It's come to my attention that your surveys may not reflect the items as listed in your original pledge. Let me assure you that you will get everything from your original pledge, and I’ll explain what’s going on. From my end, the basic pledge levels get packaged as a single bundle. That is, if you ordered a “deluxe” volume, all the parts (the cling stickers, dividers, cover panels, binders, interior pages, etc.) get assembled by me, then shrink wrapped, then shipped. Those bundles sit as a single item in my company’s inventory. When I set up the Backerkit, I listed everything in them separate so you could see what comes in the different versions. However, in the pledge manager portion of things, it wants to have each of those items have their own SKU, own shipping costs, and so-on. For simplicity sake, I just made a SKU for the bundle, not every item in it. But again, I can assure you that everything you signed up for (including accompanying PDFs, VTT maps, and the incentives for being an Early Bird and/or backing X-Crawl Rodeo) will get to you! I apologize about this strangeness, I have learned from it for the future.
On a side note, if you know of anyone that missed the campaign and would like to order any of the Unnatural Selections volumes “on sale” please let them know that the Pre-Order store is up and running (https://unnatural-selections-volume-4.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders).
As far as the project as a whole goes… I’ve very happy with the amount of time/work that is being made up after the loss of my computer. The edits are back from the editor and being attended to, almost all the art is in (just a few revisions left), the cling stickers, binders, etc. have all been produced and delivered. And I got the second and third printings of Volumes 1 and 2 set for those that ordered those.
At this point, I’m confident we will be delivering in March, maybe mid-March. I will say, for backers who were awesome enough to sponsor extra monsters, if you could fill-out your surveys with your attribution lines, ASAP, that would be help me in getting this to print in a timely manner.
Cling Stickers for Volume 4!
If you didn’t notice them on the add-ons, there is a 2-sticker sheet set that may be the perfect thing for those of you that are “monsters only” backers. These stickers give you waterproof, permanent-stick images and labels you could put on the outside of your own binders to decorate them in an “Unnatural Selections” fashion. I, myself, have all the monsters in a single, bigger binder I ordered online, and I have used a few of the stickers on it to show them off. There are also “tab cover” stickers for those that have the “deluxe” version of the product and need to write-over different partitions you made previously on those divider pages.
Sticker Sheet Add-ons!
Make any binder WORTHY of containing "Unnatural Selections!"
Finally, I have included an image of the Foo-Bear entry (sponsored by David McGuire), because it just makes me chuckle! Have a great Valentine’s Day weekend.
Foo-Bears are cursed with a cute exterior despite their war-loving culture.
Let's start with the "downside." As I've mention in an earlier update, my main computer (with all my illustrating, publishing, and other software on it) had a major hardware failure. I thought I would get things fixed and be up and running pretty quick, but then life decided to show me who's in charge! Without going into every detail, 2 processors, a lost parcel claim, a purchase of a replacement computer from a scam company, the purchase of a computer that isn't quite what I wanted but what I could afford, and 5.5 weeks was all it took to get "back on my feet."
The good news is that the artist (Santi Iborra) is nearly done with everything (including the sponsored monsters). Here's a image of the Yarsalite (alien fly guy) from him:
Kinda like something off a 80s video game box...
The editor has almost gotten through the first 3/4 of the file and is waiting on me to get her the rest (some of the material was stuck on the hard drive of the dead computer and I am just now getting a chance to do my final pass before sending it to her).
Anyhow, the bottom line is that the timeline for this project will be off a bit, but I'm hoping it won't be that bad (maybe end of March?). In the mean time, the pre-order store is up for folks that missed the campaign, and surveys and fulfillment add-ons should be set to go maybe this next week (I'm working on some extra stuff for that...). I want to thank you for your patience with all this and for the help/advice many people have offered in getting my stuff reset on the new CPU.
In the meantime, my buddy and fellow Ink Slinger, Stefan Surratt is producing a 10th Level DCC module written by Julian Bernick check it out:
What a cover! I love Stefan's Eye for Art!
The 10th Doomstar is the first traditional 10th level adventure for Dungeon Crawl Classics! Written by Julian Bernick, the greatest heroes of the age must stop a comet from irradiating the entire world in chaos. If they fail, civilization shall fall!
I don't want to get too lengthy here, but I did want to share some developments and address some general questions.
First, I had a major computer crash (I'm writing this from my old laptop); not a real threat to this project, the issue is either mother board or processor related, and the hard drive with this project on it is in fine shape. Because of issues trying to get that computer up again (it has all my publishing and art programs on it) there have been some delays in the project, but I suspect that if the parts I ordered fix things, the setback will not be noticeable. All materials for the main project (other than encounter charts) are written-even the new monsters that folks sponsored (thanks again for doing that!). The interior artist is behind where he would like to be, but not to a concerning point yet. Editing has started. In summary, there are some elements that have me grousing, but I think delivery will still happen February-March (looking more towards March). Unfortunately, these setbacks will make it so that I'll be "out of contact" for a few weeks - do not read anything into that lack of communication, please.
What did we achieve? Well, thanks to all the generosity of backers we got all 10 sponsored monsters, bringing the total normal count to 50 entries (with MANY having sub-entries of 3 to 6 monsters each). On top of that, C. Aaron Kreader made such a generous offer to write and draw a monster, that we will get his "guest entry" monster (The Fungtech) in print for all backers. Then, if you had backed in the first 48 hrs or added it on, you will also get the "Creeper Crop" monster. Also, the funding reached the first stretch goal, and all "Deluxe" backers will now be getting 2 sheets of differing cling stickers as part of the binder package. Last, a fellow creative, Matt De Micco, was running his Backerkit campaign for "Xcrawl Rodeo" and we decided to link our projects (sort of an experiment for us at the time). So, if you had backed both projects, you will get a PDF booklet with some of the "Xcrawl Rodeo" creatures written up in Unnatural Selection format. I will say that that PDF will probably be out in late March or April, just because my schedule is so cramped right now.
Well, that's about it. I should have the pledge manager stuff together this weekend or next, most my library of publications will be available on there for those that have been asking (you'll also have chances to add other Unnatural Selection Volumes if you wanted extras, or changed your mind or what have you).
Thanks again for your support. -I'll try to get another update out in a few weeks with art shares and more!
A second (unique) sheet of cling stickers will be added (for deluxe backers)! PDF backers will benefit a bit too, because I use those stickers to build the cover that is on the PDF file...
We are closing in on having another celebrity writer! If we hit that goal before the night ends, I'll put up the voting poll tomorrow and run it over the next few days so you all can decide which writer will come on board!
Meanwhile, the manuscript is getting finished up (adding those 10 monsters you awesome backers added), and art is still coming in.
Thanks for all your support, and I hope those celebrating are having/had a magical Christmas!
The Backerkit campaign for the “Unnatural Selections Volume 4” post-apocalyptic monster collection has gone smashing, and backers have been so generous!
Being 2 days out, I don’t think we will hit the stretch goal to bring in celebrity writers in to design new monsters for the project, and that’s OK-it has funded and I’m very content with that! Still, when I sent word out that I was looking for writers to throw-in a monster or two if these goals hit, I was overwhelmed by how many people responded emphatically, “yes!” and how many of them even turned down the stipend I was offering if we reached the goal.
C. Aaron Kreader worked with me on my last project, “A Mutant for All Seasons,” and he offered me a deal I couldn’t refuse. Not only would he create a creature for this collection, but he offered to illustrate it as well! So, in honor of all the generosity I have received and in the tradition of this holiday season, I am offering this (unedited) PDF of Kreader’s creation, “The Fungtech.” This artifact-inhabiting colony fungus falls into one of my favorite types of monsters, the kind that can do interesting things and is neither ally nor enemy. It has the potential to help a party fix, change, or understand tech but they must overcome a barrier of culture and communication to possibly obtain this aid. Its abilities are interesting and surprising and can be woven into an encounter (with a bit of planning) to create wild situations!
Enjoy this free PDF, an actual (edited) print version will appear as part of the “Unnatural Selections Volume 4” project. I hope everyone out there is having a good holiday and I wish you my very best!
