Salvete Sodales. It's time for an update on all our Ars Magica progress!
LAYOUT PROGRESS: Our rough layout has been released all the way up through Chapter 13: Bestiary now! We've been posting previews to backers as we've completed each chapter. Our thanks to everyone who's been providing correction comments! If you haven't been getting yours, please check your settings in Backerkit. The previews include Doug Shuler's fantastic 2-page full-color interior art pieces, so you don't want to miss them!
SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS: International trade policy is a moving target. At this point items made in China are subject to a 20% tax. There's also a threat that a new tax of an extra 25% will be put on any country that buys oil from Venezuela, which would include China. So that might mean a 45% tax. Who knows? We're continuing to monitor the situation and explore options. For example, we have a meeting next week about the potential of using our local port's Foreign Trade Zone to store and re-ship goods without customs entry.
SOFTCOVER POD FULFILLMENT: For softcover sourcebooks, we're taking extra time to update the production files before fulfilling those campaign rewards. This is because we realized the spines in the print-on-demand files were done in a couple of different styles over the years. For Library of Durenmar backers in particular, we definitely want a consistent spine appearance when all the books are shelved together! Also, our print-on-demand vendor is setting up local printing in both Canada and Australia, which we'll want to use to direct-ship to backers in those areas. For EU backers, the UK-based print location is unable to send higher-value shipments by a DDP method, so we may wind up shipping those from the USA to make sure they arrive without any customs fees or VAT demanded on delivery.
Thank you for supporting the campaign, and ave atque vale.
