Book Two PDF is distributing now! Submit found errors to saddleb.ag/fix! Criir .stl files are out, too! PLUS: a week in a cabin, and a great monster compendium!
over 2 years ago – Tue, May 10, 2022 at 01:23:00 PM

Hey everyone!

As the title says, I've just hit the distribution button on Backerkit for the PDF of Book Two! You should receive your copies within the next hour or so, but it can take up to 24 hours for Backerkit to refresh and redistribute downloads after it doublechecks itself.

The PDF (and getting it):

You'll be able to find this in your Digital Downloads section of Backerkit. Log into Backerkit as a backer and then navigate to the project for Book Two. You'll see a Digital Downloads tab there under your order, which is where your Ledger+ and Book One digital files are also stored.

This is a preview of the book! You will see a few preview-related things, which I've put here at the top of the document:

This is a big PDF. To get it to fit on Backerkit, I've had to cut a few corners to get the size down. Backerkit has a maximum file size of 250mb—less than a third of the fully exported size. Please rest assured that if you see any pixelation in the PDF that it is not an indication of the final print quality.

Discovered errors should be shared with me to fix! Please do so by submitting them at saddleb.ag/fix.

When the final version of the PDF is released (i.e. when the book goes to print), I'll upload the uncompressed PDF in pieces that align with the book's parts (1-4), which will (hopefully) fit into the filesize limit. In any case, I'll make sure that you have access to the full rez options that you can combine into a full PDF with a digital tool. They're pretty easy to come by.

If you're looking for your name in the credits and don't see it, please make sure you completed your survey on Backerkit with the name you wanted to include. This only applies if you backed during the campaign, and didn't pre-order the PDF through the Backerkit store. In any case, I'll be redrawing names with each PDF release, so if you don't see your name now, you will in the future.

Criir 3D files are out!

Also, the Criir miniatures are ready! Those have also just gone out, and if you got the .stl file in your order, you'll see the full .zip come through with all the files you'll need to print it at home with your choice of two base designs. Have fun with your 3D printers and modeling!

What's next:

Coming up soon is the Bulette Takes the Liar soundtrack and fable PDF! These are so beautiful, and I really hope you enjoy them when you get them. Will Savino has done an incredible job with the musical accompaniment, and the illustrations that pair with the story are perfectly whimsical for a short, Grimm-like tale.

After that are the setting sound tracks! These are getting organized into playlists as we speak, although there may be another way we choose to present them instead for that maximum cool factor.

There's also a small bonus Foundry module that includes the character options from the book. That'll be out this month as well.

After that it's continuing the grind on getting physical products made! I've put out a tech pack for the journals now and am getting responses from the manufacturer to narrow in on those designs, and the tech packs for the key loop and dice bag are coming soon after.

They're still doing some prototyping for the GM screens to find the best solution to what I have in mind, so I appreciate your patience on that front. Things have been shaky in the Chinese manufacturing space, so getting definitive answers for it has been a little up in the air. Again, thanks for your continued patience with that. I really think it'll be worth the wait!

I'll have some dice prototypes to show you soon, too! They've really nailed the gelatinous cube look I was going for, and the Bulette Takes the Liar set is looking properly grim so far. I can't wait to show you!

A quick week in the woods

If you didn't know, I'm a one man band when it comes to most things with the Saddlebag. I've also been continuing to put out daily content throughout preparing and fulfilling the Kickstarter so far. As a result, I'm pretty beat.

I'm taking a week off, but will be back next Monday to respond to everyone who comments or has a question or message in the interim. In case you need a response immediately, please reach out to a moderator on Discord. They have the means to reach me in a pinch. Again, if you can wait a week for me, I'd certainly appreciate it, but I also understand that some things are emergencies and simply can't be delayed. Thank you for your understanding and continued support!

BONUS: Check out this gorgeous 400-page compendium of monsters and more from my friends at Studio Agate!

My friends at Studio Agate create gorgeous books that may just as easily be movie props. This next compendium from them is no different, and offers a ton of great options for both players and GMs alike! Here's the pitch:

Creatures: Netherworld is a 400-page monster compendium and toolbox for your next campaign, featuring more than 180 illustrated creatures for all levels, including 150 entirely original ones and 30 great classics with a new spin such as the Aboleth or the Chuul, 5 playable species (Drow, Duergar, Sidhe of the depths, Grimlocks, and Svirfneblins), adventure hooks, new feats and handicaps, 12 original magic items, 8 original archetypes providing you with material to design new monsters for your games... and much more!

When you go through the Book Two PDF for the Saddlebag, you'll see that this team is also credited for the art on the monsters/creatures in one of the appendices (for some fun new warlock patrons!). You'll be able to see first hand how lovely their art is, and their books are just filled to the brim with more like it.

Definitely consider supporting this great Kickstarter campaign!

That's it from me for now! Thank you all again so much for your support and enthusiasm through all of this! You've been nothing short of spectacular, and I'm so excited to get everything to your homes and tables as best I can. See you in a week!

Until next time, keep on adventuring!

-g

Smoke test surveys going out now! All others going out later today! Check your inbox!
almost 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 08:31:19 PM

Hey everyone! Happy Saturday! It's time for surveys to start rolling out!

The smoke test is going out RIGHT NOW. That means that 5% of you will get these surveys in your inboxes. Check your email! If you got one, go through the process of completing it and adjust your order however you need to. If you run into any issues, please email me directly at [email protected]. Backerkit staff don't really work weekends (good for them, honestly), so it'll just be me on deck today to handle any immediate support issues that come up. If you find something wrong, let me know so I can fix it for the other 95%! That being said, I've gone through this with a very fine comb and think it should be watertight.

After the smoke test comes back clear, I'll go ahead and send out all remaining surveys. I'll post a short update here once the final batch has gone out. In general, if you don't see it after the final batch has gone out, give it another half hour (it can take time to go through) and also remember to check your spam folder.

And! If your order on Kickstarter failed to go through: don't worry! Your orders are intact. You'll be prompted to update your payment information in Backerkit. Easy peasy.

Your orders should include your digital rewards that are already available: namely your Ledger+ codes, PDFs of Book One, and the Foundry VTT pack. I've gone ahead and copied over the timeline for digital rewards from a previous update here for easy reference:

Digital rewards going out today:

• PDF of Book One
• Ledger+ Access Codes: Books One
• Ledger+ Access Codes: Books Two
• Ledger+ Total Access Codes
• Foundry Book Two item bundle

Rewards going out shortly thereafter through end-of-May:

• PDF Book Two — this will still have some missing filler art, but is perfect for you to start using at home. Proofreaders, if you find anything, I'll have means of contacting me about it and cataloging your finds! This should be pretty tight, though: lots of folks have already combed through it! Let's see if Ind Fonts is sneaking around again.
•  BONUS: Foundry VTT update with races and subclasses
• Setting soundtracks should be live, too.
• Bulette Takes the Liar fable PDF and soundtrack
• Criir STL

Digital Rewards going out June through September:

• Updates to the PDF as needed leading up to the final printing version.
• Digital printable character sheets for those that got the journals. You're getting printed ones, obviously, but you can print new ones later or use 'em ahead of time!
• Griffons of the Multiverse Bestiary PDF
• Kibbles' crafting guide for The Griffon's Saddlebag: Book Two

Physical rewards: as soon as possible, obviously. Planned for February of '23.

Again, if you run into any issues (which I don't think you will), shoot me an email ([email protected]) and I'll do my best to make it right asap before sending out the remainder of the surveys.

Whoo-hoo! That's it for now! Talk more soon!

-g

Ledger+ Codes for Book Two are working! Have fun!
almost 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 10:45:59 AM

Hey everyone!

Here's my short update letting you know that the Ledger+ Book Two codes are working as intended now! You may need to give it a refresh if you're already on the page, but that's it! You won't need to reapply any codes or use a new one.

Also a quick reminder that Ledger+ codes and access are not the same as a PDF or a PDF download. The PDF of Book Two is coming sometime next month!

Thank you to everyone for the awesome showing of support today, and for being super cool to me throughout the day with and during your support questions and concerns. Your kindness and enthusiasm really go a long way! You're really awesome!

Have fun with the Ledger+! Talk more soon!

-g

Surveys are all out! Check your inboxes and spam! Heads up: Ledger+ codes for book 2 aren't displaying items properly yet—we're working on it!
almost 3 years ago – Tue, Apr 26, 2022 at 04:08:58 PM

Hey everyone!

The last of the surveys have been queued to go out! If you haven't seen yours come in yet, hang on for another half hour and be sure to check your spam folders!

Some backers have let me know that their L+ codes for Book 2 aren't working! Weird! My developer and I are working to isolate and resolve the issue. Your account says that the code's applied, so it's probably something on the backend that just needs flipping. Hang tight, we'll get it working as soon as humanly possible! I'll post another update when they're working again.

I realized that I goofed and didn't account for a specific subsection of backers who were at the add-on only tier and got a PDF. You'll be receiving your L+ codes, I just have to add you manually. Not a big list, so it's not a problem!

Also! I realized I did a bad job expressing Backerkit price changes to the backpack and Criir mini. Those prices apply to late backers only. If you pledged in the Kickstarter, your prices are locked in! Thank you for the support and interest in these bags, I know you're gonna love them!

Okay! I think that's all for now. Thanks again for your support, everyone! I'll continue to do my best to make sure that everything is right for you.

Talk more soon (with news on L+)!

-g

Backerkit is in the approval process! Surveys going out once it's ready.
almost 3 years ago – Tue, Apr 26, 2022 at 08:37:24 AM

Hey everyone!

I've submitted the Backerkit campaign for their approval! My Backerkit contact has said they're trying to get it through by the end of day tomorrow. Just a little longer!

Once that's given the green light, I'll be able to start sending out surveys to backers and allowing for late backers to come in and make pledges.

Before that happens, a smoke test will go out: this is where a small portion of you from across the range of backers get your surveys first, allowing you to find any issues that may have been overlooked during the Backerkit's creation (without flooding me with 11,700 support emails). Barring any issues that come up from that, I'll be able to start sending out the rest of the surveys.

Because Backerkit surveys are planned to go out before Kickstarter finalizes your charges, anyone whose Kickstarter payment hasn't already been processed will have their payment marked as failed in Backerkit. That's fine, though: you can fix it in Backerkit directly without having to wrestle with Kickstarter customer support. For those of you that have messaged me about your frustrations with this so far, this should hopefully make it easier for you.

What to expect with Backerkit

For those of you who haven't used Backerkit before, it's easy:

Backerkit is a "pledge manager". It allows me to get you your digital rewards and categorize your pledges and add-ons for use with fulfillment and warehousing. It also lets me ask you some survey questions to gather information from you (like your name for the PDF credits, or what book you'd like in the Legendary pledge, etc.). It's a useful and powerful tool that will allow you to change your pledge levels and include any add-ons you want, as well as confirm or update your shipping address and calculate your final shipping costs.

You will be sent an email (from me, Griffin Macaulay) asking you to complete a survey and finalize your order. It'll only take a moment and will let you further customize anything else you wanted to add to your order. This is also where you'll get your digital rewards.

Right now, your digital rewards will include PDFs of Book One, Ledger+ codes, and Foundry VTT bundles. More will be added as they're available (I'll update accordingly to let you know when things are added). For the rough estimate on digital download availability, check out the previous update here.

New to the Saddlebag Backerkit

Book One card bundles will finally be available for purchase in Backerkit as an add-on. Thank you for your patience with this! Please note that its cost is actually a bit higher than the Book Two cards purely due to the first sets' different production costs (7 smaller packs of cards, rather than one large box). The cost does not indicate any difference in quality or number of cards. Thank you for your understanding!

Two other items' prices have been increased slightly with the move to Backerkit: the Backpack (now $95; +$10) and the Criir miniature (now $30; +$14). All other costs have remained unchanged. I did actually just get my sample mini from Eldritch Foundry and man is it cool. And solid. I'm having a friend paint it tomorrow (as I am decidedly not a real life painter), after which I'll post pictures here of it so you can see it. 

Okay! That's it from me for now. We're well on our way to getting you Backerkit surveys! Thanks for your patience and support! More to come soon!

Keep on adventuring!

-g