A quick note on when orders will be locked (you have time). PLUS, Alchemy codes for Book One now out!
over 2 years ago – Thu, Oct 06, 2022 at 09:03:22 AM

Hey everyone! Man, I've been chatty lately! A couple things today.

Orders will be locked/charged closer to shipping.

Locking and charging is important for when I need to pull the trigger on placing final orders with manufacturers or preparing for shipping from the fulfillment warehouse. However, I'm in a bit of prototype purgatory with a few products for the time being (holiday demands start early, so production is slow), and can't place those orders until everything is approved. As a result, locking and charging your orders now would only box out new pre-orders and prevent you from making changes to your orders prematurely. All in all, the more time we can let it remain open, the more flexibility is left for everyone. 

In the meantime, please rest assured that I'm remaining vigilant on my end to keep moving products forward. Lots of emails. Thank you for your patience!

This means, at least in my mind, that you have around 3 or 4 months left. I'll be able to place final orders from the manufacturer (with some wiggle room, to account for any changes) without charging or locking your orders. I'll be locking everything when it comes closer to shipping, as that's when those final numbers really matter! Don't worry! I will be very vocal about when orders will start being locked and charged closer to when it happens.

If you got a Book One PDF, you now have an Alchemy RPG code for it!

First off, thank you everyone for enjoying the platform. I love Alchemy and the team that works on it, so I am thrilled to know how many of you share my enthusiasm for it.

A few folks asked about Book One codes for Alchemy yesterday, so I generated a bunch of codes for you all. If you ordered a Book One PDF through this campaign, you got a code for it on Backerkit now! Or, if you pledged to the first Kickstarter campaign, too, you got a code through that!

Common problems that've come up with redeeming Alchemy codes:

• Make sure that you're only pasting in characters, not errant spaces before your code. That's tripped up a bunch of folks. I've let the Alchemy team know that that can happen, so they should be able to address that in the future.
• Alchemy codes are not the same as Ledger+ codes! Make sure you're grabbing the right code from Backerkit!
• If you're having trouble getting into your Digital Downloads on Backerkit, search your inbox for your old Backerkit survey link. That'll let you get right back into your account and access those downloads with minimal fuss.

So, if your code says it's invalid, it's probably one of the above things! I always double check codes that people say have given them trouble, and so far we've gotten everyone set up in no time. :)

And hey! A quick reminder that the folks at Alchemy have more stories and content they've made coming to the platform! Be sure to check out their (gorgeous) Kickstarter!

Last up: Into The Wilds Battlemap Books 

My pal and well-known cartographer Tom Cartos has just launched his Kickstarter, which offers a wide range of battlemaps for use in person and online. The books are dry-erase friendly and serve as a quick means of making custom encounter maps for your players (who just insisted on starting a fight where you couldn't have planned for). There are a bunch of books to choose from, with each one boasting a unique series of maps in a different environment.

I, personally, love battlemap books. I've long used simple dry erase maps, but these are far and away easier and more immersive to use!

If this sounds like something you'd also like, be sure to check out the Kickstarter!

Get all of Book Two on Alchemy RPG for free with your PDFs! Add items, choose subclasses, and more!
over 2 years ago – Wed, Oct 05, 2022 at 09:48:14 AM

Hey again everyone! I'm back with some bonus digital rewards for all you PDF-holders!

I've just hit the distribute button on a bank of codes for you that will let you enjoy the entirety of Book Two on Alchemy RPG, my personal favorite online TTRPG platform.

Alchemy is a beautiful system that you can use to host your favorite (and home-made) 5e content and play with your friends online. It has the backing of creators like me and Hit Point Press, and I can speak with certainty when I say I believe in the product and the team's vision. What they have is already beautiful, and they're lightning-quick with development updates and bug-smashing. Working with this team is always a highlight for me.

Much like the PDF, you'll be able to read every chapter, item, character option, and setting detail with this code on an incredible and immersive digital platform alongside your fellow players. The bonus here is that you can add these items to your games, complete with art, descriptions, and flavor text. More detailed built-in actions for equipped items will come down the line, too!

If you haven't seen Alchemy in action, I took some screenshots of how Book Two looks in-app. Again, you all get this for free if you also have the PDF (which almost all of you do).

To activate the book on Alchemy with your codes from Backerkit, you only need to create an account (email, username, password; less than 30 seconds), navigate to the Marketplace tab on the left side of the screen, and select the Redeem Code button in the upper right. Paste this code in and you'll instantly have a brand new and beautiful way to enjoy and integrate this book—forever! You'll find everything you've gathered in your Universes, which are found at the bottom of the left menu under the Marketplace.

And, if you like this, Book One is also available on Alchemy!

Alchemy also makes stunning books.

I, for one, can't wait to get this second book. The first served as valuable design inspiration for me when putting together the designs for Book Two! The art, world, and story these books weave together in a 5e-ready package is top notch. They're well past their funding goal and have a track record of successful fulfillment, so you can rest easy with any support! 

Dark Symmetry is the next installment in the Lore of Aetherra saga, dedicated to exploring the underwater city of Chrysalea and its technological mystery. A 300+ page campaign setting and adventure, your party can continue the Lore of Aetherra saga or start fresh and uncover the mysteries of Chrysalea on your own. If you missed the first campaign, you're in luck! Pick up The Lost Druid as a part of several pledge tiers or as an add-on in both the Standard and Limited Editions. Together these two books form the first half of an epic saga that will take your players from level 1-10 with nearly 600 pages of content.

It includes:

• Aethercraft rules for crafting
• 100+ pages of setting
• 200+ pages of adventure
• 13+ animated scenes
• 2 hour original soundtrack
• 12 all new subclasses
• 5 pre-made player characters
• 50+ new magic items
• 40+ new NPCs and monsters

That's it for now! I hope you like the bonus content, and have a blast with Alchemy!

Until next time! Keep on adventuring!

-g

Kibbles Crafting Guide to The Griffon's Saddlebag is here! Let's get crafty!
over 2 years ago – Fri, Sep 30, 2022 at 01:42:22 AM

Hey everyone!

Whoo-hoo! The 65+ page crafting guide PDF is now distributing. You'll find this file next to your PDF for Book Two on Backerkit. If you don't see it now, check back in a bit. In general, items are always available within 24 hours.

The recipes and mechanics for making these items were devised by KibblesTasty, a good friend and creator whose work I truly admire. Within the guide, you'll see how to spend your downtime creating magical items from Book Two using materials and magical components collected on your journey. This system can also be expanded further using Kibbles' other guides, including a free one, that will let you get even more in-depth about your characters' specialties. 

You can find more from Kibbles here, including his own book on crafting like this! I'm a very happy patron and supporter of his work, in case that's also something that sounds interesting to you! You can let him know I sent you.

In any case, happy crafting! I'll be back soon with more goodies in another update!

 Another great game project: SALVAGE 

Speaking of friends making cool TTRPG stuff, a very close personal friend (and old art director) of mine has launched a beautiful Kickstarter campaign for his new sci-fi legacy role-playing game, SALVAGE: Deep Space. The video alone is stunning, and I can speak from personal experience that I believe in the team and their vision. With countless hours of scenarios built into the core mechanics of the game, this is a game for any 5e fan that's interested in something a little more sci-fi and hands-on.

Check out SALVAGE: Deep Space!

Okay! Talk more soon, everyone! Keep on adventuring!

-g

The final PDF for Book Two is out now!
over 2 years ago – Fri, Sep 16, 2022 at 07:10:28 PM

Hey heroes! The title says it all!

The Book Two production PDF files are distributing right now, so you may need to wait a little bit for it to show up for you on Backerkit. In general, files should always be there for you within 24 hours. 

This file is virtually identical to the files I'll be sending to the printer, minus the backer credits and some additional printer stuff. It's as good as it gets! It's also full rez and, admittedly, pretty large. After all, it's a big book! I hope you have a blast using it digitally and, when you get it, in print.

Be sure to look for the Web version coming in the next few hours, too! That version is specifically designed to be viewed on screens and online. Much smaller!

Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm. It makes a big difference in the day-to-day, truly. Your energy gives me energy!

If your name isn't in the back of the PDF, it's because you either didn't submit a survey, put in N/A (or equivalent) as a response in your survey, or pre-ordered the book or PDF through Backerkit directly, instead of going through after the Kickstarter ended. That last bit's a symptom of Backerkit's survey system; your support is valued, always, regardless of where it comes from. Thank you for it!

Since the update last week, I've sent off the files for the animated lenticular pin, confirmed final designs with Campaign Coins for the magical coin set, confirmed some journal updates with the manufacturer (mostly concerning pocket material), submitted the final PDF file for the Bulette booklet, and have started the process towards getting the cards approved for printing. I also discovered that, because of the shift to making the journals suitable for A5 paper use, it afforded the option to make the plastic item card sheets hold three item cards, instead of two, per side. Nice!

That's it for now! The next time you hear from me will probably be with the crafting compendium! Exciting!

As always, keep on adventuring! Enjoy the PDF!

-g

A quick update: Final PDF incoming, crafting compendium on target, another griffon for the bestiary
over 2 years ago – Thu, Sep 08, 2022 at 06:24:28 AM

Hey everyone!

I wanted to leave a quick update for you leading up to some more content releases this month. The book is in a final content review pass by my friends at Hit Point Press. Once that's finished, I should be able to get you the print-ready PDF shortly after. Within the next week!

The crafting compendium is still on schedule for release sometime this month. At the very least, I'll have the content this month, and will be able to have it finished with the design aspect of the document by the start of October. But, so far, signs are optimistic that we're on target there.

The griffon bestiary is moving along! While we won't be seeing it this month, I'm super happy to show you some of the griffons that have been made already:

Prototypes!

• The bag's prototype is virtually perfected. After a final round of revisions from the physical copy I got last month, the updates are looking polished and absolutely delightful.
• I'm getting prototypes for the bookmarks and banners next.
• Cards are with the printers now for review. Box design will be sent off next.
• Dice steel molds are made. Waiting to get the next round of color/resin tests in.
• GM screen files are sent out. Waiting on interior screen page design files.
• Beanies should be revised soon. Hoping to get a new physical proof in the near future.
• I've shared feedback regarding the journals with the manufacturer. The next iteration should be great. Because of the scale increase to accommodate A5 sheets of paper, this means we can get 3 item cards per plastic sheet instead of 2! A nice upgrade. Waiting on the last couple character sheet designs.
• Pin designs and animation files are ready for shipping out for manufacturing
• Keyloop revised design sent off to make sure it's wearable on your wrist. First version had some minor design details to iron out, but mostly the length needed a change for it to be more immediately usable.
• The dice bag's had a few iterations made to get materials right. Shooting for an in-between of "sturdy enough to sit upright" and "loose enough to feel like a bag in your hands," while also looking like leather and having the right details.
• Print files for The Lie that Shook the Mountain are ready to print.
• All coin files are moving to 3d rendering with Campaign Coins. Just got the email in to confirm that this morning.
• Washi tape designs are ready to print.

We may experience some delays on finalizing prototypes due to how early manufacturers start working on winter holiday production (This Year I Learned). Regardless of how this affects shipping timelines, please always know that I'm working on these products diligently. Your confidence and satisfaction are paramount to me, truly!

I'll be back again very soon with your final PDFs! Until then, keep on adventuring!

-g