Dias Ex Machina
CREATOR
9 days ago
Project Update: This is (NOT) The End
HEY EVERYONE
I admit part of me has been dreading this message. I posted a video three weeks ago detailing the situation, but it took me this long to build the courage to make this broader post. By the way, you can watch said video here:
However, let’s review the key points.
The distribution of Amethyst and Ultramodern5 proved far more expensive than we had previously expected. It was twice our estimate.
With financial and geopolitical discord running rampant globally and a particular focus between China, Canada, and the United States, I have been forced to postpone, if not altogether cancel, all future print production.
Thankfully, all Amethyst and Ultramodern5 stock is still available from Studio2Publishing, although replenishment, as well as a second Affinity print run, are currently stalled, likely indefinitely.
Dias Ex Machina is shifting back to digital and print-on-demand publishing. We prospered for ten years, focusing on digital and POD products, and we hope to continue producing content in this manner. Our recent Oktober’s Arcane Almanac has proven to be a surprise success for us.
Upcoming products include…
- Clonefall – The last 3rd-party adventure included in the 2023 UM5 Campaign. This book is in final playtesting with an expected summer release.
- The Sparkplug Chronicles – The artbook / RPG included in the 2023 UM5 Campaign. Nick and I are currently working on preliminary designs, with a planned release in late 2025
- Amethyst: Revelations (Savage Worlds) – As part of the Amethyst Kickstarter, we only need to adapt the monsters, which will be ready for release. All other writing and layout is done.
- Amethyst: Revelations (Fate) – Part of the Amethyst Kickstarter, we plan to tackle this after the release of the SW edition.
- Threshold POD – A Print-on-Demand version of the artbook is currently being developed, although it will be offered outside of DTRPG due to its unique 12” x 12” format.
- Affinity Audiobook – This long-suffering project refuses to die. We have 80% of the audio recorded, with only one character being nearly impossible to cast, apparently. I have found a new engineer and will likely assume the role of the narrator myself. We still plan on releasing it episodically.
- UM5 Bestiary – A new book including over 400 5E monsters derived from the past 15 years of DEM publications.
- UM5 – Armoury – A new book encompassing all the 5E technology derived from the past 15 years of DEM publications.
- Affinity Book 2 / Amethyst Book 4 – One of my priorities remains my attention on literary works. I promised myself I would start another novel this year, but I haven't yet decided which one.
- The Dream & The Tempest – Another artbook/RPG meant as a spiritual follow-up to The Sparkplug Chronicles.
- Heavenfall – a LONG-planned and likely controversial RPG we still hope to release in 2026.
While we have not eliminated offset print production, we have yet to decide how to facilitate it. We’ll be returning to Kickstarter rather than the abysmal Backerkit for crowdfunding, but may shift distribution to Europe and Canada instead of the US. This will mean that European and Canadian shipping prices will decrease while American prices may increase. This is entirely based on assumptions and estimations, as predicting what will happen geopolitically in the next four years is nearly impossible.
Currently, DEM is working in debt. I am using my secondary business to try to keep aspects afloat and to fund future products. Outside of my release schedule mentioned above, I’ll do my best to compensate backers with unfulfilled rewards. This can come in the form of future PDFs or POD coupons, but my options are currently limited beyond this.
It’s been a rough year, folks. I always strive for transparency and communication, even when the news is not the best. DEM isn’t going anywhere, but I apologize for the situation and hope we can recover over the next few months.
CHRIS
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