I realize it's been a hot minute since you may have backed Downcrawl, and I've gotten a few questions about package contents, so thought I would shoot out a quick update expl...
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Aaron A. Reed
6 days ago
Shipping Update; Digital Version Released!
TLDR: Most orders in progress; hardcovers delayed; digital version releases today!
Hi backers!
It's been a flurry of activity here-- after a long day of packing, with the h...
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Aaron A. Reed
22 days ago
March Update: Shipping Details!
TLDR: Shipping happening this month, small Journey Rule update
Hi backers! You'll be happy to hear that later this month I'll be shipping all your Downcrawl goodies to you (...
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1
Aaron A. Reed
about 1 month ago
Shipping Refunds Processed
Hi backers--
An update on the issue with erroneous shipping charges which I described in my previous post. All refunds for affected backers have now been processed through S...
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1
Aaron A. Reed
about 2 months ago
Shipping charge issue - Update
Hi backers--
TLDR: Many folks were overcharged for shipping when cards ran this morning, due to a dumb mistake on my part. The amount is between $10-15 for most US backers, ...
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Aaron A. Reed
about 2 months ago
Shipping charge issue
Quick update for backers about an issue with today's shipping charge.
I've been made aware of an issue with the shipping charges that were processed this morning where some ...
I realize it's been a hot minute since you may have backed Downcrawl, and I've gotten a few questions about package contents, so thought I would shoot out a quick update explaining what each of the items you're receiving is and how it fits into the main Downcrawl game.
Recall that your order is probably coming in multiple shipments! Depending on your pledge tier and add-ons, you are likely getting two shipments: one containing your rulebook(s), and another containing all other items. Everything has now shipped except for hardcover rulebooks, which should ship in the next 1-3 weeks; check your inbox (and spam folder) for emails with tracking numbers from DriveThruRPG, PirateShip, or BackerKit in case you missed these. The previous backer update has more details about what's up with shipping.
Package Contents
Let's break down what all this stuff is, shall we? (And note that the contents of your package will obviously vary based on which pledge tier and add-ons you selected.)
The core Downcrawl rulebook is 6x9 with an image of a stalactite city on the cover and the title "Downcrawl 2nd Edition: Endless Adventures in a Curious Underworld." This ships separately from your other items and you may not have received it yet.Note: You can access a PDF of the rules by logging into your BackerKit pledge and clicking the blue "Get My Digital Downloads" button.
The Delver's Guide is a spiral-bound book with the cover text "Delver's Guide: All Moves and Tables for Easy Reference." This reprints every page in the core rulebook that contains a Move or a Table (with matching page numbers), and is designed to be an easy reference to look these up during play. Note that the Delver's Guide is not the full rulebook and not designed to teach you the game.
The Adventure Zine is a saddle-stitch 16-page booklet with the cover text "The Hypogean Solution: A Downcrawl Adventure Zine." This is a "module" for Downcrawl, with instructions on the first few pages for how to run it. (A cool thing about it is that you can even play it in Impromptu or Solo mode, without anyone needing to have read the adventure in advance!)
The Downcrawl Deck, Even Deeper Deck, or Combo Deck (tuckbox containing both) are card decks that let you draw a card instead of looking up and rolling on a table from the Downcrawl rulebook. (The first deck contains the same contents as the tables in the rulebook; the Even Deeper Deck replaces this with a whole new set of results.) They can also be used to play the standalone worldbuilding game, Downcrawl Worlds.
The Bonus Cards are a small banded deck of 10 extra Downcrawl Deck cards, which were an exclusive perk for Early Bird or Returning backers.
The Encounter Deck is the pack of cards with "Encounter Deck" printed on the top one. This replaces the Travel Encounter and Fungal Foraging moves and tables from the Downcrawl rulebook with card draws.
The Folk and Volume Templates are two rubber-banded packs of 20 3x4 cards. These are blank cards that you can use to start your Folk and Map Decks when you play Downcrawl., tracking the peoples and places you create for your game. Note: there are print-and-play versions of these templates available in the Digital Downloads area of your BackerKit page.
The Tack Coins are the small bag of triangular metal coins. These are meant to be used as counters for Tack (your navigational resource) when you play, but you're welcome to use them however you like. Note that the core rulebook does not mention the Tack coins or have any specific rules about them: they're just meant to work like counters rather than tracking Tack as a number written down somewhere.
The dice are fancy but otherwise standard d6s (the only die you need to play Downcrawl). They were custom made for this project but don't have any Downcrawl-specific features, so you can also use them in other games.
The dark blue cloth bag (for Patron orders) is sized to fit all your card decks, templates, dice, and coins.
Whew! That was a lot, but hopefully it will help refresh your memory as to what all these bits and pieces are for.
Share the Love
As you receive your Downcrawl items, I'd love to see your pics on social media and anywhere else people are excited to share TTRPG news. I'm on Bluesky and Mastodon; feel free to tag me if you post there, or use the #Downcrawl hashtag anywhere.
Missing / Damaged Shipments or Unclaimed Rewards
If you have any problems or questions about your order, the best way to reach me is via my gmail at aareed. I can sometimes miss social media posts or comments on the project page, but am good about keeping things at inbox zero.
Please see the previous backer update for what to do if you run into problems with your shipment, or missed the deadline for finalizing your pledge.
Yep, UK here, and happy to report safe arrival yesterday of my packs of cards, spiral-bound book, tack coins, adventure zine, the works! Plus I have a notice from DriveThru to say the hardcopy book should be with me before too much longer as well! All looking splendid so far - and I have a bonus extra bookmark, which I'm guessing Downcrawled its way into the package when nobody was looking 😉🥳.
TLDR: Most orders in progress; hardcovers delayed; digital version releases today!
Hi backers!
It's been a flurry of activity here-- after a long day of packing, with the help of some wonderful friends, a good chunk of the Downcrawl shipping logistics are completed! Here's me looking extremely tired with about 400 orders ready to head to the post office...
...and here's one of those orders about to be wrapped up:
That's the bonus cards for Early Bird backers on the right; you'll note that all the words on the top card are expressions of gratitude for you awesome folks who helped kick this project off with me. <3
A quick update on where things are at with shipping:
Pre-order backers who placed their orders after March 1, 2025 should see their orders ship in early to mid-April. These orders will be processed in a separate batch next week after the crowdfunding and "late pledge" orders are all done.
For everyone else:
All bonus item packages have now been shipped, including card decks for orders that also included bonus items. You should have received either an email from PirateShip or BackerKit (or both) with a tracking number, to the email associated with your pledge. Check your spam folders if you don't see it.
If you're outside the US and your tracking number starts with AHOY, you can enter that number on the Asendia portal to track your package.
All standalone card decks have now been sent to the card printer (this is for orders that do NOT include any bonus items), and should ship in the next 7-10 business days. You should have received an email from DriveThruCards confirming the order, and will receive another email with a tracking number when your order ships.
Note: emails from DriveThru sites will mention that an account has been created for you, if you didn't already have one associated with your project email address. This is how they track your order in their system and lets them send a confirmation email when your package ships, open a ticket if there's a problem with your order, etc. You do NOT have to log in to this account unless you have a need to; you'll get the relevant notification emails about your order automatically with no further action.
All standalone softcover rulebooks have been sent to the book printer (i.e. orders without any other book products). You should have received an email from DriveThruRPG confirming the order, and will receive another email with a tracking number when your order ships.
That leaves the hardcover rulebooks, and these orders will be sent to the printer no later than Friday (you'll get a confirmation email from DriveThruRPG). Unfortunately, I've learned over the past few weeks that there is a much bigger backlog at the book printer currently for hardcovers than for softcovers. I've learned this because I had to wait weeks longer than I thought I would to get the final hardcover check proof (which is also why hardcover orders have not been sent to the printer just yet).
Because of this, even though the hardcover book orders will be going in this week, there will be a delay of 2-4 weeks before hardcovers ship, meaning your hardcover rulebooks likely won't arrive until late April or, worst case, early May. I do apologize for this; I had assumed softcover print times were indicative of all book orders, so this caught me by surprise as well.
Digital Version Now Released!
As a consolation, I'm happy to say that I'm releasing the final digital version of the rulebook a bit early-- specifically, right now-- so you can start playing Downcrawl without needing to wait for physical books to arrive.
You can access your digital downloads (also including player handouts and other useful material) by logging into your BackerKit survey and clicking the blue "Get Your Digital Downloads" button.
(If you do want a link to share, you can point people at the Downcrawl website. Pre-orders are available for just a couple more days; on March 31st, the game will go on sale at a higher price point (printing costs are going up because of tariff uncertainty) so grab it now if you're still on the fence!)
Shipping Issues
If your order arrives damaged, please contact me ASAP for a replacement. Ideally if you can send photos of the damage both to the box and/or to interior contents, that's very helpful.
If your order doesn't arrive at all, but your tracking number says it should have, before contacting me please first confirm that someone else at your residence or a neighbor didn't receive it for you, or that it didn't get returned as undeliverable to your local post office (the tracking page should show this if it's happened).
If you don't receive a tracking number and think you should have, log into BackerKit and check that you completed your survey and paid for shipping. If you haven't done this, reach out to me ASAP about a late payment (I cannot hold unclaimed orders indefinitely). Otherwise, ping me and I'll investigate.
More Soon
I'll be back in a few weeks once orders are starting to get into your hands with some info about the official release and what's next for me and Downcrawl. Until then, hope you can start enjoying some new adventures in the Deep, Deep Down!
