This is really not the updated I wanted to have for you at this point, but I wanted to share the news right away even as I work with my vendor for a solution.
I have been informed that the shipment to Spiral Galaxy in the UK arrived pretty damaged.83% of the hardcovers, and 50% of the card box set arrived with damaged corners. This also happened to copies of the book that were sent to me for Origins back in June, so I am preparing myself to see damage to copies arriving in Australia and the US when they're delivered in the next week or so.
Essentially, whoever packed the products decided that a thin cardboard box with (at least in the case of books) dozens of pounds of inventory inside them would be fine without any padding for international shipping.
Damaged box corner
Very dented book corner
Basically no internal padding on the boxes, and the boxes are heavily damaged in many cases (the books actually have nothing inside the box)
While I'm certain these copies will be replaced, it's going to add delays. With the copies at Origins (which was a smaller quantity), my vendor replaced the copies at their own expense (though we'll see if those arrive undamaged too). However, with these larger shipments I suspect they'll want to get insurance involved.
That said, my current understanding is that even if insurance needs to take the damaged product for inspection, they shouldn't need to inspect the undamaged copies. I am hoping that there will be enough undamaged copies with the extras that were printed and shipped to the US that I can use those to fulfill backers in the Americas, and then send replacement copies to the other fulfillment centers, but I won't know for a few days at least until the shipment arrives.
We are still waiting on the arrival of bookmarks and dice to begin fulfillment regardless, but those should be arriving sooner rather than later at this point.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news this weekend - it is extremely disheartening and disappointing to have additional delays being thrown at the project at such late stage, but for now I'm remaining hopeful that for most backers there won't be a delay.
Thanks for your support, and you can be sure I'll have another update as I learn more - whether about the state of deliveries to the other fulfillment centers, or about timelines for replacement copies. - Josh
Hi everyone! Quick Friday afternoon update to say that books and cards are expected to arrive at the US fulfillment center by July 21st! They have already arrived at the UK hub, and will be arriving at the Australian hub before the 21st as well. The dice and the new bookmarks are finishing up and will be shipped by air to catch up with the rest of the products as quickly as possible. So, that means that I'm currently expecting fulfillment to begin in the last week of the month!
Fulfillment Reminders
Shipping Addresses As the start of fulfillment draws close, make sure that if you've moved or are moving that you have the correct address in your survey! If you need it changed, email me at [email protected] in the next few days and I'll get it updated for you. Once fulfillment begins I will be unable to update your address.
Dealing with Damaged or Missing Items
It's been a rare occurrence in the past, but if your package arrives with damaged or missing items, email me at [email protected]. I will also need photos of the packaging, and any damaged items or the full contents of the package if items are missing.
North American/European Backers: If your package arrives damaged, or is missing, you have 30 days from the date that the package is marked as delivered to report damaged or missing items.
Australian/New Zealand Backers: Due to the requirements of the fulfillment center I'm working with, you'll need to inform me within 6 days if your order is damaged or missing items so that they can be replaced by the fulfillment center at no cost.
Fill Out Surveys and Pay Shipping If you're one of the few people that haven't yet filled out your survey or who have not yet paid shipping, you have 30 days from the time that fulfillment begins to get me your information and your payment to make sure that I can get you your pledge.
Thanks again for all your support, and your patience through these manufacturing delays, and I can't wait for everyone's copies to start going out in a couple of weeks!
Like the title says, I have some good news, some (minor) bad news, some pictures of the books, and some important questions for you (see the questions and a poll at the bottom of the update)!
Good News: Books and Cards Have Shipped!
The books and cards have left the factories for the three fulfillment centers in the UK, US, and Australia. I'm also organizing shipments from the US to the UK and Australia fulfillment centers with all the Injuries and Vile Deeds products (and the art prints, for those backers that pledged for them) so that there won't be any delays in getting fulfillment started once everything has arrived from the factory.
Enjoy a couple images of books sent from the factory:
Bad News: Minor Issues With Dice, Books
Now for the bad news. You might have noticed that I didn't say that the dice had shipped yet. This is because, despite at least four separate occasions where I've asked the factory to put the dark blue color on the bottom of the d4 and the special effect on the top (the 4 point), they somehow still made the entire run of sets with the blue in the 4.
Blurry, and in the back, but you can see the issue from this picture
This means they're having to re-do all the d4s. I'm not happy about the delay, and I'm not happy about the wasted materials (since resin isn't exactly recyclable and it's not like I get to have the failed d4s), but having seen a version of the die that has the colors correctly arranged, I think it'll be worth the wait.
Ok, so that's the dice. But what about the books? You said they'd shipped already. One of the stretch goals we unlocked during the campaign was that the books were supposed to have a satin ribbon bookmark added as a little luxury quality upgrade. This was supposed to be in all of the books (it wasn't a backer exclusive upgrade). Somehow, the record of that part of the order never made it to the factory and the books won't have that bookmark.
In order to make up for that mistake, my vendor is going to have some nice PVC art print bookmarks with tassels made instead. These will get distributed to all backers with a copy of the book (should be essentially all physical backers), and will be mailed by air to the fulfillment centers to make sure they don't cause any other delays.
Which Leads Us To...Important Poll
Here's where I want input from all of you! I have a design already created based on some paper bookmarks I've made in the past for giving out at conventions, but I have a couple of size and color options I'd like your opinions on.
Screenshot of the front and back of the bookmark (hole punched where the tassel would be attached)
First, bookmark size! The poll at the end of this update asks this simple question: would you prefer a 6"x2" bookmark, or an 8.1"x2.75" bookmark? They're basically the same ratio, so the question is primarily about size.
Secondary question, which I already have a reasonably strong opinion about but would be happy for you to comment on: Do you prefer a blue tassel or yellow-gold tassel? I'm leaning toward gold myself, since I think it will contrast nicely with both the art on the bookmark and the covers of the book. The colors in the screenshots below are rough estimates for demonstrational purposes.
Blue?
Or gold?
Thanks again for your support, and your patience with the delays that keep seeming to crop up with delivery. We're very close now!
While we continue to wait for word about when products will ship to the US so fulfillment can begin, I wanted to share some pictures I was sent of the card decks!
I wasn't sent any pictures of the books or final dice sets yet, but you can be sure I'll share those when/if I have them.
That's it for now, but I'm sure I'll have another update in the near future when there's more to share! - Josh
With the ongoing trade war between the US and China, there are additional delays being introduced that I wanted to keep you apprised of. China is now closely inspecting books leaving the country, which has held things up from getting the books and cards on a ship.
With this delay, it is very unlikely that I'll be able to hold to the previously mentioned schedule of beginning fulfillment at the end of May (because even if product arrives in the US by then, it's likely to get stuck in customs here for a week or two). Since it's possible timelines will continue to change (though hopefully not too much more at this point), I don't plan to send an update every time something comes up, but I will likely send one once it's closer to 100% certain when fulfillment will begin.
Europe and Australia/NZ
There is a silver lining here, which is that during this delay the plans for getting product to the non-US fulfillment centers has changed to a more direct route. This means that fulfillment should start for backers in Europe and Australia/New Zealand sooner than previously anticipated (although the Injuries and Vile Deeds physical products need to be sent to those fulfillment centers from the US, so it does depend on which set of products arrives later).
Tome of Intangible Treasures II Ending Tomorrow!
Finally, I wanted to remind you that the crowdfunding campaign for Tome of Intangible Treasures II ends tomorrow! It's unlocked several stretch goals over the last month, and is closing in on the next - which will add rules for turning boons and charms into pacts.
All previous backers who pledge during the campaign will get a free sharp-edged d6 from the Life's Essence set I'm making as part of the campaign, and of course the campaign's pledge tiers offer some bundle discounts as well as a free copy of the VTT token set of all 100 monsters from the book.
Thanks for your support, and your patience through these delays! There's a lot of uncertainty in the industry right now, and your support means I can keep making the things I want to.