Add-ons and Final Schedule for Campaign
over 6 years ago – Fri, Nov 10, 2017 at 03:43:35 PM

Schedule 

This is just a reminder of some administrative dates and estimates for the Lost Hall campaign.

The Kickstarter funds usually take "about two weeks" to settle, which means some time between today and something like Monday or Tuesday (Nov 13-14), everyone's cards or other payment options will be charged.

As soon as that happens, I will make the Backerkit process live. A link will go out and your balance from your pledge will transfer over. Your reward amount is usually automatically added, and you might have a balance if you upped your pledge for add-ons.

Regardless of that balance, you will then pick the add-ons you want, and the shipping charges for your reward level will also be added. That final total will be charged at the end of the Backerkit portion - which is also where I'll get the address information and a few other things.

The Backerkit portion will go until November 24.

Once that closes, I will start the process of assembling "lists" or "segments" for digital and physical distribution. If you bought a PDF copy of Dungeon Grappling, you'll get that immediately.

Lost Hall Final Layout and Proofing

I'm pleased to say all the final art assets are in my hands, and Todd showed me a preliminary final layout yesterday. We're not done by any stretch, but things are strong.

The way I did Dungeon Grappling, and the way I'll do this campaign, is that when we have a final PDF, we'll distribute it to backers, and then order proof copies of the product from the two printers we'll be using. Getting proofs (physical ones) can take several weeks.

During that period, I'd ask for your feedback. It'll be entered into a spreadsheet like this one, and I will discuss with Todd which if any changes can be accommodated. The only ones that can go in at that point are things that don't break the layout. Reasonable requests will be accommodated, but at that point we're mostly checking clarity, typography, and grammar.

Add-On Highlights

I'm pleased to report that Bogie Maps (Dan Roy) has completed all the maps for the add-on map pack. Some samples below:

 There are three more as well, and you'll be able to see them when the Backerkit goes live.

The other two add-ons are a excellent collection of OSR zines by my friend Tim Shorts, and of course Dungeon Grappling, which is available in both PDF and Print+PDF.

We're coming down to the end, and things are going very well at this point. I'm much farther along than even for the Dungeon Grappling project, and that one delivered substantially ahead of schedule.

Viking Shields as an add-on?
over 6 years ago – Wed, Nov 08, 2017 at 08:48:35 PM

I'm torn. 

On the one hand, it's a surplus physical item. And an expensive one. On the other hand, I love making them.

They'd be expensive to ship, and pricey to make . . . but if I get some takers (wouldn't take many!) I will offer a hand-made replica of a Shield of Torengar. Basically the classic Medium Shield from DnD games, and about 6 lbs.

 Above are some finished examples I made for my viking martial arts class. They will not have that paint job - that's for the school - but I can do any two colors and will do a half-and-half, quarters, or four or six lobed spiral, similar to the valkyrie/dragon shield I made for my wife.

 Here are some of the shields prior to the paint job. You can see the hand-carved oak handle and iron nails.

They'd probably cost about $275 each and another $75 for shipping. So not cheap, but a chance to have a fun piece of Torengar fictional history!

Lost Hall Cost Estimates
over 6 years ago – Fri, Nov 03, 2017 at 08:30:53 PM

It's my practice to be pretty transparent about the cost to make my games. So, with no further ado, here's the end-of-project view on "where will the money go?"

Writing and Editing

The basic cost to write the book and make it readable. These are almost always "per word" charges, and will typically range from 0.03 to 0.10 per word depending on the writer and editor's rates. John is very public about his rates - they're published on his website at 0.03 to 0.05 per word; my own assumed writing fees are 0.05 per word.

As such, writing and editing show a total cost of $1,540.

Layout and Art

Layout and Art are the bulk of any project's cost in my experience. Of course, one of my goals is to make a book that's awesome to look at as well as great fun to play. The components of "art" in this book include the Cover, Interior Art, Layout, and Maps.

Layout was done by Todd, and in this case, we worked out a fixed rate in advance. Which honestly wasn't enough and he'll be getting more money than we initially agreed due to scope creep and iteration.

Maps and Interior art pay by the piece, with the artist setting their own rate and I either say "yes, I accept" or "no, thanks." I never dicker with the artist over what they want to charge (well, that's not true; I've several times paid more than what the artist quotes).

Total art, layout, and art direction for Lost Hall: $4,450

Printing and Shipping

These will float a bit until I actually know the real numbers, but approximately 114 physical copies were procured by the Kickstarter. I'll probably order another 25 to act as physical inventory for myself to fulfill future orders through my website.

Shipping costs are variable, but mostly will be about five to eight dollars each. Call it about six.

So printing and shipping the books should run about $1,550 in round numbers.

Management (and Marketing!)

There are many bits of project management that come up in running a Kickstarter or publishing project of any size. Done well, they blend into the background and seem effortless and worthless. Done poorly, they result in crap projects, ill will with the creative team, and late or unfulfilled Kickstarters.

The two areas that really hit here are overall project management (including contracting) and Art Direction.

Marketing is something that really should be a line item as well, but right now, it's just "post a lot on social media" and I handle that myself as well, so I haven't figured out what to charge for it: I lump it in with Project management.

Art Direction involves hiring the artists, contracting, deciding the base composition for each piece, and nudging the process along. Because that's subsumed into "project management," and it's all me, it's also (like writing and project management and marketing) something I budget for but don't include in my Kickstarter basic goals.

The two together are estimated at about $1,100.

Total Costs for Lost Hall of Tyr

So there you have it:

• Text Content: $1,540
• Graphic Content: $4,450
• Print and Ship: $1,550
• Management/Admin: $1,100

Total Cost: $8,640

If we subtract the fees I might charge for my own work (writing, management) and shipping (because it's a pass-through done in Backerkit), we're left with about $6,000 in out-of-pocket expenses to make the book.

It was another good experience, though, and the final product is going to be fun to play and very attractive. As always, your feedback on what you liked about both the product and the Kickstarter (planning, execution, and eventual delivery) are appreciated!

And Victory!
over 6 years ago – Tue, Oct 31, 2017 at 07:44:45 PM

We passed the finish line last night with $4,055 pledged, which is a nice place to be.

In the next few days, I'll be sending out a few emails letting you guys know a few things.

• First, it's my practice to really show you where the money's going. I'll post a complete financial cost/revenue update shortly.
• I will also get Backerkit spun up. They will be handling my surveys, shipping cost estimates, etc.
• Todd and I will be working layout and incorporating all of the existing and pending art assets into the book, which will rapidly move from "working" to "proof copy."
• The day the funds settle in Kickstarter, everyone who pledged for PDF copies of Dungeon Grappling will get them, no waiting. If you choose to add more in backerkit, you'll get those at the end of the Backerkit period, which will last maybe 10-14 days - this will move quickly so I can close it and get you your stuff quickly.
• Finally, the folks that pledged at the Stythja level will be contacted shortly and we'll start making characters and I'll send you your Dragon Heresy race/class preview packet. 
• Stythja levels will be available as Backerkit options, for what it's worth - if you change you mind and really want a level 4-7 character as a pre-gen, with the writeup and illustration, it's not too late.

For now, a deep breath, and a mustering of energy to sprint to the finish.

Thanks to everyone that made this happen!

Second Best Day of the Campaign!
over 6 years ago – Mon, Oct 30, 2017 at 08:26:57 PM

We had a fantastic day yesterday, and the weekend in general was wonderful. We pushed well past the original $3,500 stretch goal (though that's now irrelevant because we're getting that anyway) and there's still 15 hours to go - the campaign closes at 10pm CST.

 As we head into the final hours, a reminder:

• Gaming Ballistic will handle PoD printing through PubGraphics. I've raved about their quality before.
• It will of course be made available on DriveThruRPG
• It will have Swords and Wizardry support baked in, with conversion notes either in boxes or sprinkled through the rules as appropriate
• It will probably still feature maps as art in a few places, but I'll have to look at the final economics of the entire thing and see.

So that's it - spread the word and let's see if we can have a great last day!