A quick dice update (with video!), PLUS two just-launched campaigns worth your support
about 1 year ago – Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 12:24:57 PM

Hey everyone! Quick and to-the-point today!

Below are the latest test pours of the dice. These aren't using the special molds I've had made yet, since those are getting repaired (see the last update on that), but their contents are approaching finalization!

Here's a video of the Geleton d6:

And a video of the Bulette Takes the Liar d20:

I'm currently going through final considerations with these two designs, but I'm really happy with how they're looking.  I hope you are, too!

The last problem child product, the beanies (seriously, why are these so hard?), are still getting worked out. I'm eager to get you good news on those ASAP. I've just signed on with my various fulfillment warehouses and will be getting them all ready to start receiving products as they're finished.

Two just-launched 5e campaigns worth your support

The Book of Extinction by Mage Hand Press

The Book of Extinction is a historically- and scientifically-informed monster book of  over 130 creatures that existed once on Earth. Mage Hand Press has worked with the Center for Biological Diversity to have these creatures verified for (magic notwithstanding) historical accuracy. Also within the book are new playable races that embody and ending: the last members of a species. With post-campaign promises of charitable contributions, too, this is an easy-to-justify addition to any table's assortment of beasts. Plus, your druid will thank you!

BIG BADS by Hit Point Press

The Big Book of Big Bads is a 250+ page compendium of boss monsters (and companion book of magic items) that are story-driven and ready for inclusion in your world. I, personally, get the latest Big Bad Booklets from Hit Point Press's Patreon each month and always look forward to them. I'm super excited for this all-in-one collection of these BBEGS and their various lairs. This is a first-party Hit Point Press project (think Humblewood), and is virtually already ready to ship. Just like the Book above, this campaign is a great one to support.

That's it from me for today! Thanks for your support, as always, and I'll see you again soon. Keep on adventuring!

-g

Update! Prototypes, small hangups, progress!
about 1 year ago – Fri, Mar 03, 2023 at 10:04:29 AM

Bottom line up top: things are in good shape. Current hangups/frustrations are with dice production times (manufacturing defects with the steel mold) and the beanie. I don't know why making a beanie has been such a pain point. Things are lining up to have the trigger pulled on production. Only a few more things needed before we're in full manufacturing swing!

Shipping timeline will be much more concrete as soon as everything is in production: things need to be made and then shipped to the warehouse, which will take some weeks. With these updates, I hope you can see the process as transparently as possible and the effort and coordination that goes into getting products ready for shipping. As always, thank you for your patience and continued enthusiasm!

—

Hey folks!

I got some new prototypes in the last month, as well as some image updates from other producers to show how things are moving along on their respective ends. Physical updates, in the video below, include: backpack, washi tape, and lenticular pins. In the images below that, you'll see dice manufacturing imagery and an update on the deluxe book covers (they look good now).

Let's dive in!

Bag, Tape, Pins

TL;D Watch:

• bag is ready for production. You can see the final design updates for maximum utility here.
• washi tape is good to go following a minor update to the item pattern design and size.
• lenticular pin is very cool, just needs to have the frame "tightness" opened up a bit more.

Dice

My dice partners have been working to fix some manufacturing defects in the steel mold for the dice sets. While new inner cores are being made, which can take two to three weeks, they're working to finalize the colors, inclusions, and production methods used. You can see how the mold's defects produce a less-than-ideal result in the image from them below. Notably, over-rounded edges and weird corners.

Deluxe Book Covers

In my last update, you could see how the gold and leatherette covers had their placements inverted! Whoops! That's fixed now, as you can see the image from the printers below. Lookin' good!

Other bits and pieces

All the printed stuff (cards, booklets, journal inserts, etc) is now being made to make sure it's good to go. I don't expect any issues there. The journals and dice bags are in their final round of prototyping, from which I also don't expect any new issues. There's one coin whose finish isn't quite right yet, but it's a minor adjustment. Criir miniature production is ready to start whenever everything else does. Banners and bookmarks are in good shape and should also be ready to start with the rest of production.

That's it for now, adventurers! Until next time, keep on adventuring!

-g

Great prototypes, a second book printing already, and more. PLUS: Two more favorite Kickstarters!
about 1 year ago – Thu, Feb 02, 2023 at 08:41:34 AM

Hey folks!

Production's been delayed this month because of the Chinese New Year, but should be resuming now. In January, I did receive a new set of prototypes for the banners, bookmarks, and dice bags! They look excellent. I also got the the first advance prints of Book Two!

You can see them in the videos below:

(Not included in your Kickstarter support: a borky chihuahua).

As mentioned in the video, I'm ready on all printed content. I need to get one final size confirmation regarding the binders, but that's it. The only other items that need me to sign off on their prototypes are the beanies and dice. There are some other details I need to finesse here and there, but all very minor.

Books are printed and waiting to be shipped to the warehouse, where they'll continue to sit until everything else is there as well. It's just as well, actually, since the massive wave of support over the last month in the wake of the OGL turmoil has made me order another wave of books already! Thank you all to everyone who ordered or expanded your pledge in the last month. It was great to see the community support amidst all the uncertainty.

As always, I'll keep you updated with details and videos like this. I'm doing my best to keep on top of manufacturing teams and design processes to get you your rewards!

PLUS: Two more Kickstarters deserving of your attention:

Kibbles' Compendium of Legends and Legacies

As a refresher, Kibbles is the creator who made the Crafting Guide for Book Two! His sense of balance and relentless cycle of content testing has made him one of my favorite creators to support. This book includes 4 full (awesome) classes, 30+ subclasses (for new and old classes), 40+ new feats, and hundreds of new spells. It's a compendium chock full of terrific new options to add options to your players and table.

Witchy Cakes from Mage Hand Press, the people who brought you Valda's Spire of Secrets!

Witchy Cakes is not a 5e supplement, but it is one of my favorite card games and comes from brilliant 5e authors Mage Hand Press.  This is an instant classic card game where your job is to bake the biggest cake with magic and mayhem to out-bake the other witch covens at the table! Build your cakes layer by layer, or throw cake at your opponents to topple theirs! I've played this game at every convention I've gone to over the last year and can say, truly, that it's worth your support!

That's all for now, folks! Until next time, keep on adventuring!

-g

Griffons of the Multiverse is OUT!
over 1 year ago – Thu, Jan 05, 2023 at 05:00:54 AM

Hey everyone!

I just distributed the Griffons of the Multiverse bestiary to Backerkit! If you received a PDF of Book Two, you'll see it there in your digital downloads!

Quick update: I fixed a couple formatting errors that slipped through (including a few griffons' stats, whoops!). Uploaded the new version, decommissioned the first, and also included a version that has bleed and crop marks for you to print and trim at home! If you do it, I'd love to see photos! Make sure you grab the new file if you got it right when I uploaded it!

Here are a few spreads from the PDF!

In its 40+ pages, you'll find these twenty new griffon statblocks!

• Alce
• Chimeric Griffon
• Druidic Griffon
• Phantom Griffon
• Sphinx Griffon
• Winter Griffon
• Air Griffon
• Tempest Griffon
• Earth Griffon
• Fire Griffon
• Phoenix Griffon
• Water Griffon
• Fey Griffon
• Pseudogriffon
• Shadow Griffon
• Celestial Griffon
• Hell Griffon
• Rakshasa Griffon
• Vrock Griffon
• Starscape Griffon

The art is stunning, as illustrated by Damien Mammoliti, and the unique creature mechanics written by the same monster authors you've come to expect from Book Two's included monsters. I hope you have a blast with this release, it was a fun one to create for you!

Have fun exploring the multiverse with new and exciting griffons around every plane shift!

Until next time, keep on adventuring!

-g

Books are printing and character sheets are done! More updates shortly.
over 1 year ago – Thu, Jan 05, 2023 at 03:33:58 AM

Hey folks! I'll be posting some more updates within the next week or two, so keep an eye out for it.

First off, if you got a journal in your order, you'll find the associated character sheets uploaded to your Backerkit Digital Downloads. These are made for A5s, but can easily be stretched without degradation to fill a normal letter sized page.

I got another journal prototype in and it looks great. I had one comment about it to confirm with the manufacturer, but we're looking pretty square on it!

The Griffon Bestiary is underway and should be out very soon. :)

I've also gotten the books' printing and binding underway, as well as made the deposits for the merchandise production! Prototypes are still underway, but are continuing to look great since the last time I showed them to you. The final bag designs are locked in and they continue to blow me away. They've nailed the new magnetic clasp positions so you can fit your books inside, plus they added a great carrying handle along the top so you can pick it up more easily. It also matches the look of the original bag's illustration a bit more because of it:

More dice prototypes should be soon. I have to work out some production stuff with them makers first, but it shouldn't be a huge hurdle.

That's it for now! Talk more soon, and keep on adventuring!

-g