg has already declared his intention to use his anthology story as a testing ground for another adventure in the TIMBERLINE world!  Which I am totally thrilled about.

If you’re a writer who has their own ongoing IP (or you have intentions to create one) I HIGHLY recommend using the anthology as a chance to create a new story that exists within it. We’d love the chance to take a spin around your worldbuilding!

For more information on how to get your story included in the anthology, click here!

Refer PSYCHE to a friend, and get a huge bonus!
over 3 years ago – Wed, Sep 23, 2020 at 11:52:34 PM

Hello again, Amazing Backers!

Have WE GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!

Here’s a piece of inside info: There is a new, revised edition of Reckless Deck Volume 1 and 2 at the printers RIGHT NOW, devoid of any Kickstarter or crowdfunding campaign. We were running low in inventory from 2017, and it was time to order more. however, Nerses and I took the opportunity to make some changes.

I’ve been demo-ing Reckless Deck for 2+ years now, at shows, cons, & colleges. I’ve had a lot of hands on time to see what works and what doesn't. Plus, we’ve had 2 years of feedback from our audience and from retailers. These new editions are the culmination fo all that awesome knowledge. 

Totally new tuck boxes with gold foil, and about 30% new & updated content! Check this out:

And one of them can be YOURS FOR FREE! Just refer a friend to back the PSYCHE Kickstarter. Here’s how it works:

• Tell a friend about our campaign!
• That friend backs our campaign at the $35 Core Set level or above
• Shoot us a Kickstarter Message, or an email at [email protected], saying “so and so just backed you, and I referred them!” I would like a FREE copy of the new edition of a) Volume 1 or b) Volume 2!
• Your name gets entered into a VERY EXCLUSIVE, EXTREMELY CUSHY & SUPER FANCY spreadsheet of people who get free, advance copies of the new decks thanks to this promotion, and
• We mail your free deck to you as soon as they arrive from the printer!

Share the good news about the character creating power of Reckless Deck: PSYCHE, and get one of the very first copies of the 3rd edition of Reckless Deck volume 1 or 2!

Can't wait to meet your friends!

Cheers,

Clark

Dispelling Passport Tier Mysteries!
over 3 years ago – Wed, Sep 23, 2020 at 09:28:10 PM

Hi Friends!
   This campaign continues to ROCKET along! Really, you guys are killin' it. Thanks for getting on board.
   I definitely see people are confused about the Passport Tier, in the comments section - what totally it contains, and when and if it's changing or going away. Let's drill down and answer those questions, shall we?
 

•  The PDF.  The Passport Tier will include access to the downloadable PDF version of the Core Set, and the Epic Fantasy Companion.
•  The Current Price. The current price for the Passport Tier is $199, not $200.
•  The Core Set. It comes with one copy of the Core Set (obviously.)
•  The Companion Decks. It comes with all unlocked Companion Decks, both current and still to come.
•  The Mini Companions. It comes with all of these, too, both current and still to come.
• The Anthology. It comes with a copy of the Anthology. Have you started your story contest entry yet?
•  Coins. It comes with ONE Protagonist/Antagonist Coin, in your choice of 3 colors/finishes. It also comes with ONE of each of the other Genre Series coins we unlock, in your choice of 3 colors/finishes. I will make sure there is an option in Backerkit for Passport Tier backers to get a special price on adding on coins in the other 2 colors. 
•  Playmats. It comes with ONE playmat, in the design of your choice. IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT THE PLAYMATS: we just unlocked a stretch goal that allows me to requisition EIGHT NEW ART IMAGES from various artists for the new custom art category dividers. I STRONGLY SUSPECT that by the time we get to Backerkit, there will be new playmat design options. I will make sure there is an option in Backerkit for Passport Tier holders for getting 2 more mats at the existing 3-mat combo price ($28 apiece vs the regular $35) AND, an all-playmats price for getting all the playmats we end up offering, should you desire that option. 
•  Hold Everything Box. It comes with ONE Deluxe Box in your choice of design. Same goes for the boxes - we now have 8 new pieces of art coming. I expect the designs on the boxes will change given the new influx of art. All final desigs will be on display in Backerkit.
• Dividers. All the Core Sets & Companions now come with category Dividers. The Passport Tier will also come with ONE add on set of custom art dividers as well.

  The Passport Tier Going Forward

 As I said in the pledge description from the outset of the campaign, the $199 Passport Tier will not last forever. Those of you who backed it early were betting on our future success, and in return, we got a subtantial pledge that helped us meet our funding goal and beyond. Now, nine days into the campaign, the retail value of those Passport Tiers is a whopping $335. And that's not counting stretch goals that haven't unlocked yet! And so, on Monday morning, September 28th, at 10am EST, the $199 Passport Tier is getting retired, and will be re-opened as a new Pledge tier at $299. It will inlcude all the same stuff, and enable new backers to get all the same current and future unlocked stretch goals. If you're already a Passport Tier backer, does this affect your purchase at all? No way! You bought in early, & you get to reap the rewards. So that means just over 4 more days to the the Passport Tier at $199!
 

• If you're thinking of trading up from a lower pledge tier, NOW IS THE TIME.
• If you want an additional Passport Tier as an add on, DO IT NOW. Add the $199 to your pledge, as shoot me a message here on Kickstarter saying that's what those funds are for. It won't be available as an add on in Backerkit at this price.  
• If you have friends you think might want the Passport Tier, or know any lurkers who are planning on backing but haven't gotten around to it, PLEASE TELL THEM TO SHAKE IT SHAKE IT. Now is the time for them to make their move. We will advertise this change over the weekend, becasue I want everyone who wants a Passport Tier at this price to be able to take advantage. 

Thanks for bearing with me on a very info-dump update! Any questions, just leave it in the comments, or message me here on Kickstarter!

Thanks!

Clark

Big weekend, and a BIG surprise!
over 3 years ago – Wed, Sep 23, 2020 at 09:25:29 PM

 Hello, Kickstarter friends!
 HOLY WEEKEND. SO MUCH to discuss.
 The most important thing to talk about is this:

Friendly Shipping to AU, CA, EU, & US

  This is something I've wanted to be able to offer since the first RD Kickstarter in 2017. The PSYCHE Kickstarter now officially offers Friendly Shipping to Australia, Canada, The EU, and to US backers. I'm sorry this is coming to you in the first week of the campaign, instead of having been sorted before we launched. Better options for you guys have been presented to me since the launch, and so, I'm switching gears. Here is this new (& I'm hoping significantly improved) shipping info. This news is all very "boots on the ground" - but I'm determined that you guys outside the US will get this. And let me tell you, it is every bit the ROILING SNAKE PIT of spreadsheet treachery it sounds like.  But I WILL NOT BE DISSUADED. Friendly Shipping to Australia, Canada, the EU, and the US is absolutely happening.  I will have shipping estimates for you per region as soon as I can have them. Please keep in mind that these estimates will be based on rates today, as opposed to 10 months from now, so some changes are to be expected. But I will give you the best information available regarding your potential shipping costs.

A Free Gift for Backers!

Mid-evening late last night, we crossed a threshold - 1,000 backers! This is a big deal. And for that, Nerses and I both want to give you something freaking cool to celebrate the milestone with us! And so, the VIKINGS Mini Companion (the first of the Mini Companion series we announced) is now FREE for every backer at the Core Set Level and above. Just like that - BOOM. It's added to your pledge. Nerses and I want to offer our sincere thanks for betting on our success before we even hit our funding goal, and for continuing to support the project and drive this campaign forward.

There’s more stuff to talk about, obviously - but that’s more than enough for one update. Talk to you soon!

Warm Regards,

Clark