Hi Folks,
I'm doing all I can to get everything shipped out before I leave on Monday for Gen Con.
I'm about 2/3 of the way, but most of the harder orders (international requiring customs forms) went out first.  At least I'm hoping most of the harder ones are done. :)

I'm pressed for time, and I find bullets easy to read, so away we go!

Ok, back to packing/shipping!
Joe

Whew!  Quite a bit of work to get to this point since our last update.  But I now have 100 of everything (and more of some things) and the rest are supposed to get to me next week. Here is a pic from a video I just made:

And here is the video all about it!

If you're following the project, but haven't pledged, our late pledging closes at midnight US eastern time Sunday July 20th (just as the clock ticks over to the 21st).  You can pledge here.

Most of you reading this know all the details about the decks & tiles.  So let me focus on the shipping details: 

The rest of the decks and tiles will be coming to me on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday, depending on the shipping gods. There's plenty that can be prepped though so if things don't come until Wednesday, I can be ready to ship faster starting Wednesday.

If you plan to be at Gen Con, we will have booth 150 and you can pick up there--we'll also credit you back your shipping fee towards anything else at our booth.  (So if you paid $8 shipping, you'll get $8 off a purchase there.) To do this send an email to 'support at inkwellideas dot com' and list your name and the email address you use on Backerkit (if it isn't the same as what you're sending from.)  You must do this by 9am US eastern time Monday July 21st. Put 'Gen Con Pickup' in the subject line.

If you are outside the US, look for an email from 'support at inkwellideas dot com' in the next 24 hours asking you if you want to take the risk of paying a tariff or if you'd rather switch to a digital only pledge and I'll refund the difference. You can also wait to see if/how much folks who have received theirs are paying, but it seems likely tariffs may be more next month.  Unfortunately even though you've paid shipping & VAT, a tariff would be in addition to that.  I hate it too. :(

OK, with that out of the way...  Can't wait for you to have these!  (Don't be surprised if you get another update soon if there are a number of questions for me to clarify.)

Thanks again!

Joe

Hi Folks,
We're getting into the final month! I was away on a trip last week (touring some colleges with my 17-year-old) but a lot has happened since our last update.

Digital Card PDFs
Today, we just posted new files to the digital downloads of the Hexploration Decks. These are the same cards just set up such that 4 card fronts are printed on one page, then then next page has the backs for those same 4 cards (but set up so page 2 can be printed on the back of page 1)... then page 3 has 4 more card fronts, page 4 has those cards' backs, and so on.  I hope/plan to have more combinations--maybe 9 per page without bleed, the cards as individual images, etc.  I'll let you know in the next update in 2 weeks--but don't be surprised if you get some "updated file available" messages from DriveThru before then.

Card Deck PODs
I have ordered proofs of the decks from DriveThru so I'll be able to give out codes to get them printed-on-demand once I get the proofs & inspect them.

Digital Tiles
I have made new B&W versions of all the graphics. But I haven't yet been able to make page-size images with several graphics each for them.  If you've already downloaded them from DriveThru, likewise don't be surprised if you get an update message for this.

Physical Decks & Tiles
The static clings took a while, but I just approved the proofs for them in the last hour. We went back and forth a few times on the best way to lay them all out.  Even now I wonder if there are some better options to save a sheet or two--it took 20 3"x3.46" sheets to get all the icons and coasts and rivers set up as clings.  They are "kiss cut" so even though most have several clings on a sheet, you'll be able to pull them off individually.

And yesterday I finished the art for the overall box of the Kit if you're getting the physical tiles, clings, and decks.

And the card decks, tiles, and smaller boxes for each of those have been at that printer and are being printed now.

So everything seems to be moving along without issue. I'm hoping/expecting to have it all around July 18th and will start shipping as soon as I have it all.

And on the 28th we leave for Gen Con (which starts on the 31st), where Inkwell Ideas has booth #150 at the Exhibit Hall.  You'll be able to tell us what you liked, point your friends to them to get some too, see what else we have, etc.  We're really looking forward to seeing everyone. Booth 150 is along the left side wall if you're looking from the main Exhibit Hall entrances--although there is also a side entrance right next to us (but I'm told it doesn't open until 15-30 minutes after the main doors do).

If you haven't done the survey yet, please do!  At the moment 39 folks haven't. If you can't find your message about it, go here: https://hexploration.backerkit.com/ which will let you login to your Backerkit account. If you're one of the project followers who didn't back the project yet, you can also make a late pledge at that link!

Thanks again!
Joe

Hi Folks,
I think we're still in good shape to get these to you during the 3rd week of July.  My printer says they are on track for that, so fingers crossed!

The printer has all the files needed except for some box art--but we're just finalizing the size of the boxes now.  (BTW, if you've looked at the decks/tiles and have some Kudos that I could possibly use as quotes for the box, please post any quote you're willing to let me use/paraphrase as a comment!)  

The clings are being done by a different company and we've been going back and forth sorting out the layout--fitting well over 100 clings on as few sheets of cling material as possible.  Their promised turnaround time is 1-2 weeks, so I'm not worried yet.

If you haven't done the survey yet, please do!  About 50 folks haven't. If you can't find your message about it, go here: https://hexploration.backerkit.com/ which will let you login to your Backerkit account. If you're one of the project followers who didn't back the project yet, you can also make a late pledge at that link!

Things I'm still working on:

Thank you for your support!  Happy gaming!
Joe